Purple Hearts might be awarded in domestic terrorism cases

Marine Corps Times — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 10:05:36 -0500

From: Marine Times

Victims of the 2009 Fort Hood shootings will be eligible to receive Purple Hearts and combat injury benefits under a provision included in the latest defense authorization deal.

The measure is expected to be approved by Congress next week, and would end a five-year quest by Texas lawmakers to get battlefield recognition for the soldiers killed in the deadliest attack on a domestic military installation in U.S. history.

It could also be a financial windfall for the families of the 13 people killed and 32 wounded in the attack.

The latest authorization draft stipulates that Purple Heart medals will be awarded to "members of the armed forces killed or wounded in domestic attacks inspired by foreign terrorist organizations."

The Fort Hood, Texas, shooter — Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Hasan — was allegedly inspired by al-Qaida but faced murder charges rather than international terrorism charges. He was convicted and sentenced to death.

Pentagon officials for years have said the shooting victims are not eligible for the Purple Heart and certain combat-injury compensation. Families of the victims have said they've faced thousands of dollars in uncovered medical expenses that would have been covered if the same injuries occurred in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The new Purple Heart regulations would change that, allowing defense officials to review the cases and award both the medal and the benefits to the Fort Hood victims as well as victims of similar domestic attacks.

House members have included the Purple Heart changes in their annual defense budget bills each of the last five years, but Pentagon and Senate leaders have blocked the moves. Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, who helped lead the push, said the new language was crafted with Senate cooperation and input from the military.

"This is finally going to be a recognition for their losses and injuries," he said. "For many of these soldiers, that medal is going to mean the most. They feel like they were attacked by the enemy. It just happened at their base, instead of overseas."

Regulations regarding who gets a Purple Heart — traditionally limited to those wounded in combat — have been debated in recent years amid ambiguity surrounding domestic attacks.

Troops injured at the Pentagon in the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, received it. Two Army recruiters shot by a radicalized Muslim outside of a recruiting station in Little Rock, Arkansas, in June 2009 did not.

The defense bill is expected to be passed by the House this week and considered by the Senate next week. The White House has threatened a veto on unrelated topics in the bill, but has not followed through on similar threats in recent years.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/capitol-hill/2014/12/03/purple-heart-expansion/19834457/

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Dec 4 at 2014 12:47 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 12:47:05 -0500

LTC Private RallyPoint Member About time. Let's see what we can do to keep it from happening again.

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/arm-the-armed-forces

Arm the Armed Forces! | RallyPoint

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Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2014 12:51 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 12:51:45 -0500

LTC Private RallyPoint Member , I whole heartedly agree and stand up to be counted that this is absolutely the right thing to do.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2014 12:55 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 12:55:25 -0500

Thanks for sharing the story, LTC Private RallyPoint Member. My opinion, sir, is that it's about time. When this first happened (five years ago), many were shocked and amazed that it was designated "workplace violence." That was a weak attempt to save face politically, which backfired.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Dec 4 at 2014 1:03 PM

MSG Wade Huffman — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 13:03:30 -0500

So.... it wasn't "work place violence" after all! Finally some recognition that it was an act of terrorism.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Dec 4 at 2014 1:08 PM

MSG Wade Huffman — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 13:08:21 -0500

Finally, I've always had a problem with them calling it 'work place violence' rather than an act of terrorism!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2014 1:11 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 13:11:13 -0500

I will be happier when this is officially done.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Dec 4 at 2014 1:12 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 13:12:51 -0500

About damn time.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2014 1:53 PM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 13:53:45 -0500

A respectable notion on behalf of congress. They deserve it and it also puts what occurred into legitimate perspective

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Dec 4 at 2014 2:59 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 14:59:40 -0500

Finally! Work place violence my tuckas.

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Dec 4 at 2014 3:18 PM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 15:18:10 -0500

Good. Now can we get them to release a statement actually saying it was a Terrorist attack instead of "Workplace Violence"?

Response by SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS made Dec 4 at 2014 3:26 PM

SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 15:26:26 -0500

This is great news! I am hopeful there is no trickery in DC which slows or stops this form becoming law. Honorable service, being wounded in domestic terrorism and or combat deserves to be recognized.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2014 12:08 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 00:08:58 -0500

In today's operational environment, the battlefield is wherever we are. Nadal Hasan chose his side and committed an act of terror, an assault on U.S. soldiers. The PH should be awarded.

Hopefully with the transition of the new Congress, this will go through. The victims and their families deserved this and it should not have taken this long.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2014 12:29 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 00:29:51 -0500

I think it is about time. I would also like to see other Valor awards be authorized. ( I assume they are not for the same reason the PH was not). The Soldier's medal has it's place for heroic actions in non-combat, but in a world-wide war against terrorism, valorous conduct should be awarded as such in the case of actions against a terrorist attack.

Response by SGT William Howell made Dec 5 at 2014 12:53 PM

SGT William Howell — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 12:53:53 -0500

Being a winner of the Enemy Marksmanship Award myself I think it is about time. They should try all domestic terrorist in a military court of law. They are saying that military personnel can receive the Purple Heart then they are saying domestic terrorist are combatants.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2014 2:38 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 14:38:10 -0500

Terror doesn't work in the limited framework or foreign or domestic...it's about time these warriors get their awards they earned!

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Apr 7 at 2015 9:30 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 09:30:42 -0400

Looks like this is going to be a done deal.

Question - If these people have never been deployed to a war zone, won't they be like the first PH recipients that CAN'T join the VFW?
http://www.stripes.com/news/army/western-pennsylvania-fort-hood-victims-to-receive-purple-hearts-1.338829

Western Pennsylvania Fort Hood victims to receive Purple Hearts

Lt. Col. Juanita Warman had been at Fort Hood for only a day when she was killed in a shooting rampage at the Texas military base in November 2009.

Response by CPO Nate S. made Aug 21 at 2019 5:21 PM

CPO Nate S. — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 17:21:22 -0400

I agree with ALL of you recently posted. As an old Navy Chief Corpsman, I was dismayed at the work place violence choice.

It was WTFO moment for sure!!!