ABC to Air Disturbing New Footage of Fort Hood Massacre, Interviews with 'Betrayed' Survivors
On tonight's World News with Diane Sawyer, ABC will air several interviews with victims of the 2009 Fort Hood massacre, as well as graphic video showing the chaos in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. The video is incredibly disturbing, and shows bodies of the dead and injured scattered across the floor, pools of blood everywhere. What the victims have to say is equally impactful.
In the interview, Sergeant Kimberly Munley, who was hailed as a hero for bringing down accused shooter Major Nidal Hassan, claims to have been "betrayed" by President Obama.
"Betrayed is a good word," former Sgt. Munley told ABC News in a tearful interview to be broadcast tonight on "World News with Diane Sawyer" and "Nightline."
"Not to the least little bit have the victims been taken care of," she said. "In fact they've been neglected."
Munley was seated next to Michelle Obama at the 2010 State of the Union address just a few months after the shooting had taken place. President Obama himself made a promise that the victims would be taken care of. However, the shooting has since been classified as a "workplace violence" rather than a terrorist attack or "combat related." To those who were shot, this means fewer financial benefits than other soldiers who received combat-related injuries, less access to medical care and no chance of receiving a Purple Heart or other decorations given to fellow military members hurt on the job.
Dozens of victims of the massacre, including Munley, have now filed suit against the military, demanding it reconsider the attack's "workplace violence" designation.
"Basically, they're treating us like I was downtown and I got hit by a car," Shawn Manning, who was shot six times at Fort Hood, tells ABC in tonight's report.
The Army has denied any neglect of the Fort Hood victims, citing ignorance:
"If a soldier feels ignored, then we need to know about it on a case by case basis," [Secretary of the Army John] McHugh told ABC News. "It is not our intent to have two levels of care for people who are wounded by whatever means in uniform."
As for the lack of awards given to the victims, McHugh tells ABC that awarding Purple Hearts would have a "profound effect on the ability to conduct the trial [against Hassan]."
In addition to accusing Obama of betraying the victims, Munley also tells ABC she believes she was used by the President when she was seated with the First Lady at the State of the Union. Asked whether she was hesitant about speaking out against Obama, she said no.
"We got tired of being neglected. So this was our last resort and I'm not ashamed of it a bit," she said.