In “American Sniper” by Clint Eastwood, Bradley Cooper plays Chris Kyle, legend of the US army. This hero, however, did not fall under enemy but friendly bullets…
“Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle is sent to Iraq for one purpose: to protect his comrades. His surgical precision saved countless lives on the battlefield and, as stories of his exploits multiplied, he earned the nickname “The Legend”. Although he then became the preferred target of the insurgents, and despite the danger and anguish in which his family lived, Chris participated in four of the most terrible decisive battles of the war in Iraq. But when he returns home, he realizes that he cannot return to a normal life…”
This is what American Sniper is about, the film by Clint Eastwood starring Bradley Cooper, nominated 6 times for the Oscars – with a victory for best sound editing. But beyond the fiction, there is reality: this Chris Kyle, an outstanding sniper with 160 targets hit, did indeed exist and was a hero to many Americans who mourned his death when he has been murdered.
Indeed, on February 2, 2013, Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield, ages 38 and 35, respectively, were taking young Eddie Ray Routh, a 25-year-old United States Marine Corps veteran, to the shooting range for a form of therapy. Chris Kyle had agreed to mentor the young man and had chosen a local shooting range for their first meeting.
“Chris had discovered a new use for weapons: healing”, explained his widow Taya Kyle. It was young Eddie’s mother who asked the hero for help, knowing that he took care of veterans in difficulty. Her son suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his military service, having first been a jailer in Iraq before being sent to collect dead children in Haiti after the earthquake. 2010. He had been attending psychiatric hospitals for several years and had received a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
“Watch my back”
So Chris and Chad took the young man in the former’s truck to the shooting range. But already on the way, Chris Kyle felt something was wrong and texted Chad Littlefield, sitting next to him, saying: “This guy is completely crazy”to which Chad replied: “Watch my back”. However, once they arrive there, the two friends will not have time to react when Eddie grabs two weapons, firing several bullets at the two men, even though they are armed, killing them instantly.
After the murders, Eddie went to his sister’s house where he confessed to his crime. She called the emergency services and told the operator: “They went to a shooting range… He’s all crazy. He’s psychotic.” Local police would eventually apprehend him after a chase that ended when Eddie, who fled the scene in Chris’ truck, crashed into a police car.
Reasons and sentence
Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield were later found dead, shot thirteen times by Kyle’s guns. In addition to his mental problems, Eddie Ray Routh was under the influence of drugs and alcohol that day and said after being arrested that he believed he was going to walk into a trap, that the army was going to him “take your soul”. He explained that it was him or them: “If I didn’t take his soul, he was going to take mine.”
After a trial, he was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Four months later, while in his cell, Eddie again spoke out about the murders to former Erath County Sheriff’s Deputy Gene Cole, saying: “I was just in the back seat of the truck, and no one would talk to me. They were just taking me to the shooting range, so I shot them. I feel bad, but they didn’t want to talk to me, I’m sure they forgave me.”
The American Sniper was given a memorial service at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on February 11, 2013 before being buried the following day at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin and following an impressive funeral procession. . Hundreds of people, many waving American flags, lined Interstate 35 to attend and pay their final respects to Chris Kyle.
Below, check out video footage captured during the procession that stretched 200 miles (320 km) from Midlothian to Austin.
Twice decorated with the Silver Star, Chris Kyle also received the Bronze Star three times, in addition to other personal and unit honors.
His story can be found in American Sniper, available for streaming on Max.