What went wrong?
As Army investigators pick apart the latest Fort Hood gunman's past, a fellow soldier is
speaking out.
speaking out.
"It saddens me," said Supply Sgt. William McFarland of the Army National
Guard.
Guard.
McFarland is based in Fresno but was stationed at Fort Hood back in
2011, before deploying to Iraq.
2011, before deploying to Iraq.
He is now trying to make sense of it all.
"This guy had to have been in some kind of disaster. Some kind of
measure out there that he was throwing out, saying 'oh my God, help me' and yet
we were not able to pick up on that," said McFarland.
measure out there that he was throwing out, saying 'oh my God, help me' and yet
we were not able to pick up on that," said McFarland.
He believes there's just not enough downtime for soldiers, to cope with traumatic
experiences.
experiences.
It's something psychiatrist Dr. Hani Khouzam sees all too often at the V.A. hospital
in Fresno.
in Fresno.
"Suddenly they hear a noise outside. This noise brings them to the
situation where they're traumatized so they start to act as if they were in that
situation," said Khouzam.
situation where they're traumatized so they start to act as if they were in that
situation," said Khouzam.
According to the Army, the shooter was going through the process
required before a diagnosis is given of Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder.
required before a diagnosis is given of Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder.
Khouzam treats PTSD by helping the patient overcome their fears, turning
them into something positive.
them into something positive.
"Who is Batman? Who is Spiderman? They created this super hero. They've all been
traumatized amazingly. What did they do with all their trauma? They said 'I'm
going to help others," said Khouzam.
traumatized amazingly. What did they do with all their trauma? They said 'I'm
going to help others," said Khouzam.
He says just about everyone who has been traumatized has some level of
PTSD.
Help is available through the Veterans Crisis Line.
Call:
1-800-273-8255
Press 1
24/7 Chat:
www.veteranscrisisline.net
Text:
838-255
PTSD.
Help is available through the Veterans Crisis Line.
Call:
1-800-273-8255
Press 1
24/7 Chat:
www.veteranscrisisline.net
Text:
838-255