Fort Hood soldier back home in Indiana

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A Lafayette soldier who was injured in the Fort Hood shooting last month is back home. 27-year-old Corporal Nathan Hewitt is on leave for the remainder of December.

"It feels a lot better than I thought it would. Get to relax for now. Visit with family and all that good stuff," Hewitt said.

Nathan Hewitt was in a Fort Hood medical facility getting vaccinations before deploying to Afghanistan. A man opened fire. Hewitt didn't have a weapon. He said his first reaction was to do what he has been trained to do.

"I took cover and tried to get whatever people would follow me out, out. Then, the first responders came. From there they carried me to the ambulance. They wouldn't let me walk or move again," explained Hewitt.

Because Hewitt was trying to get people to safety, he didn't realize he had been shot in the leg.

"I got it through and through on my calf and it grazed my thigh," Hewitt said. "The only one I felt was the back of my leg. It just felt like I got hit with something hard. I didn't know what was going on."

Hewitt is still doing physical therapy but said he is walking fine. He said the shock of the Fort Hood shooting has not worn off.

"You don't expect it to happen at home. You expect it to happen overseas, when you are actually wearing all your gear, when you are ready and you can fire back. Do something to him," Hewitt said.

Even in the wake of the tragedy, for Hewitt, duty still calls.

"You still have a job to do. Still going to be trying to go overseas. Make the best of it," Hewitt said.

Hewitt has served in the armed services for nine years and served one tour in Iraq. Because of the Fort Hood shooting, Hewitt said he wants to try and mentor fellow soldiers.