Both Ends of the Barrel
Patrick L. Zeigler, Jr. was born May 31, 1981 in Jacksonville, FL. Both of his parents were active-duty Navy personnel. After the death of his mother in 1986, he was raised in North and Central Florida with his father and sister. He graduated with a B.S. in International Affairs from Florida State University in 2004. In March 2005, he enlisted as a Cavalry Scout in the U.S. Army.
In October 2006, he participated in the Troop Surge in Iraq. After being selected for Officers Candidate School on November 5, 2009, he was shot four times during the Fort Hood Massacre. Along with thirty-two others, he survived and spent the next ten years recovering from the gunshot wound to his right temple. He is permanently handicapped and currently lives in Daytona Beach Shores, FL.
He continues to recover and enjoys spending time with his 10-year-old son, Liam Patrick Zeigler.
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I led a relatively adventurous life, even before I joined the Army. I faced many of the same challenges that most people encounter on a daily basis. When I enlisted and deployed overseas to fight the global war on terror, I knew my odds of surviving depended on my preparedness, my fellow soldiers, and a lot of luck.
I had a very bad day at work shortly after returning home to Fort Hood from my second deployment. When I least expected it, in the safety and security of a military base on American soil, I was shot four times, including a direct blow to my head. In an instant, my lifelong good health and carefree lifestyle was history. Ironically, I had always wanted to be a noteworthy part of history, and for my sins, I got exactly what I wanted.
