Crimesider
Crimesider
November 12, 2009 6:42 PM

Fort Hood Massacre Casts Especially Dark Shadow on Veterans Day

By
Sammy Rose Saltzman
Topics
Daily Blotter
(Facebook Photo)
NEW YORK (CBS) As American families mourn loved ones lost in combat and celebrate the heroes of war, the loss of 13 men and women in last week's Fort Hood, Texas massacre runs especially deep.

PICTURES: Fort Hood's Fallen Heroes

Those who died that day were young and old, natural-born and immigrants, but all were serving this country when they were allegedly gunned down by Army psychologist Nidal Malik Hasan.

The youngest of the dead, 19-year-old Pfc. Aaron Thomas Nemelka, of the Salt Lake City suburb of West Jordan, Utah, chose to join the Army instead of going on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his uncle Christopher Nemelka said.

Pvt. Francheska Velez, 21, of Chicago, had just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq. She was three months pregnant and due home by December for the start of maternity leave.

Physician assistant Mike Cahill, 62, the one civilian to be killed, had recovered from a heart attack two weeks prior to the shooting. His daughter, Keely Vanacker said, "He survived that. He was getting back on track, and he gets killed by a gunman."

Military police have yet to find a clear motive for the attack. Hassan, the alleged gunman, communicated with a radical Muslim imam, according to a Defense Department terrorism investigator. Other military reports have denied that. Still other reports have said there was contact but the exchange was about the effects of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan rather than any violent plot.

Hassan was injured in the attack, but not killed.

In addition to the dead, 29 were wounded.

PICTURES: Fort Hood's Fallen Heroes

More Coverage of the Tragedy at Fort Hood:
Special Section: Tragedy at Fort Hood
Neighbor: Ft. Hood Suspect Packed Up Home
Under Attack, Soldiers' Instincts Kick In
Female Cop Hailed as Ft. Hood Hero
"Allahu Akbar": Hasan's Words as He Fired?
Military Spouse's Reaction
Forensic Psychiatrist on Possible Mindset of Ft. Hood Suspect
Suspect's Past Marked by "Difficulties"
Radical Ties Not Ruled Out at Ft. Hood
Store's Video May Show Ft. Hood Suspect
Anti-Muslim Backlash Immediate
Fort Hood Rampage Suspect Sill Alive
What Was Shooter's Motive?
Soldier Opens Fire at Ft. Hood; 13 Dead
U.S. Army Base Violence Has Bloody History
Obama: Fort Hood Shooting "Horrific"
Fast Facts: Fort Hood
Tragedy at Fort Hood

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