Gone too Soon: The story of soldier Vanessa Guillen

Life can be gone so quickly especially when you are at a young age and with a bright future ahead of you. Vanessa Guillen was pursuing one of her biggest dreams; she enrolled in the military to defend the country, and she was only 20 years old. Vanessa was from Houston, Texas and from Mexican descent. She was born on September 20, 1999. Vanessa had five siblings. According to family members, Vanessa graduated high school “in the top 15% of her high school class where she played soccer and remained active with other physical activities even though she loved to jog and was always avid about sports and learning.”

Guillen's picture for the U.S. ARMY [Public Domain]

Ms. Guillen enrolled in the military in June 2018 after she graduated from high school as a 91F Small arms/ Military Repairer. (abcnews.go.com) She was stationed at a U.S. Army base in Fort Hood, Texas.

Vanessa after some time confessed to two of her sisters Lupe and Mayra that she was having some problems at Fort Hood, which is an army base outside of Killeen, Texas. (abcnews.go.com) Guillen, told her sisters that she was being sexually harassed by a superior and she was afraid of reporting the incident due to possible retaliation.

Nathalie Khawam, family attorney, stated that when Mrs. Guillen was taking a shower, a superior walked into the bathroom, sat down and watched her.

On April 22, 2020 Mr. Aaron David Robinson (specialist) ordered Vanessa that she had to go deliver some paperwork on a machine gun that needed to be serviced. According to some sources, she was last seen around 1:00 p.m. in the parking lot of her unit, the Regimental Engineer Squadron Headquarters on the 3rd Cavalry Regiment. Vanessa’s belongings were found inside the armory where she worked.

On April 23, a commissioned officer reported that Ms. Guillen was missing by the Criminal Investigation Department. (CID) The investigation continued throughout the month of April. On April 30, the Secretary of the Army, Ryan D. McCarthy stated during a Covid-19 press briefing,“ I’d like to start out this morning by talking about a missing soldier, Private First Vanessa Guillen, in hopes of increasing the public’s awareness and assistance in finding her. Private First Class Guillen went missing on April 22 from Ford Hood, Texas. In concert with local law enforcement efforts, the Army will continue aggressively searching for her. Our hearts go out to her family, and we will not stop looking for her until we find her.”

The investigation continued through June 30th 2020 where human remains were found on Leon River by some contractors that reported this to law enforcement. The officials located the burned lid of a Pelican Transport but they failed in finding a body.

The days passed and on July 5th 2020 the remains were confirmed to be Vanessa Guillen.

Actress Salma Hayek posted on her Instagram account about Vanessa Guillen stating the following, “Guillen’s mother Gloria claims that her daughter “had complained to her about a sergeant sexually harassing her. When her mother asked her to report him, Vanessa said other women had reported him and they were not believed. Vanessa and Gloria I believe you and I pledge to put Vanessa’s photo on my stories every day until she is found.” (People)

Meanwhile, one of Vanessa’s sisters; Mayra Guillen, when asked about the soldier brutality attacked her sister, said,“ Honestly I still don’t understand I do have a strong feeling that the sexual harassment had a lot to do with it.” (KHOU11Houston) – Youtube channel.

Lastly, Vanessa Guillen’s death has taught many that they have to fight for women’s rights especially those in the army. Justice and change have to happen.

Exvicepresident, Joe Biden, speaks on the death of Vanessa Guillen.

Translation:

"Jill and I are heartbroken by the senseless loss of Specialist Vanessa Guillén and our condolences go out to her family and loved ones. We owe it to those who put on the uniform, and to their families, to put an end to sexual harassment and assault in the military, and hold perpetrators accountable."