News of the shooting at Fort Hood Army Base in Fort Hood, Texas, had local residents checking with their families and friends at Fort Hood, where several active Samoans are stationed.  The shooting, which occurred after 1 p.m. (Texas time), left 11 dead and several injured, according to the national media reports. As of 6:15 p.m. yesterday (local time), word spread that no Samoans were among the casualties or wounded. The news photo carried by the national wire service— and quickly posted on the internet— shows Sgt. Fanuaee Vea of American Samoa talking on a cellular phone while comforting a fellow soldier following the shooting.

Vea’s uncle Taumuli Vea told Samoa News via telephone from Kileen, Texas that he has not heard from his nephew, whose father is in American Samoa.

Taumuli Vea said his daughter is a teacher at the school inside the military compound, which was on lockdown for several hours. He said he had just received word from his daughter, who is doing fine and they were just starting to let students out of the compound. (This was around 2 p.m. American Samoa time.)

Two local reservists say they believe all reservists from American Samoa who were deployed recently to the Middle East had already left Fort Hood, but “there are a lot of Samoans based there.”

Another local reservist said she was also trying to get in touch with Samoans inside the compound including her sister-in-law, who operates a business there.

Al Sasa of the Samoan Congregational Christian Church in Fort Hood, said via telephone that as far as he knows all of the church members, including Samoan soldiers, are accounted for.

“This is close knit Samoan community and we would have known by now if any of our members and our fellow soldiers are among the injured or otherwise,” he said around 5:45 p.m. yesterday (American Samoa time).

Sasa, who was at a school just off the compound, said the church— which usually has around 30 to 40 Samoan soldiers, is across the street from where the shooting occurred and that quickly raised concerns for them.

Another concern is the fact that the shooting occurred in the area were soldiers prepare for deployment or medical check and about Fifteen soldiers from the church were recently deployed to the Middle East.

He said the military base and nearby facilities were on lock-down for about five hours. 

As of 5:30 p.m yesterday, Congressman Faleomavaega Eni’s Office said they had not received any word of Samoans being among the casualties or the injured.

At 6 p.m. yesterday, Sasa said via e-mail that it has been confirmed that there were no Samoan casualties or wounded in the shooting. He said he had spoken to a church member, who has seen the list and there were no Samoans on the list.

Fort Hood has opened up family hotlines:  254-288-7570 and 866-836-2751.