Our Ambassador and his Aide was killed
in this attack, but just as important there were two former Navy SEAL’s that sacrificed
their lives in order that others could escape to the airport. Until just a few years ago, very few American’s
even know about the SEAL’s, which they and their family preferred. There were two ex-Navy SEAL’s in Benghazi the
morning of the raid. They were both at a
CIA Annex about a mile from the Consulate.
Hearing gunfire coming from the Consulate they requested permission to
leave the annex and render assistance at the Consulate. Three times, they were denied and told to “stand
down”. These two men were Tyrone (Ty)
Woods and Chris Doherty. Disobeying orders, they proceeded to the
Consulate, arriving, they assisted a number of individuals in escaping and boarding
a bus to the airport. They went back into the Consulate, under fire to find the
Ambassador and his aide. The remaining
four would lose their life in the ensuing fire fight and from smoke inhalation
inside the “safe room”. If Chief Ty Woods and Chris Doherty were still
on active duty they would be likely candidates for the Congressional Medal of
Honor for their actions and disregard of their own lives to save others. However, the two of them could be entitled to
nomination of the Congressional Gold Medal which is the civilian equivalent to
the Medal of Honor.
Chris Doherty served seven years in the
Naval Service as a Navy SEAL. Tyrone Snowden Woods was a Senior Chief Petty
Officer in the Navy having served on active duty from 1990-2010 with SEAL Team
1, 3, and 5. Retiring from active duty
he became a private contractor. Although,
at the time of his death he was still in the Navy. Military personnel that retire with 20 years
of active duty, is still obligated to serve an additional ten years or any equivalent
in the Fleet Reserve until a combined total of 30 years is completed. They are subject to recall to active duty at
any time.
