|
Carter To Introduce Bill Giving Fort Hood Victims Combatant Status
Central Texas Congressman John Carter plans to introduce legislation next week that would give the soldiers and civilians who were killed or injured in the shooting at Fort Hood the same legal status as troops injured in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan.
|
|
18 Comments 
WASHINGTON (November 14, 2009)—Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, whose district includes Fort Hood, plans to introduce legislation Tuesday that would give the soldiers and civilians who were killed or injured in the Nov. 5 shooting at the post’s Soldier Readiness Center the same legal status as troops who are killed or injured in Iraq or Afghanistan.
"The attack on Fort Hood was a planned terrorist attack, the same as the attacks against our forces overseas," Carter said.
"Our wounded and the families of those who lost their lives should receive the same treatment, recognition, and benefits as if the attack occurred on a U.S. military installation in Iraq or Afghanistan,” he said.
While many of the military and survivor benefits for the Fort Hood victims are the same as for combatants, the combatant status would make the dead and injured soldiers eligible for the Purple Heart Medal and the civilian casualties eligible for the Secretary of Defense Medal of Freedom, Carter said.
The combatant status would also ensure that beneficiaries of the soldiers who died in the attack would receive the maximum life insurance benefit.
Latest Comments
They are just trying to give them a purple medal for the sake of giving them the medal. I agree with the benefits but the medal, NO. The medal would mean nothing if we hand it out like candy. That means they would have to hand out that medal to ALL military members who die or get injured at the hands of their comrades.
I have mixed feelings about this....
We are at war, or were, against Islamic Extremists. One infiltrated the ranks of our Military because of PC blindness, and he killed 13 and wounded countless others. Sounds like they were in a combat zone and that we are setting the stage for a 5th column that we are not prepared for nor have the will to fight.
