Chris Kyle potentially to Receive Medal of Honor

[Imperial City-States]

So recently Texas Congressman Roger Williams is leading a campaign to award the Congressional Medal of Honor to the Late "American Sniper", Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. For his service record. There is currently a bit of controversy from Veterans, Active Military Personnel and many others who claim that the movie "American Sniper" grossly inflated Kyle's actions and his person beyond what is realistic. For those who are not aware of what the Congressional Medal of Honor is, It is the American Military's highest award for Valor for "Conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty".

So Nation States People What do you think about this matter? Should Kyle be awarded the Medal of Honor? Or should he Not be?


Please, keep this civil and don't argue the morality of war or the military.

Against this entirely, Kyle was a good sniper, that part is indisputable but he doesn't not deserve the Congressional Medal of Honor. Nothing that he did is what i would consider "Above and beyond" what is expected of someone who's a Sniper. Example, In 1993 in Somalia during Operation Gothic Serpent, more commonly known as "Black Hawk Down". Two Delta Force Operators (Gordon/Shughart) volunteered to secure a Helicopter Crash site while under heavy enemy fire until help could arrive. They did this knowing how dangerous it was. And yet did so anyway. Awarded posthumously. Iraq War, Ross McGinnis, dived on top of a Grenade that landed in his Humvee saving the lives of everyone inside. Awarded posthumously. Audie Murphy, World War Two, He and his unit were under major attack, he ordered them to withdraw to a prepared position while he stayed there in order to direct Artillery fire onto the Attacking Germans. He Manned a .50 Cal Machinegun on a destroyed Tank Destroyer and held off the entire assault, alone killing fifty Germans. By all rights he should have died but he survived on a miracle alone and ended up saving his entire Company from encirclement and destruction.
These individuals previously mentioned, as well as many others. Did what they did knowing that they would die in the process, and in few circumstances some were lucky enough to survive. Chris Kyle's career as a Sniper was distinguished, yes, but his actions aren't deserving of the Nations highest medal for Valor and he certainly shouldn't be awarded it because of Public Opinion.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/02/26/effort-to-get-chris-kyle-the-medal-of-honor-faces-uphill-battle/
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4085821714001/lawmakers-propose-chris-kyle-receive-the-medal-of-honor/?#sp=show-clips
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/02/26/chris-kyle-bill-medal-of-honor/24061869/

[Benuty]

I am a little miffed about the potential of rewarding such a prestigious medal to someone who had some less than stellar opinions about certain people, and ethnic groups.

There are honestly people who are far more deserving of such a medal than Chris Kyle.

[Dooom35796821595]

And how does that reflect on the US? Sure serve your country and what not, but you want a medal then be in a propaganda movie. Sorry, a propaganda movie that does well at the box office.

[Meryuma]

He was a violent racist asshole, but I guess that's OK if he's *our* violent racist asshole...

Not feeling this.

[Lakimina]

He was a violent racist asshole, but I guess that's OK if he's *our* violent racist asshole...

Not feeling this.

Nah, he's just going to be our's
*nod*

Seriously though, there are better people up for such awards that never got said award

[Imperial City-States]

Well i don't think that if someone's Racist or not should matter when it comes to an award based purely on Valor. The reason that i would say that it's overlooked is because the individuals who he was 'racist' towards were considered the 'enemy'. Kinda how in WW2 people were Racist toward Japanese simple because they were 'the enemy'.

But i certainly agree with the above poster that there are people better suited to get this award.

[Meryuma]

Well i don't think that if someone's Racist or not should matter when it comes to an award based purely on Valor. The reason that i would say that it's overlooked is because the individuals who he was 'racist' towards were considered the 'enemy'. Kinda how in WW2 people were Racist toward Japanese simple because they were 'the enemy'.

But i certainly agree with the above poster that there are people better suited to get this award.

The way we treated the Japanese wasn't OK either. We should absolutely not be rewarding a man who took pleasure in killing "savages". Shit was evil then and it's evil now.

[Hardened Pyrokinetics]

Hey, they gave out twenty for the Wounded Knee Massacre. Pretty sure being a racist asshole with an itchy trigger finger is one of the requirements.

[Occupied Deutschland]

I am highly doubtful that any of Kyle's service really qualifies for 'above and beyond the call of duty'. Were this to originate from within his unit, I'd be a bit less skeptical as it is it looks like more political theater than a campaign to recognize extraordinary service.

And how does that reflect on the US? Sure serve your country and what not, but you want a medal then be in a propaganda movie. Sorry, a propaganda movie that does well at the box office.

Not a very good propaganda movie, considering Kyle is portrayed as an illogical warmonger who could easily be a sociopath. But I digress, the movie does seem like the inspiration for this idea, and that just makes it more eye-rollingly likely to be political theater.

