Friday, November 6th, 2009
U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan shocked at Fort Hood shooting rampage
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The shooting deaths of at least 13 people at an army base in Texas has shocked U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.
While details were hard to come by, soldiers in Kandahar say they were surprised to learn an army psychiatrist had allegedly opened fire at Fort Hood.
More than 30 others were also injured in the incident, which took place at the fort's Soldier Readiness Centre, where troops pass through before and after deployments.
Most Canadian troops in Kandahar had little to say about the shooting as they waited for details.
However, American troops were shocked.
U.S. army Capt. Matt Easter, based at the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kandahar city, says the shootings were alarming. He says most soldiers overseas think they leave the dangers of the job behind when they go home.
"It's kind of scary knowing when I go back home in six months I'll have to watch my back to make sure I don't get killed," he said.
"When you're home at a military post you expect to feel safe, especially when you have doctors around. But I guess doctors can go off the deep-end just like anyone else."
Staff Sgt. Gerald Diehl, who is also based at Kandahar's PRT, says even though the incident was shocking it was unlikely to affect troops overseas that much.
