In early February of 2013 former Navy Seal, Chris Kyle, was shot and killed at a Texas firing range. His assailant, Eddie Routh, was a veteran of the Iraq conflict who allegedly suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Kyle was in the process of mentoring Routh as they engaged in recreational range shooting.
The tragedy was briefly a national news item, amplified by Kyle's celebrity status as the author of his autobiographical book, “ American Sniper.” National attention to the Kyle tragedy soon faded. Today's mainstream media is noted more for short term sensationalism than diligent investigative reporting.
Members of the Warfighter Foundation, an elite group of combat veterans, used the Freedom of Information Act to complete the investigation for the “professionals.”
Members of the Foundation reported on their Facebook page: “Eddie Routh served one tour in Iraq in 2007, at Balad Air Base (the second largest installation in Iraq) with no significant events. Routh had no combat experience . Let me say that again, ROUTH NEVER SAW COMBAT or experienced any traumatic events associated with combat deployment. He never left the base that has a Pizza Hut, 24 hour Burger King, Subway, Popeye's, Baskin Robbins, a movie theater, and even a miniature golf course. The base had a strictly enforced 10-mile speed limit! What a dangerous place...”
Members of the Foundation are now hypothesizing whether Routh was sent on a covert mission for extremist Muslims determined to kill Kyle. The terrorists had given Kyle the title, “The Devil of Ramadi.” Chris wore the title as a badge of honor.
Eddie Routh had come in contact with terrorist prisoners while pulling guard duty at the Balad Air Base. If and when Routh's trial unfolds it will be interesting to see if Kyle's killer was suffering from PTSD or if he had developed ties and sympathy to Muslim extremists. It could be chapter 3 of a saga that includes: the Fort Hood Workplace Violence slaughter, and the Bergdahl-deserter/terrorist prisoner swap.
Based on the slow speed of our American criminal justice system, my unborn grandchildren may learn the facts of this case but I'd rather press on to answer a more important question that is the theme of this column. Why did Chris Kyle volunteer to serve multiple tours on the field of battle at the expense of his family's comfort and his own personal safety?
Chris was a member of a relatively small number of our military who had been,or are still being, directly exposed to hostile fire by an enemy whose sole purpose is to kill you or your brothers in arms. In one term, direct combat.
This is a select group that I'm not eligible to join. In the mid 50's I rode destroyers engaged in anti submarine warfare training exercises off the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean. We sustained casualties more akin to hazardous workplace accidents than from an enemy dedicated to killing or maiming. I'm still proud of my service but the feelings were not the same. When I finished my tour and returned to civilian life I was not tortured by a feeling that I was abandoning my comrades in arms still placed in harm's way. This feeling is why many combat vets voluntarily return to the fields of fire. They do not do it for some noble philosophy of saving the world. They do it to save each other, becoming a Band of Brothers.
Chris Kyle did not continue to take enemy lives for fame or glory. He returned to battle to save lives, the lives of his brothers.
When Clint Eastwood's screen adaptation of Kyle's book opened to mass audiences, left leaning celebrates like Bill Maher and Michel Moore, who never wore the uniform, made hateful remarks. They questioned Kyle's motives for returning to combat. Maher and Moore are not stupid; to the contrary they are both brilliant but pathetically ignorant concerning the military.
Ironically those two celebs benefit from the sacrifices being made by the men and women in uniform. Kyle's warrior class are the wall between the terrorists who hate our society, and those displaying opulent wealth and highly opinionated free speech.
I do not wish ignorant people physical harm but I do place upon them the curse of a Pennsylvania Dutchman: “May you both get lumps in your mashed potatoes.” As penance I'd also ask them to read Kyle's book before forming opinions based on preconceived anti-military bias rather than facts.
Chris Kyle's need to return to combat was best expressed by Shakespeare in a line from King Henry's St Crispin's Day speech: “ We few, we happy few, we band of brothers: For he to-day that sheds his blood for me shall be my brother”.
Stratton Schaeffer is a retired consulting engineer and farmer who lives on Joe Hill.