Rochester survivor of Ft. Hood shooting gets Purple Heart
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A Rochester man who survived the 2009 shooting at Fort Hood has received a Purple Heart.
Forty-seven medals were awarded Friday to survivors and relatives of soldiers who died in the Texas military base shooting.
Among them was 33-year-old Patrick Ziegler of Rochester.
"It's just one of those things that you have mixed feelings and mixed emotions about because you're proud but at the same time you're pretty weary of what it means to receive that medal," Ziegler said.
He says the tribute is part of the healing process.
"I'm probably the best I've been since the shooting just recently," Ziegler said. "You know, I don't use a cane or a wheelchair anymore. I have a service animal and he goes everywhere with me. It's a pretty good time in my life right now."
Thirteen people were killed and more than 30 wounded in the attack by Army Maj. Nidal Hasan, who was convicted in 2013 and sentenced to death. It was the deadliest mass shooting ever on a U.S. military base.
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