To honor the sacrifice and untimely deaths of four Marines and one sailor during the Chattanooga tragedy, the Marine Corps has put together Purple Heart packets for each victim. However, the military cannot award these medals of valor unless the FBI confirms that the shooter, Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez, was tied to foreign terrorist organizations.
Congress approved new criteria for earning the Purple Heart last December. To be eligible for a Purple Heart, an active-duty serviceman must injured or killed by someone inspired by or in contact with a terrorist group. While Abdulazeez’s writings have drawn on Islamist rhetoric, it isn’t yet enough to confirm ties to foreign terrorists.
The Navy is waiting for the FBI’s verdict before preparing an award for Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith, who was mortally wounded during the attack and died later.