KIEL - In the small town of Kiel, there's a big time hurt.

One of their own, 29-year-old Staff Sergeant Amy Krueger was killed not in combat but on her own military base.

"I'm numb, I never ever would have expected this to happen," said Denise Morley, Krueger's best friend.

She and Kristin Thayer spoke on behalf of Krueger's family who learned early Friday morning that Amy was one of 13 killed at Fort Hood.

They tried to get a hold of Amy Thursday afternoon when the news broke but she wasn't answering her phone.

"The more time that passed, the worse it got and I tried to stay positive but I started to lose faith the longer we had to wait," said Thayer.

Krueger had just arrived to Fort Hood on Tuesday in preparation for her second tour to Afghanistan.

She was with the Madison based 467th Medical Detachment and was a mental health specialist.

"She was a hero; she was a hero for all of us, one hell of a soldier. And we're very proud of her and we'll miss her very much," said Thayer.

Thayer spoke to Krueger just a few days ago. It's a conversation she thought would not be their last. Now, their words sustain her.

"The last thing she said to me was, 'I love you,'" she said. "She was a best friend. And anyone who was not in her life was missing out on an amazing person."

Both Krueger and Thayer joined the military together after 9/11 because of what happened on 9/11.

And when asked what they would say to their best friend's alleged killer, both Thayer and Morley responded not with hatred, but compassion.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family," said Thayer.

"Absolutely and with the families of the other soldiers that were injured," added Morley.

Krueger's mother, Jerri, got the news of her daughter's death at 2 a.m. Friday. And while she mourns, the entire community mourns with her.

"She was a wonderful person who was strong-willed," said Krueger. "When she said she would do something she would do it."