Tested by tragedy at Fort Hood

Tested by tragedy, Fort Hood family of civilians and soldiers deserve Texan of the Year honor

12:00 AM CST on Sunday, December 6, 2009

Heroes were at every turn during Fort Hood shootings.

That short-and-sweet headline sums up how I feel about the soldiers and civilians stationed at the most populous U.S. military base in the world.

They are my 2009 Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year: The Fort Hood Family.

Here's why: On Nov. 5, the day a roguish Army major went on a massive killing spree, these valiant men and women showed their true colors.

They collectively turned a chaotic tragedy into a courageous triumph of human will and sacrifice.

We can point to Sgt. Kim Munley, the tough civilian officer who rushed to the aid of those scrambling to get away from Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan's murderous line of fire.

Munley exchanged gunfire with Hasan, dropping him to the ground as she took shots to both legs and a wrist.

She's a gutsy hero.

So, too, is Mark Todd, a second civilian officer credited with shooting Hasan.
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Tested by tragedy