Under the Hood Café

Under the Hood Café was a coffee house located at 17 South College Street in Killeen, Texas. It provided services for soldiers located at Fort Hood, one of the largest American military installations in the world. Under the Hood Café was first managed by Cynthia Thomas, but later managers were Kyle Wesolowski, Lori Hurlebaus and Malachi Muncy. Under the Hood is a project of the Fort Hood Support Network. It billed itself as being a safe place for local soldiers to spend off-duty time at, where the normal issues of rank are irrelevant.New8Austin.com It was also the host of the monthly Killeen Poetry Slam.

The coffeehouse closed its doors in 2015.

Anti-war activities Under the Hood Cafe described itself as being part of the tradition of The Oleo Strut, a famous GI coffee house during the Vietnam war. The cafe continued in this tradition by hosting the Fort Hood chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War, which held its meetings at Under the Hood. In 2009, the coffeehouse was the staging area for the first anti-war marches in Killeen since the Vietnam War. It also provided support for two war resisters, Victor Agosto and Travis Bishop, in their public campaigns against the War in Afghanistan. The cafe was also outspoken in encouraging combat veterans to be tested and treated for TBI (traumatic brain injury), and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)Texas Observer

In August 2010 members of the IVAW took part in protesting the deployment of the 3rd ACR as the troops were leaving for Iraq. During the protest at least one person tried to stand in front of the buses carrying the troops.Rag Blog: Protesters Block Fort Hood Troop DeploymentThe Blotter: Protesters briefly block Fort Hood convoy Anti-war veterans protest at Ft. HoodDirect Resistance Against Deployment of 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment to Iraq

Response to Fort Hood shootings On November 6, 2009, the Fort Hood chapter of IVAW and the Under the Hood Cafe issued a joint statement in response to the Fort Hood shooting,IVAW.org "Joint Statement of Under the Hood Cafe and the Fort Hood Chapter of IVAW" which reads in part:

Major Nidal Malik Hasan, a soldier who had not deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan or any combat zone, was later convicted of the shootings.

Under the Hood Café

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