WASHINGTON \u2013 Three members of congress, including U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, are calling for an investigation into the death of a U.S. Air Force trainee from Lackland Air Force Base. <\/p>\n
According to a June 17 news release from the U.S. Air Force, Keon McDaniel, a trainee with the 737th Training Support Squadron, died June 16. <\/p>\n
The Air Force said McDaniel was in his sixth week of Basic Military Training on June 12 when he experienced a \u201cmedical emergency\u201d and was subsequently transported to Brooke Army Medical Center for treatment. McDaniel died at the hospital four days later. <\/p>\n
In its June 17 statement, the Air Force said the cause of McDaniel\u2019s medical emergency is under investigation and a \u201ccomprehensive medical review\u201d is being conducted to \u201cdetermine the facts.\u201d <\/p>\n
During a joint news conference Tuesday afternoon in Washington, D.C., alongside fellow U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pennsylvania), the San Antonio-area congressman connected McDaniel\u2019s death to a recent flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base that he said has swelled to 284 confirmed cases and includes four hospitalizations.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m demanding an investigation into his (McDaniel\u2019s) death in connection to the flu outbreak,\u201d Castro (D-San Antonio) said. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs a veteran, and as the ranking member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, I know that military readiness is built on discipline, professionalism and on leaders who make decisions based on evidence and not ideology,\u201d Houlahan, a former U.S. Air Force officer, said. \u201cReadiness begins and ends with healthy troops. That\u2019s why what is happening in Lackland is so deeply disturbing and troubling.\u201d <\/p>\n
Castro and Houlahan also called on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to \u201creinstate the flu vaccine requirement for all service members\u201d and introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would require all service members to get vaccinated for the flu. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s absurd about keeping those who serve our nation safe?\u201d Castro asked rhetorically. \u201cNo president or secretary should be able to play politics and put the health of our troops at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n
More recent coverage of this story on KSAT: <\/p>\n
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