US to Award Purple Heart to Two National Guard Members Shot by Afghan Refugee

The United States will award the Purple Heart medal to two National Guard members who were shot by an Afghan refugee in November 2025 near the White House in Washington.

Sara Bextrom, a 20-year-old National Guard soldier, was shot during the armed attack by Rahmanullah Laknwal on November 26, 2025, and later died from her injuries. Andrew Wolf, the other National Guard member targeted in the attack, was wounded and is currently recovering. He is scheduled to undergo skull reconstruction surgery in March 2026.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said: "We lost one and the other is recovering. Both will soon receive the Purple Heart medal, since they were attacked by an extremist."

The Purple Heart is one of the oldest U.S. military honors, first established in 1782 by George Washington as the Badge of Military Merit to recognize soldiers wounded or killed in the line of duty during the Revolutionary War. Its modern form was revived in 1932 and is awarded by the President to service members injured or killed as a result of enemy action.

The medal is relatively rare and is typically given to those wounded or killed by enemy forces in combat zones.