Waide James

Via Florida Today.com

TITUSVILLE – Services will be held this evening at the Newcomer Funeral Home in Titusville for Waide James, an Iraq war veteran who was stabbed to death Dec. 1 while stationed at Fort Drum, N.Y.

A public service will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home on South Washington Avenue.

James, 20, of Port St. John and fellow soldier Diego Valbuena, 23, were found dead in an apartment complex near the base. They suffered multiple stab wounds. The incident occurred just three days before James’ 21 birthday.

A third soldier, Joshua Hunter, 20, was arrested a day later at a hotel in southern Ohio, and is being held on two counts of second-degree murder.

All three soldiers were veterans of the Iraq war. James, 20, of Port St. John, was getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan when he was killed.

James graduated from Titusville High School in 2006 and enlisted in the U.S. Army in March 2007. Fort Drum is home of the 10th Mountain Division. James spent 15 months in Iraq.

He served as a motor transport operator with the Headquarters Battalion of the 10th Mountain Division, according to Fort Drum's public affairs office. James received awards and decorations including the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and overseas service ribbon.

A celebration of life service will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Newcomer Funeral Home.

James will be buried with full military honors at the Florida National Cemetery in Sumter County.