LOCAL SOLDIER HELPS 2 FT. HOOD WOUNDED

Lancaster, Ohio -- Amid grieving over the Fort Hood tragedy, a family in Lancaster felt a rush of relief when they heard their son and his family at the Texas military base were safe -- and had helped save people.

Army SFC Chris Phelps is a veteran of three trips to war zones: Desert Storm, Kuwait and Iraq. The Pickerington High School graduate is up to his 20th year serving in the U.S. Army.

His tenure came down to a single moment Thursday afternoon when he says he, his wife and two daughters heard gunshots as they headed to his wife's graduation ceremony at Fort Hood. Seeking safety, they ran inside a nearby theater at the base.

Little did they know a shooting rampage had just broken out. Thirteen people have since died and 30 are injured from the shootings as of Friday. Doctors treating the wounded in Fort Hood say some of them may not survive.

The day after, on the phone from Fort Hood, Phelps told ABC6 News while hiding, he held the door to his family's space closed to any shooter, but did allow two wounded people to join them.

"There was a CWO, chief warrant officer who got shot in the back -- a flesh-type wound," he said.

"We tried to stop his bleeding right away, applying direct pressure. People gave anything of fabric that could stop the bleeding," Phelps said.

He continued, "Another lady that was with him got shot in the foot. She was seated beside him when we were attempting to help."

That lady, Phelps said, was one of his wife Tonnia Phelps' fellow graduates.

She said, "It was a little bit scary, still a happy day for me, a very sad day for people who were killed and injured."

Back in Lancaster, Chris' mother Karen Phelps said, "I'm just relieved that my family's safe! I feel so bad for all the families -- the tragedy!"