Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth awards Purple Hearts to former 101st Airborne Division soldiers at Fort Campbell, Ky., on Monday, May 18, 2026. Nine former soldiers who were wounded more than two decades ago received the medals. (Eric Brann/U.S. Navy)
Nine former U.S. Army soldiers who were wounded more than two decades ago while serving with the 101st Airborne Division received Purple Hearts on Monday at the storied unit’s home of Fort Campbell, Ky.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth presented the “long overdue” medals in a brief ceremony that honored six individuals hurt in a May 2003 grenade and rifle attack by a fellow soldier in Kuwait and three injured in combat operations in 2006 in Iraq. The awards came amid Fort Campbell’s annual Week of the Eagle celebration of the 101st history and accomplishments.
“This gesture today, which is more than just a gesture, it’s a follow-through … meant to showcase inside our formations to these families, to these soldiers, to the media, to the nation, that these things are important,” Hegseth said. “We value them. We value them so much that the secretary wants to fly down here to personally pin on these long overdue … [medals] in some cases years and decades ago that should have been recognized and celebrated.”
Retired Col. Townley Hedrick, Retired Col. Andras Marton, Retired Lt. Col. Shawn Phillips, Retired Lt. Col. Kenneth Romaine, Retired Maj. David Santos and former Capt. Gian Amorsolo were presented Purple Hearts for wounds they sustained at Camp Pennsylvania, Kuwait, on March 23, 2003. A 101st Airborne sergeant, Hasan Akbar, tossed four grenades into three tents and then opened fire on the soldiers fleeing the attack that occurred just days before American forces invaded Iraq and as his own unit was preparing to enter the fight.
The Army said other soldiers wounded in the attack would receive Purple Hearts later in 2026 in a ceremony at the Pentagon. A date for that ceremony has not been set.
Two American service members — Air Force Maj. Gregory Stone and Army Capt. Christopher Seifert — were killed in the attack, and 14 others were injured, according to court records. Akbar was later convicted at Fort Bragg, N.C., of two counts of premeditated murder among other charges and sentenced to death. He is currently being held at Fort Leavenworth’s U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, in Kansas, awaiting death.
Victims of that attack did not initially receive Purple Hearts because the incident was labeled as an insider attack not conducted by enemy forces, which is a requirement for the medal. Army officials had previously said they could not award Purple Hearts in the incident because evidence linking the attacker to any enemy state or organization had not been established.
Army officials did not say Monday if such evidence had now been found. Hegseth said Monday that the awards simply needed to be given to the victims.
“It’s … about lifting them up, so that we lift them up to the rest of the country as a demonstration of what matters, of a demonstration of service and a life well lived, and a moment in time where [they] showed something extraordinary,” the defense secretary said.
Three other former members of the 101st also received Purple Hearts from Hegseth, for wounds received in action while they were deployed to Iraq in 2006.
Former Cpl. Marcus Sandoval received it for wounds sustained on April 7, 2006; former Sgt. Mark Pham for injuries on April 30, 2006; and former Spc. Miguel Lopez received it for wounds sustained on May 2, 2006.
Army Maj. Gen. David Gardner said it was critical that such individuals be recognized, even if it takes years and decades.
“Today is about honoring duty and sacrifice, but most importantly, today is about getting things right,” Gardner said. “Our country does not always get it right, but great leadership will not quit until they get it right.”
Hegseth also administered the oath of enlistment to nearly 200 soldiers from the 101st who reenlisted on Monday.
The secretary later traveled north to Hebron, Ky., where he endorsed retired Navy SEAL Capt. Ed Gallrein in a campaign speech. Gallrein, a Republican, is challenging Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., in Tuesday’s primary election for the state’s 4th Congressional District. Gallrein has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called for Massie’s ouster and accused him of disloyalty.
Hegseth said during the visit that he was there in his “personal capacity.” But the campaign speech raised questions, according to Democracy Forward, a Washington-based legal watchdog organization. That group sent a letter Monday to the Defense Department’s Inspector General asking it investigate the appearance and determine if Hegseth’s appearance broke Pentagon policies or laws, such as the 1939 Hatch Act, which limit federal officials’ partisan political activities while in an official capacity.
The Pentagon said that Hegseth’s participation in the rally was legal.
“No taxpayer dollars will be used to facilitate his visit,” said Sean Parnell, Hegseth’s top spokesman. “His participation has been thoroughly vetted and cleared by lawyers, including the Department of War Office of General Counsel, and does not violate the Hatch Act or any other applicable federal statute.”
Stars and Stripes reporter Matthew Adams contributed to this article.
