Documents show ‘American Sniper’ Chris Kyle embellished record

[Garion_55]

Source: http://q13fox.com/

HOUSTON (AP) — Documents show that slain Navy Seal and “American Sniper” author Chris Kyle misrepresented the number of medals he received.

Navy documents obtained by an online magazine through an open records request show that Kyle earned one Silver Star and three Bronze Stars with valor. In his best-selling book, Kyle wrote that he had received two Silver Stars and five Bronze Stars.

A Navy spokeswoman confirmed the validity of the documents and says the armed services branch is investigating the discrepancy.

Read more: http://q13fox.com/2016/05/25/documents-show-american-sniper-chris-kyle-embellished-record/

---

"Kyle was warned at least once before American Sniper was published that its description of his medal count was wrong, according to one current Navy officer, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to speak about the case. As Kyle’s American Sniper manuscript was distributed among SEALs, one of his former commanders, who was still on active duty, advised Kyle that his claim of having two Silver Stars was false, and he should correct it before his book was published.

Current and former Navy SEALs interviewed for this article, who agreed to speak on background because they feared being shunned by their close-knit community, did not dispute Kyle’s heroism in combat, but saw the inflation of his medal count as significant because they consider battlefield embellishments to be dishonorable."

https://theintercept.com/2016/05/25/american-sniper-chris-kyle-distorted-his-military-record-documents-show/

[Archae]

1. Some "hero."

I've also read that he was a vicious racist.

[greiner3]

46. I'd add vicious anything

[Paper Roses]

2. This book, 'American Sniper' was an amazing read. I was crushed to learn of the deceit.

The news of the embellishment is not new. I read the book about a year ago and found out shortly after that not only were some of the events fabricated but there was a lot of money missing from some donations to the charities Kyle was supposed to have supported. I believe it was over $1,000,000.00. It sure destroyed an allusion and I'm sure it made a lot of good people upset.

I don't have a reference to the articles I read but when I discussed this with some friends, they were aware of the situation.
Sad for all involved.

[Kelvin Mace]

5. Outside of hostage situations

I find it very hard to view snipers as "heroes".

[7962]

13. Killing the enemy without being killed yourself is the goal

War isnt fencing.
Ask the Brits who were pinned down by heavy machine gun fire for hours until one of their snipers was able to take out the shooters with a record breaking long shot.
Plenty of stories like that.

None of which excuses inflating your record
Now Kyle being gone, he wont see punishment for puffing up his medal count. But it sure will hurt his legacy as well as his families income from it

[braddy]

24. If you are maneuvering as infantry, wouldn't you want a couple of your guys serving as oversight

covering your back as all of your attention and tunnel vision is focused on the doors and windows and what might be inside of the dwelling you have to enter?



In soldiering you use layers upon layers, and shooters covering you is one of those layers, also, sending in a sniper team to take out an enemy individual by stealth and using distance, is a lot less costly than a mass frontal attack in the hopes of taking out that individual, who might escape in the confusion of a large battle costing dozens or hundreds of lives.

How about distance shooting? Do you want to leave your sniper behind while you engage long distance machine guns with your little short distance M-16 that doesn't even come close to reaching them?

How about enemy snipers shooting you from a mile away, do you not want your own counter sniper?

[arcane1]

27. I wouldn't invade an innocent country in the first place.

"Enemy snipers shooting you from a mile away" are people defending their homes from an invading army.

[braddy]

30. So you respect snipers when we are fighting the Nazis and Japanese, and the British?

Just not right now?

Is your complaint about the American fighting man, or snipers?

[arcane1]

31. I didn't realize the Nazis and Japanese were innocent.

You may think so. That's your problem, not mine. They started their wars, just like we started ours.

No Iraqi ever attacked the US.

[braddy]

32. So you are posting about your foreign policy complaints, not U.S. military use of snipers.

[arcane1]

35. Yes, I am against sending snipers into countries that did not attack us n/t

[braddy]

37. Like I said you are completely off the topic and want to talk about foreign policy.

I have no idea why you posted to me then, why didn't you just post to the OP?

[MillennialDem]

69. I think part of his complaint may be the bragging of it when it was an

innocent country - I'm not sure.

Just for argument's sake a side note if you'd be indulge ME...

Would it have been ok to make movies about and honor men like Otto Carius and Erich Hartmann?

