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Even
though an insurgent’s bullet tore
through his head, permanently
damaging his sight, Capt. Timothy
Hornik simply enjoys being a Soldier
too much to accept not being able to
do his job.
Hornik, who deployed to take over
for a platoon leader who lost most
of his left arm, was shot while
serving in Iraq with the 1st Cavalry
Division in 2004.
Five surgeries later, Hornik can see
well enough out of his right eye to
drive. He still has trouble seeing
in low light and can’t focus well.
His eye still uses an artificial
lens held in by stitches. Sight in
his left eye is not expected to
return because the bullet cut his
optic nerve.
Though Hornik, an
Operational Test Command operations
officer, was injured badly enough to
leave the Army, he just isn’t ready
to turn in his uniform.
“I still like the Army,” he said.
“It provides a lot of opportunities.
There are a lot of things I feel
like I can do to help the mission be
successful. And I like being able to
talk to Soldiers in the same
situation.”
Hornik originally looked to the Army
to help make him a nurse. He
attended college on an ROTC
scholarship and was commissioned in
air defense artillery because he
decided nursing wasn’t for him after
all.
But the Army has worked well for
him. He met his wife, Kate, while
the two were ROTC cadets, and both
have enjoyed the Army lifestyle.
“We love traveling, and in the Army,
you can do that, whether it’s
through (Morale Welfare and
Recreation) programs or (temporary
duty) assignments or deployments,”
Hornik said. “And we don’t want to
settle in one place. I don’t know
many corporate jobs that would let
you move every three or five years.”
But, more importantly, Hornik thinks
he sets an example for other wounded
warriors by continuing to serve.
“I have a hefty profile, and despite
my profile, I show I can still
work,” he said. “You have to take
everything one objective and one
goal at a time. If you understand
what your limitations are but still
want to work, you can. You’re
probably going to be doing something
that was not on your Top 10 list of
things you wanted to do, but I have
found OTC to be a great organization
and a way to have a fulfilling
career.”
He said he couldn’t do his job or be
as happy without the strong and
never-ending support of his wife,
who serves with the 13th Sustainment
Command (Expeditionary).
“You need a support system to get
through something like this,” he
said. “My wife has been wonderful.
She essentially has put her career
goals to the side to help me.”
Hornik’s next challenge is his
captain’s career course, which is
scheduled to begin in November. He
hopes to continue in the Army’s
acquisitions career fields.
In the mean time, Hornik
participates in monthly video
teleconferences with other wounded
warriors who have suffered eye
injuries to prove hard work will get
them through. He hopes to be a
counselor with the Veterans Affairs
healthcare system when he leaves the
Army, whenever that might be, and
work with wounded warriors. And he
currently is an ambassador with a
wounded warrior insurance company to
help those who need someone to talk
to.
“I like being able to help out those
who are in the same situation,” he
said.