The petty officer slain during the cold-blooded sailor killed as a result of the July 16 attack in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has been nominated for the Purple Heart. But the decision on whether to award it hinges on criminal investigators finding a line between the lone gunman and foreign terrorists. award won't be  on the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve center in C Navy Operational Support Center, Chattanooga has been nominated for the Purple Heart, but a final determination rests on investigators establishing a link between the shooter and foreign terror organizations.

Logistics Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Randall Smith, who died in the hospital two days after being shot, the shooting, was put in for the medal in late July, as were the four slain Marines, but the award will move only as fast as the FBI investigation. The move matched the Marine Corps' own Purple Heart packages, which were submitted shortly after the attack for the four Marines who were killed.

"Award of the Purple Heart remains under consideration for the Marines and Sailor who were killed and wounded at Chattanooga," said Navy spokesman Cmdr. William Marks. "For attacks on Service members within the United States, the Purple Heart may only be awarded if certain conditions are met.

"The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the July 16th attack at Chattanooga is still ongoing. Once all the relevant facts are known, a decision will be made as to whether the Purple Heart can be authorized."

The news comes amid a public debate over what constitutes a battlefield as the U.S. contends with adversaries like al-Qaida Al Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State group that are trying to incite vicious attacks against American troops and citizens; in March, ISIS reportedly published a hit list of 100 American service members they urged attacks against. These developments are likely impacting the  during in a global war on terror, troops and civilians alike could be targets at any moment. The military's two-year medals review, has been undergoing a two-year review of the standards for medals that have become complicated in a Post-9/11 world, and recommendations are expected soon.

But in the case of the Purple Heart, a clear standard has already been established in last year's National Defense Authorization Act, which retroactively awarded it to soldiers killed and wounded in the victims of the 2009 Fort Hood, Texas, shootings, and was drawn up to cover service members killed in terrorist attacks.

Officials who spoke on background said The determination in the Chattanooga cases rests on whether the shooter, an American citizen, was in communication with or at least motivated by a foreign terror organization, which is the criteria set forth in the NDAA, according to an official familiar with the matter.

But observers have noted that if the two servicemen who, along with a friend, thwarted stopped an attack on a train bound for Paris in August received a Purple Heart, certainly the Chattanooga victims should as well.

"Anything less would be a failure to be consistent," said Doug Sterner, a Vietnam veteran and one of the foremost authorities on military awards.

Sterner said it is important to establish consistency with the awards, and that the recent cases have been confusing, such as awarding the Purple Heart (a combat award) to Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone, along with the Airman's Medal (a non-combat heroism award).

"We are getting a little bit far afield here," he said. "The question here is, 'Was the reserve center in Chattanooga a combat environment? If so then, yes, the Purple Heart is appropriate."

That's one of the questions that DoD is struggling with, said Air Force Secretary Deborah James said in a recent interview.

"This really is a worldwide threat situation," James said, adding that the entire military medals and awards system is "is being looked at right now within the Department of Defense. We're trying to think that through."

Smith was killed by Mohammad Abdulazeez, a 24-year-old Kuwaiti-born Jordanian, who grew up in the Chattanooga area and attended high school in Red Bank across the Tennessee River.

Smith, who was 26 years oldalso 24 years old, joined the Navy in late 2010 out of Paulding, Ohio. He did a tour on the amphibious assault ship Wasp, before transferring to the NOSC in August of 2014.

He died July 18, and is survived by his wife, Angie, and their three daughters.

Also killed in the attack were Marine Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, Lance Cpl. Squire K. "Skip" Wells, Staff Sgt. David Wyatt and Sgt. Carson Holmquist.

About David B. Larter

David B. Larter was the naval warfare reporter for Defense News.

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