Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) announced her oldest brother, Donald Reed Herring, has died of the coronavirus.
“My oldest brother, Don Reed, died from coronavirus on Tuesday evening. He joined the Air Force at 19 and spent his career in the military, including five and a half years off and on in combat in Vietnam,” Warren tweeted. “He was charming and funny, a natural leader.”
My oldest brother, Don Reed, died from coronavirus on Tuesday evening. He joined the Air Force at 19 and spent his career in the military, including five and a half years off and on in combat in Vietnam. He was charming and funny, a natural leader. https://t.co/b8m0xKzAmM
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 23, 2020
She went on to explain the qualities that made her brother unique.
“What made him extra special was his smile—quick and crooked, it always seemed to generate its own light, one that lit up everyone around him,” Warren tweeted.
I’m grateful to the nurses and frontline staff who took care of him, but it’s hard to know that there was no family to hold his hand or to say “I love you” one more time—and no funeral for those of us who loved him to hold each other close. I'll miss you dearly my brother. pic.twitter.com/oOG6HArEL6
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 23, 2020
Warren expressed her gratitude to the health care workers who helped her brother during this time. She also acknowledged the difficulty of not being able to be with him.
“I’m grateful to the nurses and frontline staff who took care of him, but it’s hard to know that there was no family to hold his hand or to say ‘I love you’ one more time—and no funeral for those of us who loved him to hold each other close. I’ll miss you dearly my brother,” Warren tweeted.
According to reports, Herring was admitted to a facility to be treated for pneumonia in February. He was recovering from the illness before contracting the coronavirus. Herring died within a few days of being placed in an intensive care unit.
The coronavirus continues to claim lives across the United States. As of Thursday afternoon, there are over 845,000 positive coronavirus cases and more than 46,000 deaths.
Warren announced her departure from the campaign trail earlier in March, after failing to garner enough delegates and endorsements, as IJR previously reported.
Warren endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden (D) shortly after he received endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and former President Barack Obama, as IJR previously reported.