Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has announced that two West Virginia National Guard members who were shot in an ambush-style attack near the White House late last year will receive the Purple Heart.
The service members, Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, were shot at close range during the November 26 attack.
Officials describe the attack as a targeted ambush carried out by a radical assailant.
Beckstrom, 20, died a day after the shooting.
Wolfe, 24, was seriously wounded and continues to recover.
Calling the incident “a terrible thing,” Hegseth made the announcement during a National Guard reenlistment ceremony at the Washington Monument.
Hegseth administered the oath of enlistment to more than 100 Guardsmen serving in Washington, D.C.
“And we had a terrible thing happen a number of months ago,” Hegseth said.
“Andrew Wolfe, Sarah Beckstrom, one lost, one recovered, thank God, in miraculous ways.
“Both soon to be Purple Heart recipients because they were attacked by a radical.”
The remarks mark the first public confirmation that the two Guardsmen will receive the Purple Heart, one of the nation’s oldest military decorations, awarded to U.S. service members wounded or killed by enemy action.
Historic Military Honor
The Purple Heart traces its origins to the American Revolution, when George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit in 1782 to recognize enlisted soldiers wounded or killed in service.
The modern Purple Heart was revived in 1932 and is awarded in the name of the president to service members wounded or killed by enemy action.
The accused gunman, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, faces nine charges related to the attack, including first-degree murder while armed and assault with intent to kill while armed.
He has pleaded not guilty.
“Long-Overdue Honor”
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey thanked Hegseth for confirming the awards in a statement posted on X, calling the recognition overdue.
In the post, Morrisey wrote.
“I thank Secretary @PeteHegseth for announcing that U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe will soon receive the Purple Heart, an honor that reflects their courage and sacrifice in defense of our nation.”
He added that he formally requested the awards on December 19.
Hegseth concluded by declaring that the announcement “brings long-overdue honor to their service, offers meaning and reassurance to their families, and stands as a solemn reminder that West Virginia will never forget those who sacrifice in defense of others.”
National Guard Mission In Washington
Hegseth delivered the announcement during a ceremony recognizing the National Guard’s ongoing security mission in the nation’s capital.
According to a War Department news release, more than 100 Guardsmen from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and West Virginia reenlisted Friday as part of the deployment.
Those troops are among more than 2,600 National Guard members currently serving in Washington at the direction of President Donald Trump.
The troops were deployed in support of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force.
The task force was established in August 2025 after the president declared a crime emergency in the city.
Addressing the Guardsmen, Hegseth described their mission as frontline service.
“This is not an easy assignment,” he said.
“It’s the real deal. It’s front lines.
“You’ve done it, and you’ve done well.”
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