Ft. Hood Victims Shamefully Denied Purple Hearts

Investor's Business Daily ^ | April 1, 2013 | IBD EDITORIALS

[raptor22]

War On Terrorism: We have a medal for those who remotely operate drones, but the Pentagon claims awarding the victims of the 2009 shooting with Purple Hearts would jeopardize the shooter's chance at a fair trial.

We recently noted that the Obama administration's shameful designation of the Nov. 5, 2009, rampage at the Army base in Killeen, Texas, by Major Nidal Hasan as "workplace violence" had denied survivors benefits they would have been entitled to had the attack been properly labeled an act of terror.

For example, Staff Sgt. Shawn Manning was shot six times but was denied benefits that would accrue to a soldier injured in an act of terror or a battle overseas.

Manning says the "workplace violence" designation has cost him almost $70,000 in benefits that would have been available if his injuries were classified as "combat related."

One would expect that when a self-proclaimed "Soldier of Allah" shouting "Allahu Akbar" opens fire on dozens of U.S. citizens and soldiers, killing and maiming as many innocents as he can, it would have been called an act of terror.

FBI and Congressional investigations have found that the Ft. Hood attack, like Benghazi, was indeed an act of terror in the midst of a war on terror, but the politically correct Obama administration persists in playing word games rather than honoring America's heroes.

Now the Army and the Defense Department is trying to ward off legislation that would correct this injustice, designate the Ft. Hood attack an act of terror, and authorize the survivors to receive the full benefits and Purple Hearts they earned.

[raptor22]

IBD EDITORIAL PING

[FreedomPoster]

I get mad every time I read this story. Our people are being jerked around and not treated fairly, and this guy should have been swinging from a rope years ago.

[a fool in paradise]

Meanwhile the shooter is STILL receiving his pay.

[a fool in paradise]

We have a medal for those who remotely operate drones, but the Pentagon claims awarding the victims of the 2009 shooting with Purple Hearts would jeopardize the shooter's chance at a fair trial.

Didn't the writer get the memo? He's the ALLEGED shooter. Saying otherwise might jeopardize his chance at a fair trial.

[TheGunny]

The wont receive the Purple Heart Medal because they DO NOT rate the medal..as much as I LOATH the current administration, these soldiers do not fall into any of the criteria past or present. It was terrorism and not work place violence, but it doesnt change the criteria for the award. Correct me if im wrong (I know you will), not even those killed or injured on 9-11 at the Pentagon have received the medal.

[supercat]

It was terrorism and not work place violence, but it doesnt change the criteria for the award. Correct me if im wrong (I know you will), not even those killed or injured on 9-11 at the Pentagon have received the medal.

I would expect the question of whether the soldiers at Fort Hood meet the criteria would depend upon how one classifies their attacker--as a deranged worker, a terrorist, or as a not-legitimately-uniformed enemy combatant. If the latter, I would think a Purple Heart would seem appropriate.

[pepsionice]

I see only one problem in this episode....if given, you’d be giving a valued medal to a GI....for being wounded by another American GI (which the doc is). It opens up debate. There were a couple thousand GI’s in WW II wounded by their own associates...the same with episodes in Vietnam.

[TheGunny]

Not arguing that supercat. What Im saying is that all of you that are shouting it from the rooftops never make the comparison between the FH attack and what took place at the Pentagon on 9-11. Neither action at this moment in time rate the Purple Heart Medal. As much as loathe BS, its not about him or his administration.

[WVKayaker]

I just moved to the Philippines. From Cebu, I rode the Supercat to Ormoc City. You sure get around!

Gunny, there are too many of you for me to count! I knew four (retired) Marines that went by the name "Gunny" at the Armed Forces Retirement Home-Gulfport. Of course, there were more that were Gunnery Sarges, but went by Clyde or whatever!

[TheGunny]

LOL! Its actually Master Gunnery Sergeant (Master Gunny or Master Gunz) now...it was Gunny when I started my FR account. I would change it if I could:o) All Gunnery Sergeants have the title of “The Gunny” ascribed to them, one of respect and endearment;o)

[WVKayaker]

Its actually Master Gunnery Sergeant

Glad to hear the progression...

I had a good friend, MGSGT Walter Sparks, at AFRH-Gulfport. He and I burned a lot of good stogies together...

This be he... He got out just after the Viet Nam thingee!

[WVKayaker]

...and this be me and he at the Cigar Shop in Biloxi for a Perdomo event!

[piasa]

If it happens in Boston it’s terrorism but if it happens in Texas it’s just workplace violence.

[SGN1975]

Good afternoon, WVKayaker - I’d appreciate a note from you e-mailed to ken.crouse@sbcglobal.net regarding MGySgt Sparks. I was a Marine Security Guard in Vietnam in 1975 and would like to get in touch with MGySgt Sparks for the purposes of helping the Marines who served in his DaNang command remain in touch. I was in Saigon, but work on behalf of a non-profit that consists of the MSG’s in Vietnam in 1975.

Thanks, Ken Crouse, Secretary
Fall of Saigon Marines Assoc