An Elmore County, AL soldier stationed in Fort Hood, Texas was suppose to return home today.

That's until he became a victim of the Fort Hood massacre.

Chief Warrant Officer Chris Royal came face to face with the shooter at Fort Hood yesterday and his family says it wasn't his first brush with death during his military service.

His mother, Maxine Birmingham says her was teaching a communications class at Fort Hood military base yesterday when the gunman, Major Nidal Malik Hasan rushed him and started firing shots.

The victim's mother, Maxine Birmingham says she's thankful her son is alive.

A year ago, a roadside bomb hit Royal's platoon in Iraq.

His mother says he was among the few that survived that attack

Royal's wife was also at Fort Hood during the shooting but she was safely out of harm's way.