Tulsa World: Obama honors Fort Hood victims

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Obama honors Fort Hood victims

President Barack Obama speaks at a memorial services at Fort Hood, Texas, on Tuesday. PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS/ Associated Press

By BEN FELLER Associated Press
Published: 11/11/2009 2:25 AM
Last Modified: 11/11/2009 5:25 AM

FORT HOOD, Texas — One by one, President Barack Obama spoke the names and told the stories Tuesday of the 13 people slain in the Fort Hood shooting rampage, honoring their memories as he denounced the "twisted logic" that led to their deaths.

"No faith justifies these murderous and craven acts; no just and loving God looks upon them with favor," Obama told the crowd on a steamy Texas afternoon. "And for what he has done, we know that the killer will be met with justice — in this world and the next."

He did not name Maj. Nidal Hasan, the military psychiatrist accused of the killings.

As for the victims and the soldiers who rushed to help them, Obama said, "We need not look to the past for greatness, because it is before our very eyes." He spoke at a memorial service before a crowd estimated at 15,000 on this enormous Army post.

The president and first lady Michelle Obama began an afternoon of consolation by meeting privately with family members of those killed last week and with those wounded in the attack and their families. Obama used his public remarks to put a human face on those who perished, victims ranging in age from 19 to 62. He also used his platform to speak indirectly to questions about whether the alleged shooter had ties to extremist Islamic ideology.

Thousands upon thousands of people, many of them soldiers dressed in camouflage, gathered to pay their respects and hear the president. The shooting killed 12 soldiers and 1 civilian, injured 29 others and left a nation stunned and searching for answers.

Below the stage where Obama spoke was a somber tribute to the fallen — 13 pairs of combat boots, each with an inverted rifle topped with a helmet. A picture of each person rested below the boots. After the ceremony, Obama walked solemnly along the row of boots, placing a commander in chief's coin next to each victim's photo in tribute.

When soldiers and loved ones traced the same path to remember those lost and give a final salute, one woman nearly collapsed with grief.

Even as Obama honored the dead, there was government finger-pointing over what had been known about Hasan and whether he should have been investigated further.

One soldier who attended the memorial said the mood at Fort Hood was turning from sadness to anger as soldiers learned more about Hasan's background.

"A lot of folks are angry because they feel this could have been prevented," said Spc. Brian Hill, a 25-year-old soldier from Nashville, Tenn., who was injured in Iraq and walks with a cane. "Somebody should have been paying attention."

Obama remembered the slain not as shooting victims but as husbands and fathers, immigrants and scholars, optimists and veterans of the war in Iraq. He cited one woman who was pregnant when she was gunned down.

The president spoke to loved ones left behind, saying: "Here is what you must also know: Your loved ones endure through the life of our nation."

"Every evening that the sun sets on a tranquil town; every dawn that a flag is unfurled; every moment that an American enjoys life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — that is their legacy," he said.

Later, the president and first lady went to a military hospital to meet with those still recovering from wounds incurred during the attack. Fort Hood officials said that 15 of 29 people wounded in last week's shooting rampage remain hospitalized, three of them in intensive care.

The ceremony unfolded in a field at the headquarters of the massive post, cordoned off with walls of steel shipping containers. Many soldiers in the crowd listened intently to Obama's speech, standing stoically, some with heads bowed.

Sheila Wormuth, whose husband is stationed at Fort Hood, came with her 3-year-old daughter to show their support. While her husband wasn't at the shooting site, she said, "what happens to my husband's brothers and sisters happens to us."

The victims:

Chief Warrant Officer Michael Grant Cahill, 62, of Cameron, Texas.

Maj. Libardo Eduardo Caraveo. 52. of Woodbridge, Va.

Staff Sgt. Justin M. De- Crow, 32, of Evans, Ga.

Capt. John Gaffaney, 56, of San Diego.

Spc. Frederick Greene, 29, of Mountain City, Tenn.

Spc. Jason Dean Hunt, 22, of Frederick, Okla.

Sgt. Amy Krueger, 29, of Kiel, Wis.

Pfc. Aaron Thomas Nemelka, 19, of West Jordan, Utah.

