Chris Kyle (1) (1974–2013)
Author of American Sniper
For other authors named Chris Kyle, see the disambiguation page.
About the Author
Chris Kyle 1974-2013 Chris Kyle was born in Odessa, Texas on April 8, 1974. As a young man, he hunted deer and pheasant and rode bulls and broncos in rodeos. He studied ranch and range management at Tarleton State University before returning to ranching and then enlisting in the Navy. He joined the show more SEALs in 1999 and served four combat deployments before retiring in 2009. During his service, he earned a reputation as one of America's deadliest military snipers with 160 confirmed kills. Iraqi insurgents nicknamed him the Devil of Ramadi and put a bounty on his head. In 2008, he managed to kill an insurgent from about 2,100 yards away. During his service, he received the Purple Heart, two Silver Stars and five Bronze Stars for Valor. After retiring from the Navy, he ran Craft International, which provides military, law enforcement, and civilian training, as well as private security and protection. He also devoted much of his time to helping fellow soldiers overcome the traumas of war. In 2011, he created the Fitco Cares Foundation to provide veterans with exercise equipment and counseling. He believed that exercise and the camaraderie of fellow veterans could help former soldiers ease into civilian life. His first book, American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History, written with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice was published in 2012. His second book, American Gun: A History of the U. S. in Ten Firearms, was released in 2013. In the summer of 2012, he appeared on the reality television show Stars Earn Stripes. He was killed along with Chad Littlefield on February 2, 2013 by Marine veteran Eddie Ray Routh at Rough Creek Lodge shooting range. The reason for the killing is unknown, but Routh is suffering from PTSD. Kyle was buried on February 12, 2013, at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Works by Chris Kyle
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Kyle, Chris
- Legal name
- Kyle, Christopher Scott
- Birthdate
- 1974-04-08
- Date of death
- 2013-02-02
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Tarleton State University
- Occupations
- sniper
rodeo rider
Navy SEAL - Organizations
- U.S. Navy
Navy SEALs
SEAL Team 3
Naval Special Warfare Command
Craft International
Stars Earn Stripes - Awards and honors
- Silver Star (2)
Bronze Star (5)
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2)
Grateful Nation Award - Short biography
- He is the deadliest American sniper ever, called “the devil” by the enemies he hunted and “the legend” by his Navy SEAL brothers.
From 1999 to 2009, U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle recorded the most career sniper kills in United States military history. The Pentagon has officially confirmed more than 150 of Kyles kills (the previous American record was 109), but it has declined to verify the astonishing total number for this book. Iraqi insurgents feared Kyle so much they named himal-Shaitan (“the devil”) and placed a bounty on his head. Kyle earned legendary status among his fellow SEALs, Marines, and U.S. Army soldiers, whom he protected with deadly accuracy from rooftops and stealth positions. Gripping and unforgettable, Kyle’s masterful account of his extraordinary battlefield experiences ranks as one of the great war memoirs of all time.
A native Texan who learned to shoot on childhood hunting trips with his father, Kyle was a champion saddle-bronc rider prior to joining the Navy. After 9/11, he was thrust onto the front lines of the War on Terror, and soon found his calling as a world-class sniper who performed best under fire. He recorded a personal-record 2,100-yard kill shot outside Baghdad; in Fallujah, Kyle braved heavy fire to rescue a group of Marines trapped on a street; in Ramadi, he stared down insurgents with his pistol in close combat. Kyle talks honestly about the pain of war—of twice being shot and experiencing the tragic deaths of two close friends.
