Staff Sgt. Justin Michael DeCrow, 32, was killed at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009, during the mass shooting carried out by Maj. Nidal Hasan. DeCrow, originally from Plymouth, Indiana, had been stationed at Fort Hood after returning from South Korea, where he worked in satellite communications. He was assisting with training on veteran paperwork when the shooting occurred; 13 people were killed and 32 wounded before Hasan was subdued by civilian police officers.

DeCrow’s wife, Marikay, and their daughter, Kylah, then 13, received community support including fundraising for Kylah’s education. The case prompted investigations and legal proceedings that resulted in Hasan being charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder; he was later found guilty and sentenced to death. DeCrow’s death had a lasting impact on his family and community.