A US army major opened fire on his comrades on Thursday at Fort Hood in Texas - the largest US military base in the world - killing 13 people and wounding 30.
Troops rushed to the scene of the attack, which took place inside a processing centre from where some of Fort Hood's 40,000 troops were being sent to Iraq and Afghanistan.
The gunman was identified as Major Nidal Malik Hasan, a 39-year-old US-born Muslim military psychiatrist who was due to be sent to Afghanistan.
Fort Hood - one of the biggest military bases in the world - was placed under lockdown for several hours.
Relatives tried desperately to reach their family members inside the base.
Some had children who were stuck at schools and daycare centres on the sprawling military campus, which has been described as a mini-city.
Others rushed to local hospitals, where their family members underwent emergency surgery.
Hospitals were also filled with people who waited to give blood for the wounded.
Other residents of the area attended prayer services.
The commander of Fort Hood, Lt Gen Robert Cone, praised the quick response of the military police: "As horrible as this was, I think it could have been much worse."
An investigation is under way to try and determine the motive for the shootings.
On Friday night, several hundred people - soldiers and civilian residents at Fort Hood - held a candle-lit vigil for the victims of the shooting.
Crosses and flags were also erected to honour those killed and wounded in the attack.
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