By John R. Carter

Following the 2009 Fort Hood terror attack, I fought against the executive branch and its bureaucrats for five years to secure Purple Hearts and benefits for those wounded and killed. It was a hard-fought battle against the Obama Administration, but in the end, justice prevailed. Both the survivors and victims of that dark day deserve no less.

November 5, 2009 will forever mark the day when Nidal Hasan, a deranged gunman inspired and motivated by radical Islam, took the lives of twelve soldiers, one civilian, and an unborn child; another 32 people were seriously wounded. Over 200 rounds of ammunition were expended in ten minutes of chaos. It was every bit as violent and catastrophic as a firefight in the streets of Kabul.

Yet, the Obama Administration labeled the shooting not an act of terror, but “workplace violence.” Doing so blocked the benefits, help, and honors the victims earned. As a result, many of them struggled, suffered, and felt abandoned. This is not how we treat those defending our nation. This was a case of terrorism, not workplace violence, and the victims and their families earned the Purple Heart, and all their benefits.

I crafted legislation that authorized the Army to award the victims of the 2009 Fort Hood terror attack with long-overdue honors, pay, and benefits commensurate with their sacrifices. This was finally signed into law in 2015 and was the culmination of a long fight that brought the entire Congress together in opposition with the President, ultimately changing policy through legislation.

Securing Purple Hearts and benefits for the victims and family members of the 2009 Fort Hood terrorist attack remains one of the most solemn experiences in my life. I am honored to have contributed.

More is still to be done, and I will continue to work to ensure the memorial we have planned for the victims is completed and dedicated, as they rightfully deserve. I will never stop fighting for our troops. Anything less than first-class treatment of our brave warriors is simply unacceptable.

As we reflect on Veteran’s day and on the 6^th anniversary of the terrorist attack at Fort Hood, we must not forget our veterans, victims of terror, and their families. They put their lives on the line to protect and preserve our freedoms.  Our brave men and women of the military stand for all that is good in this world.

John R. Carter is a Republican and represents Texas District 31 in the U.S. House of Representatives, which includes Fort Hood, the largest military installation in the free world. He serves as Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations, is on the Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice and Science and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. 

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