American Sniper also honors Kyles fellow warriors, who raised hell on and off the battlefield. And in moving first-person accounts throughout, Kyles wife, Taya, speaks openly about the strains of war on their marriage and children, as well as on Chris
Adrenaline-charged and deeply personal, American Sniper is a thrilling eyewitness account of war that only one man could tell. - Cause of death
- murder
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Odessa, Texas, USA
- Place of death
- Glen Rose, Texas, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- Texas, USA
Members
Reviews
It’s more honest and unflattering than I expected, though perhaps more so than the author, may he rest in peace , realized or intended. Compared to Luttrell’s book, one is struck with by the sense of a sharper intelligence, a more unblinking one, and a more nuanced moral sense - though that’s an exceptionally low bar. He was clearly a skilled, brave fighter and the book goes into the technical war fighting and equipment details that make it less a best seller and more of a first person show more military history. You’d want this man at your side in a fight. And he sure shows more respect for fellow soldiers than one saw in Luttrell’s book.
One can’t help but be dismayed, though, by his clearly stating he didn’t give a f*ck about Iraqis (despite fighting in an operation ostensibly for their liberation), calling his foes “savages” and especially his “crusader cross” tattoo and his stated reasons for it. The bar fights, the petulance, the sense of entitlement, the whining against civilian control, oversight, and accountability (I understand why it’s frustrating for war fighters, but it is almost always necessary in these kinds of wars especially) ...it’s all here.
But he was a warrior, he lived like one, and I’m saddened by his death at the hands of a disturbed fellow veteran years after he’d come home. He deserved better. A lot better. show less
One can’t help but be dismayed, though, by his clearly stating he didn’t give a f*ck about Iraqis (despite fighting in an operation ostensibly for their liberation), calling his foes “savages” and especially his “crusader cross” tattoo and his stated reasons for it. The bar fights, the petulance, the sense of entitlement, the whining against civilian control, oversight, and accountability (I understand why it’s frustrating for war fighters, but it is almost always necessary in these kinds of wars especially) ...it’s all here.
But he was a warrior, he lived like one, and I’m saddened by his death at the hands of a disturbed fellow veteran years after he’d come home. He deserved better. A lot better. show less
Not my usual area of interest but came across this book cheap in a charity shop and was intrigued. It is an odd one. I'm not sure if the author wanted to come across as having sociopathic tendencies but that is the effect with his admission that he enjoyed killing people, especially Iraqis opposed to the invasion of their country by Western troops.
It isn't just hindsight to think that the invasion was a big mistake: plenty of people thought so at the time. There are sufficient previous show more examples of countries ruled by ruthless dictators which break apart into war between rival factions as soon as that leader is removed. And in this case, they were initially united by opposition to Western invaders. The author certainly had no philosophical musings about this or even the occasional thought: he just seemed gleeful to be given carte blanche to shoot 'the enemy'. Rather disturbing. And his casual admission of involvement in bar fights, something he was usually excused, shows a short fuse and an enjoyment of casual violence. His only regrets revolve around friends who sadly lost their lives or received major life-changing injuries (which later led to death in one case). He quite openly put fighting with his comrades ahead of family life, and his wife made contributions to the book about how this affected her although she didn't receive a writer's credit.
Hopefully he wasn't typical of the people who join the armed forces. Certainly he was very different to people I've known who fought in military conflicts and rarely wanted to talk about it, far less boast. So for me this is an OK 2 stars at best. show less
It isn't just hindsight to think that the invasion was a big mistake: plenty of people thought so at the time. There are sufficient previous show more examples of countries ruled by ruthless dictators which break apart into war between rival factions as soon as that leader is removed. And in this case, they were initially united by opposition to Western invaders. The author certainly had no philosophical musings about this or even the occasional thought: he just seemed gleeful to be given carte blanche to shoot 'the enemy'. Rather disturbing. And his casual admission of involvement in bar fights, something he was usually excused, shows a short fuse and an enjoyment of casual violence. His only regrets revolve around friends who sadly lost their lives or received major life-changing injuries (which later led to death in one case). He quite openly put fighting with his comrades ahead of family life, and his wife made contributions to the book about how this affected her although she didn't receive a writer's credit.
Hopefully he wasn't typical of the people who join the armed forces. Certainly he was very different to people I've known who fought in military conflicts and rarely wanted to talk about it, far less boast. So for me this is an OK 2 stars at best. show less
There have been so many wildly differing opinions about Chris Kyle, his memoir, and movie Clint Eastwood made from it that I long ago decided that the only opinion I could trust is my own, so here goes.
