Posted on 11/12/2009 1:05:06 PM PST by nickcarraway
1st Responder to Scene of Deadly Shooting Says "Soldiers Do Not Do This to Each Other"; Fort Hood Seeks Return to Normalcy
Soldiers at Fort Hood continued to display a mix of anger and disbelief at Maj. Nidal Hasan's alleged role in the deadly shooting rampage that left 13 people dead and dozens more wounded.
"I can't really say this was done by one of our own. Soldiers do not do this to each other," said 1st Sgt. James McLeod, a first responder to the scene whose unit suffered three fatalities.
But for the first time in almost a week at Fort Hood, there was a homecoming of troops from war - a bittersweet time for the post still grieving last week's shooting. Nearly 300 members of the 1st Cavalry Division returned home Tuesday night after a year in Iraq - the first such reunion since last Thursday's deadly rampage, reports CBS News correspondent Don Teague.
"It's kind of bittersweet to me," Jennifer Goetz, the wife of returning soldier Specialist Sean Goetz told Teague. "So much loss and then just so much happiness right now and love and joy."
Meanwhile, military officials at the base are focused on ensuring the mental health of soldiers as Fort Hood slowly returns to normal after a fatal shooting rampage last week.
"The mission at Fort Hood continues," Col. John Rossi said Wednesday, a day after President Barack Obama joined other officials in a memorial for the fallen.
CBSNews.com Special Report: Fort Hood Massacre
Mr. Obama denounced the "twisted logic" of the attack and vowed their "killer will be met with justice - in this world and the next."
Rossi would not address the specifics of the case against Hasan, an Army psychiatrist.
Instead, Rossi said all the units affected must use a combination of "friendship and leadership" to help any comrades psychologically affected by the attack.
"We expect leaders to be invasive. You need to know your soldiers. It's OK to ask them how they're doing," Rossi said, adding that "battle buddies may know each other better than anybody else" and can be a valuable resource for identifying any emotional problems.
"Let's find it from within and then seek help if they need it," Rossi said.
Fifteen wounded in the attack remain in the hospital - four in intensive care - according to Rossi. He could not confirm whether any scheduled deployments would be delayed in the wake of the attack.
Specialist Logan Burnett, who survived three gunshots, described how he and other defenseless soldiers threw chairs and folding tables at Hasan - a desperate effort to stop the shooting.
A wounded Burnett crawled toward another building, where he was saved by a fellow soldier.
"He drug me by the collar, pulled me into the building and locked me in an office in that second building and performed first aid on me," Burnett said.
Further investigation into Hasan's background has led to more questions. He had e-mail contact with Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical imam who has urged Muslims to attack U.S. soldiers overseas - a revelation that has caused finger-pointing among government agencies about why more red flags weren't raised about Hasan.
And in 2007, Hasan delivered a lecture to senior Army physicians at Walter Reed Medical Center, where he spent time as an intern, resident and fellow, warning military officials against forcing Muslim soldiers to fight against their religious brethren. He advised allowing Muslim GIs the option of being conscientious objectors in order to avoid "adverse effects."
Rossi said a news conference is scheduled for Thursday at 12:00 CST at Fort Hood to further address the case against Hasan.
Radical Islam is an insane murder cult; moderate Islam is its Trojan Horse in the West.
Yup...the only difference is ‘moderates’ use remote detonators.
So, will the murderer get his virgin boys when he dies? Zero the Great said their “killer will be met with justice - in this world and the next”. ;0)
“Soldiers Do Not Do This to Each Other”
- Well no, not ones that have their facilities intact and refuse to service the Devil.
Once the Devil has you, you belong to him.
Hasan is a treacherous traitor. He took an oath to protect and defend the constitution and protect the US from ALL ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.
Too bad the military doesn't use firing squads anymore. I'm sure there would be plenty of volunteers.
For the sake of the survivors, I hope the justice is served quickly.
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