2 US commandos involved in Benghazi rescue to be privately honored for bravery

Two of the military's elite Delta Force operators, who were called into action the night of the Benghazi attack, have been nominated for medals for bravery, Fox News has learned.

The two U.S. commandos, who were in Libya as part of a separate counter-terrorism mission, volunteered to join other U.S. forces when the U.S. consulate in Benghazi came under attack on Sept. 11, 2012. The commandos joined Glen Doherty, a former Navy Seal who was later killed in the assault, and the CIA's small Quick Reaction Force in their rescue operations on the consulate.

Both Delta Force operators have been nominated for the Distinguished Service Cross -- the military's second highest medal for valor -- and a Silver Star, sources confirmed to Fox News.

On Sept. 11, 2012, at least one of the operators made his way into the Benghazi hospital to retrieve the body of Ambassador Chris Stevens, even though the hospital was under the control of Ansar Al Shariah -- the Al Qaeda-linked group believed responsible for the attack.

The U.S. State Department's Accountability Review Board reported that Stevens' body was "delivered" to the tarmac of the airport at about 7 a.m. on Sept 12, but failed to mention the action of the U.S. Delta operators.

The Distinguished Service Cross, like the Medal of Honor, has a strict and long vetting process that takes over a year and it is not believed that the award has been given yet. The Silver Star takes less time to vet and it may have been already awarded.

Sources who have viewed the nomination papers confirm that the two commandos were nominated for their actions on the night of the Benghazi attack, which included carrying the dead and injured off the rooftop of the CIA annex after the mortars hit around 5 a.m. on Sept 12 -- almost eight hours after the assault began.

Fox News' Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.