Senators
called for an independent investigation into Ft. Hood after the disappearance
and death of Brockton native Elder Fernandes, who died near the base in August
Washington (December 8,
2020) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), a
member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement
upon the release of the report of the Fort Hood Independent Review Committee,
which was tasked with investigating the command culture and climate at Fort
Hood Army Base, near Killeen, Texas. The report’s executive summary reveals
pervasive deficiencies in the sexual harassment and assault reporting
structure, a lack of clearly outlined procedures for responding to reports of
missing soldiers, and a command culture permissive of sexual harassment and
sexual assault, among other problems. As a result of the report’s findings, the
Army announced today they are firing or suspending 14 Fort Hood commanders and
other leaders.
“The pervasive problems
found by the independent investigation into Fort Hood demonstrate a gross
disregard by Army leadership and the Command at Fort Hood for the safety and
well-being of America’s soldiers,” said Senators Markey and
Warren. “It should not have taken the deaths of dozens of men and women of
our armed forces serving at Fort Hood to trigger an investigation.
“While we appreciate the
findings of the independent investigation, it’s been clear that the Army’s
leadership must be held accountable for the harm caused by allowing a climate
of harassment, fear, and retaliation to take hold for so long. The Army must
make immediately clear what steps it will be taking to address the problems
outlined in the report. Top Army leadership should testify before the Senate as
soon as possible, and the incoming Biden administration must continue to ensure
that the problems caused by the lack of leadership and lack of care for the
soldiers serving at Fort Hood are fully resolved.
“When a young person puts
on the Army uniform it becomes our responsibility to keep them safe,” continued
the Senators. “The U.S. Army failed Sergeant Elder Fernandes, Specialist
Vanessa Guillen, and their families and they, like the families of all of the
soldiers who have suffered at Fort Hood, deserve justice.”
In
September, Senators Markey and Warren, and Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (MA-01)
called
on the independent review panel investigating the command climate and
culture at U.S. Army Base Fort Hood, Texas to include the case of Army Sergeant
Elder Fernandes in its review of the base. Sergeant Fernandes, a 23 year-old
native of Brockton, Massachusetts who was assigned to the 1
st
Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, was found dead on August 25 after having gone
missing on August 17. Shortly after he was reported missing, public reports
revealed that in May of this year Sergeant Fernandes had reported a sexual
assault allegation against a member of his chain of command and also became the
target of bullying, hazing, and harassment.
