POST FALLS, Idaho -- A soldier from Post Falls wounded in the Ft. Hood attack in November says he still has terrible nightmares about the shooting. 12 soldiers and one civilian were killed. More than 40 were injured including Private George Stratton III.
Stratton says his mental anguish is taking much longer to overcome than his physical injuries.
"I have nightmares all the time, almost every night," said Stratton. He says he can't remember making the call to his dad telling him he had been shot and is in the hospital.
The scar from the bullet is small and reminds him everyday of the attack.
On November 5th, Stratton was caught in the Ft. Hood, Texas rampage. The gunman, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, looked eye to eye with Stratton. Stratton managed to escape but not after he was shot once in the shoulder. On his way to the hospital, he called his dad and left a voice mail message.
"Hey dad, it's me. I'm in the back of an ambulance. There's been some kind of shootout, and I was shot in the left shoulder. I'm going to the hospital and I'll give you a call back as soon as I can. Ummm...I'm safe, just to let you know. I love you. Bye."
X-Rays show shattered bone fragments. Stratton spent the last month in physical therapy and slowly is regaining mobility in the shoulder.
