A Texas senator said Wednesday he backs a bill that would allow troops injured or killed in any terrorist attack on American soil to receive Purple Hearts — including those who fell in the Fort Hood shooting.
Sen. John Conryn said he backed the measure by fellow Republican Peter King, a New York congressman, and Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., to end the distinction between domestic and overseas terrorism in awarding the medal.
The Pentagon would be required to assess each case under the Fort Hood Victims and Families Benefits Protection Act. It would override an Army rule that gives Purple Hearts only to those injured or killed in combat with the enemy.
“Fort Hood has long been a source of pride for all Texans,” he said, “and as the community continues to heal, the heroes who put themselves in harm's way on that fateful day deserve to be recognized for their sacrifice whether overseas or at home.”
Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is accused of killing 13 people and wounding another 32 in the Nov. 5 shooting spree inside a crowded post deployment center. His capital murder trial starts Aug. 20 at Fort Hood.
Eyewitnesses testifying in an evidentiary hearing said he cried out, “Allahu akbar!” or God is great, before shooting.
Some in Congress have argued that Hasan was a terrorist, and a number of soldiers on Fort Hood believe he was on jihad. Lieberman's committee said in a report the FBI knew enough “to have detected Hasan's radicalization to violent Islamist extremism,” but didn't act.
In initially co-sponsoring the bill in 2011 with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Rep. Ron Carter, both R-Texas, Cornyn contended “the victims were attacked by someone who shares common cause with the very same terrorists our troops are fighting overseas.” He said the victims “deserve the very same benefits and honors for their service and sacrifice.”