2 Wisconsin Soldiers Killed, Several Injured At Ft. Hood

Madison-Based Unit Was At Army Base

Updated: 11:55 am CST November 9, 2009

Two soldiers from Wisconsin were killed and at least six others from the Badger state were hurt in the shooting massacre at the Fort Hood Army Base in Texas on Thursday.

articleREAD: C3K's Fort Hood Shootings Section | See Photos Of Wisconsin Soldiers Injured, Killed In Fort Hood Shooting

Officials said that overall 13 people were killed and about 30 were injured in the shootings.

The Pentagon's Lt. Col. Nathan Banks confirmed on Saturday that the suspected shooter was to deploy with the Madison-based 467th Combat Stress Control Army Reserve Detachment. The unit had 43 soldiers training at the Army facility at the time of the shootings.

Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan was moved to a San Antonio hospital and remains in the intensive care unit in stable condition. During a press conference at Ft. Hood Saturday evening, Col. John Rossi said Hasan was still unconscious in ICU, but he was off his ventilator.

It's unknown when Hasan was assigned to the 467th, WISC-TV reported.

Soldiers from the 467th arrived at the fort on Wednesday. They were mobilized to serve in Afghanistan. The unit is designed to prevent combat stress, and many of the members of the unit are social workers, psychiatrists, and psychologists.

A military representative confirmed Friday night that two Wisconsin members of the 467th Medical Detachment were killed: Amy Krueger, 29, of Kiel, and Russell Seager, 51, of Racine. Six others have been injured.

Military officials confirmed Saturday that Army Maj. L. Eduardo Caraveo, with the Madison-based 467th Medical Detachment, was also killed in the Fort Hood shootings. Caraveo has ties to the Tuscon, Ariz., area and is reported to be from Woodbridge, Va.

Mother Jeri Krueger, of Kiel, told The Herald Times Reporter of Manitowoc that she was informed early Friday of daughter Sgt. Amy Krueger's death.

Krueger was scheduled to be sent to Afghanistan in December.

Kiel High School Principal Dario Talerico told the Associated Press that Krueger graduated from the school in 1998 and was proud to serve her country. He said she had spoken at least once to Kiel elementary school students about her career.

"When it does hit your community, and it hits somebody you know, it's stunning, and it's something I don't think anyone's going to get over for awhile. And it's unfortunate not only for her family but for the community," said Talerico.

"She was compassionate. She was loving. She was a best friend I will truly miss," said Denise Morley, a friend of Amy Krueger.

Jeri Krueger said her daughter joined the Army shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

A Racine soldier, Russell Seager, was also killed in the shootings.

His uncle, Larry Seager of Mauston, said his nephew joined the Army a few years ago because he was a psychiatrist who wanted to help returning veterans adapt back to civilian life. He said he still can't believe the news.

Russell Seager's death has sent shockwaves through his Racine neighborhood.

"It's easy for us to be concerned about things in the next county or state, but when they are right down the street from you, it's a jolt," said Gil Mann, Seager's neighbor.

Wisconsin Soldiers Injured In Shooting

Meanwhile, six other Wisconsin soldiers were injured in the shooting. The identities of four are known.

A social worker at the Madison Veterans Center is among those injured during Thursday's rampage at Fort Hood.

Dorothy Carskadon, of the 467th Medical Detachment, was seriously injured. She was in surgery for hours after suffering two gunshot wounds, but she is currently in stable condition, according to friends and family.

St. Chad Episcopal Church in Loves Park, Ill., held a vigil Friday evening for Carskadon.

"We have been in prayer since we heard about the incident at Fort Hood. We were in prayer even before we knew Dorrie was involved directly," said Kyungja Oh, vicar at St. Chad. "We assumed she was safe until she was actually deployed overseas. I think that's the shock that everyone in the country is feeling."

The church has a small congregation, and even though Carskadon recently moved to Madison to be closer to the Veterans Center, she remained a member of St. Chad Episcopal Church.

Others who know Carskadon through her work at the Madison Veterans Center hoped their prayers can reach her cross country.

"You expect in a war situation. You don't expect that on a homefront situation. It seems that much more tragic," said Rich Sanders, a Vietnam veteran from Dixon, Ill. "Knowing Dorrie as much as I do in her professional ranking, she'll recover from this and she'll go on to help veterans because that's what she's done for a large part of her life. She'll be good."

