His military record includes four tours in Iraq, two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars with Valor, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and one Navy and Marine Corps Commendation. In addition he holds the Navy's record for longest confirmed sniper kill at 2,100 yards with his beloved .388 Lapua Magnum. It's the third longest kill shot in US Military history, the seventh in world history. He also survived being shot twice and he lived through six separate IED explosions... Charlie Company of SEAL Team Three saw significant combat.
In 2009 he retired to "save his marriage", according to his publisher. Kyle wrote a NY Times best selling book entitled "American Sniper", detailing his 10 years of special operator service. I came across his book, and subsequently his bio, some months back. My sons (and lets just admit it, me) have a fascination with all things SEAL related. So I discussed his bio and some of Kyle's exploits with my eldest, at some length. His first kill was a woman, an Iraqi female wielding a grenade at some of his brothers-in-arms. A funny story (to me at least), completely unrelated to typical duties, happened aboard the USS Kittyhawk. Team 3 was enforcing a ship embargo and after returning back from an inspection the CO on board told the Team he had a problem. According to Kyle there are "gangs" within the Navy and military in general. Former (or current) street gang members whom join the military and then "link up" when serving together. And one such internal gang on this ship had gotten fairly rowdy out at sea and commandeered, for lack of a better word, the gym facility as their personal "hang space." The CO told the Team he had scheduled their work out at a particular time, and they were going to quote, "take care of this problem." The Captain didn't want to officially involve the MPs, such a thing might prove embarrassing if it went on the record. As Kyle recalls he and the Team entered the gym, "we went in chalked up, not in PT gear", and locked the doors behind them. "Either we were coming out of there or the gang was." He concludes the story this way - "Afterwards the door opened, we walked out, they went to the infirmary, and from then on we all worked out whenever we chose."
After returning home Kyle, considering his expertise a "craft", co founded a security and sniper training firm, Craft International, and a charity, FITCO, that provides at-home fitness equipment for physically and emotionally wounded veterans. Craft International had scheduled a $2,950-per-person civilian training event at Rough Creek Lodge (about 50 miles Southwest of Fort Worth, TX) called the “Rough Creek Shoot Out!” for March 1-3. The price included lodging, meals and shooting instruction. Kyle was scheduled to teach the first class, called “precision rifle.” It was perhaps in anticipation of this event, or just as likely to simply be of some help to a fellow Vet, that Kyle and his work out buddy/neighbor Chad Littlefield had taken a 25 year old Marine veteran suffering from PTSD to Rough Creek Shooting Range on Saturday. At 3:30pm the very Vet Kyle was trying to help turned the gun on him and shot him at point blank range. Chris Kyle, America's deadliest sniper, died yesterday at 38 years of age along with his friend, Chad. The killer than fled in Kyle's truck and the police have since arrested him.
I don't know why this has affected me to the edge of tears. Maybe because my discussions about this warrior (and there is no other word to describe him) were so recent, and with my 13 year old son who marveled at Kyle's accomplishments. Maybe because this just isn't supposed to happen - surviving multiple IED's and gun wounds in Iraq only to be killed at home. Or perhaps it's the thought that Kyle died doing what he made a career of - trying to save fellow soldiers.
There's a foundation, started by Kyle's friend and former teammate Brandon Webb, called Red Circle Foundation, that provides gap money for immediate needs for the families of fallen special forces operators, it can take time before the official benefits kick in for these families. I donated eleven dollars. It's all I can afford today. But as they say, no amount is too little.
Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle, America's deadliest sniper, is survived by his wife and two children.
2 comments:
I, too, read about CPO Kyle's tragic death recently, and I have also read his book.
Tragic is the only word, but I take some comfort in the fact that he died doing what he loved... serving others.
A great man, no question. You are right to make sure the boys look up to his sacrifice.
Nicely written. Well done.
Post a Comment