The Pentagon announced Oct. 24 that SSgt. Brian P. Hause, 29, of Stoystown, Pa., died the day before of non-combat related medical causes while deployed to Iraq from the 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron at Shaw AFB, S.C. There were no further details in the release, which said the “incident is under investigation.”
The Air Force has spent more than two years studying cancer risks to Airmen who work with the service's intercontinental ballistic missiles. Now lawmakers in Congress are placing fresh scrutiny on the issue and have prepared legislation that would direct the service to clean silos and launch facilities.