Reactions to the Fort Hood shootings four years later
Philip Jankowski at the Killeen Daily Herald reflects on how things have changed at Fort Hood in the four years since the shooting that killed 13 people and wounded more than 30. Retired Staff Sgt. Alonzo Lunsford says he has not found closure, and was disappointed that he didn’t have the chance to directly confront his assailant in court through a victim’s impact statement. Full story.
Navy Helicopter crash In the Middle East was avoidable
An investigation by the Virginian-Pilot discovered that a helicopter crash in Oman that killed two Navy men could have been prevented with more stringent adherence to safety procedures. Reporter Mike Hixenbaugh details the events of the accident and the numerous missteps that led up to the tragedy. Full story.
Medal of Honor Recipients Urge Troops to Get Mental Health Help
During a visit to Camp Lejeune, two Marine recipients of the Medal of Honor spent their time at the podium urging troops and their families to get help for their mental health if they need it. Both Marines earned the medals for service in Vietnam, and talked about the pain of bringing war home with you, as well as the increased availability of mental health resources for soldiers compared to the era when they were returning from war. Reporter Thomas Brennan relays some of their key points for the Jacksonville Daily News.
