Navy to award Purple Hearts to Chattanooga attack victims

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/navy-to-award-purple-hearts-to-chattanooga-attack-victims/ar-BBnDSvx

The Hill

Kristina Wong 15 hrs ago

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 Provided by The Hill Navy to award Purple Hearts to troops killed in Chattanooga attack

The Navy is posthumously awarding Purple Hearts to four Marines and a sailor killed by a lone terrorist at a Navy support center in Chattanooga, Tenn., in July.

Another Marine wounded in the shooting will also be awarded the Purple Heart.

"On July 16th of this year, Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, Staff Sgt. David Wyatt, Sgt. Carson A. Holmquist, Lance Cpl. Squire D. 'Skip' Wells, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith were killed and Sgt. DeMonte Cheeley was injured during a tragic and senseless attack in Chattanooga, Tennessee," Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said in a statement Wednesday.

"Following an extensive investigation, the FBI and NCIS have determined that this attack was inspired by a foreign terrorist group, the final criteria required for the awarding of the Purple Heart to this Sailor and these Marines," he added.

"This determination allows the Department of the Navy to move forward immediately with the award of the Purple Heart to the families of the five heroes who were victims of this terrorist attack, as well as to the surviving hero, Sgt. Cheeley."

Earlier in the day, FBI Director James Comey labeled the shootings an "act of terror."
Mabus said in the statement, first reported by Navy Times, that he hoped the award would comfort the families in some way.

"Although the Purple Heart can never possibly replace this brave sailor and these brave Marines, it is my hope that as their families and the entire Department of the Navy team continue to mourn their loss, these awards provide some small measure of solace," he said.

"Their heroism and service to our nation will be remembered always."