Tragedy at Fort Hood hits home for aide to secretary of the Army

Published: Thursday, December 3, 2009

An octet from the Nashua High School South Concert Choir perform in front of City Hall in Nashua during the signing of the Military Community Covenant on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Nov. 5, I had just returned home from a ground-breaking ceremony for a new home being renovated for homeless veterans when I turned on the TV and, to my horror, watched the news reports about the shootings at Fort Hood. I think I sat there stunned for five minutes. I think many Americans did the same.

It was just a few months ago that I traveled down to Fort Hood for a conference and one-on-one meetings with soldiers as part of my duties at the aide to the secretary of the Army.

Fort Hood is the Army’s largest installation in the world. As Fort Hood is the home of the Armor, they have a street named Highway 7, which is a 7-mile road filled with armored vehicles, four deep. Fort Hood is so large it is like a city within a city. They have everything you would find in Nashua.

Troops from Fort Hood are being deployed to Iraq on a weekly basis. There are more than 70,000 military personnel and thousands of dependents. Some of the Army units stationed there include the 1st Calvary Division elements of the 4th Infantry Division, the 7th Regiment of the 7th Calvary, which was the regiment lead by the infamous Gen. Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn, and many other smaller units.

As this is the year of the noncommissioned officer, Fort Hood has one of the largest NCO academies in the Army.

While we were at Fort Hood, I had the opportunity to have lunch with Lt. Gen. Bob Cone, commanding general of Fort Hood and Third Corps. I believe I was placed with Cone as he is a New Hampshire native. As I watched him on TV on Nov. 5 briefing the press, I knew he was the right man at the right time to get his troops through this horrific event.

As we were leaving Fort Hood to travel back to Fort Sam Houston by Navy aircraft, several of us saw a line of troops heading our way. I stopped the first soldier, a major, and asked him where he was headed. He said, “Iraq, sir.”

Several of the aides and myself high-fived 350 troops from the 1st Calvary Division as they marched onto a C17, on their way to replace another 1st Calvary unit in Iraq. They smiled and stood tall, young men and women determined to protect our freedoms.

Watching the horrific events unfold at Fort Hood last week brought back to me the faces of these soldiers marching on that aircraft heading to Iraq. Be assured that the Army leadership is investigating the events thoroughly.

God bless our troops.

Did you know?

After the Veterans Day parade in Nashua on Wednesday, the signing of the Military Community Covenant took place in front of City Hall.

The event was hosted by Mayor Donnalee Lozeau. Flying above City Hall were the American, New Hampshire, Army and POW flags, as well as the flags of five city veterans organizations.

The Pledge of Allegiance was given by Capt. Stephanie Manos. Speakers included Lt. Col. Patrick Mackin, battalion commander for the recruiting command of New England; Col. Rich Duncan, chief of staff of the Army National Guard, and Col. Carolyn Protzmann, chief of staff of the Joint Forces Headquarters.

The main speaker was Lozeau, who read the Military Community Covenant to the audience.

The Covenant is a statement of unwavering support by the city of Nashua to all members of the Armed Forces and their families. Signing the Covenant declares that the city will be there for military personnel and their families when soldiers are abroad or at home.

The signers of the Covenant included Lozeau; Steven Bolton, president of the Board of Aldermen; Robert Hallowell, school board representative; Mark Conrad, Nashua School District superintendent; David Pastor, local businessman; and Thomas Arsenault, president of electronic solutions at BAE Systems.

The National Anthem was sung by an octet from Nashua High School South Concert Choir as the Covenant was being signed. They also sang “Happy Birthday” to Spiro Linatsas, a dedicated World War II veteran who turned 91 years old.

There were many at the event in their military uniforms and also a couple dozen wearing their veterans caps.

Griffin T. Dalianis is commander of Gate City Chapter 7 of the Disabled American Veterans and a civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army. He also serves on the Mayor’s Veterans Council and is chairman of the State Veterans Advisory Committee. Call or fax questions to 598-2523 or e-mail GTDPHD@gmail.com.