I Want to be Like Chris Kyle When I Grow up (1/29/15)

This is a follow up to a book I read, but may have yet to review, American Sniper. I just saw American Sniper in the theaters the day before I was supposed to check myself into the hospital for surgery because I read someone else’s comments regarding what a friend of mine said about the Navy Seal whose life the story is based off of. Needless to say it didn’t sit well with me, mainly because the way I saw it the person commenting was attacking Chris’ character and the way Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper portrayed him.

Now if this was someone that knew Chris Kyle I would have said okay I can’t argue with you, but you have a better chance of finding the mythical Knights Templar treasure then you do of getting a Navy Seal to open up. This was someone that was expressing their opinion based off of news articles and sound bites.

My response was as follows:

“I went to go see the movie based on the first two comments you received, and I agree with you. I read the book well before I ever watched the movie and the only difference between the two was the ending. The ending was modified to include the funeral and the events that led up to Chris’ death, and it was 100% on point with Chris’ accounts in his book. There was no romantacizing. As portrayed in the movie he was brutally honest that he saw the targets at the end as someone that had to die. As for the conflict Hollywood created in his character, Chris talked about that in his book too. He talked about coming back depressed with PTSD and not being able to function in society. As for when he showed conflict with a target at the end of his gun that may have been the director or actor’s creative license. Unfortunately Chris wasn’t able to be on set to advise the cast and crew because he was murder by a veteran who was experiencing the same traumatic experience Chris himself had overcome. 

If the cast and crew was trying to do anything with their creative license it was to give an accurate picture of who these soldiers are. They are complete human beings that have the same qualities, flaws and problems the rest of us do except when they clock in to work they hope that their training is enough to bring them home safely. This movie did a great service for all soldiers because it highlights a problem that exists that doesn’t get enough recognition, men and women need help after they go through horrific life experiences and it’s okay to ask for help. They aren’t alone.

If someone feels the necessity to blame someone for the events recounted in American Sniper that were displayed in that movie there is plenty of blame to go around. You can start with the media and the one sided talking points that never show the whole truth, just the truth they want you to see. You can blame the industrial military complex that thrives on global conflict. You can blame your elected officials for continually seeking out the next war, since WWII, to constantly feed the people that keep their political coffers full. You can blame the banks that are the only true winners in war because they profit the most from the death, destruction and reconstruction of war zones. You can even blame your fellow citizens for sending the same elected officials to represent them election after election.

However, to blame the soldier is a copout. That same man that you see as a heartless machine romanticized by Hollywood is the type of person that jumps into rebel controlled Somalia to rescue journalists in the dark of night. He is the type of person that uses his body to shield said journalist from harm until they can be extracted from the conflict zone. He’s the type of person that is flown in last minute when no one is willing to pay the ransom on your head, and is willing to sacrifice his life to ensure you go home. He is selfless and of service to his country. 

War is an ugly thing, and it leaves men and women scarred infinitely more than we will ever be able to see. I thank God every day that there are men and women that feel compelled to selflessly serve others in that capacity, and I pray that those that feel the need to highlight the faults of someone like Chris Kyle or the people who chose to tell his story never find themselves in need of his services.”

Three months before Chris was murdered I was actually in Houston visiting family. I wanted to drive out to West Texas to see if I could get Chris to sign my copy of American Sniper before I drove home to Florida, but I got sick and elected to drive home. That is one of the few regrets I have. I only hope that one day my contribution to society might be half as meaningful as what Chris accomplished before his life was stolen while still trying to save men and women who were scarred in combat.