Church leaders said Carskadon is particularly concerned with veterans and the military and wanted to go back to the war zone to help personnel deal with trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The church is trying to help Carskadon's family get to Texas, WISC-TV reported.

A Lodi family said it's counting its blessings after their son, Army Reserve Spc. Grant Moxon, 23, was just injured in the shooting.

Grant Moxon arrived at the Texas Army base on Wednesday and was preparing to deploy to Afghanistan, according to his father, Dave Moxon.

"I said, 'What's the likelihood that he's going to be involved,'" Dave Moxon said. "He just got there, there are 50,000 people on base -- he's probably not anywhere near what's doing on."

But Grant Moxon was sitting in a processing room Thursday when he heard a commotion and found himself eye-to-eye with the shooter.

"He was in the first row of that room -- with the shooter up front," Dave Moxon said. "He heard some commotion, thinking it was a drill or something. He looks up and he's looking right in his eyes, and then he pulled his gun up and shot, and said, 'I couldn't believe it -- I didn't get hit in the head or something.'"

After being shot above the knee he pretended to be dead until the shooter moved away.

Shortly thereafter, Dave Moxon received a text message from his son saying he had been shot. He was in disbelief, but was relieved a short time later with a phone call confirming his son was safe.

"It could have been a lot worse," Dave Moxon said. "Certainly our hearts go out to those that lost loved ones and for those that are seriously injured. And we're just really thankful that things came out the way that they did for him."

Grant Moxon, part of the 467th Medical Detachment, had been with the Army Reserves for only a year and a half and was at Fort Hood preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. His family said it's unsure if and when he will be released to come home.

Amber Bahr, 19, of Random Lake, was also injured in the shooting. Her family said she was shot in the back.

On Friday, a military spokesman praised Bahr for her heroics. He said that she helped other soldiers injured in the Fort Hood shooting before tending to her own wounds. Lt. Gen. Bob Cone told NBC's "Today" on Friday that Bahr helped apply a tourniquet to an injured soldier. He said Bahr then attended to other soldiers before realizing she'd been shot.

Her family was originally told Bahr had been shot in the belly, but Bahr later told them she'd been shot in the back.

Her mother, Lisa Pfund, said it's a big relief to hear Bahr is OK. Pfund said her daughter joined the Army reserves when she was 17 and she last saw her in May. She said Bahr is an Army nutritionist and was set to deploy soon to Afghanistan.

Spc. John Pagel, 28, from the small Sauk County community of Denzer, was back with his unit at Fort Hood Friday after being shot in the arm.

His father, Merton Pagel, and John Pagel's wife said he is in good spirits and they are just thankful he's recovering.

Before Merton Pagel saw coverage of the shootings on TV, he got the news that his son was wounded.

"When I got home from work, my daughter-in-law called here about an hour and a half after it happened," Merton Pagel said. "From my understanding, he was shot from the left side. (The bullet) went through his arm muscle and kind of went through right under his left breast (and) wedged up against his bone," Merton Pagel said.

John Pagel was getting ready to deploy with the 467th Medical Detachment. It would have been his first deployment since joining the Army Reserves about three years ago.

"I feel sad that it happened. (It) shouldn't have happened," his father said. "I love him. I hope he gets home soon."

Kandie Pagel, John's wife, said Friday night that her husband called her first and told her what happened. Kandie Pagel said John shared that if the bullet had landed just half an inch lower, "he wouldn’t be here today."

John Pagel is due back in Wisconsin in a couple of weeks for Thanksgiving before his scheduled deployment to Afghanistan on Dec. 1. His wife does not know how or if his deployment will be affected by the incident, WISC-TV reported. She said she's thankful her husband is recovering.

Gov. Jim Doyle spoke about the tragedy on Friday.

"I know I speak on behalf of all the people in the state of Wisconsin when I say that our prayers are with those families and we are incredibly thankful for the service of their loved ones," Doyle said.

Flags at Wisconsin National Guard armories, air bases, and other facilities across the state will fly at half-staff through sunset Nov. 11 in honor of the victims of the shootings at Fort Hood.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.

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