GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The basic military trainee who died at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas during an influenza outbreak was from Grand Rapids.
“I am heartbroken by the loss of Airman First Class Keon Talik McDaniel of Grand Rapids, a proud West Michigander, Keon answered the call to serve his country with courage,” wrote Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Michigan, in a social media post Thursday evening.
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According to Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, McDaniel, 25, died of the flu amid an influenza outbreak at Lackland. The Air Force’s official notice of McDaniel’s death did not mention the flu, saying the trainee “experienced a medical emergency” and passed away at the hospital.
“The cause of the medical emergency is currently under investigation, and a comprehensive medical review is being conducted to determine the facts,” read a June 17 release from the Air Force’s 37th Training Wing…