Secretary of the Army John McHugh announced Thursday that the military will provide all possible benefits to victims of the 2009 Fort Hood attack.

The announcement came a week after 36 soldiers and surviving family members were awarded Purple Heart medals during a ceremony on base. The recipients were only recently deemed eligible for the medal after Congress voted to expand eligibility criteria.

“After making the determination that the victims of the Fort Hood attack are now eligible for the Purple Heart, it seems only right and fair that these Soldiers also receive the benefits it traditionally entails,” McHugh said.

According to an Army press release, McHugh has ordered hostile fire pay for those Purple Heart recipients “killed, injured, or wounded” in the attack, as well as combat-related special compensation for retired soldiers whose disability is attributable to an injury for which they were awarded the medal. He has also ordered a review to determine if Fort Hood survivors are entitled to any other benefits or compensation.

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