11/5/09

A horrible mass shooting in Fort Hood Texas has taken the lives of 12 and wounded thirty one others on one of the largest military bases in America. Many of the casualties were set to be deployed overseas. But still alive is the army officer suspected of opening fire with two hand guns.

"Preliminary reports indicate there was a single shooter, that was shot multiple times at the scene, however, he was not killed as previously reported," says Army Lt. Gen. Robert Cone.

Authorities have the shooter in custody and have identified him as Major Nidal Hasan, a psychiatrist who was about to be deployed. The base has had the highest number of casualties in Iraq, more than any other in the country. Some fifteen thousand troops based there are currently in Iraq.

"It's difficult enough when we lose these brave Americans in battles overseas, it is horrifying that they should come under fire at an army base on American soil," says President Barack Obama.

The shootings started at one thirty local time at the Solider Readiness Processing Center. That's where soldiers prepare for deployment, getting doctor and medical examinations. Family members of the wounded, say on the base isn't where they expected this to happen.

"I didn't think that I would hear about this here, she's being deployed to Iraq December 7th, and I thought that I was more worried about her going over to Iraq than here," says one mother of a wounded solider.

Others are frustrated they're not getting answers from the military.

"Any number I call, it either rings or they give me a different number, and those people obviously they sent me in the wrong direction to find out any information," says another mother of a wounded solider.

Two Oregon National Guard troops were at the fort during the attack, but they were not hurt. Fort Hood is home to about fifty-two thousand troops, located between Austin and Waco Texas. It's still unclear how many active duty soldiers stationed at Fort Hood are from Oregon.