[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5573]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN HONOR OF UNITED STATES ARMY SERGEANT MATTHEW COOKE, RECIPIENT OF THE 
                              PURPLE HEART

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD HUDSON

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 2015

  Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor United States Army 
Sergeant Matthew Cooke, a recipient of the Purple Heart from North 
Carolina's 8th Congressional District.
  Sergeant Cooke was one of thirty-two wounded during the 2009 shooting 
at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. On November 5, 2009, Nidal Hasan opened 
fire at the Soldier Readiness Center at Fort Hood, killing 13 people 
and wounding 32 and without the courageous actions of Sergeant Cooke, 
the death toll would likely have been higher.
  When Sergeant Cooke saw a non-commissioned officer shot in the torso, 
he draped himself on the higher-ranking soldier to shield him from 
Hasan. He was shot five times in the act of protecting another's life.
  Recovering physically and mentally from the massacre at Fort Hood has 
been a continuing struggle for Sergeant Cooke. Despite serving two 
deployments in Iraq, Sergeant Cooke's greatest injuries and 
selflessness took place on home soil. I am overjoyed that Sergeant 
Cooke is finally receiving the Purple Heart and well-deserved 
recognition for his heroic actions.
  It is an honor to extend these remarks today to congratulate United 
States Army Sergeant Matthew Cooke for receiving the Purple Heart and 
to thank him for his brave and selfless service.

                          ____________________