Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel Presents Purple Heart to Fort Bragg Soldier

Soldiers and families numbering just over 250 were invited to Fort Bragg's Pope Field Monday afternoon to hear the Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel speak about the sequestration cuts, its effects on military readiness and the civilian furloughs.

The speaking engagement opened up with Hagel presenting the Purple Heart to Spc. Trevor Hoover assigned to A Company, 2nd Battalion 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, First Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division for wounds sustained on Aug. 25, 2012 in Afghanistan. 

Hagel knows a little something about sacrifice from his time served during the Vietnam War, and a two-time Purple Heart recipient.

Coins were presented to each soldier and family member by Hagel after he fielded questions and praised their level of tenacity. 

This was the first week at Fort Bragg where 8,500 civilian employee's hours were cut for the 11-day furlough due to $37 billion cut implemented this fiscal year, Hagel was emphatic that military readiness was a key priority amidst sequestration woes.