Were the actions of Chris Kyle, known as the United States’ deadliest sniper, worthy of the Congressional Medal of Honor? A representative from Texas believes so, and has introduced legislation to that end. But veterans aren’t so sure.
Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas) introduced the Chris Kyle Medal of
Honor Act, which would “authorize and request” President Barack
Obama to posthumously award the nation’s highest military honor
to the former Navy SEAL for his acts of valor performed during
the Iraq war.
“Chris gave the ultimate sacrifice and served his nation with
distinction and bravery while saving countless American lives.
There is no doubt that this true American hero is worthy of our
nation’s highest military honor,” Williams said in a
statement. “While the Medal of Honor will not bring back a
husband, father, son and a model Texan, we owe Chris Kyle and his
family a great deal of gratitude for his relentless devotion to
his country.”
Post by Roger
Williams.
Williams’ district includes part of the county near Fort Worth
where Kyle was killed at a firing range, the Washington Post’s
Checkpoint blog reported. The 38-year-old veteran was credited
with more than 160 kills during his service in Iraq. His longest
and most remarkable kill – from 1.2 miles away – took out an
insurgent aiming a rocket launcher at an Army convoy.
“He truly is an American hero. He saved countless American
lives during his four tours,” Williams told Fox News.
“And it comes at a good time too. It lets people in America
and our soldiers, the best and the brightest we have, to let them
know that we appreciate them and the job they do and that we love
them.”
Kyle wrote an autobiography called ‘American Sniper’ which was
turned into a blockbuster movie by director Clint Eastwood and
was released in January. Veterans believe that Williams is using
the sniper’s fame ‒ and the film’s $322.59 million box office
sales ‒ as a political ploy.
@BranKmoore75
Sort of seems like they’re trying to turn it into a lifetime
achievement award.
— Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) February
26, 2015
“There are hundreds of members of the military whose martial
biographies are similar, but they don’t have a best selling book
and a blockbuster movie, and I get the feeling that is the only
reason that Williams is going through all of this because of
Kyle’s name recognition,” Army veteran John Lilyea wrote on
military blog This Ain’t Hell. “The [Eddie Ray] Routh trial
and the success of the movie about Kyle are intersecting at the
Medal of Honor.”
The SEAL received two Silver Stars, the third-highest combat
award, and five Bronze Stars with the Combat Distinguished Device
‒ also known as ‘V Device’ ‒ for his actions. However, it is not
believed that Kyle’s past commanders ever nominated him for the
award, Checkpoint’s Dan Lamothe wrote.
I can’t think of any way he qualifies under the rules // Medal
of Honor sought for ‘American Sniper’ Chris Kyle http://t.co/j1idR4mxBV
— Leo Shane III (@LeoShane) February
26, 2015
Though named the Congressional Medal of Honor, it is not up to
the legislative branch to dole out the United States’ highest
award for combat valor.
Instead, the president, in the name of Congress, awards the medal
to a vigorously vetted recipient who has “distinguished
himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of
his life above and beyond the call of duty.” The act of
valor must occur during one of three circumstances: While engaged
in action against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in
military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign
force, or while serving with friendly forces engaged in armed
conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United
States is not a belligerent party.
Williams noted that Congress previously passed legislation to
waive certain restrictions that would prevent a potential
recipient from being awarded the medal, citing a Congressional Research Service (CRS) paper published
in September.
“Generally speaking, this type of legislation is rarely
enacted,” the CRS paper said. “In a very limited number
of cases, the medal has been awarded outside the legal
restrictions concerning time limits. These cases are often based
on technical errors, lost documents or eyewitness accounts, or
other factors that justify reconsideration. These cases, however,
represent the exception and not the rule.”
Along with the relative rarity of awards granted via legislation,
like what Williams introduced Tuesday, Kyle is not a likely
recipient because, of late, the Medal of Honor “nearly always
goes to a service member who performed a single, extraordinary
act of valor,” Lamothe wrote.
Congressman makes push for Chris Kyle to be awarded the MOH.
Anyone else sick of him being exploited for polit… http://t.co/LVn2g8Se7g
— Veterans Support (@veteransupport1)
February 27, 2015
A petition on the White House website asking
President Obama to award Kyle the Medal of Honor failed to meet
the required 100,000 signature threshold within 30 days. It is
unclear when the We the People request was posted.
Williams introduced the legislation Thursday, two days after
Routh – a Marine veteran who has battled post-traumatic stress
disorder – was found guilty of murdering Kyle and his friend, Chad
Littlefield, in February 2013.