Eric Jackson took a bullet in the forearm during the deadliest mass shooting on a U.S. military base, and returned to Fort Hood five years later with other survivors on Friday to receive Purple Heart medals. Some smiled over an honor they felt was overdue, but also clenched their teeth over needs in their scarred and injured lives they say the Army has denied. 'I try not to be bitter. But it's kind of hard not to be bitter,' said Jackson, a former staff sergeant. 'You wonder, where's the respect? Where's the recognition? Where's the support for what you've gone through and what you're continuously going through?'Some smiled over an honor they felt was overdue, but also clenched their teeth over needs they say the army has denied'I try not to be bitter. But it's kind of hard not to be bitter,' said Jackson, a former staff sergeantThirteen people were killed and 31 were injured in the 2009 attack carried out by an Army psychiatrist who is now on military death row
The _, given to military personnel wounded in battle, offers increased retirement pay.