[Imperialpowersofkorea]

The movie was boring, I left mid way and went for a beer and a concert, that being said are medal of honor's given post-posthumously , I cannot find it, I tried

I mean what is the exact criteria for a post-humous medal of honor...

[Sanctissima]

Personally, I don't think he should receive the Medal of Honor. Was he a good sniper? Yes, a really good one. But the Medal of Honor isn't given out just for being a good soldier. It's given out for ultimate valor, going above and beyond the call of duty. This, in my opinion, requires some form of greater sacrifice, or knowing that by doing something, you will probably die, but doing so anyway. In my opinion, Chris Kyle, in his service, did not do something above and beyond the call of duty, and thus, I don't believe he should receive posthumously the Medal of Honor.

[Sebastianbourg]

Correct me if I am mistaken but the Medal of Honour is the American equivalent of the Victoria Cross, right?

[Sanctissima]

Correct me if I am mistaken but the Medal of Honour is the American equivalent of the Victoria Cross, right?

Basically, yes.

[Sebastianbourg]

I am a little miffed about the potential of rewarding such a prestigious medal to someone who had some less than stellar opinions about certain people, and ethnic groups.

There are honestly people who are far more deserving of such a medal than Chris Kyle.

I don't think a person's views should affect what honours they receive due to unrelated activities. The medal is given for valour not a lack of idiotic and/or controversial opinions.

[Imperial City-States]

The movie was boring, I left mid way and went for a beer and a concert, that being said are medal of honor's given post-posthumously , I cannot find it, I tried

I mean what is the exact criteria for a post-humous medal of honor...

Well the Medal of Honor does not have to be awarded after death, It can be awarded whist someone is still alive.


http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/process.html

Link to the nomination process and includes critera

[Napkiraly]

Personally, I don't think he should receive the Medal of Honor. Was he a good sniper? Yes, a really good one. But the Medal of Honor isn't given out just for being a good soldier. It's given out for ultimate valor, going above and beyond the call of duty. This, in my opinion, requires some form of greater sacrifice, or knowing that by doing something, you will probably die, but doing so anyway. In my opinion, Chris Kyle, in his service, did not do something above and beyond the call of duty, and thus, I don't believe he should receive posthumously the Medal of Honor.

This. It shouldn't matter what his personal views are in determining whether or not he should be eligible. His service record and exploits should/are the determining factors. He was a good sniper, an excellent one in fact. But from what I've read of his service record, it is not above and beyond, and is not sufficient to award such a prestigious honour.

[United Russian Soviet States]

I am neutral on this. He was a good sniper. He served his country well.

[Kainesia]

Well i don't think that if someone's Racist or not should matter when it comes to an award based purely on Valor. The reason that i would say that it's overlooked is because the individuals who he was 'racist' towards were considered the 'enemy'. Kinda how in WW2 people were Racist toward Japanese simple because they were 'the enemy'.

But i certainly agree with the above poster that there are people better suited to get this award.

The way we treated the Japanese wasn't OK either. We should absolutely not be rewarding a man who took pleasure in killing "savages". Shit was evil then and it's evil now.

Take a long look at Jihadi John and tell me he doesn't need a bullet in the head.

[Kainesia]

I am neutral on this. He was a good sniper. He served his country well.

Yes, he was a good sniper.

But clearly not good enough to have any attention paid to him until some republicans went to the movies.

[Chucky Arla]

Fuck that racist, murderous, lying piece of shit.

[Napkiraly]

Fuck that racist, murderous, lying piece of shit.

Murderous? Lying and racist definitely, but killing enemy combatants isn't murder (unless they have surrendered or are wounded and under the care of you, then it's murder if you kill them).

[Chucky Arla]

Fuck that racist, murderous, lying piece of shit.

Murderous? Lying and racist definitely, but killing enemy combatants isn't murder (unless they have surrendered or are wounded and under the care of you, then it's murder if you kill them).

Act as part of an unwarranted invasion performed for politically selfish reasons and then claim defenders had it coming? Nahhhhh

[Insaeldor]

He was a great sniper and a great soldier but he did nothing deserving of the Medal of Honor. Comparing his action to that of soldiers like Kyle Carpenter, Robert Miller, and Leroy Petry is ridiculous in my personal opinion.

[Napkiraly]

Murderous? Lying and racist definitely, but killing enemy combatants isn't murder (unless they have surrendered or are wounded and under the care of you, then it's murder if you kill them).

Act as part of an unwarranted invasion performed for politically selfish reasons and then claim defenders had it coming? Nahhhhh

Doesn't matter, still not murder.

[Napkiraly]

He was a great sniper and a great soldier but he did nothing deserving of the Medal of Honor.

Wont stop some Republicans from trying. Hell, there's even a Chris Kyle Day.