Tyler Ziegel

Tyler W. Ziegel (October 16, 1982 – December 26, 2012) was a United States Marine Corps sergeant who suffered severe injuries and burns during the Iraq War as the result of a suicide bombing. He was awarded the Purple Heart medal.

Biography Early life Ziegel was born in Peoria, Illinois, and was the elder of two sons of Jeffrey and Rebecca Ziegel. His father worked in construction and his mother was a waitress.

U.S. Marine (2001–2004) After high school, Ziegel joined the U.S. Marine Corps. In 2003, following his recruit training, he was sent to serve in Iraq.

Bombing On December 22, 2004, Marine Sgt. Ziegel and six other marines were part of a convoy coming back to Al Asad Air Base from al-Qaim in northwestern Iraq, when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device near their truck. Instead of the expected $4,000, initially he was awarded $2,700, which, according to Ziegel, was not enough to comfortably raise a family. Then Ziegel took part in the CNN program Special Investigations Unit, after which his financial demands were met. That program attracted the attention of a wide audience, many of whom expressed their support to Ziegel, including Medal of Honor recipient Hershel W. Williams.

Death His family announced that Ziegel died on December 26, 2012, from an overdose of alcohol and morphine. In early May 2013, after an investigation of Ziegel's death, Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll said that death was caused by alcohol and drug intoxication. The analysis showed that Ziegel had a blood alcohol level of 0.123% and a level of morphine indicating the presence of heroin was 540 ng/ml. The cause of death, according to Ingersoll, was the combination of these substances. The coroner's jury acknowledged that Ziegel's death was accidental.

Personal life Marriage and divorce On October 7, 2006, shortly after discharge from the hospital, Ziegel married Renée Kline, whom he met before being sent to Iraq. Their wedding was widely reported by the press in the United States, and their marriage day was declared a holiday in Illinois.

A year after the wedding, Ziegel and Kline divorced.