Secretary Hagel awards a Purple Heart to a soldier Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel awards a Purple Heart to a soldier during a ceremony in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, on March 9, 2013. Hagel is in Afghanistan on his first trip as secretary of defense to visit U.S. troops, NATO leaders, and Afghan counterparts. SHARE IMAGE: Download Image: Full Size (0.06 MB) Photo By: VIRIN: 537624-V-WTZ07-012.jpg Photo Gallery