Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel said Friday that he wrote to the Secretary of the Army  on behalf of the families of Captain Philip Esposito and Lieutenant Louis Allen, who  were killed in a “fragging” incident in Iraq in 2005, and who were denied Purple Hearts.

            In his letter to Secretary John M. McHugh, Rep. Engel said, “It has been brought to my attention that efforts to award Captain Esposito and Lieutenant Allen the Purple Heart were denied.  I ask for a further review of this request, and that the Unites States Army strongly reconsiders honoring these two soldiers for their ultimate sacrifice.  They gave their lives while serving their country.  I strongly believe they deserve the honor of being awarded the Purple Heart.”

Capt. Esposito and Lt. Allen died when a mine placed at their tent in Tikrit exploded. An American soldier was arrested and charged with the killings, but acquitted three years later in an Army trial.

Rep. Engel said after the verdict, "I send my deepest sympathies to the families of Capt. Phillip Esposito and Lt. Louis Allen. I met with Mrs. Siobhan Esposito and Mrs. Barbara Allen right after this terrible tragedy to help them deal with the Army bureaucracy, and have followed the events up to the trial and acquittal.

"I join the families in their incredulity. For three years they have watched and waited for justice in the murder of their husbands and fathers, only to for it to be in vain.
The Army must continue to pursue this case with all diligence so that these families can bring some closure to their tragedy."

            The two women sought Rep. Engel’s help when the Army refused to take them to Kuwait to witness the trial. After the Congressman acted, the Army relented and flew the women there.

            Capt. Esposito’s mother Joan is collecting signatures on a petition to have the medals granted.

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