9 Oklahoma National Guard soldiers are safe
BY BRYAN DEAN
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Published: November 6, 2009
Billy and Janet Lile waited 11 months for their son-in-law, Sgt. Matt Grey, to get home from Iraq.
U.S. Army soldiers are seen at rear as Jamie Casteel, left, front, and her husband Scotty, right, of Duncan, Okla., stand outside the emergency room at Scott & White hospital in Temple, Texas, Thursday Nov. 5, 2009, waiting to hear news of their son-in-law, U.S. Army soldier Matthew Cooke, who was injured Thursday in the shooting at Fort Hood. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
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The Liles, of Mustang, were relieved Monday when he returned safely to
Fort Hood,
Texas. Relief turned to panic Thursday afternoon when news broke that someone opened fire on the post, killing at least 12 people and wounding at least 30 others at a soldier processing center. The suspected shooter also was wounded, officials said.
Billy Lile said family members called Grey’s home in
Killeen, Texas, but got no answer. It was 45 minutes before Grey called.
"I was outside mowing,” said Grey, reached at his home Thursday. "By the time I came back in I had 10 missed calls and 12 text messages.”
Janet Lile had a difficult time speaking as she followed the news. She said she was still shaken up from the fear she felt for her son-in-law.
"The first thing you think is ‘I waited 11 months for my son-in-law to get back from Iraq,’ and then this happens,” Billy Lile said. "You think, ‘Now we got him home, and he needs to relax,’ then this happens.”
Grey, 27, said he is worried about friends who might have been on post when the shooting started. Grey and his family live outside Fort Hood. The post was locked down after the shooting. Phone lines were jammed, making it impossible to check on friends, Grey said.
"You don’t think about having to deal with something like this on post after being in Iraq,” Grey said. "I’m just trying to wait and see what’s going on. I really didn’t think that kind of thing would ever happen.”
Nine
Oklahoma National Guard soldiers stationed at Fort Hood are safe, military officials said.
Lt. Col. Max Moss, spokesman for the Oklahoma National Guard, said no
Oklahoma units are currently at the post for training. Seven soldiers are on medical hold at Fort Hood, and two are there as part of a training detachment.
"All nine are confirmed safe,” Moss said.
Guard leaders contacted the soldiers by cell phone after news of the shooting broke. Military officials at
Fort Sill,
Tinker Air Force Base,
Altus Air Force Base and
Vance Air Force Base said security levels were not changed at those sites.
Editor's note: An earlier version of the story misidentified Janet Lile as Rachel Lile.
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