Veterans Land Board to treat Fort Hood victims as combat casualties

[flowers]

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/veterans-land-board-to-treat-fort-hood-victims-as-/nZbGK/

FORT HOOD —

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson announced that the Veteran Land Board, which provides loans and retirement home services to veterans and their families, will treat the spouses of those killed in the Nov. 5, 2009, Fort Hood shooting “as if they were killed in combat.”

Over 150 victims and family members are suing the federal government seeking to have the attack classified as an act of war, which would lead to increased retirement, medical and disability benefits. The federal government has not called Maj. Nidal Hasan, convicted in the shootings on Friday, an enemy combatant, which would open the door to Purple Hearts and expanded benefits.

It’s not clear what the announcement means for the spouses of the Fort Hood victims. “We’re going to change the rules to give these families full access to VLB benefits,” Patterson said in a statement. “We’ll let the lawyers work out the details, but I intend to make sure we honor their sacrifice.”

One spouse, Joleen Cahill, the wife of slain medical worker Michael Cahill, lives in Cameron. But it’s not clear how the change would help spouses who live in other states.

“Each of the active and retired military members who died in the Fort Hood terrorist attack lost their life while assigned to duty in Texas or in support of the military in Texas,” Patterson said. “They were physically on duty in Texas and chose to remain until the time of their death in defense of both the citizens of the United States and Texas. Like Travis and Crockett, their spilled blood remains forever intermingled with Texas soil. Their surviving spouses who are residents of Texas at the time of application should be eligible for VLB programs.”

 

[Olivia]

It's so infuriating that Obama calls these murders a "work place violence."
It was an act of terrorism and he knows it!  He's being his evil, vindictive self when he says otherwise.
Glad to hear the families of the victims are getting some kind of compensation..