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Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez called for all flags on tribal land to be flown at half-staff Tuesday to honor the deaths of two tribal members stationed at Fort Hood.

Spc. Miguel Yazzie, 33, and Pvt. Corlton Chee, 25, both died in recent weeks. Officials say Chee, a member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly collapsed during a training exercise on Aug. 28 and later died at Carl R. Darnall Medical Center on Sept. 2, marking the 28th death at Fort Hood Army Base this year, Nez said.

Chee’s burial service is being held tomorrow in New Mexico for close family due to concerns surrounding COVID-19.

Yazzie, another member of the Navajo Nation, died on July 3 while stationed on the base.

Yazzie and Chee are among the other 28 military men and women who have lost their lives while stationed at Fort Hood Army Basesince the beginning of the year, Nez said. 

Additionally, Fort Hood sees “the most cases for sexual assault and harassment murders for our entire formation of the U.S. Army,” said Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy during an Aug. 6 visit to Fort Hood after Spc. Vanessa Guillen was allegedly bludgeoned to death by a fellow soldier.

Families of both Yazzie and Chee said they suspect foul play in the death of their sons.

Fort Hood officials said they do not suspect foul play in either of the soldier’s deaths, according to a response emailed to The Arizona Republic on Thursday. Rather, they said Yazzie died of “complications from an illness,” while Chee died after he collapsed while exercising. Chee’s death is still under investigation. 

However, Chee’s family questioned the Army’s version of the events, saying the information they received about his death was conflicting and uncharacteristic of the man they knew.

In response to the families’ concerns Nez, and Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer have contacted officials at the base and wrote letters to members of Congress.

Their actions prompted a congressional investigation that will seek answers about the nearly 30 deaths and other incidents at Fort Hood this year and evaluate the Army’s response. It will be carried out jointly by the Committee on Oversight and Reforms’ Subcommittee on National Security, and the Committee on Armed Services’ Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

“The families deserve answers and we have to hold the military accountable for what is happening at Fort Hood Army Base,” Nez and Lizer said in a statement. 

Nez and Lizer ask the Navajo Nation to join them in praying for the families and friends of those who have lost their lives serving the Navajo Nation and the rest of the country.

Reach breaking news reporter Brooke Newman at [email protected] or on Twitter @brookerae17.

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