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Heroes honored at game
Fort Hood responders take field as UNT, Army remember 13 victims12:58 AM CST on Sunday, November 22, 2009
When Claudia Moore first heard the rapid gunfire and the screams that followed, she paused, but then continued her phlebotomy work at the Fort Hood Soldier Readiness Processing Center.
It was just another drill, albeit a realistic one, Moore thought. Seconds later a panicked soldier ran up to her, telling her it was the real thing and to run, she said Saturday at Fouts Field.
Moore ran and hid behind a Dumpster, trying to get as far away from the building as possible, she said.
While hiding, Moore said, she saw the gunman exit the building and continue his spree, shooting a female police officer, who collapsed to the ground.
She said she saw the shooter take two steps toward the woman’s fallen body and heard two pops from his gun.
Accused gunman Nidal Malik Hasan was soon shot by police, she said, and she remembered him as a man a fellow phlebotomist took blood from the previous day.
“This [seeing the execution-style shooting] won’t go away anytime soon,” she said. “I hate how casual it was — this was not a rushed thing. It was like he didn’t care at all.”
Moore and 12 other soldiers and civilians — some of the first responders to the Nov. 5 massacre at Fort Hood — were recognized before Saturday’s football game between the University of North Texas and Army.
As the 13 first responders stood on the field, the 13 people killed at Fort Hood were honored with a moment of silence, during which pictures of the victims were shown on the stadium’s video screen.
The UNT football team played with Army stickers on the back of its helmets on Saturday, said UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal.
“It’s to remember the soldiers that have lost their lives in the line of duty,” Villarreal said. “This game is about America and enjoying an American pastime.”
“The North Texas community has been very supportive and welcomed us,” said Lt. Gen. Franklin “Buster” Hagenbeck, superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. “The community is affected by what happened, especially those bonded in uniform.”
Moore said she remembers a civilian at the base taking off her bra to use as a tourniquet on a soldier’s wounded leg, likely saving his life.
“I know we saved people in there,” Moore said. “It was awesome — every person that needed help was taken care of.”
Sgt. Al Wood Mangum, one of the first responders, said that soon after he heard the gunfire, he saw a soldier with a shoulder wound staggering from the building.
Even though Mangum has never been sent into combat and does paperwork at Fort Hood, he quickly started using his basic combat training to tie tourniquets and hook up IVs for several hours after the shootings, he said.
While there are those on edge at Fort Hood, Mangum said, the bonds of the military are still there.
“Everyone is back to normal,” Mangum said.
Spc. Michael Smith is a medic brought in from a nearby base to help at Fort Hood in the aftermath of the shootings.
“I definitely see a bond. It’s the same one as before … it’s like a family,” Smith said. “And I’m glad to help.”
CANDACE CARLISLE can be reached at 940-566-6889. Her e-mail address is ccarlisle@dentonrc.com.
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