Hegseth announces National Guard members ambushed in DC will be awarded the Purple Heart

War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday that the two West Virginia National Guard members who were ambushed near the White House in Washington, D.C., last year will receive the Purple Heart. 

U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, were shot near the Farragut West Metro Station in November. Beckstrom died of her injuries the day after the shooting, while Wolfe is in an in-patient rehab facility and ready to begin an 8-12 week residential rehab program, according to his mother.

Hegseth made the announcement at a National Guard reenlistment ceremony at the Washington Monument, where he stated that both will receive the military honor in recognition for their bravery after they were "attacked by a radical." 

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, said he requested the Purple Heart for both service members in December, stating their "actions while protecting our nation’s capital meet the highest standards for this recognition."

"This 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," he added.

The Purple Heart is awarded to military servicemembers who were severely wounded or killed by enemies while protecting the United States. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.