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ST. PAUL, Minn. - More than five years after Pfc. Kham See Xiong lost his life in a mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, the Xiong family received his Purple Heart in a ceremony during Hmong American Day in St. Paul, Minnesota.
“Kham was an American Soldier, a Hmong-American who raised his right hand and swore to defend the constitution of the United States, a hero,” said keynote speaker Brig. Gen. Kent D. Savre, Fort Leonard Wood commanding general.
Savre served as commander of the 36th Engineer Brigade at Fort Hood during the attack.
Four hundred members of the Hmong and St. Paul community crowded into the Harriet Island Pavilion as rain fell May 14, 2015, to witness the Purple Heart Ceremony.
Savre, with assistance from the Minnesota National Guard casualty assistance office and Survivor Outreach Services, presented a Gold Star lapel pin to Xiong’s parents, Chor and Pa Nou, his wife Shoua, and their children, Kaylee (age 9), Devyn (age 7) and Jonah (age 6).
“By order of the president of the United States of America, the Purple Heart – established by Gen. George Washington – is awarded to Pfc. Kham See Xiong for wounds received in action on Nov. 5, 2009, at Fort Hood, Texas,” was read from the stage as Savre presented the family with his award.
Xiong was one of 12 children of Chore and Pa Nou, who came to America from Laos when Xiong was just 11 months old.
“His grandfather, father and uncles served with the United States during Vietnam, fighting for democracy and the freedom of the Hmong people,” said Savre. Three of Xiong’s brothers are serving in the U.S. armed forces today.
His assignment as a mechanic with the Forward Support Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade was Xiong’s first Army assignment. In preparation for a deployment to Afghanistan, Xiong and his comrades were completing a Soldier Readiness Processing event when Maj. Nidal Hassan opened fire in the medical building, killing 13 people and wounding 32 in the terroristic attack. Xiong was one of the 13 who did not make it out of the building alive.
Hasan was convicted in August 2013 of 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder.
“His loss will never be forgotten by the Xiong family, nor the Hmong community, and our nation will forever be in his debt,” said Savre.
| Date Taken: | 05.15.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.15.2015 13:03 |
| Story ID: | 163458 |
| Location: | ST. PAUL, MN, US |
| Web Views: | 185 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Fort Hood shooting victim’s family receives posthumous Purple Heart medal, by 1LT Melanie Nelson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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