WV National Guard members shot while deployed in DC last year receive Purple Heart from Trump

by Caity Coyne, West Virginia Watch
February 25, 2026

During his State of the Union address on Tuesday, President Donald Trump awarded the Purple Heart to two members of the West Virginia National Guard who were shot in a “targeted attack” while patrolling in Washington, D.C. in November.

U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was awarded the medal posthumously after dying on Nov. 27, 2025 from injuries sustained during the attack. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe has been in rehabilitation and recovery after receiving severe injuries during the ambush.

Wolfe, his family and Beckstrom’s parents were in attendance for Trump’s speech. Throughout his nearly two hour address — where he doubled down on his administration’s hardline immigration stances — the president spent about five minutes sharing Beckstrom and Wolfe’s stories. 

West Virginia Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jim Seward awarded the medals to Wolfe and Beckstrom’s family while the president spoke.

Trump praised Melody Wolfe, Andrew Wolfe’s mother, for her determination about her son’s recovery in the wake of the shooting. He said she was “the most positive person he’s ever met.”

“With God’s help, Andrew has battled back from the edge of death, and we’re talking about the edge of death,” Trump said. “(He is) on his way to a miraculous recovery. He’s got a little work to do, but he’s doing great!”

Beckstrom, a Webster County native, was remembered by her community last year for her “quiet strength” and “commitment to service.” On Tuesday, Trump said she was “a great person.”

“Sarah Beckstrom died in order to defend our capital and we are honored to be joined by her wonderful parents,” Trump said. “Your daughter was a true American patriot and she will be greatly missed.”

Wolfe entered service on Feb. 5, 2019 while Beckstrom enlisted on June 26, 2023. The pair were two of hundreds of West Virginia National Guard members who were deployed to D.C. last August through Trump’s “Operation D.C. Safe and Beautiful.” 

On Nov. 25, Beckstrom and Wolfe were patrolling blocks from the White House when they were ambushed by gunfire.

Police later arrested Rahmanullah Lakanwal for the attack. Lakanwal allegedly drove from Washington state to the nation’s capitol to commit the attack against servicemembers. Lakanwal came to the United States in 2021 after working with the CIA for more than a decade in his home country of Afghanistan.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, Lakanwal faces nine charges related to the ambush, including a charge of first-degree murder for Beckstrom’s death. Earlier this month, Lakanwal pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

Earlier this month, the Justice Department said that it plans to seek the death penalty for Lakanwal. His next hearing in the case will be in May.

On Tuesday, Trump called Lakanwal a “terrorist monster” who was “sick and deranged.” He criticized former President Joe Biden’s Administration for what he said were laxer immigration policies that allowed Lakanwal to come to the U.S.

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey issued a formal request in December for both Beckstrom and Wolfe to receive the Purple Heart. On Tuesday, Morrisey said it was “meaningful” to see Wolfe and Beckstrom’s family receive the medals.

“It was a solemn and unforgettable moment, one that ensured their courage and sacrifice were honored not only by West Virginia but also before the entire nation,” Morrisey said in a statement Tuesday. “West Virginia will never forget their service, their bravery, or their sacrifice.”

In social media posts, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., called the pinning an “incredible tribute” to Beckstrom and Wolfe. Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., said seeing Beckstrom’s parents was “deeply moving.” He called Wolfe “an absolute fighter” who “epitomized true resilience in the face of insurmountable odds.”

In a statement Wednesday, West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin said that while Trump’s speech left much to be desired for West Virginians — the president, he said, did not address important issues like rising costs of living, government corruption and ongoing job losses — he was “glad” to see Beckstrom and Wolfe honored in front of the country on Tuesday night.

“Their courage and sacrifice are a solemn reminder of the dedication, commitment to service and love of country that West Virginians carry with them whenever they put on the uniform,” Pushkin said.

West Virginia Watch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. West Virginia Watch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Leann Ray for questions: info@westvirginiawatch.com.