After just a few pages it became apparent that to fairly review Kyle’s book one must first, and separately, express one’s views on Kyle himself. Then, and only then, will I be able to review the book itself.
In my younger days I served as a Navy corpsman assigned to a Marine Corps unit. I show more found the Marines I served with different from anyone else I had ever known. Their view of the world was unlike mine in almost every way. They were more likely to see things in black and white. They were often rude, crude and socially unacceptable. Their interest in understanding the enemy extended only to learning how best to kill them. Very few of them were any good at literary discussions. Despite that, they took their duties very seriously. Becoming Marines was the crowning achievement of their lives. They were very dedicated and extremely loyal. If I ever found myself in trouble, there is nobody on earth that I would rather have watching my back.
These men were warriors. The word ‘warrior’ applies to any combat soldier, Marine, SEAL or any other military personnel whose primary career is to engage an enemy by direct action. A warrior’s job is to kill the enemy, and do it efficiently. An effective warrior achieves no benefit from recognizing the humanity of the enemy. Doing so only hinders his ability to accept and live with the life he has chosen. He is neither a psycho killer nor a hero. He’s just doing his job.
Chris Kyle was a warrior, and a very good one.
If you find this distasteful, your distaste is misdirected. It is war and the politicians who start them that deserve our scorn. Winston Churchill once said “We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.” As long as we live in a world where such men are needed, I will be grateful that men such as Kyle exist.
Now for my impressions of the book itself. The truth is that I enjoyed it but it could have been better. It read less like an autobiography and more like a collection of anecdotes. The chapters were broken down into sections, many of less than a page, each relating an incident that occurred during his training or deployments in Iraq. As I read it I pictured Kyle sitting with a ghost writer and tape recorder, telling stories and answering question. I did. The short sections made it easy to read and the anecdotal delivery reminds me of an exchange of war stories told over a few beers at the local watering hole. Such exchanges can reveal more about the speaker than intended and Kyle is often overly candid regarding his view of the Iraqis, politicians and officers.
What the book does best is describe the role snipers played in Iraq. I have read several books on the war and American Sniper provided an unparalleled picture of snipers’ roles during the campaigns in Fallujah and Ramadi and how they supported other military units.
One section of the book that falls short is where Kyle describes the weapons and equipment he used. This must have been a difficult section to write because the writer must answer the questions of those ignorant of firearms while not boring those who are already familiar with the tools of the trade. As a veteran who is not unfamiliar with weapons I should have had no trouble in following everything he said on the subject. Even so, I found myself struggling with some of the technical jargon he used. In addition, some equipment he mentioned such as VS-17 panels, bright orange pieces of cloth displayed to identify themselves to friendly forces, were not adequately described until more than 150 pages after they were first mentioned. This makes me think that readers would be greatly aided by a glossary at the back of the book.
Some critics have said that Kyle was an egotist. While I have never known a SEAL who wasn’t, the book does little to dissuade that opinion. In the section on equipment he says that his headgear of choice was a baseball cap because ‘you look so much cooler wearing a ball cap.’ He also wasn’t above expressing the typical enlisted man’s tongue-in-cheek scorn of officers with such remarks as ‘but then I’m just a SEAL and obviously don’t understand those sorts of complicated issues’.
I found the book interesting, more so than the movie. I’m a bit of a history buff so I found the first person description of combat in the Iraq war informative. Kyle’s memoir was more candid than most and I suspect that readers who don’t often read first person accounts of war may struggle to appreciate his point of view.
*The review copy of this book was obtained from a friend and neighbor who is a retired Navy submariner. Thanks, Bob, for your service and for the loan of this book. show less
After just a few pages it became apparent that to fairly review Kyle’s book one must first, and separately, express one’s views on Kyle himself. Then, and only then, will I be able to review the book itself.
