Chris Kyle should get Medal of Honor, congressman says

U.S. Rep. Roger Williams wants legendary Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle to get the recognition he believes he deserves.

That’s why Williams, R-Austin, has filed a bill asking the president to posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Kyle, who was shot and killed at a shooting range at Rough Creek Lodge in 2013.

“Chris gave the ultimate sacrifice and served his nation with distinction and bravery while saving countless American lives,” said Williams, whose district stretches from the edge of Tarrant County to Austin. “There is no doubt that this true American hero is worthy of our nation’s highest military honor.

“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.”

Kyle, a highly decorated sniper, had been in the national spotlight since the 2012 release of his memoir, American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History, and the release of the American Sniper movie.

Earlier this week, Eddie Ray Routh, a 27-year-old Iraq war veteran, was convicted of capital murder for killing Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at the range southwest of Glen Rose.

Kyle and Littlefield had taken Routh, a troubled Marine veteran, to the range to try to help him cope with civilian life.

Pending appeals, Routh will spend the rest of his life in prison, with no chance of parole.

The Medal of Honor must be awarded by the president, but Congress can file legislation to encourage the president to award the honor, according to Williams’ office.

The Medal of Honor has been awarded 3,507 times.

This story was originally published February 27, 2015 at 11:07 AM with the headline "Chris Kyle should get Medal of Honor, congressman says."