Former Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle may have done more than anyone to permanently etch himself into the tablets of American military history and popular culture. His path first started when he saw the news coverage of the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings, which motivated him to join. During four tours in the Iraq War, Kyle’s prowess as a sniper was so extraordinary that he was dubbed “Legend” by his fellow soldiers. His mind-blowing body count fueled this mythical reputation. Tragedy struck in 2013 when he was shot to death by fellow veteran Eddie Ray Routh. The heinous incident took place at a mercenary camp in Chalk Mountain, Texas.
Kyle’s military career was marked by a very high-profile reputation and accompanying significant controversy. In his autobiography “American Sniper,” he boasted of 160 “confirmed kills.” Clint Eastwood would go on to adapt this memoir into a film. The Navy challenged his kill count, arguing that even if he’d been an ace, estimates were much lower than his assertions. Identifying with Kyle’s experiences has struck a profound chord with a lot of people. That relationship inspired a bestselling memoir and an Academy Award-winning film that documented his life — but not his death.
Early Life and Military Career
Chris Kyle was born in 1974, in Odessa, Texas. After seeing the devastating impact of terrorist attacks on American soil, including the embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, he felt a calling to serve his country. This same sense of duty compelled him to join the Navy in 1999, where he quickly became a sniper.
By the end of his four tours in Iraq, Kyle had earned a fearsome reputation as an effective marksman. His comrades-in-arms nicknamed him “Legend” as a testament to his phenomenal skills and battlefield exploits. He was awarded many honors and medals, but his life was one of danger. To make matters worse, enemy insurgents allegedly put bounties on his head, making him a target in deployments.
In addition to recounting his military engagements, Kyle’s memoir sheds light on the psychological toll that combat took on him. He struggled with the ghosts of those he lost. Sadly, the burden of his decision-making during the war never truly left him.
“The thing that haunts me are all the guys I couldn’t save. Now I’m willing and able to be there, but I’m not. I’m here. I quit.” – Chris Kyle
Transitioning to Civilian Life
After leaving the Navy, Chris Kyle faced the challenge of reintegrating into civilian life. He wanted to help other veterans battling PTSD, founding efforts such as the Fitco Cares Foundation. Their ultimate mission was to provide a path for veterans to experience peace and restoration through physical activity and brotherhood.
Kyle’s transition was not without its difficulties. He was open about his experience, often sharing and then engaging in conversations about the mental health toll on soldiers returning home from combat. His frankness about these issues helped bring these topics to light, raising awareness of the difficulties faced by veterans reintegrating into society and the need for healthy coping mechanisms.
“Do you ever think that you might have seen things or done some things over there that you wish you hadn’t?” – VA hospital psychiatrist
In addition to his advocacy work, Kyle authored “American Sniper,” detailing his experiences in Iraq and providing insight into his mindset as a sniper. The book quickly became a bestseller, which resulted in its adaptation into a highly successful film directed by Clint Eastwood.
The Film and Its Controversies
When “American Sniper” was released in 2014, it quickly grew into a right-wing cultural phenomenon. It became a critical darling and a runaway commercial success. It opened up important conversations around its depiction of war and the effect that has on comprehension of lived experiences by veterans.
Kyle’s widow, Taya Kyle, had a clear influence over how her husband’s story was portrayed on screen. After Chris’s murder in February 2013, she expressed her desire for the film not to depict her husband’s death. Screenwriter Jason Hall was all about this ask. So he decided to focus on Chris’s life and legacy, avoiding the unfortunate circumstances of his death.
“In the end, I think we felt that this was a film about Chris’ life and not about his death,” – Jason Hall
Hall stressed throughout the film’s production and development, Taya’s desires came first. He articulated her concerns about how depicting her husband’s murder might overshadow their children’s memories of him.
“I didn’t want it to be the thing that was hanging over [his children’s] heads for the very rest of their lives as the film that showed their father getting shot.” – Jason Hall
Despite these interventions, Chris Kyle’s story is inextricably bound up with glorifying violence and tragedy. By humanizing the plight of our soldiers, the film provides an intimate story that counterposes the incredible excitement of combat with trauma incurred on the homefront.
A Tragic End
On February 2, 2013, one of the veterans—Eddie Ray Routh—pulled out a gun and killed Chris Kyle at the shooting range near Chalk Mountain. Routh had been struggling with mental health problems leading up to the tragedy. Routh went on to kill Kyle’s friend Chad Littlefield during this episode as well. Their untimely deaths have been a heavy cloud over Kyle’s legacy. He was more than a veteran hero, he was an ambassador and highwayman for all those still in battle with similar issues.
Routh’s reflection on his shooting spree would later reveal an unsettling self-justification that would shed light on his warped mentality during the church shootings.
“I was just riding in the back seat of the truck, and nobody would talk to me. They were just taking me to the range, so I shot them. I feel bad about it, but they wouldn’t talk to me. I’m sure they’ve forgiven me.” – Eddie Ray Routh
