Ft. Hood Shooting: Composure Under Fire

Doctor, Wounded Soldier Describe Scene at Base After Gunfire Erupted; Medical Teams' Response Praised

(CBS/AP)  In the hail of gunshots at Fort Hood last Thursday Pvt. Joseph Foster took a hit in the leg.

"The bullet just went in, hit my femur and bounced right back out," he said on CBS' "The Early Show." "Just a pretty good hole."

His injury is healing, but he recalled that at the moment he was shot during last week's rampage he felt "kind of scared. Only one word to really describe it: terrifying."

Foster, 21, confirmed reports that during the shooting Hasan "did yell in Arabic. He hopped up and stated, 'Allahu Akbar.'"

Foster, who was scheduled for deployment to Afghanistan in January, said that despite his injury and unease on his wife's part, he is ready to go: "I'm a soldier. It's my job."

Across Fort Hood, signs point to a post on the mend after Thursday's shooting spree that killed 13 and wounded another 29.

Special Section: Tragedy at Fort Hood

Accused gunman Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, shot in the torso by civilian police to end the rampage, was in critical but stable condition and breathing on his own at an Army hospital in San Antonio.

Sixteen victims remained hospitalized with gunshot wounds, and seven were in intensive care.

Dr. Stephen Beckwith, who was one of the first on the scene to treat the wounded, said he was impressed by the camaraderie and composure under duress that he witnessed:

"I think the first thing that really stood out to me was what soldiers were doing really for their buddies on the scene," he told Rodriguez. "A lot of buddies were coming in with makeshift stretchers and whatnot. I remember at least one or two soldiers who waved me away and said, 'See this guy first.' So I think that's just fantastic to see that kind of composure out of our kids out there."

He also praised the work of the medical teams given what were the worst of conditions:

"Just the number of patients was more than most of us had seen at one time," Dr. Beckwith said. "So dealing with the volume was difficult. But I think we put a pretty good response together. I'm proud of the EMS guys at the scene, folks at the hospital, and really grateful for the support we had from some of the surrounding EMS agencies and surrounding hospitals. They were fantastic in getting our response together."

Warning Signs Missed?

Authorities continue to refer to Hasan, 39, as the only suspect in the shootings but they won't say when charges would be filed and have said they have not determined a motive, amid growing suggestions that Hasan's superior officers may have missed signs that he was embracing an increasingly extremist view of Islamic ideology.

Classmates who participated in a 2007-2008 master's program at a military college said they complained to faculty about what they considered to be Hasan's anti-American views, which included his giving a presentation that justified suicide bombing and telling classmates that Islamic law trumped the U.S. Constitution.

"If Hasan was showing signs, saying to people that he had become an Islamist extremist, the U.S. Army has to have zero tolerance," Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., said on "Fox News Sunday." "He should have been gone." He said he would begin an investigation into what the Army should have known about Hasan.

When asked on "The Early Show" about whether the Army should be held accountable if it turns out that Hasan had any ties to terrorism and they ignored warning signs, Dr. Beckwith was circumspect:

"You know, those things are tough to sort out. It's hard to crawl into someone's head and figure out their motives. Right now we're just focused on taking care of these guys and getting forward from here."

Despite questions that Hasan's viewpoints should have raised red flags about his suitability for serving in the sensitive mission area of counseling other soldiers, and even a report that in 2001 Hasan attended the same Virginia mosque as two of the 9/11 hijackers, Foster did not seem to believe that warning signs had been ignored.

"I have full faith in my Army and my family," he told "Early Show" anchor Maggie Rodriguez. "I think if there was anything that could have been done, it would have been done."

Resolute Soldiers Ready for Return

Even as the community took time to mourn the victims at worship services on and off the post Sunday, Fort Hood spokesman Col. John Rossi said the country's largest military installation was moving forward with the business of soldiering. The processing center where Hasan allegedly opened fire remains a crime scene, but the activities that went on there were relocated, with the goal of soon reopening the center.

"There's a lot of routine activity still happening. You'll hear cannon fire and artillery fire," Rossi said. "Soldiers in units are still trying to execute the missions we have been tasked with."

Sgt. 1st Class Frank Minnie was in the processing center Monday and Wednesday, getting some health tests and immunizations in preparation for his deployment. The mass shooting happened Thursday, but Minnie said Fort Hood soldiers have the attitude that "the mission still goes on."

