Fort Hood Resident: Incident "Disturbing"

(CBS)  Fort Hood is the largest U.S. military base - home to more than 53,000 active duty soldiers, many of whom have served multiple times in Iraq and Afghanistan. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a major concern there as at any base.

CBS News Anchor Katie Couric spoke via Skype with Carissa Picard, an advocate for soldiers suffering from PTSD. Her husband is a soldier based at Fort Hood.

Katie Couric: Can you tell me what was going on when all of this was unfolding?

Carissa Picard: It was a little bit disturbing, for those of us here in the military housing community. We had these tornado sirens, and those started going off and telling us that we needed to seek shelter immediately, close and lock our doors and windows.

It also said that we needed to turn off our ventilation system.

So that last part had us wondering what is going on? At that point we didn't know that there had been this mass shooting.

Couric: And we understood from a spokesman at Ft. Hood, General Cone, it took place in the building where soldiers are processed before they go off on their deployments?

Picard:In fact, it's also the building where when you come back from a deployment, you actually go through you're first PTSD screening, or your screening to see if you're at risk for that.

It's the first place that when a unit returns in mass, they would have to go individually into this building, and this is their first contact with a social worker or a counselor.

Couric:Your husband and your children were off base when this happened. Are they ok now? Have you talked with them.

Picard:The kids are really scared. My husband's scared. There were a lot of rumors going around. Plus, where the shooting occurred is really close to our housing development.

It's been tense. It's also changed our perspective regarding living on post. Because we always associated living on post with safety.

There has been a marked rise in violence, in suicides, in shootings this past summer, it was rampant. It just seems as though things are continuing to escalate.

More coverage of the tragedy at Fort Hood:

Ft. Hood Suspect ID'd as Army Psychiatrist
Soldier Opens Fire at Ft. Hood; 12 Dead
What was Shooter's Motive?
U.S. Army Base Violence Has Bloody History
Obama: Fort Hood Shooting "Horrific"
Fast Facts: Fort Hood
Tragedy at Fort Hood

[kwcaresaventura]

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[SolaFidelity]

Lord Smellington, 100% agreement here. This is not the DSA. It is the USA (or was)...

[hohokam4444]

I do not watch CBS news but I was at my mother's home and she had it on CBS News; as usual, quite a bit of drivel from Ms. Couric and perhaps that is the main reason so many people of my generation do not watch her; she comes across as silly and insincere and gives "emotional" stories; we need to get the facts and then make up our own minds; we do not need to get what I call the CD (Couric Drivel) but then people like her just go on and on like the Energizer Bunny...ah, well, my mother is 83 and watches CBS News...that says it all!

[LordSmellington]

I guess this is how the US Army celebrates diversity. Let's outsource our military leadership and bring more foreigners here and give them commissions in the Army! Great idea! This guy was a field-grade officer for Christ's sake! Imagine if he held out longer and became a general officer the damage he could have done physically or as an intelligence mole. I'm an Army veteran and, I am ashamed to say, I would never, ever, ever, ever, allow my son join any of the services now because of this ********* and I would encourage all parents to do the same. This makes me sick...Liberalism, truly, is a mental disorder and it has now poisoned our once great military.

[U_S_Drug_Addict]

Great idea, lets keep Muslims, Latinos, Asians, and ever other monorities out of the Armed Services. the wars would be over in a few months with no one to redeploy.

[Nickste03]

Hey Rob, I CAN'T FIND YOUR E-MAIL!!! THIS IS REALLY URGENT!!!


I need you to send my reference immediately to Russell, my friend that arranged and paid for the Sheraton stay for us when we went to NYC for the conference last year, he has a book business and needs someone who has a computer to do some ads online for him. I was in New York when I went to school with him before I left for Texas so I thought I couldn't work because I am out of state but apparently he will still hire you. The job is real easy and I heard he needs someone immediately so please send it quick.


I've been waiting for 5 months for him to get an opening. Josh told me his assistant had to take a pregnancy leave and he is planning to hire a trainee so this is my chance! Josh is working for him and is APPARENTLY MAKING AROUND $3000 A WEEK, he got BMW 325 after a month (on monthly payments I guess but still) ! AND AFTER 3 MONTHS HE SAID THERE IS A $9000 BONUS! Pretty sweet. I really need this job. It will let me work from home so I can finish this semester.


He has an opening occasionally. So he is hiring someone now so please call him within the next 5 days or so and get his fax to send him my recommendation that you wrote for Break Marketing. You can reach him at 347-664-3420 to get his fax. Thanks, I really appreciate it!

Nick