According to family, the Mexican mother of a soldier killed at Fort Hood, Texas, is going to visit the U.S. to await the results of an investigation into her daughter’s death.
Alejandra Ruiz Zarco hopes to get Friday a three month humanitarian visa that allows her to travel from Tacambaro in the Mexican state Michoacan to the Army military base where Pvt. According to the family, Ana Basaldua Ruiz died on March 13.
Fort Hood authorities said that there was no evidence of foul play but that they were conducting an investigation to examine the allegations made by her mother, friends to Noticias Telemundo and others that she was being sexually harassed.
On March 17, Fort Hood’s commander Lt. General Sean C. Bernabe stated that the Criminal Investigation Division, (CID), “doesn’t want to assume or rule out anything about her investigation.”
Fort Hood is also the site of the 2020 assassination of Pfc. Vanessa Guillen had complained about sexual harassment by Spc. Aaron Robinson, Guillen’s suspected murderer, was killed by police as he was being arrested.
A Texas state House committee approved Thursday’s 8-0 vote a bill to designate Sept. 30, Vanessa Guillen Day. After testimony from many witnesses, the vote was triggered by testimony of several witnesses who shared their personal experiences with sexual harassment or assaults and worked with veterans and military personnel who had also experienced it.
Guillen’s sister Mayra Guillen was one of those who testified. She said that the legislation was a simple way to show respect and honor for her memory. Larissa Moran Martinez, executive director of Circle of Arms (a mental health awareness group), said Basaldua’s death shows that reform and change are still needed. Josey Garcia (a San Antonio Democrat, and a veteran) is the bill’s sponsor.
Fort Hood is “ready to accept” the family
Ruiz Zarco stated that her daughter Natalie (19 years old) and she will travel together for the cost of travel.
Basaldua (20) was born in Tacambaro and raised there before she became a naturalized U.S. citizen. Her father, Ubalde “Baldo” Basaldua, lives in Long Beach, California.
Although it was not clear when the family would travel to the U.S. on Thursday, they are scheduled to visit Fort Hood. Bernabe stated last week that they are ready to receive them and accompany them during the visit.
Basaldua, a combat engineer, served 15 months with Fort Hood’s 1st Cavalry Division. Basaldua enlisted in the Army on July 20, 21 and was assigned to Fort Hood in December 2021.
Two of the friends of the soldier who died in combat told Noticias Telemundo that Basaldua told them that she had been sexually harassed. According to one friend, Basaldua complained to her superiors about harassment by a sergeant. She was then transferred to another platoon but the sergeant wasn’t punished.
Ruiz Zarco, a Mexican woman, recalled the moment she heard the sad news about her daughter’s passing. “A sergeant spoke to me. He was Ana’s father. He said that he was talking to me to convey his condolences to Ana Fernanda Basaldua’s death. He said, “I don’t want this to be heard, I don’t need it.” I then hung up on her.
Ruiz Zarco claims that Basaldua said to her during their last conversation that she didn’t want to be at the military base.
She said, “She told me she wanted to see and hug me. And she wanted me to hug her like when she was small.”
Basaldua was due to finish her Army service in August.
Suzanne Gamboa contributed.