Pfc. Michael Pearson, 22, of Bolingbrook, Ill.

Capt. Russell Seager, 51, of Racine, Wis.

Pvt. Francheska Velez, 21, of Chicago.

Lt. Col. Juanita Warman, 55, of Havre de Grace, Md.

Pfc. Kham Xiong, 23, of St. Paul, Minn. By BEN FELLER Associated Press

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Obama salutes Fort Hood victims," which was published on 11/10/2009.

	Report Comment 2ndjoyce, BA (11/10/2009 5:12:25 PM) I don't see how President Obama's words could be criticized, but I've come to expect the worst on this site, so it will come as no surprise, even on this somber day. My heart goes out to all these fallen soldiers and their families. May those who are mourning their loss and those who are recuperating find peace in your faith, family and friends.
	Report Comment Elusive, the burbs (11/10/2009 5:18:11 PM) It was a very touching memorial service, couldn't help but shed some tears for them. God be with these families.
	Report Comment edelweiss, Tulsa (11/10/2009 5:48:42 PM) Beautiful and moving service.
	Report Comment 2ndjoyce, BA (11/10/2009 6:25:29 PM) See? ....not surprised at the source, either.
	Report Comment oldrustytulsa, Tulsa (11/10/2009 7:22:47 PM) The Obama administration has Not taken any stance on Muslim Terrorists activity here in America, they act as if this was a Crime by a gang banger.We are at WAR with Muslin Fanatics, aka the Taliban in Afghanistan, does he Obama know that.?
	Report Comment Smedj, Tulsa (11/10/2009 7:35:39 PM) Total idiots.
	Report Comment 2ndjoyce, BA (11/10/2009 7:38:40 PM) Wine? Nope, don't drink it. Soaps? Nope, don't watch them. Got up at 7:15 this morning. You have me all wrong, skinny, but then you have a lot of things all wrong.
	Report Comment 007, Tulsa (11/10/2009 7:40:49 PM) "The Obama administration has Not taken any stance on Muslim Terrorists activity here in America" well neither did bush, and well we know what happened on 09/11/01, but then again his daddy is friends with the saudi prince.
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (11/10/2009 7:49:44 PM) Speaking out is not being disrespectful to the men and women who lost their lives and those that were wounded at Ft Hood. My heart genuinely breaks for them more then anyone can know. . The Obama administration is dragging their feet at helping our men and women in Afghanistan. This is what happened in Vietnam. We paid a high price then and we will again pay a high unnecessary price. If they don't want to send help, then bring our troops home. . I think Obama is a hypocrite. Actions speak louder then words, always has and always will. . Everyone is entitled to their opinion. That is one of our freedoms.
	Report Comment 007, Tulsa (11/10/2009 8:04:39 PM) Thunder196. "Actions speak louder then words, always has and always will." yeah and bush's ACTIONS got us in this mess in afghanistan, well I think the ACTION is called iraq. If not for that, we would have enough troops for afghanistan!!!!
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (11/10/2009 8:21:27 PM) 007 . I'm thinking of the present. We can't change the past. I disagreed with a lot of what Bush did. Probably most of what he did. . It is the things going on now that need to be addressed.
	Report Comment Basil, Tulsa (11/10/2009 8:35:59 PM) ". . . he denounced the "twisted logic" that led to their deaths . . ." President Obama finally spoke out against the teachings of Islam and it's call to violence against non-Muslims? It's about time, because until we identify the root of the threat against the U.S., we certainly can't defeat it. There is an ideology of hate contained within mainstream Islam, that is incompatible with the rights American's believe has been given to them from God, to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We must pray for freedom for those who are captives of Islam, because God loves them and desires that they should be set free. Wafa Sultan, who courageously left Islam, since the penalty for leaving according to Islamic law is death, wrote a book that just came out titled, "A God Who Hates," in which she reveals the nature of the false god of Islam, clearly showing how this "god" cannot be the true God of love taught within Christianity. She has been very vocal and articulate in her critcisms of Islam, as someone who directly suffered under it's cruel yoke. We can all dream of a world where everyone loves everyone and plays nicely together, but we must realize that not everyone shares that dream. Islam teaches supremacy must be established by Muslims over non-Muslims throughout the world.
