DALLAS (AP) _ The victims of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting attack leaving 13 dead filed a formal petition Wednesday to receive Purple Hearts and other benefits they have argued are long overdue.
They filed a petition with the Defense Department Wednesday aiming to restart the process after Congress earlier in December approved new provisions to make it easier for them to receive military recognition.
More than five years after an Army psychiatrist opened fire on dozens of unarmed soldiers, many of those wounded in the attack struggle to find jobs or support themselves.
The Defense Department considers the attack an act of “workplace violence” for the purposes of the Purple Heart, given to soldiers wounded in battle.
The process of reviewing the victims’ application is expected to take several months.