Age, Biography, and Wiki
Chris Kyle was born on April 8, 1974, and tragically passed away on February 2, 2013, at the age of 38. He rose to prominence as a U.S. Navy SEAL sniper, serving four tours in the Iraq War. Kyle's military career was distinguished by numerous awards, including one Silver Star and four Bronze Stars with valor.
| Occupation | Autobiographer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 8 April 1974 |
| Age | 51 Years |
| Birth Place | Odessa, Texas, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 2 February, 2013 |
| Died Place | Erath County, Texas, U.S. |
Height, Weight & Measurements
Publicly available records do not provide specific details about Kyle's height and weight. However, his stature as a military figure is well-documented.
Kyle went to a military recruiting office, as he was interested in joining the U.S. Marine Corps special operations. Instead, he was convinced by a U.S. Navy recruiter to try for the SEALs. He enlisted in the United States Navy on August 5, 1998, and began basic training on February 10, 1999. He graduated from basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, in April 1999. He attended additional training as an Intelligence Specialist at NMITC Dam Neck, Virginia, from April to July 1999, and at NPC Millington, Tennessee, from August 1999 to March 2000. Initially, Kyle was rejected because of the pins in his arm, but he eventually received an invitation to the 24-week Basic Underwater Demolition/Sea, Air, Land (SEAL) training (BUD/S) at NAB Coronado, California. Kyle graduated with Class 233 in March 2001, followed by SEAL Qualification Training (SQT) at NAB Coronado from May to August 2001. Assigned to SEAL Team-3, sniper element, Platoon "Charlie" (later "Cadillac"), within the Naval Special Warfare Command, and with four tours of duty, Kyle served in many major battles of the Iraq War. His first long-range kill shot was taken during the initial invasion when he shot a woman carrying a hand grenade approaching a group of Marines. CNN reported the woman was cradling a toddler in her other hand. As ordered, Kyle opened fire, killing the woman before she could attack. Chris' brother Jeff also served two tours in Iraq with the Marines from 2000 to 2008, attaining the rank of Sergeant.
Kyle also claimed to have killed two men at a Dallas-area gas station in January, 2009. He told one writer that the men attempted to rob him at gunpoint, but he drew his own weapon and shot them both in the chest. According to Kyle, the entire incident was on tape, and the police let him go after he gave them a number to call. He also asserted that he often received emails from police officers across the country thanking him for "cleaning up the streets."
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Dating & Relationship Status
Chris Kyle was married to Taya Kyle. The couple had two children together, and Taya has been a vocal advocate for veterans' rights and mental health awareness after Kyle's death.
His father bought Kyle his first rifle at the age of eight, a bolt-action .30-06 Springfield rifle, and later a shotgun, with which they hunted deer, pheasant, and quail. Kyle and his brother Jeff grew up raising up to 150 head of cattle at a time. Kyle attended high school in Midlothian, Texas, and after graduating in 1992, became a professional bronco rider and ranch hand, however his professional rodeo career ended abruptly when he severely injured his arm. He attended Tarleton State University for two years (1992–1994), studying Ranch and Range Management.
Kyle left the U.S. Navy in 2009, and moved to Midlothian, Texas, with his wife, Taya, and two children. He was president of Craft International, a tactical training company for the U.S. military and law enforcement communities.
Clint Eastwood's film American Sniper (2014) is based on Kyle's autobiography. Kyle is portrayed by Bradley Cooper, and his wife Taya Kyle is portrayed by Sienna Miller. For his portrayal of Kyle, Cooper received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, and the film was nominated in five other categories, including Best Picture. The film won the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing.
| Parents | |
| Husband | Taya Studebaker (m. 2002) |
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Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his death in 2013, Chris Kyle's net worth was estimated to be around $2 million. This figure primarily stemmed from his military career and the success of his book, "American Sniper," which became a bestseller.
A memorial service was held for Kyle at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on February 11, and he was buried on February 12, 2013, at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, after the funeral cortege journeyed from Midlothian to Austin, more than 200 mi. Hundreds of people, many waving American flags, lined Interstate 35 to view the passing procession and to pay their final respects to Kyle.
Career, Business, and Investments
Kyle's military career was marked by his exceptional sniper skills and bravery, earning him the nickname "The Devil of Ramadi." After leaving the Navy in 2009, he began working with Craft International, a tactical training company. His autobiography, "American Sniper," was published in 2012 and remained on the "New York Times" bestseller list for 37 weeks. The book was later adapted into a successful film in 2014.
* a 5.56 NATO Mk 12 Designated Marksman Rifle modified with the lower receiver of an M4A1 to get a collapsible stock and allow full-auto fire (urban patrol),
* a Remington 700/300, Later type classified as a MK13 Mod 1, .300 Winchester Magnum sniper rifle with McMillan stock and customized barrel, which was later replaced with a .300 Winchester Magnum Accuracy International,
Routh was arraigned later that same day on two counts of capital murder, and was taken to the Erath County Jail for holding under a $3 million bond. His trial was set to begin May 5, 2014, but was delayed to allow more time to comply with DNA testing requirements. The trial began on February 11, 2015. On February 24, 2015, Routh was found guilty of murdering Kyle and Littlefield. The jury returned the verdict after less than three hours of deliberations. Since prosecutors decided beforehand not to seek the death penalty, the trial judge, Jason Cashon, immediately sentenced Routh to life in prison with no possibility of parole. Routh is imprisoned at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Ramsey Unit in Rosharon, Texas.
"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Special Warfare Operator First Class (SEAL) Christopher Scott Kyle, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Lead Sniper while assigned to Naval Special Warfare Task Unit-RAMADI in direct support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from 24 April to 27 August 2006. Petty Officer Kyle's heroic actions, professionalism and incredible sniper skills had tremendous impact in the success of U.S. and Iraqi Forces in routing the insurgency and seizing key areas of the City of Ar Ramadi, the epicenter of Al Qaeda and insurgent activity in Iraq. During 32 sniper overwatch missions, he personally accounted for 91 confirmed enemy fighters killed and dozens more probably killed or wounded. Petty Officer Kyle's efforts were integral to the success of four U.S. Army and Marine Corps Battalion Task Force operations, establishing U.S. and Iraqi Army combat outposts in previously insurgent-held areas. His engagements directly prevented casualties to U.S. and Iraqi Forces on more than 30 occasions, including enemy rocket-propelled grenade and mortar teams eliminated, five enemy snipers with scoped weapons eliminated, and dozens of insurgent fighters destroyed while actively engaging U.S. and Iraqi forces with small arms. By his bold leadership, courageous actions, and total dedication to duty, Petty Officer Kyle reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
Social Network
Although Chris Kyle is no longer active on social media, his legacy continues to be celebrated and discussed by fans and veterans' organizations.
In addition to the story of his attack on Jesse Ventura, Kyle claimed involvement in a number of incidents that were unverifiable, and that some sources have called into question, describing them as unlikely.
Kyle's Katrina story was widely discredited. There are no records of multiple shooting victims in the area around the Superdome. Military officials and former colleagues of Kyle reacted with skepticism when asked about his claim.
The gas station story was also widely discredited. The stretch of highway where Kyle claimed the incident occurred passes through three counties; the sheriffs of each county definitively denied it had happened.
After the murders, Routh went to his sister's house in Midlothian and told her what he had done. His sister, Laura Blevins, called 911 and told the emergency operator: "They went out to a shooting range ... Like, he's all crazy. He's ... psychotic." Local police captured Routh after a short freeway chase, which ended when Routh, who fled the scene in Kyle's Ford F-350 truck, crashed into a police cruiser in Lancaster.
Education
Details about Kyle's educational background are not extensively documented, but his military training and experience are well-noted.
In 2013, a Texas teacher, Dana Morris, attempted to get a section of Highway 75 through Dallas named after Chris Kyle, but was unsuccessful. In 2015, Morris made another attempt to get a road named after Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield. During the 84th Texas Legislative Session, HB 1187 was introduced by Representative John Wray, (R) from Ellis County due to the efforts of Dana Morris' grassroots efforts to show her students that they did have a voice in their government. The bill was co-sponsored by 53 Republican congressional leaders. Littlefield's name was removed from the original bill due to his widow's wishes. The bill was changed to only reflect Chris Kyle's name. A twin bill HB 3, put forth in the Senate by Senator Brian Birdwell in case HB 1187, did not pass the Texas House vote. On May 20, 2015, HB 1187 passed both the House and Senate. The Chris Kyle Memorial Highway Bill was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 3, 2015, in Dallas, Texas. Abbott said to Morris, "this was a great project for students and will leave a fundamental legacy in their learning about government." The law became official September 1, 2015. On February 16, 2016, signs for the 11 mile stretch of Highway 287 through Midlothian, Texas, were unveiled. A subsequent bill was passed in 2018 to name a plaza and road after Chris Kyle in the town where he was raised, Midlothian, Texas.
Conclusion
Chris Kyle's life exemplified courage and dedication, both in his military service and through his literary contributions. His financial legacy, though significant, pales in comparison to the impact he had on American culture and the military community.
