Farewell to soldiers

Last update: November 15, 2009 - 1:23 AM

Across the country Saturday, people stood before several flag-draped coffins during funeral services for some of the 13 who were killed in the Nov. 5 shootings at Fort Hood, Texas.

In Plymouth, Ind., the wife and high school sweetheart of Army Staff Sgt. Justin DeCrow said, "He was killed by a terrorist in my mind, but he was still killed in the line of duty. We owe him a debt of gratitude, him and his family and the other soldiers. We owe them our lives, our freedom."

In Norman, Okla., snapshots from Army Specialist Jason Dean Hunt's recent wedding were projected near his casket. The 22-year-old was described as a loving husband and family man, as well as a soldier who left a legacy of selflessness and service.

In Kiel, Wis., a gymnasium was filled for Staff Sgt. Amy Krueger, who had been studying psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and was a mental health specialist who wanted to help soldiers cope with combat stress. "Her smile would light up any room, her energy would envelope all of those around her," her parents, Jeri Krueger and David Diem, said in a statement. "It is that smile and that energy that keeps us going throughout this difficult time."

In Utah, politicians joined the family and friends of Pfc. Aaron Thomas Nemelka for the funeral honoring the 19-year-old. Nemelka, of West Jordan, Utah, joined the Army a little more than a year ago and was preparing to deploy to Iraq.

Funerals were also held for Capt. John Gaffaney, 56, a psychiatric nurse who worked for San Diego County, Calif., and Pfc. Michael Pearson, 22, of Bolingbrook, Ill.

ASSOCIATED PRESS