Navajo Nation leaders demand answers after two Native American soldiers stationed at Fort Hood die in a string of 28 deaths at the base this year

Navajo Nation leaders are demanding answers following the death of two Navajo US Army soldiers stationed at Fort Hood. 

Army Specialist Miguel Yazzie, 33, died on July 2 and Private Carlton Chee, 25, died September 2, making them the 27th and 28th deaths at the notorious Army base in Killeen, Texas, this year.

Yazzie, of Window Rock, Arizona, was hospitalized for a medical condition the day before he died, while Chee, of Pine Hill, New Mexico, collapsed during a training exercise on August 28 and died five days later, the Navajo Times reported. 

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Army Specialist Miguel Yazzie, 33 (left), died on July 2 and Private Carlton Chee, 25 (right), died September 2, making them the 27th and 28th deaths at Texas' Fort Hood

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez told Fox 10 Phoenix that the call for a formal investigation came because they wanted answers. 

'The family members felt like the leadership in the Fort Hood Army Base in Fort Hood, Texas wasn't giving them the information that they desired,' he said.

'There are some questions being asked by family members who have lost loved ones. So I'm hoping we can all get answers for all the families that have questions and help them with some closure and of course some answers to what the have seen as very hush hush from the base.'

Nez had previously said that the families of the two soldiers suspected that foul play might've been involved in their deaths. 

'We spoke with the families of Pvt. Chee and Spc. Yazzie and they have many concerns and questions related to inconsistent information and details provided by military officials,' Nez said in a statement obtained by the Navajo Times. 

'It is very troubling that while they are mourning the loss of their loved ones, they are not receiving adequate and timely factual information regarding the time leading up to their deaths.'  

Miguel Yazzie's father, Michael Yazzie, said he believes negligent Army behavior contributed to his son's death.

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Yazzie's (right) father questioned whether Army negligence played a part in his son's death

Chee (pictured) was believed to have been in 'great physical shape' prior to his collapse

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Chee (pictured) died five days after he collapsed during a training exercise. Yazzie died the day after he was hospitalized for a medical condition

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Navajo Nation leaders are demanding formal investigations into the two soldiers' deaths, which occurred while they were stationed at Fort Hood (pictured) 

'How come they took him to an off-base hospital?' Michael said. 'They have a really nice facility on-base. Why didn’t they just take him there?'

He also noted that other soldiers had led him to believe that Miguel had been targeted by those higher up in the command than he was. 

Michael did not give any examples, but claimed 'there were some prior incidents' and that his son had been 'denied certain things that he needed.'

Nez, meanwhile, said of Chee's death: 'This is just heartbreaking for the family to know that someone that we all believe was in great physical shape collapsed during an exercise and a few days later, dies under the oversight of the federal government.' 

A GoFundMe established in Chee's name indicates that he joined the military in February and had a fiancee and a two-year-old and three-week-old son. He was also a lifetime member of the Ramah Navajo community.

Navajo Nation Speaker of the Council Seth Damon said in a release that he had spoken with new acting senior commander of Fort Hood. Maj. Gen. John B. Richardson IV, who assured him that investigations would be conducted into the two soldiers' deaths.  

Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer said in a statement that they want the investigation into the two deaths because the council is also concerned about 'the many Navajo men and women who are serving in every branch of the military around the world.  

'As you know, the Navajo people have a long and proud history of serving in the Armed Forces at a higher per capita rate than any other demographic in the United States. 

'This is not only a call for a congressional inquiry, but it is a call for accountability and answers for the families that are grieving for their loved ones,' he said.  

Native American 'code talkers' - including Navajo speakers - played a major role in assisting the Armed Forces during World War Two, serving in the Pacific, North African and European theaters, transmitting hard to crack, secret tactical messages in code based on their native languages. 

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General John Murray (left), the head of the Army’s Futures Command, will conduct a new investigation into how leaders at Fort Hood handled Vanessa Guillen's reports of sexual harassment, as well as her disappearance and death. Major General Scott Efflandt (right) has been removed from his post following the deaths and disappearances of soldiers connected to the troubled army base

Last week, Congress announced that it will launch an investigation into sexual assault, disappearances and deaths at Fort Hood, and examine the base leadership's response to those incidents. 

The same day as Chee's death, Major General John Richardson was treated to a welcome ceremony as he took over the role of base commander from Efflandt. 

Richardson vowed to reestablish trust between soldiers, army leaders and the public after the base has been addled with suspicious deaths and allegations of harassment.

'We need to teach young leaders how to ask hard, difficult questions,' he said.

'Those are the one that then allow relationships to build.'

