In Texas, the Army’s Fort Hood has faced a barrage of scrutiny this year following the mysterious or violent deaths of at least 26 soldiers. The string of deaths comes amid increased reports of sexual assault in the military. National media attention, and public outcry has shed light on what could be a systemic issue in the armed forces.
The issues came to light in April, when specialist Vanessa Guillen went missing. It wasn’t until June when her remains were found, and her alleged killer, another Army soldier, committed suicide.
Guillen’s family claims she was sexually assaulted before her death, and they have expressed a lack of accountability with Fort Hood officials. The sentiment was echoed by other family members of Army soldiers.
25-year-old private Corlton Chee reportedly collapsed during fitness training back in August, and died two days later. Army officials said his cause of death was unknown, but family members suspect foul play.
Chee, a Navajo Nation native, they say was used to extreme heats, often with little to no water and do not believe the Texas heat was the cause of his collapse. They also say his body had bruising on it, and he expressed that “three white boys” had been bothering him lately.
23-year-old Gregory Wedel-Morales went missing back in August of 2019, and was labeled a deserter. His remains were found in a field in Killeen a year later. The long process was also discouraging to his family members, who say the Army needs to take AWOL status more seriously.
This summer proved to be a tipping point for many in the Texas region, prompting Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy to call for a closer investigation into the cause of violence.
An independent review found that the leadership at military base Fort Hood in Texas allowed for a “permissive environment for sexual assault and sexual harassment,” according to a report released Dec 8.
Advocates for reform are now calling for the Army to take meaningful and effective steps to prevent more tragedies. It is not yet clear what the next step will be in addressing the issues on the base. Some have even called for the Army to shut Fort Hood down completely.