TULSA — A veterans group is opposing an Oklahoma congressman's proposal to posthumously award Purple Hearts to six service members who died in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
The Military Order of the Purple Heart said the honors shouldn't be awarded because the bombing was domestic terrorism, not foreign or foreign-inspired terrorism, like the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the Pentagon or the 2009 Fort Hood shootings.
U.S. Rep. Steve Russell introduced the proposal in a defense authorization bill and said all service members swear an oath to defend the U.S. Constitution against enemies "foreign and domestic."
The veterans group supported the awarding of Purple Hearts to the Fort Hood victims and others after federal law expanded the criteria to include acts of terrorism incited or inspired by international terror groups.