Chris Kyle
April 8, 1974 – February 2, 2013
Christopher Scott Kyle was an American soldier who was a member of the Navy SEALs. He was one of the most successful snipers in the history of the United States Armed Forces. In the Iraq War, he achieved a total of 260 hits during 4 operational tours, 160 of which were officially confirmed by the Pentagon.
He served in the United States Navy from 1999 to 2009. During this period he participated in four missions in Iraq. During the Second Battle of Fallujah, he achieved 40 hits. During his time in Ramadi, where he was nicknamed Szaitan ar-Ramadi (Devil of Ramadi) by opponents, there was also a reward for his capture, first $20,000 and later $80,000. During the missions, he was wounded twice and survived a nearby mine explosion six times. One of his greatest achievements was disarming an enemy sniper at a range of 1,920 meters. He has been awarded the Medal of Valor several times, twice being awarded the Silver and five times the Bronze Star.
He left the U.S. Navy in 2009 and he and his wife and two children settled in Texas. After leaving the service, he led the security firm Craft International, which provides training for snipers and security. In 2012, he published an autobiographical book, American Sniper.