"Everybody's going to grieve a little bit. It hurts a lot because it's one of your battle buddies, and someone lost a mom, dad, brother or sister," said Minnie, 37, who served in Iraq in 2006. "But it doesn't change my perspective of going to war. I've got a job to do."


More Coverage of the Tragedy at Fort Hood:
Did Army Miss Signs of Hasan's Extremism?
Fort Hood Reflects, but Work Carries On
Hasan Computer Shows No Terror Ties
List of Fort Hood Dead, Wounded

[sam-kiley]

bonjour
désolée pour ce regretable incident..la violence..le crime "gratuit" sont partout..y compris dans l'armée, les motivations aussi sont diverses..il suffit de chercher..cela dit le terrorisme n'a pas de visage..ni de nationalité..ni de raison..pour frapper....la vigilance reste primordiale et de mise..pour parer a cela...au revoir

[jojo9357-2009]

missme4, adios! We don't need your bigoted name calling kind here anyway. You sound racist!

[jsf14]

by missme4 November 9, 2009 9:52 AM EST
"(sorry to be lousy in english, I'm a foreigner...)"

I just got my passport. Pretty soon I will be able to say "I'm a foreigner", too. Tired of being on a losing team with a bunch of red necked morons and greedy scum bags.
Just what country are you going to where they won't have scumbags and redneck equivalents?

[revlin1]

This was a terrorist attack on U.S. soil of the worst kind. That the guy MAY HAVE had ties to radical groups is an understatement. It is time for "politically correct" and lame stream media to go by the wayside. How do we APOLOGIZE to the families of the slain Americans and Will "Mr. Apology tour" Obama do this? Or will he tell us to <"be careful not to jump to conclusions"...OH< what is the same factor turning up in shootings by Muslims at recruiting centers in the USA that the press squashed? SAME THING...Muslims from anywhere around the world in our country, in any job or vocation, killing troops or other infidels and others who are doing their chosen jobs...I say add "hate crimes" to the guys' lists of first degree murder. Why aren't the headlines screaming, 'TERRORIST ATTACK BY MUSLIM ON AMERICAN SOIL ONCE AGAIN"......Arab Americans across the country know there is no such thing as a "moderate" Muslim....they laugh at our politcally correct tolerance while they continue their "hate mongering" of anyone who isn't Muslim. Oh, yes they do...PROVE THAT THEY DON"t...Did any of the largest Muslim groups (funded by us--the taxpayers) come out anytime since and RENOUNCE this act? NOPE...The lame iman was unbelievable in being quoted as saying, the suspect was "troubled"...SO, WHY DIDN'T HE REPORT IT? Newsflash new media...YOU AREN'T DOING YOUR JOB TO PROTECT AMERICANS...Newsflash Army; YOU DROPPED THE BALL by not seeing the signs here with this guy...NEWSFLASH organizations investigating this tragedy...TIME TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT THE WAR ON TERROR..It doesn't matter what Napolitano says...SHE'S DEAD WRONG...There is an agenda inside America from Muslims....Watch and see....We are global alright...see the global Al Quaeda APPLAUD THE GUY and RENOUNCE any American Muslim who condemns his act? WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY?

[monumentalfigure]

"I think if there was anything that could have been done, it would have been done."

Come on! Only a fool can say that!

It is a 100% certain thing that there was a failure, and in preventing this kind of rampages a lesson is to be learnt...

I think organisations are responsible of their participants, managers and foremen of their personnel.

Basically it's the same thing as with everything, discriminating people does nothing but adds hate. Get those muslims to know what is the purpose of actions and they do not (if they just agree to think it thoroughly) hate but participate in action. But don't discriminate, it's a game for idiots!

It is ridiculous to say that war on terrorism is a war on Islam - almost as ridiculous is that civilized people have been discussing thew topic and still this guy didn't come to another conclusion... OK, some people are of a kind with which you can't discuss, but I don't think he was that. And still, if he was, he should not have been in service for some time.

(sorry to be lousy in english, I'm a foreigner...)

[missme4]

"(sorry to be lousy in english, I'm a foreigner...)"

I just got my passport. Pretty soon I will be able to say "I'm a foreigner", too. Tired of being on a losing team with a bunch of red necked morons and greedy scum bags.