Courtney Browen

He felt a longing in his heart to serve his country again, especially when he learned that psychiatric services were needed in the Middle East. So 56-year-old Captain John Gaffney made the heroic decision to reenlist. He had actually just arrived at Fort Hood a few days prior so he could prepare for deployment to Iraq, but he never knew that he would die before he ever even got there.

He felt a longing in his heart to serve his country again, especially when he learned that psychiatric services were needed in the Middle East. So 56-year-old Captain John Gaffney made the heroic decision to reenlist. He had actually just arrived at Fort Hood a few days prior so he could prepare for deployment to Iraq, but he never knew that he would die before he ever even got there.

He felt a longing in his heart to serve his country again, especially when he learned that psychiatric services were needed in the Middle East. So 56-year-old Captain John Gaffney made the heroic decision to reenlist. He had actually just arrived at Fort Hood a few days prior so he could prepare for deployment to Iraq, but he never knew that he would die before he ever even got there.

Before the shooting started, Specialist Mick Ingenel had been at the SRP Center with his friend, Specialist Jonathan Sims. The two took a seat in the waiting room and began chatting while they waited for their names to be called. Mick was just days away from getting married, and he was just a few months away from getting deployed to Iraq. Sadly, he wasn't even supposed to be there that morning.

Before the shooting started, Specialist Mick Ingenel had been at the SRP Center with his friend, Specialist Jonathan Sims. The two took a seat in the waiting room and began chatting while they waited for their names to be called. Mick was just days away from getting married, and he was just a few months away from getting deployed to Iraq. Sadly, he wasn't even supposed to be there that morning.

Before the shooting started, Specialist Mick Ingenel had been at the SRP Center with his friend, Specialist Jonathan Sims. The two took a seat in the waiting room and began chatting while they waited for their names to be called. Mick was just days away from getting married, and he was just a few months away from getting deployed to Iraq. Sadly, he wasn't even supposed to be there that morning.

He was actually supposed to be at the shooting range with his platoon, but as luck would have it, Their guns had been improperly assembled, so their commander told them to just finish up their deployment paperwork instead. So Mick and his friend Jonathan Sims did just that. But before they knew it, bullets were being fired all around them. Their training taught them to drop to the ground.

He was actually supposed to be at the shooting range with his platoon, but as luck would have it, Their guns had been improperly assembled, so their commander told them to just finish up their deployment paperwork instead. So Mick and his friend Jonathan Sims did just that. But before they knew it, bullets were being fired all around them. Their training taught them to drop to the ground.

He was actually supposed to be at the shooting range with his platoon, but as luck would have it, Their guns had been improperly assembled, so their commander told them to just finish up their deployment paperwork instead. So Mick and his friend Jonathan Sims did just that. But before they knew it, bullets were being fired all around them. Their training taught them to drop to the ground.

And as they did, they began looking for a way out. However, Mick would later recall that there was no way out, saying, quote, you've heard of shooting fish in a barrel. He had both exits covered. While lying on the ground, Mick saw a bright flash. He didn't realize it at the time, but a bullet had entered his back. Another one was shot into his neck, severing an artery.

And as they did, they began looking for a way out. However, Mick would later recall that there was no way out, saying, quote, you've heard of shooting fish in a barrel. He had both exits covered. While lying on the ground, Mick saw a bright flash. He didn't realize it at the time, but a bullet had entered his back. Another one was shot into his neck, severing an artery.

And as they did, they began looking for a way out. However, Mick would later recall that there was no way out, saying, quote, you've heard of shooting fish in a barrel. He had both exits covered. While lying on the ground, Mick saw a bright flash. He didn't realize it at the time, but a bullet had entered his back. Another one was shot into his neck, severing an artery.

That bullet then ricocheted all the way down into his shoulder. Soon enough, blood began spraying from his neck wound. When he looked over, his friend, Specialist Jonathan Sims, had been shot as well. Jonathan would later say that he felt an immense amount of pressure in his back, but his friend Mick was profusely bleeding from his neck, so he helped put pressure on his wound.

That bullet then ricocheted all the way down into his shoulder. Soon enough, blood began spraying from his neck wound. When he looked over, his friend, Specialist Jonathan Sims, had been shot as well. Jonathan would later say that he felt an immense amount of pressure in his back, but his friend Mick was profusely bleeding from his neck, so he helped put pressure on his wound.

That bullet then ricocheted all the way down into his shoulder. Soon enough, blood began spraying from his neck wound. When he looked over, his friend, Specialist Jonathan Sims, had been shot as well. Jonathan would later say that he felt an immense amount of pressure in his back, but his friend Mick was profusely bleeding from his neck, so he helped put pressure on his wound.

They did this, bullets were still flying all around. So it's here where Jonathan grabs a nearby table and he pulls it over them. Surprisingly, seconds later, the gunman actually walks over to them and stands on top of the table, I guess to get a better view of who he was shooting. Jonathan and Mick would later say that they could feel the weight of the gunman standing on top of them.

They did this, bullets were still flying all around. So it's here where Jonathan grabs a nearby table and he pulls it over them. Surprisingly, seconds later, the gunman actually walks over to them and stands on top of the table, I guess to get a better view of who he was shooting. Jonathan and Mick would later say that they could feel the weight of the gunman standing on top of them.

They did this, bullets were still flying all around. So it's here where Jonathan grabs a nearby table and he pulls it over them. Surprisingly, seconds later, the gunman actually walks over to them and stands on top of the table, I guess to get a better view of who he was shooting. Jonathan and Mick would later say that they could feel the weight of the gunman standing on top of them.

And all they could do in that moment was lay still. While under the table, Jonathan looked out and saw a female soldier he had just spoken to. It was 21-year-old Francesca Vallez. Francesca had actually taken a seat next to Mick and Jonathan at the SRP Center. And during their brief conversation, She told them that she was pregnant.

And all they could do in that moment was lay still. While under the table, Jonathan looked out and saw a female soldier he had just spoken to. It was 21-year-old Francesca Vallez. Francesca had actually taken a seat next to Mick and Jonathan at the SRP Center. And during their brief conversation, She told them that she was pregnant.