SAN ANTONIO -- Gathered outside VFW Post 76 Friday morning, veterans preparing for an annual outreach event spent much of their time going over the tragic events the day before at Fort Hood.

"San Antonio's a big military community and we're all grieving. And we feel for these people," said Santiago Tello, a Navy veteran.

The veterans' conversation revolved primarily around why it happened and why it was allowed to happen.

Mario Castilleja wondered about reports that the suspected shooter, Nidal Hasan, reportedly a devout Muslim, had had what could be considered a checkered past with the military, including negative performance reviews and strong opposition to the war in Iraq.

Hasan allegedly opened fire with two semi-automatic handguns Thursday afternoon in a building where 300 soldiers had lined up to get shots and have their eyes checked.

"Who trained him? Who educated him? We did," said Castilleja. "We should have known better."

Standing next to Castilleja, Adam Robles, a retired Marine, expressed anger about what happened, outraged that a U.S. serviceman would turn on his fellow soldiers.

"These guys here were going to go out there and defend our country, and give us our freedom that we have, and they get killed here in our own homeground. And that's a shame," Robles said.