A New Jersey National Guardsman is the first service member to die from the novel coronavirus, the Department of Defense said.
The guardsman, identified by Gov. Phil Murphy as Captain Douglas Linn Hickok, of Jackson, New Jersey, had tested positive for COVID-19 and was hospitalized in Pennsylvania on March 21. He died at the hospital on Saturday.
"Today is a sad day for the Department of Defense as we have lost our first American service member - active, reserve or Guard - to Coronavirus," Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said. "This is a stinging loss for our military community, and our condolences go out to his family, friends, civilian co-workers and the entire National Guard community. The news of this loss strengthens our resolve to work ever more closely with our interagency partners to stop the spread of COVID-19."