In my younger days I served as a Navy corpsman assigned to a Marine Corps unit. I show more found the Marines I served with different from anyone else I had ever known. Their view of the world was unlike mine in almost every way. They were more likely to see things in black and white. They were often rude, crude and socially unacceptable. Their interest in understanding the enemy extended only to learning how best to kill them. Very few of them were any good at literary discussions. Despite that, they took their duties very seriously. Becoming Marines was the crowning achievement of their lives. They were very dedicated and extremely loyal. If I ever found myself in trouble, there is nobody on earth that I would rather have watching my back.
These men were warriors. The word ‘warrior’ applies to any combat soldier, Marine, SEAL or any other military personnel whose primary career is to engage an enemy by direct action. A warrior’s job is to kill the enemy, and do it efficiently. An effective warrior achieves no benefit from recognizing the humanity of the enemy. Doing so only hinders his ability to accept and live with the life he has chosen. He is neither a psycho killer nor a hero. He’s just doing his job.
Chris Kyle was a warrior, and a very good one.
If you find this distasteful, your distaste is misdirected. It is war and the politicians who start them that deserve our scorn. Winston Churchill once said “We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.” As long as we live in a world where such men are needed, I will be grateful that men such as Kyle exist.
Now for my impressions of the book itself. The truth is that I enjoyed it but it could have been better. It read less like an autobiography and more like a collection of anecdotes. The chapters were broken down into sections, many of less than a page, each relating an incident that occurred during his training or deployments in Iraq. As I read it I pictured Kyle sitting with a ghost writer and tape recorder, telling stories and answering question. I did. The short sections made it easy to read and the anecdotal delivery reminds me of an exchange of war stories told over a few beers at the local watering hole. Such exchanges can reveal more about the speaker than intended and Kyle is often overly candid regarding his view of the Iraqis, politicians and officers.
What the book does best is describe the role snipers played in Iraq. I have read several books on the war and American Sniper provided an unparalleled picture of snipers’ roles during the campaigns in Fallujah and Ramadi and how they supported other military units.
One section of the book that falls short is where Kyle describes the weapons and equipment he used. This must have been a difficult section to write because the writer must answer the questions of those ignorant of firearms while not boring those who are already familiar with the tools of the trade. As a veteran who is not unfamiliar with weapons I should have had no trouble in following everything he said on the subject. Even so, I found myself struggling with some of the technical jargon he used. In addition, some equipment he mentioned such as VS-17 panels, bright orange pieces of cloth displayed to identify themselves to friendly forces, were not adequately described until more than 150 pages after they were first mentioned. This makes me think that readers would be greatly aided by a glossary at the back of the book.
Some critics have said that Kyle was an egotist. While I have never known a SEAL who wasn’t, the book does little to dissuade that opinion. In the section on equipment he says that his headgear of choice was a baseball cap because ‘you look so much cooler wearing a ball cap.’ He also wasn’t above expressing the typical enlisted man’s tongue-in-cheek scorn of officers with such remarks as ‘but then I’m just a SEAL and obviously don’t understand those sorts of complicated issues’.
I found the book interesting, more so than the movie. I’m a bit of a history buff so I found the first person description of combat in the Iraq war informative. Kyle’s memoir was more candid than most and I suspect that readers who don’t often read first person accounts of war may struggle to appreciate his point of view.
*The review copy of this book was obtained from a friend and neighbor who is a retired Navy submariner. Thanks, Bob, for your service and for the loan of this book. show less
Excellent. I paid 75 cents for it used; I would have paid more than full price for it new if I had known it would be well worth it.
This is more of a history book than it is a technical treatise on arms. Any technical discussion of gun details is on a level of explanation for the layman while brief enough to not tire a seasoned aficionado. Where the book really shines is the historical story-telling. Chief Kyle is able to seamlessly weave the advancement of our republic and its ideals show more together with advancements in firearms design, along with the tactics and histories behind them of military, law enforcement and even the bad guys. One is left with the strong impression that our great nation and the values we hold dear would have been shaped quite differently without men like Colt, Browning and even the unnamed smith working a frontier forge beside a winding creek.
