VANESSA GUILLEN

Life and Death of Vanessa Guillen

Vanessa Guillén, 20, was from Houston, Texas. She was born in Ben Taub Hospital in Houston on September 30, 1999, to parents Rogelio and Gloria Guillén, who originated from Zacatecas State in Mexico. She had five siblings. Guillén attended Hartman Middle School and according to her family, Guillen graduated from César E. Chávez High School in 2018 in the top 15% of her class. She played soccer, loved to jog, and enjoyed sports and learning. Guillén joined the United States Army in June 2018 and trained as a 91F, Small Arms and Artillery Repairer.

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Private First Class Vanessa Guillen was stationed at Fort Hood Army Base in Killeen, Texas. During her service, Guillen was sexually harassed by a superior and later on was declared a missing person. PFC Guillen was murdered by a fellow soldier, her death sparked a #MeToo movement in the U.S. Military. Vanessa Guillen's death did not only create hope for survivors but change in a form of legislation.

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