Congressman-Elect Pat Ryan Takes On Effort to Obtain Posthumous Purple Heart Medals for Veterans

Chester native, Lt. Lou Allen

Orange County, NY - It was on June 6, 2005, when Army Capt. Philip Esposito of Suffern and Lt. Lou Allen of Milford, PA, a Chester, NY native, were killed in Iraq by a disgruntled soldier.

Because their deaths were not in battle, they have been denied posthumous Purple Heart Medals despite the efforts of their families, as well as several area local, state and federal officials.

Congressman Pat Ryan (D, NY-18, NY-19) is now picking up the mantle, which he said could lead to a vote in Congress.

“Our initial analysis is that probably yes, because this an area where the current law is being interpreted in a way where the award is not being made, I think it would probably require a legislative fix. So, that is something we can look at and try to take on,” he told Mid-Hudson News.

Ryan, a West Point graduate who served two combat tours in Iraq, called the denial of the medals “egregious and outrageous.”

Source: Mid-Hudson News