american sniper

i love reading about historical accounts of many types so i was very excited when i picked up my copy of chris kyle's, american sniper. kyle writes in a colloquial style, inserting bits of his dry humor throughout the book, which allows the reader to feel closer to him.

chris kyle was born and raised in texas with a strong christian faith, riding horseback, and learning to shoot a rifle all before the age of 5, all things completely foreign to me. i've never known of or spoken with anyone who was faithful and patriotic, so learning about the people and events which shaped his life gave me food for thought. in his eyes, the order of importance was: God, country, family.

kyle, also known by the iraqi insurgents as the devil of ramadi, served four tours in iraq and was one of the most lethal snipers in american history, with over 160 confirmed kills. he's saved the lives of countless iraqi citizens and US militia, and contributed to the a number of successful offensives in the iraq war. to hear him describe in detail the thoughts and emotions which were going through his mind as he endured navy SEAL training and ultimately deployment in iraq; to learn about the different types of guns, explosives, and SEAL tactics used in DAs; and to learn about his struggles to be the protector of his country, his SEAL brotherhood, and a family man, was an honor. 

sadly, on february 2, 2013, a few years after his resignation from the navy SEALs and return stateside, he was killed by his marine friend who was suffering from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). the alleged killer, eddie ray routh, goes to trial next week. february 2nd is now proclaimed as "chris kyle day" by the navy SEALs, and it's coincidental that i finished his book on the second anniversary of his passing.

reading this book reminds me that we are living in this beautiful, safe country without serious fear for our lives ever, and we owe it to these men and women who volunteer to risk their lives on a daily basis in order to keep us safe.