Posted on Dec 4, 2014
Purple Hearts might be awarded in domestic terrorism cases
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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/
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/
Purple Heart
Terrorism
Fort Cavazos
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 17
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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
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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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Terror doesn't work in the limited framework or foreign or domestic...it's about time these warriors get their awards they earned!
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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.
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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.
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