Chris Kyle

Christopher Scott Kyle (April 8, 1974 – February 2, 2013) was a United States Navy SEAL sniper who served four combat tours in the Iraq War as a chief petty officer with SEAL Team 3. Born in Odessa, Texas , to Wayne and Deby Kyle, he enlisted in the Navy in 1999 after working as a ranch hand and bronco rider, qualifying for the elite SEALs and deploying repeatedly to protect fellow service members through long-range marksmanship. Kyle recorded 160 confirmed kills, a figure self-reported through military channels and widely regarded as the highest for any American sniper , though unofficial tallies exceeded 255; this claim, while central to his legacy, has faced scrutiny for relying on battlefield reports rather than independent verification.

For valor in combat, Kyle received one Silver Star and four Bronze Star Medals with "V" devices, alongside other commendations, though initial post-retirement records erroneously listed additional awards that the Navy later corrected following review. After separating from service in 2009, he founded a security firm, co-authored the 2012 memoir American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History , which detailed his experiences and became a bestseller adapted into a 2014 film directed by Clint Eastwood, and dedicated efforts to veterans' causes, including PTSD support. On February 2, 2013, Kyle was fatally shot at a Texas shooting range by Eddie Ray Routh, a former Marine with diagnosed mental health issues whom Kyle and friend Chad Littlefield were attempting to aid through recreational therapy; Routh was convicted of murder. His death highlighted risks in informal veteran outreach and sparked debates on mental health care efficacy for combatants.

Christopher Scott Kyle was born on April 8, 1974, in Odessa, Texas , to Wayne Kenneth Kyle, a deacon and Sunday school teacher who also worked for Southwestern Bell , and Deby Lynn Kyle. He was the eldest of two sons, with a younger brother named Jeff .

The family relocated to Midlothian, Texas , during Kyle's elementary school years and maintained a small cattle ranch in rural north-central Texas , where they kept between 100 and 150 head of cattle . Kyle contributed to ranch operations from a young age, assisting his parents and brother with daily tasks that instilled a strong work ethic and affinity for rural life.

His upbringing centered on outdoor pursuits and family values rooted in faith , with his father's influence emphasizing discipline and responsibility. As a small boy, Kyle received a Daisy BB gun, and at age eight, his father gifted him a .30-06 rifle , introducing him to hunting deer, pheasant, and quail—activities that honed his marksmanship and shaped his early interests.

Kyle attended high school in Midlothian, Texas, graduating in 1992, during which he played football and developed skills in bronco riding reflective of his ranch background.

Following his graduation from high school in Midlothian, Texas, in 1992, Kyle worked as a ranch hand while pursuing a career as a professional bronco rider on the rodeo circuit. This path aligned with his longstanding interests in ranching and outdoor pursuits, shaped by his upbringing on family land and exposure to equestrian activities. However, his rodeo ambitions were halted by a severe arm injury sustained during competition, which included a dislocated shoulder, broken wrist, and the insertion of pins for stabilization, rendering further professional riding untenable.

Kyle briefly attended Tarleton State University for two years, studying agriculture, but dropped out to reassess his options, continuing ranch work in Hood County, Texas . By 1996, he had articulated dual career aspirations centered on ranching or military service , prompting him to engage with recruiters at a shopping mall . Initially drawn to U.S.