Mother of wounded Stanly Co. soldier calls on DOD to re-classify Fort Hood shooting as 'act of terrorism'
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NORWOOD, N.C. - A Stanly County mother is fighting for the soldiers killed and wounded during the Fort Hood shootings nearly three years ago. That includes Diane Frappier's son, Spec. Matthew Cooke, who was one of the 32 people shot that day. Thirteen were killed.
"Matt is one of the few people you will ever meet that will literally throw down his own life to save a complete stranger," said Frappier. She says her son was shot five times while trying to save a higher ranking sergeant. He continues to struggle with those injuries.
Frappier is featured in a new documentary by "The Coalition of Fort Hood Heroes" calling on the Department of Defense to re-classify the attack from "workplace violence" to an official "act of terrorism." It points out the alleged relationship the suspect, Maj. Nidal Hasan, had with a former al-Qaeda leader leading up to the shootings.
The new classification would mean better benefits for victims and their families and make them eligible for other metals, such as the Purple Heart. Currently, they are not.
"The government is not acknowledging the terrorism that is in our military and we have to protect those who are protecting us," said Frappier.
She's urging the public to put pressure on their elected representatives to get the issue on the House and Senate floors.
Spec. Cooke is scheduled to testify in the trial against Hasan. The family plans to travel to Texas to be with him during that time.