Springfield (KMTR) - Fort Hood, Texas, is a major U. S. Army basic training facility, but it is not known if any Oregon soldiers were among the 13 people killed or the 30 who were hurt in Thursday’s shooting.
At the Oregon National Guard’s Springfield Armory Thursday, a meeting was in progress for Guard members and families involved in the reintegration of combat veterans into civilian life.
Sergeant Philip Highwood helps returning military members after duty overseas. A combat veteran himself, Highwood says what happened at Fort Hood is devastating, but he believes finding out how it happened will result in better care for all soldiers.
“One soldier being dead in a situation like that is one too many,” said Highwood. “It shouldn't have happened. But there's a reason why it did happen and that's why we have our vet centers and that's why we have the reintegration team and anyone else that assists veterans."
Michelle Kochosky, speaking for military families said, “It's such a closed community in the military, so it’s heartbreaking for us. And to know it happened on an installation is almost a little scary to us who are family members of the military."
Local members of the military are also wondering what sort of increased security may result at all military installations.
