Fort Hood Purple Hearts
Forty-four Purple Hearts and Defense of Freedom Medals were presented to victims and families at a ceremony today at Fort Hood, Texas. The medals recognize the sacrifice of the 13 killed and 31 who were wounded on Nov. 5, 2009, by former Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Hasan, who was convicted and sentenced to death. Initially classified as workplace violence, Congress changed the law to expand Purple Heart eligibility to those wounded or killed in attacks motivated by foreign terrorist organizations. The change required the secretary of the Army to review the circumstances of the attacks that occurred at Fort Hood and outside a military recruiting station in Arkansas on June 1, 2009. The Army has yet to make a determination on the Little Rock shooting, where convicted assailant Abdulhakim Muhammad, formerly named Carlos Bledsoe, killed one soldier and wounded another. The Defense of Freedom Medal was established soon after 9/11 to recognize DOD civilian employees killed or wounded in the line of duty. Read more.
Forty-four Purple Hearts and Defense of Freedom Medals were presented to victims and families at a ceremony today at Fort Hood, Texas. The medals recognize the sacrifice of the 13 killed and 31 who were wounded on Nov. 5, 2009, by former Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Hasan, who was convicted and sentenced to death. Initially classified as workplace violence, Congress changed the law to expand Purple Heart eligibility to those wounded or killed in attacks motivated by foreign terrorist organizations. The change required the secretary of the Army to review the circumstances of the attacks that occurred at Fort Hood and outside a military recruiting station in Arkansas on June 1, 2009. The Army has yet to make a determination on the Little Rock shooting, where convicted assailant Abdulhakim Muhammad, formerly named Carlos Bledsoe, killed one soldier and wounded another. The Defense of Freedom Medal was established soon after 9/11 to recognize DOD civilian employees killed or wounded in the line of duty. Read more.
V-E Day 70th Anniversary
A ceremony to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day will be held at the National World War II Memorial in Washington on May 8 at 10:30 a.m. All WWII veterans are invited to attend and be recognized for their service and sacrifice. Representatives from the U.S. and allied nations will be laying wreaths, followed by a multi-aircraft flyover of vintage warbirds. The WWII Memorial has very few disability parking spaces, and street parking will be extremely limited since it’s the tourist season andMay 8 is a workday. Taxis to the memorial are plentiful and recommended, and the two closest Metro stations, Federal Triangle and Smithsonian, are both about a half-mile away. RSVP your attendance to the ceremony.
A ceremony to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day will be held at the National World War II Memorial in Washington on May 8 at 10:30 a.m. All WWII veterans are invited to attend and be recognized for their service and sacrifice. Representatives from the U.S. and allied nations will be laying wreaths, followed by a multi-aircraft flyover of vintage warbirds. The WWII Memorial has very few disability parking spaces, and street parking will be extremely limited since it’s the tourist season andMay 8 is a workday. Taxis to the memorial are plentiful and recommended, and the two closest Metro stations, Federal Triangle and Smithsonian, are both about a half-mile away. RSVP your attendance to the ceremony.
DNA Samples Needed for MIA Identifications
There are 83,000 missing and unaccounted for Americans from World War II forward, yet many families of the missing have yet to provide a family reference sample to assist in DNA identifications. Currently, 89 percent of Korean War families have provided samples, as well as 83 percent of Cold War families and 81 percent of Vietnam War families, but only 4 percent of WWII families have. The government last year identified 107 MIAs, but more could have been identified—and faster—if more family reference samples were on file. Please forward the following service casualty office contact information to MIA families in your hometown, as well as to local newspapers:
Army: 800-892-2490
Marine Corps: 800-847-1597
Navy: 800-443-9298
Air Force: 800-531-5501
State Department: 202-485-6106
Learn more.
There are 83,000 missing and unaccounted for Americans from World War II forward, yet many families of the missing have yet to provide a family reference sample to assist in DNA identifications. Currently, 89 percent of Korean War families have provided samples, as well as 83 percent of Cold War families and 81 percent of Vietnam War families, but only 4 percent of WWII families have. The government last year identified 107 MIAs, but more could have been identified—and faster—if more family reference samples were on file. Please forward the following service casualty office contact information to MIA families in your hometown, as well as to local newspapers:
Army: 800-892-2490
Marine Corps: 800-847-1597
Navy: 800-443-9298
Air Force: 800-531-5501
State Department: 202-485-6106
Learn more.
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