On February 6, Secretary of the Army John McHugh approved the Fort Hood Massacre Victims as eligible to receive the prestigious Purple Heart and all the honors and benefits associated with it.
The Fort Hood Massacre was carried out by Nidal Hasan (formerly a US Army officer and psychiatrist), and many have since labelled him a terrorist. In 2009, Hasan fired on personnel around the base entrance, killing 13 and wounding 30.
Secretary McHugh’s said, “The Purple Heart’s strict eligibility criteria had prevented us from awarding it to victims of the horrific attack at Fort Hood. Now that Congress has changed the criteria, we believe there is sufficient reason to allow these men and women to be awarded and recognized with either the Purple Heart or, in the case of civilians, the Defense of Freedom medal. It’s an appropriate recognition of their service and sacrifice.”
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