OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
5:51 PM – Monday, May 18, 2026
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth traveled to Fort Campbell on Monday to personally present Purple Heart medals to soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division who were wounded more than two decades ago in a notorious insider attack at the onset of the Iraq War.
The solemn presentations took place during the installation’s annual “Week of the Eagles” celebration. The ceremony finally closed an administrative chapter for several veterans injured during the March 23, 2003, grenade attack at Camp Pennsylvania in Kuwait.
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The incident occurred during the opening days of Operation Iraqi Freedom as elements of the 101st Airborne awaited deployment into Iraq. In the middle of the night, a fellow U.S. soldier, Army Sgt. Hasan Akbar, turned on his own unit.
Akbar reportedly threw hand grenades into three dark command tents and opened fire with an M4 rifle as soldiers scrambled for safety. The fragging attack killed Army Capt. Christopher Scott Seifert and Air Force Maj. Gregory Stone, while wounding 16 other service members.
Addressing the crowd, Hegseth, who himself served as an infantry officer in the Iraq War, emphasized his ongoing departmental directive to eliminate bureaucratic backlogs and ensure that valor and combat wounds are recognized with formal, in-person ceremonies rather than medals simply being shipped to veterans’ homes.
“Wherever you are, someone should take the time,” Hegseth remarked, reiterating a philosophy he has championed since taking over the Pentagon. “It doesn’t have to be a big ceremony… what’s most important is that commands take the time to recognize heroism and recognize excellence in person.”
Beyond honoring the sacrifices made in 2003, the event also looked toward the future of the installation’s force. Following the emotional presentation of the Purple Hearts, Hegseth administered the oath of enlistment to 190 re-enlistees from the 101st Airborne Division, commending them for their continued commitment to military service.
In a fiery speech accompanying the event, Hegseth spoke on themes of patriotism, culture, and national unity, telling the audience that the country must maintain a laser-like focus on honoring its wounded veterans and supporting military families.
The Honored Soldiers:
- Retired Col. Townley Hendrick for wounds received on March, 23 2003
- Retired Col. Andras Marton for wounds received on March, 23, 2003.
- Retired Lt. Col. Shawn Phillips for wounds received on March 23, 2003.
- Retired Lt. Col. Kenneth Romaine for wounds received on March 23, 2003.
- Retired Maj. David Santos for wounds received on March 23, 2003.
- Veteran 1st Lt. Gian Amorsolo for wounds received on March 23, 2003.
- Veteran Sgt. Mark Pham her wound received on April 30, 2006.
- Veteran Corporal Marcus Sandoval for wound received on April 7, 2006.
- Veteran Spc. Miguel Lopez for wounds received on May 2, 2006.
The Purple Heart is the nation’s oldest military decoration, awarded in the name of the president to U.S. service members who are wounded or killed as a direct result of enemy action or international terrorist attacks.
While six survivors of the 2003 Camp Pennsylvania attack received their medals during Monday’s ceremony at Fort Campbell, several other eligible veterans from the incident are scheduled to receive their decorations at a later date, as the U.S. Army finalizes the logistics for their formal presentations.
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