Following the recent disappearance of multiple Fort Hood soldiers, Senator John Cornyn of Texas has sent a letter to Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy urging continued action to investigate those disappearances and protect U.S. servicemembers serving at Fort Hood.
“Soldier safety is rightfully the Army’s top priority, and it is clear that changes must be made to Fort Hood in order to better safeguard the soldiers stationed there,” Cornyn said. “Our brave men and women go to work every day to defend our nation, and our nation owes it to them to take every measure required to protect them.”
On Tuesday, the body of a missing soldier was believed to have been found about 30 miles from Fort Hood, Temple police said Tuesday. Identification found with the body indicates the man may be Sgt. Elder Fernandes. Forensic confirmation is pending. Foul play is not suspected, police said, but the investigation is ongoing.
Fernandes is the third soldier from Fort Hood to go missing in the past year, and two have been found dead this summer.
“Following the release of the findings, I look forward to working with you to ensure the Army rapidly develops a strategy to address security concerns at Fort Hood and that Congress provides the resources necessary for its implementation,” said Cornyn. “A loss of even a single soldier is an unacceptable tragedy, and the painful events at Fort Hood this year have raised urgent concerns that our nation must address.”
