Fort Hood unit to deploy on schedule despite losing soldiers in mass shooting

Fort Hood unit to deploy despite losing soldiers

FORT HOOD, Texas — A unit that lost several soldiers during the shooting rampage at Fort Hood last month is set to deploy to Afghanistan.

The Madison, Wis.-based 467th Medical Detachment is scheduled to leave early Friday. Three of its soldiers were killed in the Nov. 5 shooting at the sprawling Texas post.

Members of the Army Reserve combat stress unit say they never wavered in their determination to serve. Several soldiers from across the country volunteered to fill the void after the shootings.

Charges against the accused gunman, Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Hasan, include 13 counts of premeditated murder.

He had been set to deploy with the unit before the shootings. Army officials have not said whether he knew or was targeting anyone in the unit.