It’s a good thing Barb Cummins was not watching the news Thursday afternoon.
If she had been, the resident of Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, would have seen the initial coverage of the shootings at Fort Hood in Texas – and then would have had to wait in anguish for word of her brother’s fate.
Instead, Cummins first heard of the incident in a telephone call from her sister-in-law, informing her that Master Sgt. Gary Podrasky was safe.
“It puts a lump in your throat when you think about what might have happened,” Cummins said Friday.
Podrasky, 54, is a native of Conemaugh Township’s Ideal area and a graduate of what is now called Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center.
“He has been going around the different military bases training troops before they are deployed,” Cummins said.
That job had led Podrasky to Fort Hood. And his office, Cummins said, was 12 blocks from the scene of the Thursday shooting that left 13 people dead and 30 wounded.
Podrasky’s wife, Maryann, was not on the sprawling military base at the time of the incident.
But the soldier was able to get word to his spouse relatively quickly.
“All he was able to tell his wife was that he was safe,” Cummins said.
As of Friday afternoon, Cummins had not yet been able to speak to her brother. But she was told Podrasky now is part of a team assembled to deal with the tragedy’s aftermath.
Cummins says her brother is a good man for such a difficult job: He joined the Army at age 17 and has served ever since.
“He’s a very caring and loving person and is concerned about his country,” she said.
“He wants to stand up for the people of this country and their rights.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
Master Sgt. Gary Podrasky, 54, a native of Conemaugh Township, is stationed at Fort Hood in an office blocks away from Thursday’s shootings. Submitted Photo
Discussion
Fort Hood shootings: Local native aiding in aftermath, sister says
- Local News
-
-
Mild winter speeds work: Entertainment venue may be complete by end of May
An unusually mild winter has accelerated construction of a new outdoor entertainment venue in Johnstown.
-
Man jailed on rash of charges
A Patton man is being held on $100,000 bond after police said he threatened to kill a woman, her family and himself unless she talked to him about a protection-from-abuse order.
-
Cambria abolishes 16 jobs
Following through on promises to cut budget costs, the Cambria County commissioners voted Thursday to abolish 16 positions, including nine full-time jobs.
-
Blogging with heart
Anyone else have this issue: The more I know, the more I want to learn.
As I am writing my heart month stories for this week’s packages, I occasionally come across a term or description unfamiliar to me. So I look it up. And then the definition or article has something else that sounds important, so I look that up. -
Wozniak defends his support of drilling bill
State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, one of only seven Democrats to support the Marcellus Shale legislation adopted this week, said the bill protects the environment and provides help to local communities impacted by the natural gas drilling.
-
Businessman hoping to unseat Wozniak
Tim Houser uses two words – “challenging opportunity” – to describe his goal in this year’s elections.
-
Judge tosses evidence in robbery
A Cambria County prosecutor said he’ll have to drop robbery charges against a Twin Rocks woman after much of his evidence was suppressed by a judge.
-
Shooting defendant pleads to attempted murder
A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Thursday in county court to attempted murder and theft in a Nov. 18 home invasion in which the homeowner was shot.
-
Garrett man sought in Somerset crime
An arrest warrant has been issued for Samuel McFarland Jr., 33, of Berlin Street in Garrett in connection with Saturday’s robbery of two boys outside Dollar General on East Main Street in Somerset.
-
City man shot during alleged burglary
A Johnstown man was shot during a burglary attempt in Indiana County and then burglarized a home in Armstrong County before he was arrested, authorities said Thursday.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
