Fort Peck Tribes honor Navy SEAL who was murdered in 2006


A tribute to Michael Kenneth Bell in Wolf Point, Montana. Photo from Rep. Ryan Zinke / Facebook

A deceased member of the Fort Peck Tribes was honored at a ceremony in Wolf Point, Montana, on Tuesday.

Michael Kenneth Bell was a Navy SEAL who was murdered on the reservation in 2006. His family was presented with a flag and pins by tribal leaders, Navy officials and Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Montana).

"He was a warrior's warrior -- a true giant among men," Zinke said of Bell on Facebook.

Zinke, a new member of Congress, was one of Bell's SEAL instructors. As part of the ceremony, he was given a traditional name, Great Seal Leader, and a star quilt he said he will display in his Washington, D.C., office.

Bell served one mission in Iraq and was about to be deployed for a second mission when he was stabbed to death in April 2006. The incident occurred on the reservation, where he had returned to visit family and friends. He was 22 years old at the time.

Gerald Lee Littlehead was convicted of voluntary manslaughter for Bell's death. He was sentenced to 10 years for his crime and was released in April, according to the Bureau of Prisons.

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Murdered Montana Navy SEAL honored with ceremony (KPAX 10/13)

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