FORT HOOD, Texas -- An Idaho soldier severely injured Thursday at the Fort Hood massacre has been released from the hospital.
According to the family of soldier George Stratton III, he is doing pretty well.
The 18-year-old from Post Falls was shot in the shoulder. He's still sore and heavily medicated, but he will survive.
George Stratton III was in the Soldier Readiness Center when Major Nidal Malik Hassan opened fire. He was just feet away from the gunman and was hit in the shoulder.
Over the weekend he was released from the hospital and given a mental evaluation. Father George Stratton Jr. says although his son is recovering, he can still hear the pain in his voice.
"Definitely he wants to see his friends and family as soon as possible," Stratton Jr. said. "I know that would be good for him because he's pretty homesick. And I'd say I'd probably want to get away from the area for awhile if I were him too."
The elder Stratton is expecting some good news from the military soon.
"Basically what we're waiting on is the update that pretty much spells out when they will let him leave the post and come home," Stratton Jr. said.
Stratton Jr. and his wife will leave to visit their son at Fort Hood soon, possibly as early as Monday.
They don't want their son to be alone while he recovers from last week's horror.
"It's pretty scary," Stratton Jr. said. "He lost some friends. Their company itself had more injuries than just him and maybe casualties."
Because of his injury, Stratton III will not deploy with his unit next year.
