United States Army Approves Purple Hearts for Fort Hood Shooting Victims

There was a recent change in the criteria to receive a Purple Heart allowing the 13 victims in the Fort Hood shooting to be awarded the prestigious medal.

On Friday, February 6, Army Secretary John M. McHugh made the announcement that the United States Army approved awarding the Purple Heart to the 13 who lost their lives in the Fort Hood shooting back in 2009. In addition, the civilian survivors are being awarded the Defense of Freedom medal.

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 - Army Secretary John M. McHugh

Army Maj. Nidal Hasan was convicted in 2013 on 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder.