Victims of the 2009 shooting at the Fort Hood military base in Texas could soon be eligible to receive Purple Heart Awards – an honor typically reserved for soldiers injured in combat.
According to the Military Times, the attack was the worst a U.S. military base has ever experienced. It was carried out by former Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan, who injured over 30 people and killed 13. The majority of the shooting took place in a processing center, so most of the victims were about to embark on missions in Afghanistan or Iraq, or had just returned from these war zones. Many of the servicemembers affected by the shooting discovered in their recovery process that they were ineligible for a plethora of medical benefits and heroic awards, since their injuries were not sustained in overseas combat, reported The Wall Street Journal.
Bipartisan support from a number of officials, however, could change these policies for the victims of this horrific shooting. Military Times noted that a bill to include those impacted by the Fort Hood attack as eligible candidates for Purple Hearts recently passed in the House and is on its way to the Senate. If the bill is signed into law, the Department of Defense will review records from the event and decide which victims qualify for the prestigious award. The source reported that those awarded, or the families of deceased recipients, will also receive compensation, something that could greatly assist with ongoing medical bills and other financial issues that resulted from the shooting.
Military Times noted that while it is rare, Purple Heart rules have been adjusted in the case of past tragedies. Victims of the 9/11 attacks and their families, for example, were able to receive the award and its benefits.