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Fort Hood shooting victims receive long-delayed Purple Hearts, may still have to fight for benefits
WASHINGTON – Victims of the 2009 Fort Hood terror attack finally received their long-delayed honor on Friday at a Purple Heart ceremony in Texas -- though they may have to keep fighting to get military benefits.
Nearly 50 survivors lined up at the ceremony held at Fort Hood on Friday, and all were given either a Purple Heart or Defense of Freedom medal for their injuries. The ceremony was years in the making, as the U.S. government initially described the attack as mere workplace violence, and not terrorism.
But the medal, while long-sought, may be symbolic. At least one survivor told Fox News ahead of the ceremony that the Army has so far denied him any benefits, and his fellow servicemembers are likely in for a similar struggle.
WASHINGTON – Victims of the 2009 Fort Hood terror attack finally received their long-delayed honor on Friday at a Purple Heart ceremony in Texas -- though they may have to keep fighting to get military benefits.
Nearly 50 survivors lined up at the ceremony held at Fort Hood on Friday, and all were given either a Purple Heart or Defense of Freedom medal for their injuries. The ceremony was years in the making, as the U.S. government initially described the attack as mere workplace violence, and not terrorism.
But the medal, while long-sought, may be symbolic. At least one survivor told Fox News ahead of the ceremony that the Army has so far denied him any benefits, and his fellow servicemembers are likely in for a similar struggle.
Purple Hearts are for heroes wounded in the line of duty, defending their country. These were active-duty soldiers preparing for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, and their civilian support specialists. To deny them recognition for their acts of valor that day and to further refuse to compensate them for their disabilities and trauma following their involvement in trying to bring Hasan down is, in the opinion of this ol' vet, unconscionable.