Plymouth soldier killed in Fort Hood shooting spree

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Plymouth soldier killed in Fort Hood shooting spree

Staff Sergeant Justin DeCrow (left), was among those killed at Ft. Hood, TX. He is pictured with his wife, Marikay DeCrow. (Photo Courtesy United States Army)

By Jason Overholt

Story Created: Nov 6, 2009 at 5:43 PM EST

Story Updated: Nov 7, 2009 at 8:02 PM EST

A Plymouth family was devastated Friday by the news one of their own was killed in Thursday’s Fort Hood shooting incident.

The Army visited them to let them know their son — Staff Sgt. Justin M. DeCrow, 32, of Plymouth — was one of the 13 who died.

DeCrow, who died from a gunshot wound, leaves behind a wife — his high school sweetheart — and a 13-year-old daughter, Kylah.

His father told WSBT News Staff Sgt. DeCrow had been stationed at Fort Hood for a couple of months after being stationed in Korea. He had been in the Army for 12 years.

The family doesn’t know when his body will be released for a funeral service.

Marikay DeCrow wanted everyone to know what a loving man her husband was.

"He was well loved by everyone," she said. "He was a loving father and husband, and he will be missed by all."

DeCrow felt safe at Fort Hood, his family said.

"He was on a base," Marikay DeCrow said. "They should be safe there. They should be safe."

Daniel DeCrow said his son joined the Army right after finishing high school in Plymouth. He said they talked last week about how things were going at Fort Hood, where DeCrow was helping train soldiers to help new veterans with paperwork.

"As usual, the last words out of my mouth to him were that I was proud of him," Daniel DeCrow said. "That's what I said to him every time — that I loved him and I was proud of what he was doing. I can carry that around in my heart."

Desperate for news

Marikay DeCrow spent hours frantically calling hospitals trying to locate her husband after the shootings.

"But no one could find him anywhere," she said. "No one could find my husband because he was gone."

Daniel DeCrow called his son's cell phone repeatedly after learning of the shooting, but got no answer.

"When his cell phone box filled up, then I got worried," he said.

The incident

Military officials say Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan opened fire Thursday as hundreds of soldiers were lined up for vaccines and eye tests. Thirteen were killed and 30 wounded. Hasan was in a coma Friday after being shot four times.

Another soldier with local ties

  • A soldier who grew up in Lafayette was one of those injured, his uncles said Friday. Lafayette residents Elmo Robledo and Rex Deaton told the Journal & Courier their 26-year-old nephew's injuries do not appear to be life-threatening. Hewitt is being treated at a Fort Hood area hospital.

    Stay with WSBT News and WSBT.com for more information as it becomes available.

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