Ex-Fort Worth resident helped wounded during Fort Hood shootings

By DAVE MONTGOMERY

dmontgomery@star-telegram.com

FORT HOOD — PFC Marquest Smith, a former Fort Worth resident who joined the Army just over a year ago, was processing paperwork in a small cubicle when he first heard the popping sounds. A bullet tore through the cubicle wall and lodged in the heel of his boot.

Within the next 15 minutes, the 21-year-old soldier and father of two was rushing through the chaos in the Soldier Readiness Center to pull four wounded victims to safety and help transport them to the hospital. The gunman fired toward him from across the room just as Smith was fleeing the building.

Tales of Army Strong heroism spread throughout this grief-stricken base Friday as Fort Hood struggled with the aftermath of the worst attack ever at a U.S. military installation. Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey, who arrived at the base with new Army Secretary John McHugh, called it "a kick in the gut."

To find out about relatives or loved ones at Fort Hood, call the base Hot Line at 866-836-2751 or 254-288-7570.

Army installations across the globe observed a moment of silence at 1:35 p.m. Hours later, hundreds of soldiers and civilians who comprise the Fort Hood family held a candlelight vigil for the 13 killed and at least 30 wounded in Thursday’s rampage.

McHugh, who succeeded Pete Geren of Fort Worth as army secretary on Sept. 21, told reporters that the FBI and Defense Department are conducting a joint investigation into the alleged assailant, Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who was felled in an exchange of gunfire with a woman civilian policeman.

He remained hospitalized at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, according to the Associated Press. Hospital spokeswoman Maria Gallegos told the AP that Hasan is in stable condition in the intensive care unit at the hospital on Fort Sam Houston outside San Antonio, about 150 miles southwest of Fort Hood.

Hasan is accused of opening fire at the Soldier Readiness Center at Fort Hood, Texas on Thursday in a shooting rampage that left 13 dead. He was shot by a civilian police officer on the scene.

Though Hasan has been identified as the lone shooter, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said investigators will also be looking into the possibility that others may have helped the assailant plan the attack. But McHugh said investigators at this point don't have evidence "that would suggest the involvement of someone else."

New details also emerged about the final moments in the rampage that ended in a shootout between Hasan and Sgt. Kimberly Munley, the quick-acting police officer who was receiving international acclaim as the leading hero in the tragedy. Munley, 35, also remained hospitalized with gunshot wounds to the arm and leg was reported in "high spirits."

Her boss, Chuck Medley, director of emergency services at Fort Hood, said Munley was in the vicinity when the gunfire was reported and rushed to the scene. Munley "saw some injured and scared people trying to move out of the area" and "received information that the suspect was between a set of buildings."

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