Nearly every chapter starts with vibrant story-telling of an event that could be a simple historical footnote, a mere Trivial Pursuit question, but turns out to be a pivotal moment showcasing the weapon that soon comes under discussion. Each gun in the list of ten is treated as a springboard for discussion of other guns - advancements along the way and competitors - as well as relevant social, military and economic history that surrounds the gun's development and need. For example, the story of the .38 Special police revolver would not be told without a brief history of American police departments and their weapons needs, and even the later guns that replaced the .38, like the Glock 17 and others. That is one example of how each chapter delves into telling the story of America, centered on the gun. The gun is not the point - the American way of life that the gun helped secure is. Hence, I recommend this book to anyone interested in what it means to be an American, whether or not they are familiar with or even interested in guns.
The book could be slighted by some for the author occasionally (and especially in the latter chapters) interjecting himself and his experience into the story. I do not find this a detriment. Rather, it gives the book an authentic feel, more like stories told by a warm veteran uncle than a cold historian academic. And after all, who would read a book by a celebrated warrior and expect him not to share his experience?
My only minor (very minor) complaint is a matter of personal preference. I wish the references, footnotes and explanatory remarks were at the bottom of each page or at the least, at the end of each chapter. I prefer to read them along with the text, and in a way easy to cross-reference with the text. Instead, they are relegated to a back page without a really decent system of reference to the text. There are no superscript numerals, asterisks or other referencing to make reading the footnotes easy. But alas, maybe that book would read more like the cold academic in the musty library and less like the fun uncle telling stories on the back porch. show less
This is more of a history book than it is a technical treatise on arms. Any technical discussion of gun details is on a level of explanation for the layman while brief enough to not tire a seasoned aficionado. Where the book really shines is the historical story-telling. Chief Kyle is able to seamlessly weave the advancement of our republic and its ideals show more together with advancements in firearms design, along with the tactics and histories behind them of military, law enforcement and even the bad guys. One is left with the strong impression that our great nation and the values we hold dear would have been shaped quite differently without men like Colt, Browning and even the unnamed smith working a frontier forge beside a winding creek.
Nearly every chapter starts with vibrant story-telling of an event that could be a simple historical footnote, a mere Trivial Pursuit question, but turns out to be a pivotal moment showcasing the weapon that soon comes under discussion. Each gun in the list of ten is treated as a springboard for discussion of other guns - advancements along the way and competitors - as well as relevant social, military and economic history that surrounds the gun's development and need. For example, the story of the .38 Special police revolver would not be told without a brief history of American police departments and their weapons needs, and even the later guns that replaced the .38, like the Glock 17 and others. That is one example of how each chapter delves into telling the story of America, centered on the gun. The gun is not the point - the American way of life that the gun helped secure is. Hence, I recommend this book to anyone interested in what it means to be an American, whether or not they are familiar with or even interested in guns.
The book could be slighted by some for the author occasionally (and especially in the latter chapters) interjecting himself and his experience into the story. I do not find this a detriment. Rather, it gives the book an authentic feel, more like stories told by a warm veteran uncle than a cold historian academic. And after all, who would read a book by a celebrated warrior and expect him not to share his experience?
My only minor (very minor) complaint is a matter of personal preference. I wish the references, footnotes and explanatory remarks were at the bottom of each page or at the least, at the end of each chapter. I prefer to read them along with the text, and in a way easy to cross-reference with the text. Instead, they are relegated to a back page without a really decent system of reference to the text. There are no superscript numerals, asterisks or other referencing to make reading the footnotes easy. But alas, maybe that book would read more like the cold academic in the musty library and less like the fun uncle telling stories on the back porch. show less
Lists
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 6
- Also by
- 1
- Members
- 4,597
- Popularity
- #5,477
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 108
- ISBNs
- 76
- Languages
- 11
- Favorited
- 3
