American Sniper
When I set out to write this I have to honestly say it was at a time that I had not had the opportunity to view the movie “American Sniper“. Sure I had heard of it and knew of the book and ultimately after the intense barrage of advertising from every major media location out there it was easy to see that it was coming.
My first thought before the movie was to set out and write about my experiences of having been around snipers in the US Marines and having met the Search, Target and Acquisition shooters but I would also have to confess that my personal experiences were far less exciting than what these men do and to have said to have known the STA meant that I had conversed with them on a few occasions. No I am not a sniper, never trained as one and do not fully know all the training that creates one. To not have experienced this does not allieve me of the respect I have for them or the roles they have.
After viewing the movie “American Sniper” I feel like I have a perspective and a respect for them even more. In the case of Kris Kyle, a man I have never known and really never heard of honestly until the book and now the movie, has touched my life and for that I am grateful. People have asked me what I have taken from the movie and simply put
“He went for his country and stayed for his brothers”.
Throughout the movie and watching the transformation of his character during his 4 tours of deployment it was easy to witness how much he became separated from his family life and everyday living as his experiences living in daily combat conditions became the norm and family a distant memory. His return to home each time showed his lack of connection with his wife and family and more as was the case of watching the tv and seeing what his brothers in arms were experiencing overseas.
The movie bridge I also witnessed in his beginning career from the meeting withthe US Navy recruiter and then his ability to navigate Navy SEAL training and BUDS was his attitude about not quiting. This was for him in my opinion the very thing that lied at the heart of his personality and what brought him back time after time, what gave him his inner thoughts and convictions and provided his courses. His phone call to his wife where he said “Baby, I am ready to come home” I felt was not about quitting as much as it was about his realization that his path was to be moving in a different direction. That he needed to find health and to help others which was tantamount to his reasons for joing the military in the first place, his later desire to save others in combat and for his reasoning about how his thoughts were not about who he had saved but about those he could not.
He always put others ahead of himself and because of this he was a natural leader. That same attitude gave him the intraspection to heal himself and help others to also work out their feelings and begin to heal themselves.
I like many Americans would say that I wish I had known him. I am sorry that I never did but I am happy that many did and that he touched their lives in a positive way and help wounds to help. He was genuine. He was real. A soldier, a writer, a family man, husband, and a healer. God speed Kris Kyle and wherever your travels take you now. The world is a little dimmer now that you are gone.
Sniper. One Shot. One Kill.
The conclusion to the Kris Kyle story ended sadly on a gun range in Texas. The msot improbable place for a US Navy SEAL to be gunned down especially by someone he was there to help. Let us remember Chris for what he did, those he helped and keep the memory of his accomplishments both on and off the battlefield alive.