	Report Comment Basil, Tulsa (11/10/2009 8:47:04 PM) "No faith justifies these murderous and craven acts; no just and loving God looks upon them with favor . . ." He should have said the true faith doesn't justify these acts. The true faith doesn't justify "honor" killings, deceit, supremacy, racist attitudes towards Jews, clerics calling for death of those who offend their religion, repressive legalistic requirements on women, a view that one gender is superior to the other, that disobedient wives should be beat, death for apostasy, restricting the freedom of religion to minorities living within their nations, etc. This list is long, but we must judge Islam by its fruit, rather than being conned by those who'd use deceit, or outright ignorance, to fool us into believing Islam is loving and godly. It's a false religion either made up by Mohammed, or inspired by a demon disguised as an angel, who possessed him.
	Report Comment Ayo, T-Town (11/10/2009 8:48:40 PM) This was a tragic event, and an event where a woman brought down the perpetrator. A WOMAN. President Obama spoke eloquently and appropriately as he always does. 2ndjoyce, some people have very little gray matter, and deserve our pity. Pity him or pray for him as he is a fool. Thunder196, our President Obama inherited a plate overflowing with massive problems facing this nation. We can thank the evil incarnate, Dick Cheney, and his boy toy Bush. Economical implosion, huge corporate corruption, huge corporation failure, bailouts, Guantanamo Bay fiasco, healthcare overhaul followed by LIES, LIES, AND MORE LIES from the GOP, and two wars which has partly led this country to financial ruin. Just how much is one man suppose to repair in 12 months? Peace be with all of those affected by the tragic event at Fort Hood.
	Report Comment Anthony Bhal, Tulsa (11/10/2009 8:49:11 PM) Yeah, well I have a salute for him. Can you see what finger it is???
	Report Comment 007, Tulsa (11/10/2009 8:52:38 PM) Thunder196, I hear you.
	Report Comment 007, Tulsa (11/10/2009 8:53:52 PM) "Dick Cheney, and his boy toy Bush." LOL!!!
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (11/10/2009 8:57:06 PM) Ayo Get off my back. And don't leave any more messages on my profile page with cursing that has symbols in them. My only regret was I didn't contact Jason and report it. . Obama has ignored our military.
	Report Comment Elusive, the burbs (11/10/2009 9:01:09 PM) I agree with you Thunder. I am worried about our men and women in Afghanistan.
	Report Comment Ayo, T-Town (11/10/2009 9:04:03 PM) Thunder196, I had always been civil to you until you began following me around and chastising every post I made. And you know that's a fact. I can respond to anyone who comments on here, just as you can. And don't threaten me. Put the word action in your vocabulary. You do whatever you need to do. Whatever your personal issue with me is it's your issue, not mine. Grow up!
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (11/10/2009 9:07:05 PM) I didn't threaten you, I said don't leave any more messages cursing me on my profile page. That is not a threat that is a statement.
	Report Comment Worried about the system, Tulsa (11/10/2009 9:13:08 PM) Basil, it is unfortunate that you would pass judgement on a major world religion and millions of peaceful Muslims because of the actions of a small number of militant fundamentalists. Islam, like Christianity, is a source of morality, comfort, understanding, and closeness to a higher power. Within hours of this tragedy, Muslim communities were denouncing these murders, which were clearly the work of a very disturbed individual, not his religion, just as the evil deeds of Christian fundamentalist Timothy McVeigh did not represent Christianity.
	Report Comment Smedj, Tulsa (11/10/2009 10:08:09 PM) Hey Skinny, I'm not a muslim.
	Report Comment D.Boone, (11/10/2009 10:18:15 PM) He named and discribed each victim? HE READ IT OFF HIS PROMTER! So guess that proves he can read. Probably written by somebody else,maybe one of his czars.
	Report Comment I'm Reliable, (11/10/2009 10:32:40 PM) Speaking about czars, we need a czar to keep all the goofy dumba-- foolish Okies in line. Oklahoma is the least diversified state in the country.

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