RUTLEDGE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A Grainger county woman is thankful her son is alive after he was shot by a sniper while on patrol in Afghanistan

Cheryl Williamson says her son Lance Corporal Matthew Pelc had a bullet pass through his arm and chest.

Tonight, a mother is thankful her son will see another day.

That's especially true for Lance Corporal Pelc after a bullet went through his arm only to enter and exit his chest.

"Well, Momma, have they not called you and I said no, why? And he said, I've been shot today," says Cheryl Williamson, Pelc's mother.

It's not the call any soldier mother wants to get but considering it was son Matthew Pelc's voice on the other line it was at least comforting.

Cheryl Williamson says her son had just noted to his staff Sergent things were very quiet.

His supervisor said it always happens at the end of their patrols.

"As soon as his staff sergeant said that, it was like instantaneous they took small arms fire," says Williamson.

The bullet went through Matt's arm then into his side exiting in the front of his chest.

Luckily, the staff sergeant was at his side.

"Once Matt got hit it was him who took control and stopped the bleeding and everything right then," says Williamson.

Pelc was taken to a camp hospital in Afghanistan.

Soon, word hit the small community of Rutledge where he grew up.

"I was frantic. I was disheartened. I was concerned, confused, scared," says Chris Welch, Pelc's friend and former coworker.

Welch grew up with Pelc and worked with him at Doyle's Auto Sales until Pelc left for the military.
Pelc is now recooperating presumably in Germany where he was expected to be taken over the weekend.
But he's got a lot of support back home.

"Tell him I love him and miss him and get home safe," says Welch.

"I said I'm going to keep praying for you and he said, momma, that's the only reason I'm still alive right now. So he knew and he still does know how fortunate he is," says Williamson.

Williamson says she's still awaiting a call from him since they last talked Friday when he said he was in a lot of pain.

She says she's thankful for the support she gets from her coworkers and husband.

And she looks forward to seeing Matthew as soon as she can.