Review of Fort Hood Shooting Launched by Pentagon
Last week, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced that the military will be looking into the Fort Hood shooting more carefully, which is a good thing. The military is so large today that people sometimes get lost in the system. That doesn’t mean that the whole military system is bad, however. Oh no, that’s not what I’m saying. It’s good that the military can look at itself closely when tragedies like this do occur.
As you know, the incident happened on November 5, 2009 at Fort Hood, Texas, and left 13 dead and dozens injured.
“In light of the Fort Hood incident and unique challenges, the Army will conduct a more in-depth, detailed assessment of whether Army programs, policies and procedures reasonably could have prevented the shooting,” he said. The Army’s findings will be submitted as part of the Army’s contribution to the departmental review, Gates added.
“Its results will inform and largely shape a departmentwide follow-on examination of any systemic institutional shortcomings, an examination I expect to be completed within four to six months,” he said.
“There is nothing any of us can say to ease the pain for the wounded, the families of the fallen, and the members of the Fort Hood community touched by this incident — pain I saw vividly and firsthand yesterday in Mountain City, Tenn.,” he said. “All that is left for us to do is everything in our power to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.”
Sgt Stryker (respectfully) out.
Dead are:
– Lt. Col. Juanita L. Warman, 55, of Havre De Grace, Md. She was assigned to the 1908th Medical Company, Independence, Mo.
– Maj. Libardo Caraveo, 52, of Woodbridge, Va. He was assigned to the 467th Medical Detachment, Madison, Wis.
– Capt. John P. Gaffaney, 54, of San Diego. He was assigned to the 1908th Medical Company, Independence, Mo.
– Capt. Russell Seager, 41, of Racine, Wis. He was assigned to the 467th Medical Company, Madison, Wis.
– Staff Sgt. Justin Decrow, 32, of Plymouth, Ind. He was assigned to the 16th Signal Company at Fort Hood.
– Sgt. Amy Krueger, 29, of Kiel, Wis. She was assigned to the 467th Medical Company, Madison, Wis.
– Spc. Jason Hunt, 22, of Tillman, Okla. He was assigned to the 1st Brigade at Fort Hood.
– Spc. Frederick Greene, 29, of Mountain City, Tenn. He was assigned to the 16th Signal Company at Fort Hood.
– Pfc. Aaron Nemelka, 19, of West Jordan, Utah. He was assigned to the 510th Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, at Fort Hood.
– Pfc. Michael Pearson, 22, of Bolinbrook, Ill. He was assigned to the 510th Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, at Fort Hood.
– Spc. Kham Xiong, 23, of St. Paul, Minn. He was assigned to the 510th Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, at Fort Hood.
– Pvt. Francheska Velez, 21, of Chicago. She was assigned to the 15th Combat Support Battalion at Fort Hood.
– Michael Cahill of Cameron, Texas, a Fort Hood civilian employee.
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Army Reserve Honors Fort Hood Fallen Soldiers
First Sgt. Mark Demers gives the final roll call at a remembrance ceremony for the five Army Reserve Soldiers who died in the shooting at Fort Hood, Texas. The ceremony was held at the Headquarters, U.S. Army Reserve Command, Fort McPherson, Ga., Nov. 18, 2009. Killed in the shooting were: Lt. Col. Juanita Warman, Maj. L. Eduardo Caraveo, Cpt. John Gaffaney, Cpt. Russell Seager and Sgt. Amy Krueger. Photo by Timothy Hale
A memorial display honoring the five Army Reserve Soldiers who died in the shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, sits in front of the Headquarters, U.S. Army Reserve Command, Fort McPherson, Ga., Nov. 18, 2009. Killed in the shooting were: Lt. Col. Juanita Warman, Maj. L. Eduardo Caraveo, Cpt. John Gaffaney, Cpt. Russell Seager and Sgt. Amy Krueger.
Maj. Gen. James Sholar, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Reserve Command, pays his respects at a remembrance ceremony for the five Army Reserve Soldiers who died in the shooting at Fort Hood, Texas. The ceremony was held at the Headquarters, U.S. Army Reserve Command, Fort McPherson, Ga., Nov. 18, 2009. Killed in the shooting were: Lt. Col. Juanita Warman, Maj. L. Eduardo Caraveo, Cpt. John Gaffaney, Cpt. Russell Seager and Sgt. Amy Krueger.
Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz, commanding general U.S. Army Reserve Command, gives his remarks at a remembrance ceremony for the five Army Reserve Soldiers who died in the shooting at Fort Hood, Texas. The ceremony was held at the Headquarters, U.S. Army Reserve Command, Fort McPherson, Ga., Nov. 18, 2009. Killed in the shooting were: Lt. Col. Juanita Warman, Maj. L. Eduardo Caraveo, Cpt. John Gaffaney, Cpt. Russell Seager and Sgt. Amy Krueger.