In Honor of United States Army Sergeant Matthew Cooke, Recipient of the Purple Heart

Floor Speech

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Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor United States Army Sergeant Matthew Cooke, a recipient of the Purple Heart from North Carolina's 8th Congressional District.

Sergeant Cooke was one of thirty-two wounded during the 2009 shooting at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. On November 5, 2009, Nidal Hasan opened fire at the Soldier Readiness Center at Fort Hood, killing 13 people and wounding 32 and without the courageous actions of Sergeant Cooke, the death toll would likely have been higher.

When Sergeant Cooke saw a non-commissioned officer shot in the torso, he draped himself on the higher-ranking soldier to shield him from Hasan. He was shot five times in the act of protecting another's life.
Recovering physically and mentally from the massacre at Fort Hood has been a continuing struggle for Sergeant Cooke. Despite serving two deployments in Iraq, Sergeant Cooke's greatest injuries and selflessness took place on home soil. I am overjoyed that Sergeant Cooke is finally receiving the Purple Heart and well-deserved recognition for his heroic actions.

It is an honor to extend these remarks today to congratulate United States Army Sergeant Matthew Cooke for receiving the Purple Heart and to thank him for his brave and selfless service.

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