Army soldier dies in training at Fort Hood, the latest death at troubled Texas base
A 25-year-old soldier died during training at Fort Hood, the latest death at the troubled Army base in Texas, officials say.
Pvt. Corlton Chee, who was from Pinehill, New Mexico, collapsed during physical fitness training Aug. 28 at the military base in Killeen, officials say. He died at a hospital with his family by his side on Wednesday, Fort Hood said in a news release Friday.
An autopsy to determine the cause of death is underway, and the incident is under investigation, officials say.
“Our team is devastated by the loss of Pvt. Chee,” Lt. Col. Ron Sprang said in the news release. “Corlton was an amazing Trooper and so full of life and potential. Every loss effects every single person in this Battalion because we a family of warriors, but this is exceptionally heartbreaking.”
Chee died as the base is reeling from homicides, suicides and sexual harassment investigations this year.
Before Chee’s death, 26 soldiers from the base had died in 2020, according to KWTX.
That includes the high-profile deaths of Spc. Vanessa Guillén, who was killed by another soldier after her family says she was sexually harassed by him, CBS News reported. The soldier killed himself as authorities tried to arrest him, and the Army says it hasn’t found evidence to support claims of sexual harassment in the case, the news outlet reported.
Last week, Sgt. Elder Fernandes of Massachusetts was found dead months after he reported sexual harassment, officials say. His death is under investigation, and authorities don’t suspect foul play.
On Friday, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, joined Massachusetts Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey in seeking hearings on the “command climate and culture at Fort Hood.” The lawmakers want the civilian independent panel formed to investigate the base and Army leaders to testify before a committee.
“As parents and United States Senators, we are heartbroken by the deaths of SGT Fernandes, SPC Guillén, and the other U.S. soldiers stationed at Fort Hood, and we are determined to seek justice and answers for their families and to ensure the Army is implementing necessary reforms at Fort Hood, and that Congress is holding the Army accountable,” the senators wrote in a letter.
This story was originally published September 4, 2020 at 1:37 PM with the headline "Army soldier dies in training at Fort Hood, the latest death at troubled Texas base."