Victoria residents respond to Fort Hood shootings
'You would never think anything like this would happen,' soldier says
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Thursday's Fort Hood shootings hit a little too close to home for many in the Crossroads region, especially William Clay.
Clay, a corporal in the U.S. Army, is stationed at the base but was away to attend a wedding in Victoria.
"I have no idea what to think," said Clay, who was born in San Antonio but lived in Victoria from 1997 to 2004. "I mean, it's weird because you would never think anything like this would happen."
The 29-year-old soldier, stationed at the base since 2004, said nothing like this has ever happened in his time there.
He didn't have many details, he said, adding that he was still trying to get in touch with friends.
"I have no idea where the shootings were," he said. "I called a friend, but he said they were on lock-down. His wife and kids were on lock-down at the schools, too."
Back in Victoria, Joe Talbott, commander of Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 4146, said he learned of the shootings about 4 p.m. Thursday.
The violence among soldiers upsets him, said Talbott, who fought in Vietnam.
"I don't understand it," he said. "It doesn't make sense why someone would turn on someone else like that at Fort Hood. Something's going wrong somewhere."
It's a shame when young soldiers and their families can't even feel safe on a military installation, said Marvin Lockhart, who served in the United States Air Force during Vietnam.
"How can we expect to feel safe in our own homes," asked Lockhart, who also works with local veteran organizations. "It's a crying shame."
Lockhart said he will continue to watch the story unfold over the upcoming days.
Lupita Martinez, national president of the Catholic War Veterans Auxiliary, said she, too, will keep an eye on the story as it unfolds.
Right now, she said, her thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed.
"It's got to be so hard," said Martinez, who lives in Victoria. "They've been to Iraq, they've been to Afghanistan, and then for this to happen at home."
Martinez's husband, Daniel Martinez, is a Vietnam War veteran and the couple lived at Fort Polk, La., when they were first married.
"You're a close-knit group," she said of those who live on a base. "This is really, really hard."
A person never wants to hear about such violence happening, but it's especially difficult when it happens on U.S. soil, said Bruce Woods, an agent with State Farm Insurance in Victoria.
"It's a sad tragedy, especially so close to Veterans' Day," Woods said.
Details were still murky Thursday evening, but it's likely Clay will soon have more answers. He's scheduled to return to Fort Hood by midnight Friday.
"I really don't know what's going on, but I'm able to go back."
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Oh Bubbles, settle down, I cannot attack or insult you personally. You are very easily frazzled. I have my opinion and you have yours. The funny thing is we agree on a lot. LOL
November 7, 2009 at 5:20 p.m.I see this Major as a devout Muslim who chose to kill American soldiers that he had served with for many years rather than face going to the Middle East and taking part in a military action against members of his religion. He chose religion over friendship, duty, honor and code. This man is as much a terrorist as the men who flew the planes into the World Trade towers and our president has the nerve to stand and say we are not now and never will be at war with Islam.
November 6, 2009 at 3:20 p.m.where is Jack Nickelson, the actor?
order the "CODE RED"! .......now!!!!!!!!
November 6, 2009 at 2:51 p.m.Yes, that is good...continue to live in the land of bunnies, rainbows, and deer...
VISD mom...reality is, this rag monster blogged and posted anti-american propoganda and was under investigation for prior to this incident...they are all sleepers awaiting their time to pop
November 6, 2009 at 2:09 p.m.This information was given to me by a solider who is currently at Fort Hood. Thought I would pass this message on.
Posted by III Corps and Fort Hood: We appreciate the out-pouring of love and support for our Fort Hood Community. Chaplains are now accepting donations to assist Fort Hood Soldiers and Families. Checks can be mailed to: Chaplain's Funds Office 761st Tank Bn, Bldg 44 Fort Hood, TX 76544 Please annotate: Fort Hood tragedy on the memo line. Thank you for your support.
November 6, 2009 at 1:32 p.m.With all due respect to all our men and women who wear the uniform, and to those on this blog...this was not "another black day created by Islam"...this was another black day created by a crazy man who may or may not be in with a terrorist organization.
He has been reported as Muslim, he shows in a grainy film footage as wearing Middle Eastern-style robes, but what does that really mean? You can call me Catholic or Jewish or Protestant, but it doesn't make it so. To state that "all Muslims worldwide (are) joyous with the killing of innocent lives..." is absolutely ridiculous. We have Muslim citizens here in Victoria, and I certainly don't see them celebrating. That is simply a foolish, inflamatory statement.
November 6, 2009 at 1:14 p.m.Just another coward with a gun.
November 6, 2009 at 12:52 p.m.I called Ft Hood home for several years while in uniform and need to make a few things clear. I would have to doubt that anyone of any significance was taunting this major. It just doesn’t happen w/o being dealt with in the military, esp. with his rank. You don’t stand in the lion’s cage and rattle until your heart’s content. Also, this man is a coward. It was the US military that got his chicken sh*# butt through med school. Don’t think the jihad has any such programs. This man is truly an enemy within. My prayers go out to the family and friends of those warriors (men & women both) that lost their lives yesterday as they prepared to deploy and defend our freedom.
November 6, 2009 at 12:36 p.m.sorry for all the typos...just frustrated
November 6, 2009 at 11:32 a.m.Another black day created by Islam again...
sure they can use the excuse of they were teasing me and I want to get out...and the sad part is the media will buy his thought...HOOK Line and Sinker...
But, let me tell you something about life in the military since I grew up in the military and served as well...
1) The military has their own law and code of justice
2) The guy was a Major, meaning, a high ranking Commissioned Officer which was educated by the government and then required to serve an active duty committment he himself agreed to.
3) If he knew all those he killed they would of all had to have been Commissioned Officers dead because, Officers do not associate with Non commissioned personel other than to give direct orders...that is military code of conduct and it has always been that way...
4)If any one was teasing him and say for example, he was an NCO there is a process which takes minimal effort for him to enact, the perpetrating NCO would have received a reprimand, Artical 15, suspended pay, suspended rank, days extra duty, days in the stockade(military jail) for the first offense...You can not tell me, this was the situation going on...Even a CO perpetrating this type of conduct would have be reprimanded had this supposed phycologist did not have mental fortitude to follow procedure in the military...
5) This man killed others with intent to murder and he thought the actions out, simply for knowing where a lot of people would be, and the type of weapons to use. He was a sleeper, Islamic muslim that made all muslims worldwide joyous with the killing of innocent lives...that is their MO and they will always be that way in our mist as long as we allow them to mingle around us and our children...a ticking time bomb awaiting to explode.
6) You must know your enemy to understand where and how to defeat them...Islam knows their enemy...we remain fools for not acknowleging our enemy...
I have seen the enemy and it is us
November 6, 2009 at 10:57 a.m.