He added: 'Trust is strong in the army, but we have individual instances where they trust is broken and one break in that link is one too many.' 

The new commander announced the launch of Operation Phantom Action, a plan to open up conversations and counseling between soldiers and their chains of command on issues such as sexual harassment.

The Army also announced General John Murray, the head of the Army’s Futures Command, will conduct a new investigation into how leaders at Fort Hood handled Vanessa Guillen's reports of sexual harassment, as well as her disappearance and death.

The probe will assess Efflandt’s actions, who will remain at Fort Hood in a supporting role until the investigation is completed. 

The investigation will also be separate from the Independent Review of Fort Hood, which began back in August.  

Efflandt will also no longer take on the role of commander of a division at Fort Bliss. 

The leadership shake-up and news of yet another soldier death comes as the troubled base faces mounting scrutiny following numerous deaths and disappearances of soldiers this year.    

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Vanessa Guillen, 20, vanished from the base after telling her family she was being sexually harassed. Her body was discovered in July

US Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said in a visit to Fort Hood earlier this month that the Central Texas base had some of the highest numbers of sexual assault, harassment and murder.   

The body of missing Fort Hood soldier Sgt. Elder Fernandes, 23, was found last week 30 miles from the Texas base where he was stationed.   

Killeen police said he had not been seen since August 17 when his staff sergeant dropped him off at home. 

Fernandes was not reported missing for two days. His body was found on August 29. 

Fort Hood public affairs officer Lt. Col. Chris Brautigam later confirmed Fernandes had reported sexual abuse before his disappearance and was transferred to another unit, 'to ensure he received the proper care and ensure there were no opportunities for reprisals.' 

Khawam, a lawyer representing the family of Vanessa Guillen, another Fort Hood soldier who went missing and was found dead, and now the Fernandes family, told ABC News that Elder got 'very, very depressed' after being sexually harassed while working in a supply room in April.   

'I am saddened that another soldier who served the country has been destroyed by sexual assault and sexual harassment and this toxic culture in the military that exists,' Khawam added.  

Fernandes' disappearance comes a year after the disappearance of Pfc. Gregory Morales, 24, a Fort Hood soldier who was reported missing on August 20, 2019. 

His remains were found June 21 in a field in Killeen, near Fort Hood. Killeen police and Army officials are still investigating his death and foul play is suspected.  

Vanessa Guillén's body was found a week later in July after her disappearance in April.  

Fellow soldier Spc. Aaron Robinson, 20, killed and dismembered Guillén and had the remains disposed of in nearby woods, federal and state investigators said.  

Robinson killed himself July 1, the day Guillén's remains were found, officials said. 

Cecily Aguilar, 22, of Killeen, has been accused of disposing of Guillén's remains for Robinson and has been charged with three federal conspiracy counts related to the soldier's death. 

She has pleaded not guilty.

Guillén´s family has said she was sexually harassed by the soldier suspected of killing her, but the Army has said there is no evidence to support that. There is an ongoing investigation.  

Other soldiers to have died this year include: Pvt. Mejhor Morta; Spc. Francisco Gilberto Hernandezvargas; Pfc. Brandon Scott Rosecrans; Spc. Freddy Delacruz Jr; Spc. Christopher Wayne Sawyer; and Spc. Shelby Tyler Jones. 

The two most recent deaths linked to the base include Sgt. Bradley Moore, 36, who died at the base during a training exercise last week. 

He was with the Texas Army National Guard. 

Spc. Cole Jakob Aton, 22, was also killed last week while assisting at the scene of a car accident near the base. 

He had been standing on the road trying to direct traffic around the crash when he was hit by a car. 

Aton had previously shared petitions and posts on social media demanding answers into the deaths and disappearances at the Fort Hood base.      

Last week, the body of Sgt. Elder Fernandes, 23, (left) was discovered after he went missing back on August 17. Fort Hood soldier, Pfc. Gregory Morales, right was reported missing from the base a year ago on August 20, 2019. The 24-year-old's remains were found on June 21 in a field in Killeen

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In May  of this year the body of Army Pfc. Brandon S. Rosecrans, pictured, was discovered with gunshot wounds and his Jeep was found three miles away engulfed in flames

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Pvt. Mejhor Morta, 26, of Pensacola, Florida was found dead July 17 in the vicinity of Stillhouse Hollow Lake, around 15 miles from the Fort Hood base

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The body of Spc. Francisco Gilberto Hernandezvargas, 24, left, was recovered from Stillhouse Hollow Lake following a boating incident. Shelby Tyler Jones, right, was shot dead at a convenience store in Killeen in March