Soldier's family: He's our hero

LAFAYETTE, Ind (WLFI) - A Lafayette man is among 31 people injured when a fellow soldier went on a shooting rampage at an Army base in Texas. 13 people died at Fort Hood.

WLFI spoke with Nathan Hewitt by phone. Hewitt said he is doing fine. In fact, the 2000 Jefferson High School graduate said he was expecting to be released from the hospital Friday afternoon.

"I'm trying to keep my spirits up and make sure everyone else is okay," said Hewitt. "There is no swelling, so I'm hoping to go home soon."

Nathan Hewitt's mom said her heart sank when news of the attack hit the airwaves. Liz Hewitt said she immediately picked up the phone.

"He picked up right away," said Liz.

Liz  said that brief conversation gave her all the information she needed.

"I just needed to hear his voice," she said.

The shooting happened while Nathan Hewitt and others were preparing for their January deployment to Afghanistan.

"He said the doors flew open and it was chaotic," said Liz.

Hewitt suffered a gunshot wound to the calf and a graze wound to his hip as he was helping others get out the back door.

Hewitt's uncle, Elmo Robledo, said that he is used to being concerned when his nephew is deployed, but never expected trouble while his nephew was on a U.S. base.

"For this to happen to the soldiers prior to their deployments is scary. You'd never imagine something like this would happen stateside, especially at one of the largest military bases there is in the United States," Robledo said.

Hewitt's mother said she is proud of her son, for thinking of others, and for serving his country.

"He's our hero," she said.

The Hewitt family appreciates the community's support.

But they said everyone's thoughts and prayers should turn to the families of the others soldiers who were killed or more seriously wounded than Nathan.

"We are thinking of the other families that weren't so lucky," said Liz.