Obama visits injured troops at Walter Reed - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Obama visits injured troops at Walter Reed

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama met privately Monday with more than two dozen wounded U.S. soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

The president’s unannounced visit came a day before the U.S. marks a formal end to its combat operations in Iraq. The president will travel to Fort Bliss, Texas, on Tuesday to thank soldiers for their service in Iraq and then return to Washington to address the nation from the Oval Office.

The White House said Obama met with 24 service members who served in Afghanistan and five who served in Iraq while at Walter Reed. He also honored 11 soldiers with the Purple Heart, a military decoration for those injured or killed during their service.

The visit to Walter Reed was Obama’s second since taking office, and he visited as a presidential candidate. He has also visited injured soldiers at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.