Would the soldiers shot at Ft. Hood be eligible for the Purple Heart?

[BKReporter]

They were after all on active duty, though I don’t know if you could say they were in the line of duty.

[robby]

Probably not.

From the wikipedia entry:

Specific examples of services which warrant the Purple Heart include any action against an enemy of the United States; any action with an opposing armed force of a foreign country in which the Armed Forces of the United States are or have been engaged; while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party; as a result of an act of any such enemy of opposing armed forces; or as the result of an act of any hostile foreign force. After 28 March 1973, as a result of an international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary of the Army, or jointly by the Secretaries of the separate armed services concerned if persons from more than one service are wounded in the attack. After 28 March 1973, as a result of military operations while serving outside the territory of the United States as part of a peacekeeping force.

The attack did not come from “an enemy of the United States,” or “an opposing armed force,” or a “hostile foreign force,” or an “international terrorist attack” (unless the Secretary of the Army finds otherwise), nor were the injured and killed troops serving outside the U.S. as part of a peacekeeping force.

[Nametag]

I agree - probably not.This was a crime, not an act of war.

[Sailboat]

@robby

Probably not.

From the wikipedia entry:

The attack did not come from “an enemy of the United States,” or “an opposing armed force,” or a “hostile foreign force,” or an “international terrorist attack” (unless the Secretary of the Army finds otherwise), nor were the injured and killed troops serving outside the U.S. as part of a peacekeeping force.

It’s worth noting that the (admittedly early) reports now say the perp was in the same congregation as (and thus theoretically in potential contact with) some of the 9-11 hijackers, and has spoken positively about violent jihad for years. It is possible that this will be counted as an externally-influenced attack. Whether that’s sufficient for a Purple Heart is beyond my ability to guess.