Rep. Chuck Fleischmann introduced House Resolution 383 on Monday evening, expressing the sense of Congress that the Marines and Sailors killed or wounded in the attack at the Navy Operational Support Center and Marine Corps Reserve Center and the Armed Forces Career Center in Chattanooga deserve the appropriate award of the Purple Heart.
Officials said, "While serving their great nation, these brave men were killed on American soil by a violent extremist." Rep. Fleischmann’s resolution was signed by the entire Tennessee delegation and supported by a bipartisan group of 72 original cosponsors.
After the resolution was introduced to Congress, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann released the following statement:
“Chattanooga and America lost five exceptional service members to a horrendous attack on our home soil. These men proudly served their country, and several made the ultimate sacrifice while braving fire in order to save others. With a broad bipartisan coalition, I introduced legislation expressing our belief that the Marines and Sailors lost or wounded in that attack are deserving of the Purple Heart and should be awarded appropriately.”
The Purple Heart is a combat decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who are wounded in combat or posthumously to the next of kin to the military individual killed in combat.