Ziegel Brothers - American Heroes

The wedding photo above has made its rounds. The photograph is of Ty and Renee Ziegel on their wedding day in 2006. Ty was severely injured in a suicide bomb attack in Iraq in 2004. When he returned home he faced a long, grueling recovery which included a litany of surgeries and medications. His life was a continuous battle filled with uncertainty. His love, however, was far from uncertain.

After all of the rehabilitation and surgeries the reality of his injuries sank in. One arm was a stump, and the other ended with a hand containing only two fingers, and his big toe grafted on to replace his missing thumb. One of his eyes is blind and milky, and his ears have been burned away. The top of his skull had been so damaged that it was removed and inserted by doctors into the fatty tissue of his torso so that it may remain viable and moist for future use.

Renee, his future wife, refused to allow the injuries to turn her away. They were married in 2006.

Now, Ty's brother is a United States Marine in Iraq. On Veteran's Day CNN linked the two of them up. It is an emotional exchange, and the class of Ty shines throughout the interview, most impressive when the host asks about his frustration.