The family of a Fort Hood soldier who was killed in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting rampage was presented his Purple Heart medal in a ceremony in Minnesota. The presentation was made during an “American Day” ceremony in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Army Private First Class Kham See Xiong was killed on November 5, 2009 when Major Nidal Hasan went on a shooting spree that left thirteen people dead. The Obama Administration initially called the attack “workplace violence.” Congress took exception and eventually authorized the awarding of the Purple Heart medal to the soldiers who were injured and to the families of those who were killed, as previously reported by Breitbart Texas.
“Kham was an American Soldier, a Hmong-American who raised his right hand and swore to defend the constitution of the United States, a hero,” said keynote speaker Brigadier General Kent D. Savre, according to a Minnesota National Guard press release obtained by Breitbart Texas. General Savre is the Fort Leonard Wood commanding general. He also served as commander of the 36th Engineer Brigade at Fort Hood during the 2009 attack.
More than 400 people from the Hmong and St. Paul communities came out on a rainy day this week to honor their hometown hero and witness the presentation of the medal.
“By order of the president of the United States of America, the Purple Heart – established by Gen. George Washington – is awarded to Pfc. Kham See Xiong for wounds received in action on Nov. 5, 2009, at Fort Hood, Texas,” the General read during the presentation.
He also presented, along with members of the Minnesota National Guard casualty assistance office and Survivor Outreach Services, a Gold Star lapel pin to Chor and Pa Nou, the parents of Private Xiong, his wife Shoua and their three children. The three children are currently ages 9, 7, and 6. The attack occurred five and one-half years ago.
Xiong immigrated to America with his parents when he was almost one-year-old. He was one of twelve children. “His grandfather, father and uncles served with the United States during Vietnam, fighting for democracy and the freedom of the Hmong people,” said Savre. Three of Xiong’s brothers are serving in the U.S. armed forces today.
The Private was a mechanic with the Forward Support Company of the 20th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade and was under the command of General Savre at the time of his death. Fort Hood was Xiong’s first Army assignment and he was preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. He and his fellow soldiers were going through a medical processing event with Hassan opened fire.
Thirteen people were killed and thirty-two were wounded in the terrorist attack, according to the press release.
“His loss will never be forgotten by the Xiong family, nor the Hmong community, and our nation will forever be in his debt,” the General concluded.
The formal presentation of the Purple Heart medals to those who died and were wounded in the attack occurred on April 10th during a solemn ceremony held at Fort Hood. The ceremony was attended by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, and Congressmen John Carter, Roger Williams and Louie Gohmert according to a previous Breitbart Texas report by Rob Milford.
Bob Price is a senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and on Facebook.