Soldiers and Families Receive Purple Hearts

Fort Hood Shooting Victims, Families Receive Medals
Department of Defense
By Heather Graham-­Ashley 3rd Corps and Fort Hood
FORT HOOD, Texas
April 11, 2015

Jeffrey and Sheryll Pearson look at the portrait of their son, Army Pfc. Michael Pearson, before the Purple Heart and Defense of Freedom award ceremony on Fort Hood, Texas, April 10, 2015. The event honored the 13 people killed and more than 30 injured in a gunman’s 2009 shooting rampage on the base.
U.S. Army photo by Daniel Cernero

After nearly six years and a legislative wording change, shooting victims from the Nov. 5, 2009, attack at Fort Hood were recognized during a Purple Heart and Defense of Freedom medal award ceremony here yesterday.

“Hundreds of lives have been woven together by this single day of valor and loss,” Army Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland, 3rd Corps and Fort Hood commanding general, told the soldiers, civilians and families gathered for the somber occasion.

Victims and family members of the fallen from that tragic day at the ceremony received their medals. MacFarland, joined by Army Secretary John McHugh, presented Purple Hearts and Secretary of Defense Medals for the Defense of Freedom.

Thirteen people were killed in the shooting at Fort Hood’s Soldier Readiness Processing Center that day. Another 31 were wounded by gunfire. The gunman was convicted and sentenced to death in September 2013.

“We honor the memories of the 13 souls laid to eternal rest and pay tribute to their sacrifice,” MacFarland said. “We also remember the acts of courage and selflessness by soldiers and civilians which prevented an even greater calamity from occurring that day.”
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