Local, soldier reaction to Ft. Hood shootings

A sergeant on the base at Fort Hood spoke with KFDM this afternoon.. just after the shootings.

The soldier, who did not want his name used.. has family on the base with him.

After learning those believed responsible were fellow soldiers, the sergeant said, "Everyone's in disbelief.. it will bring down morale a bit... but soldiers will get through it."

"It kind of hurts me to know that we go oversees constantly and even when we come back here, we're not safe on our own posts," he said, "You never know what kinds of things can happen and it's just a sad thing."

Southeast Texans are also reacting to the shooting rampage at Fort Hood tonight.

A captain with the Patriot Guard Riders spoke tonight to KFDM.  The group is known for celebrating and honoring local military service men and women.

Sandra Womack says the shootings took her back eight years to before 9/11, when everyone thought something so horrific could never happen here.

She says her prayers go out to the soldiers and their families.  And Womack says if it turns out any of the soldiers are from Southeast Texas, the Patriot Guard Riders would be honored to escort them home.

She said, "It's very heart-wrenching to think that we would even have to do that on American soil, that they were actually killed in our country. It just breaks my heart to see and hear about this tragedy."