Obama Awards Purple Hearts at Walter Reed

President Obama visited with 19 soldiers during a visit to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center this afternoon, the White House said. He also spent time with three families of soldiers in the Intensive Care Unit and hospital staff.

In addition, the president awarded two Purple Hearts, according to the White House.

The visit is the president's first to Walter Reed since entering office, though he went as president-elect on January 19th. It was planned before this week's shootings at the Fort Hood Army post.

Mr. Obama made a wounded warrior visit to Bethesda Naval Hospital on June 1, CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller reports, and spent about an hour visiting 26 inpatients and 30 outpatients and presenting Purple Heart medals to two of them.

White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said the White House "regularly hosts" wounded warriors.

No pictures are being released from the visits because, according to White House aides, the president considers them sacred and private.

The president plans to attend a memorial service at Fort Hood when one is scheduled.

(Pictured: President Obama walks on the South Lawn of The White House after his trip to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington.)