On Friday, February 6, 2015, the Army finally awarded the Purple Heart to those who were wounded or killed after the attack by Army Major Nidal Hasan in 2009 at Fort Hood, Texas. The victims were initially denied the medal because the shooting spree did not qualify as a combat action as defined in military award regulations. For years, the victims, their families, and many elected officials have lobbied for the award of the Purple Heart to the victims. The Purple Heart is a medal that is awarded to those wounded as a result of enemy action. Since Major Hasan was a U.S. Army officer and the attacks occurred on U.S. soil, the shootings did not meet the Purple Heart’s strict eligibility criteria. And as any military member or veteran will agree, the criteria for military awards, to include the Purple Heart, must be adhered to scrupulously. This is to ensure that the integrity of military awards remains intact. Several years ago, during a television interview, I was asked about the awarding of the Purple Heart to the Fort Hood victims. I stated that the victims were not eligible for the Purple Heart. However, I encouraged Congress to pass legislation to allow for a change in the law regarding these awards, in order for the Fort Hood victims to be recognized for their sacrifice. Nearly six years after the shootings, Congress finally listened and took action. In the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015, Congress expanded eligibility for the Purple Heart by allowing those attacked on U.S. soil to qualify for the award, if the attack was inspired or motivated by a foreign terrorist organization. It’s about time. Now these victims or their families are eligible for certain benefits such as burial at Arlington National Cemetery, combat related pay, and many others. Congress may be broken, inept and inefficient, but they finally acted and got something right.