It looks like the precedent was set long ago.
Obama was simply dragging his feet on the Ft Hood victims.
http://savannahnow.com/stories/092801/LOCmedals.shtml
Pentagon to award Purple Hearts and civilian medals in Sept. 11 attacks
Posted: Friday, September 28, 2001
WASHINGTON — All members of the U.S. armed services killed or wounded in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will be awarded the Purple Heart, and the Defense Department has created the Defense of Freedom Medal to be awarded to all department civilians killed or wounded.
Thanks. I didn’t think about that.