12 Missing Names: Bridging a Gap on the GWOT Memorial

by Eric Strand

Centered around a 13-foot steel beam taken from the wreckage of the World Trade Center, the names of over 7,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen who gave their lives make up the Global War On Terrorism (GWOT) Memorial at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Moore, Georgia stands to honor the sacrifices of those that gave their lives for our nation. After 3 years of planning and 2 million dollars in fundraising, the memorial was dedicated on September 11th, 2017. It is rededicated every year when the names of those who died while in the Global War on Terrorism theater of operations, or as the result of wounds and injuries suffered therein, are added to the memorial. While a scattering of other public GWOT memorials exist across the country, the Memorial at the National Infantry Museum will remain the most significant memorial dedicated to America’s longest war, until the National GWOT Memorial planned at the Washington Mall can be completed at least 4 years and 100 million dollars from now.[1] [2] 

750 miles to the west is another powerful but overlooked monument to the sacrifices of the GWOT. The Fort Hood Fallen Warriors Memorial outside the post at the Killeen Civic Center in Texas was dedicated on the 7th anniversary of the November 5th, 2009 shooting that took the lives of 12 soldiers, one civilian, and wounded 30 others. There you will find engraved stones listing the names of those killed and wounded at the base’s Soldier Readiness Processing Center who were going through medical processing after their deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan or were just weeks away from going to those combat zones themselves. At the time, the tragedy was the deadliest mass shooting on an American military base and the deadliest terrorist attack in the United States since the September 11 attacks.

Tucked between a hotel and parking lots and a 10-minute drive from the base, it seems the Army and leaders of the newly named Fort Cavazos would be ok with forgetting this dark chapter of a long and confusing war but we cannot let the Fort Hood shooting fade out of the history books. You will not find the names of the 12 Soldiers killed during the shooting on the GWOT Memorial in Georgia, the Military Times’ Honor the Fallen archive, or even the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS).

Considering that the classification of the Fort Hood shooting was officially recognized as an act of terrorism by Congress in 2015, and the fact that Purple Heart medals were awarded to the soldiers killed and wounded, it is imperative to acknowledge their sacrifice alongside their fellow warriors on the GWOT Memorial. By including the names of these 12 fallen soldiers on the GWOT Memorial, the profound connection between the broader conflict and the tragic event at Fort Hood would be recognized and honored.

This inclusion would demonstrate a unified commitment to memorializing those who have laid down their lives in the pursuit of freedom and justice. It would serve as a powerful reminder that the impact of terrorism reaches far and wide, affecting lives both on and off the battlefield.

In the spirit of unity and remembrance, it seems only fitting to get a serious review of this case by DCAS to bridge the gap between the GWOT Memorial and the Fort Hood Shooting Memorial in Killeen. By adding the 12 names of the soldiers who lost their lives to terrorism to the GWOT Memorial, we can honor their service and sacrifice alongside their comrades who volunteered, served, and died in the broader conflict. We would also strengthen the bond between these memorials, ensuring that their collective memory endures, and their legacies remain forever intertwined as American civilians, veterans, and historians work to tell the story of a long and often misunderstood conflict.

Eric Strand- Director of the War Murals Project

References:

1. Global War on Terrorism Memorial – National Infantry Museum & Soldier Center
2. Hundreds attend dedication of memorial to Fort Hood victims (kwtx.com)
3. Fort Hood November 5 Memorial, 3701S S W S Young Dr, Killeen, TX 76542
4. National Infantry Museum to dedicate new Global War on Terrorism Memorial (armytimes.com)
5. Cost Estimate for Global War on Terrorism Memorial is now $100 Million
6. Timeline of Events – Global War On Terrorism Memorial Foundation (gwotmemorialfoundation.org)

Eric served in the Minnesota Army National Guard and US Army Finance Corps as a disbursing manager and now works in supply chain planning. A lover of history, he founded The War Murals Project while deployed in 2019 as an initiative to preserve and share the art and graffiti created by US and coalition troops during the GWOT and works to document the forgotten and overlooked history of the conflict. He can be reached through the Instagram account @warmurals or email: warmurals@gmail.com.

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