Texas Governor Greg Abbott posthumously awarded the state’s Medal of Honor to Chris Kyle Thursday.
The Texas Medal of Honor is awarded in order to, “recognize gallant and intrepid service by a member of the state or federal military forces.”
Kyle completed four tours of duty in Iraq and is identified as the deadliest sniper in U.S. history. The Texas House resolution states that, “He fought in every major battle of Operation Iraqi Freedom, including engagements in Ramadi, Fallujah, and Baghdad; working in hot, dirty, and dangerous conditions, Chief Kyle put himself in harm’s way on a daily basis.”
In one instance detailed in the resolution during the battle for Fallujah, Kyle exhibited remarkable bravery when, “two Marines and two journalists were trapped near a heavily fortified enemy position, and as the Marines around him provided covering fire, Chief Kyle dashed through enemy fire, joined the trapped men, and provided suppressing fire to enable them to escape; then, as he made his own escape, he discovered one of the Marines wounded in the road, and, with enemy rounds thudding all around him, he grabbed his wounded comrade by his body armor and dragged him 50 yards to safety;he then returned to the battle until the last enemy insurgent was killed.”
Kyle was born in Odessa, Texas and joined the Navy SEALS in 1999, where he was a member of SEAL Team 3. During his time in Iraq, Kyle was shot multiple time and survived six different IED explosions. Following his last tour in Iraq, Kyle became a leader in supporting disabled veterans through the FITCO Cares Foundation. Kyle was tragically shot and killed in 2013 at a gun range by another veteran. Kyle was at the range attempting the help the man overcome his struggles with PTSD.
A press release from the governor’s office also noted that “a portion of Highway 287 in Midlothian, Tex. as ‘Chris Kyle Memorial Highway’ and proclaimed February 2nd to be ‘Chris Kyle Day’ in the State of Texas.”