Chris Kyle

Chris Kyle
Birth nameChristopher Scott Kyle
Nickname(s)"The Legend", "Devil of Ramadi", "Tex", "American Sniper", "The Punisher"
Born(1974-04-08)April 8, 1974
Odessa, Texas, U.S.
DiedFebruary 2, 2013(2013-02-02) (aged 38)
Erath County, Texas, U.S.
Buried
BranchUnited States Navy
Years of service1999–2009
RankChief Petty Officer
(Rating: Special Warfare Operator, formerly Intelligence Specialist)
Unit
Battles / wars
See battles
Awards
Spouse(s)
(m. 2002)
Children2
Other work
Signature

Christopher Scott Kyle (April 8, 1974 – February 2, 2013) was a United States Navy SEAL sniper. He served four tours in the Iraq War and was awarded several commendations for acts of heroism and meritorious service in combat. He had 160 confirmed kills and was awarded a Silver Star, three Bronze Star Medals with "V" devices for valor, 2× Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with "V" device, as well as numerous other unit and personal awards.

Kyle was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 2009, and published his bestselling autobiography, American Sniper, in 2012. In 2013, Kyle was murdered by Eddie Ray Routh at the Rough Creek Lodge shooting range near Chalk Mountain, Texas. Routh, a former Marine, was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole. A film adaptation of Kyle's book, directed by Clint Eastwood, and starring Bradley Cooper as Kyle, was posthumously released in 2014.