36 Facts About Chris Kyle

Christopher Scott Kyle was a United States Navy SEAL sniper.

Chris Kyle served four tours in the Iraq War and was awarded several commendations for acts of heroism and meritorious service in combat.

In 2013, Chris Kyle was murdered by Eddie Ray Routh at the Rough Creek Lodge shooting range near Chalk Mountain, Texas.

Christopher Scott Kyle was born on April 8,1974, in Odessa, Texas, the eldest of two boys born to Deborah Lynn and Wayne Kenneth Kyle, a Sunday school teacher and deacon.

Chris Kyle's father bought Kyle his first rifle at the age of eight, a bolt-action.

Chris 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.

Chris Kyle attended Tarleton State University for two years, studying Ranch and Range Management.

Chris Kyle went to a military recruiting office, as he was interested in joining the US Marine Corps special operations.

Chris Kyle enlisted in the United States Navy on August 5,1998, and began basic training on February 10,1999.

Chris Kyle graduated from basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, in April 1999.

Chris Kyle 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.

Chris Kyle graduated with Class 233 in March 2001, followed by SEAL Qualification Training at NAB Coronado from May to August 2001.

Chris Kyle proved to be an effective sniper in Iraq, with a large number of confirmed and unconfirmed kills.

Chris Kyle left the US Navy in 2009, and moved to Midlothian, Texas, with his wife, Taya, and two children.

Chris Kyle was president of Craft International, a tactical training company for the US military and law enforcement communities.

Chris Kyle initially hesitated to write the book but was persuaded to move forward because other books about SEALs were under way.

Chris Kyle paired with FITCO Cares Foundation, a nonprofit organization that created the Heroes Project to provide free in-home fitness equipment, individualized programs, personal training, and life-coaching to in-need veterans with disabilities, Gold Star families, or those with PTSD.

On January 4,2012, Chris Kyle appeared on Opie and Anthony to discuss his book.

On July 29,2014, the jury returned a recommendation of 8 to 2 that Chris Kyle was liable to Ventura for defamation and unjust enrichment, but not appropriation.

The jury concluded that the Chris Kyle estate owed Ventura $500,000 for defamation, and $1.34 million for unjust enrichment.

Chris Kyle's widow appealed the verdict on behalf of Chris Kyle's estate.

Attorneys for Chris Kyle's estate asked the appeals court to throw out the verdict or at least order a new trial because a lawyer for Ventura told jurors that the $1.8 million judgment would be paid for by Chris Kyle's book publisher's insurance policy, not his estate.

In 2013, The New Yorker reported that during a late-night drinking session, Chris Kyle recounted driving to New Orleans after hearing about looting in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Chris Kyle claimed the duo shot a number of armed civilians they identified as making trouble.

Military officials and former colleagues of Chris Kyle reacted with skepticism when asked about his claim.

Chris Kyle claimed to have killed two men at a Dallas-area gas station in January, 2009.

Chris Kyle 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.

The stretch of highway where Chris Kyle claimed the incident occurred passes through three counties; the sheriffs of each county definitively denied it happening.

In 2016, the Navy clarified the number of medals Chris Kyle was awarded during his military service.

Chris Kyle had claimed in his book that he was awarded two Silver Stars and five Bronze Stars.

Chris Kyle has claimed a higher number of sniper kills in his service than the Navy has officially attributed to him.

Chris Kyle stated that the Navy's numbers varied from time to time.

Chris Kyle's family said he had PTSD from his time in the military.

In 2013, a Texas teacher, Dana Morris, attempted to get a section of Highway 75 through Dallas named after Chris Kyle, but was unsuccessful.

Chris Kyle is portrayed by Bradley Cooper, and his wife Taya Chris Kyle is portrayed by Sienna Miller.

Petty Officer Chris Kyle's efforts were integral to the success of four US Army and Marine Corps Battalion Task Force operations, establishing US and Iraqi Army combat outposts in previously insurgent-held areas.