Fort Hood shooting victims not memorialized among Global War on Terror casualties
Seventeen years after the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, the 12 soldiers and one civilian medical provider killed, along with 32 people wounded, remain absent from many official records of post-9/11 casualties. That gap is more than a matter of paperwork. For veterans, their families, and veteran-owned businesses, recognition shapes how service and sacrifice are understood—and whether people who served feel seen by the institutions they trusted.
On Nov. 5, 2009, Army Maj. Nidal Hasan opened fire at Fort Hood’s Soldier Readiness Processing Center. The victims received Purple Hearts in 2015 after a congressional directive, but the Army continued to classify the attack as workplace violence. Retired Army Col. Kathy Platoni, who treated victims that day, says the classification has not caught up with the medals. She wants the shooting formally recognized as domestic terrorism and the victims added to official post-9/11 casualty databases.
There are places where the fallen are remembered. The Fort Hood November 5 Memorial in Killeen honors those killed and wounded, including Pfc. Francheska Velez and her unborn child. The Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial in Illinois also includes the Fort Hood victims. Its leaders say the memorial was intended to recognize service members killed in terrorist attacks, wherever those attacks occurred.
But the Army’s Global War on Terrorism Memorial and online database at the National Infantry Museum do not list the Fort Hood dead. Neither does the Defense Casualty Analysis System or several long-running public casualty databases. The museum says it relies on Defense Department information. Asked about the omission, Defense Department officials referred questions to the Army, which did not respond to Military Times by publication. That loop leaves families and advocates without a clear answer.
Why should veteran entrepreneurs care? Because the way institutions honor service affects the culture veterans carry into civilian life. Many veteran-owned companies are built around trust, accountability, and looking after the people beside you. When an official record overlooks a group of service members, it can deepen a sense that their service—or their families’ experience—doesn’t count. For business owners who lead veteran teams, acknowledging that history can help build a workplace where people feel respected rather than expected to simply move on.
There are practical lessons, too. Veteran founders often hire fellow veterans, work with military-connected suppliers, or serve customers who value credible, mission-driven leadership. Understanding the distinctions between a Purple Heart, a casualty classification, and eligibility for particular benefits helps business owners avoid making assumptions when supporting employees. A medal does not automatically resolve every administrative question. If an employee is navigating benefits or trauma, listen first, protect their privacy, and direct them to qualified military, legal, or veteran-service resources instead of trying to adjudicate their case.
Businesses can also help keep the history visible without turning remembrance into a marketing slogan. Share reliable information, support local memorial events, and make space for employees to participate if they choose. Veteran entrepreneurs can use their networks to encourage accurate public records and connect families with established advocacy organizations. The goal is not to claim someone else’s grief; it is to make sure people are not erased from the story.
For Sheryll Pearson, whose son Michael was killed at age 22, remembrance is personal. She has said she does not want her son or the wounded to be forgotten, especially by a generation that may not know the attack happened. Whatever the final design of the national GWOT memorial in Washington, D.C., advocates say inclusion matters. A community—and a business culture—shows its values by whom it remembers. Keeping these names visible is one small, meaningful way to honor service and strengthen the trust veterans bring to the work they do next.
👁️ READ MORE: Fort Hood Victims Still Missing From Many War on Terror Records
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