A San Diego representative has recommended the highest civilian medal for two former Navy SEALs who died in Benghazi, Libya last year.
The Congressional Gold Medal award is proposed for Tyrone Woods of Imperial Beach and Glen Doherty of Encinitas. They were killed when protesters broke through security at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi last September.
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R – Calif.) is introducing the legislation to award the posthumous award. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest award Congress gives to civilians. Since they were no longer troops, the military is unable to award them through the service.
Woods and Doherty served as SEALs before working as private security for the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi. They were killed alongside U.S. ambassador Chris Stevens and former San Diego resident Sean Smith, who worked as an information officer.
Friends and family of the two men called them “fearless” and a “fighter.”
Woods three sons, 18-year-old Tyrone Jr. and 15-year-old Hunter from his first marriage and an infant named Kai from his second marriage. Doherty was in a long-term relationship with girlfriend Shannon Shepherd and kept the same group of friends he had in elementary school.
Hunter’s bill has nine republican sponsors and he is expected to introduce the idea to other leaders in the House, according to his office.
