American hero, Chris Kyle, retired Navy Seal sniper who served on four tours of duty in Iraq, was shot and killed over the weekend, along with his friend Chad Littlefield, while pursuing their passion to help troubled veterans.
Kyle has been credited as the deadliest sniper in American history. He was one of the featured military experts on the recent reality show Stars Earn Stripes, and author of the NY Times best-selling autobiography American Sniper. Kyle credited God and his own guardian angel for protecting him in war-time, even surviving being shot twice his last tour, one bullet stopped by his body armor and the other deflecting off his protective eyewear.
In an interview last year at Fellowship Church in Grapevine, TX, Chris Kyle spoke openly about his Christian faith. He was somewhat a reluctant hero. When asked about his longest shot of over 2100 yards (1 ¼ mile), Kyle told the story unenthusiastically, with eyes looking downward, as if to express, not guilt, but a heavy heart for what had to be done, which was take a life in order to save others. Kyle was very humble, quick to give others more credit than himself, especially those men and women who paid the ultimate price by giving their lives for their country.
Kyle told the congregation, “The red on our flag stands for the blood. Our rights as Americans were paid in full by that blood.” In much the same way Christ paid for our salvation with His blood, pastor Ed Young added.
Kyle, being a man of faith, also had a servant’s heart. He left the Navy in 2009 to devote more time to his family. He admittedly had emotional struggles to deal with, residual effects from the battlefield. After overcoming his own issues, he devoted his time to assist veterans struggling with physical and emotional scars from war and also helped establish the Fitco Cares Foundation, committed to helping veterans fight Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Kyle said rather than his number of kills, he wanted be known for the number of lives he helped save.
It was following his new calling to help soldiers in need (his first being to serve his country) that Chris Kyle was tragically murdered. Chris and Chad had been working with an Iraqi war veteran, suffering from apparent PTSD, that shot and killed them both at a gun range in Glen Rose, TX this past weekend. Though not on the battlefield, Chris Kyle still gave his life to serve others.
Chris Kyle had a wife and two children. Please pray for the family and loved ones he and Chad Littlefield have left behind.
For this article and more from C. Aaron Russell visit MenofMind.com.
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