A rough picture is beginning to emerge of the life of Major Nadal Malik Hasan, the US Army psychiatrist currently being held as the sole suspect in the Fort Hood massacre. The following timeline and biographical details have been collected from media reports in the hours following the tragedy:
1970: Nadal Malik Hasan is born in Arlington, VA, to Palistinian immigrant parents
Childhood: Hasan's family moves to Vinton, VA. He is reportedly a studious child who goes by name "Michael"
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1987: Hasan family is living in apartment in northwest Roanoke, VA
1988: Hasan graduates from William Fleming high school in Roanoke
Post-high school: Hasan reportedly enlists in U.S. Army, against wishes of his parents.
1992: Hasan enrolls at Virginia Tech after having reportedly taken classes at Virginia Western Community College and Barstow Community College in Barstow, CA
1995: Hasan earns biochemistry degree from Virginia Tech. May or may not have been enrolled in an ROTC program
March 1996: Hasan is issued a permit by the state of Virginia to carry a concealed handgun
Post - Sept. 2001: Reportedly feels harrassed by fellow soldiers due to his Muslim faith. Their slurs included "camel jockey"
2003: Hasan takes medical degree at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md.
2003 - 2007: Hasan works as intern/resident at Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Reportedly requires "counseling and extra supervision," according to Hasan's then-training director. During this period, worships at a mosque in Silver Spring, MD. Reportedly is disciplined for proselytizing his faith while at work
July 2005: Hasan is issued Virginia medical license #0101238630
2007: Completes psychiatry residency at Walter Reed Medical Center
2009: Hasan treats patients afflicted with PTSD from Iraq/Afghanistan, including a staff sargeant who later says of Hasan that he is "far and away one of the best psychiatrists I ever dealt with"
2009: Is reportedly anxious to get out of the Army. After completing repayment of his student loans, has retained a lawyer to pursue his options for doing so.
2009: Completes fellowship in Disaster and Preventive Psychiatry at Walter Reed
Spring 2009 or earlier: Hasan comes to attention of federal law authorities for internet postings on themes including suicide bombings. One online comment by "Nidal Hasan" compares Muslim suicide bombers to soldiers who leap on a live grenade to save comrades' lives. "Their intention is not to die because of some despair," reads the comment. "You can call them crazy if you want but their act was not one of suicide that is despised by Islam."
May 2009: Hasan is promoted to rank of Major
July 2009: Hasan transfers to the Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood
Morning of Nov. 5: Hasan offers his possessions to a neighbor in Killeen, TX, including a Koran and a bag of vegetables. Asks her to give every she doesn't want to the Salvation Army. "I'm ready," he tells her.
1:30 pm: Begins Fort Hood shooting spree that leaves 12 dead and 30 injured. Hasan is shot four times and survives but is comatose. He was scheduled for deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan in the near future.
NIDAL MALIK HASAN'S FAMILY
Mother: Hanan Ismail "Nora" Hasan. Born: 1952, Died: 2001. Born in Palestine. Operated now-closed Capitol Restaurant in Roanoke area. According to obituary was “known for her ability to keep sometimes rowdy customers out of trouble and always had a warm meal for someone who otherwise would not have anything to eat that evening.”
Father: Malik Awadallah Hassan. Died: 1998. Born in Palestine. Owned Mount Olive Grill and Bar and a Roanoke-area grocery store.
Siblings: Two brothers, one living in Virginia and one in Jerusalem
Marital status: Single but reportedly was seeking an equally religious woman who "prayed five times a day" and chose to wear a hijab
Children: None known
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SEE MORE OF THE WEEK'S COVERAGE OF FORT HOOD:
• What Kimberly Munley's heroism means
• Fort Hood: The Al-Qaeda question
• Fort Hood: What the world is saying
• Fort Hood: Obama's "flippant" speech
• Fort Hood: Crime or terrorism?
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