[braddy]

72. Another foreign policy post, one that calls Saddam Hussein innocent to attack our American GI's.

[MillennialDem]

73. I never did....

[Kelvin Mace]

59. I understand the doctrine of sniper usage

I will amend my comment to say "hostage situation" and "counter-sniper".

[braddy]

60. The least heroic sniper of all is a police hostage situation, there isn't anything dangerous, or

demanding about it in contrast to that of a military sniper who has to get to and be where the enemy is, and sometimes behind enemy lines, and the sheer difficulty of perhaps days of hard and clandestine living and movement trying to get into position, and then having a doubtful chance of return.

Which combat situations would you like to forbid our side's snipers from?

[Kelvin Mace]

61. Umm, I don't view being a soldier or a sniper as "heroic" in, or of, itself.

Some soldiers behave heroically, but by and large, it is just people who didn't ask to be there, who were manipulated into the job, killing people on someone else's behalf.

Are there instances where war is justified? Certainly, but they are VERY rare. The vast majority is about simple butchery, and people are told lies to make it all seem noble. Training someone to the point where they are able to murder a complete stranger in cold blood, and then be proud of it, doesn't strike me as "heroic". Yes, again, there are some circumstances where it is morally justifiable, but again, very, very rare.

[braddy]

62. Our GIs who enlist to risk their life and limbs for us are signing up to do something that few

humans are willing to do, go up against other trained soldiers in a fight to the death, to serve our nation, even some of the training involves risk.

To me heroism has to involve concrete risk to the hero, while a police sniper taking out a bad guy during his shift is very helpful to saving lives, it isn't what I think of as heroic.

Which combat situations do you want to forbid our soldiers from having snipers in?

[Kelvin Mace]

63. We have created an economic system

designed to keep the military filled with young, easily manipulated, young men and women, who are told they are "protecting America", who are then sent to wage war on people for lies and profit. Mostly for profit. The last morally defensible war we fought was in 1941, and even then only if you ignore all the money we made looking the other way while Hitler came to power.

All wars since then have been wars we didn't have to fight, against people who really can't defend themselves where we spend a lot of time simply slaughtering people.

There is nothing noble or heroic about what we have been done or are doing.

[braddy]

64. Nonsense, I take it that you are not a vet? You never desired to serve as a warrior?

[TipTok]

33. Maybe we can all line up revolutionary war style and shoot...

... In alternating volleys with roughly equal weapons.

Just to be fair...

Some people... I swear...

[Kelvin Mace]

58. Whatever gets your rocks off

[EL34x4]

3. Navy record keeping is atrocious

The awards he received would be reflected in Block 44 of his evaluation, signed by his Commanding Officer. If the awards in his evals matches the awards in his NDAWS and BUPERS files, it would be a surprise. Typically, it is a never-ending battle for sailors to ensure their many records are accurate and match each other.

If he claimed awards that weren't reflected in his evals, he has (or would've had) some explaining to do. Every sailor knows if it's not in your eval, it didn't happen.

[itsrobert]

4. Examine them yourself

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2841170-Kyle-dd214.html

[EL34x4]

22. His November '05 eval

Has nothing in Block 44. This is very unusual. In fact, I have never seen an eval where this section is blank (I'm currently active duty with 12+ years) Even if his command could find absolutely nothing to put in this block (and that's a very big "if&quot they would've entered "none" or something along those lines if only to keep someone else from entering all kinds of cool shit that never happened after the eval had been signed by the CO.

Something is very fishy about this eval. This being said, he signed it. Or he signed something.

At any rate, I'm not going to lose much sleep over this. Kyle's valor is well documented. Whether he received 3 Bronze Stars or 5 means little to me.

[TipTok]

34. Pshaw...

Everyone keeps a few silver stars tucked away behind the silverware drawer, right?

What do you mean he only has one?!

[4Q2u2]

66. Hit Piece

This is a Greenwald hit piece for pub. The pogue LTC who wrote the article did not read the DD-214 right.

[4Q2u2]

67. Hit Piece

This a hit piece by Glen Greenwald for pub. Kyle's DD-214 clearly states 2 Silver Stars and 5 Bronze Stars with V.
The pogue LTC who wrote the article did not read it right.

[alarimer]

70. No, this jerk is a KNOWN liar.

It was known before this article. He lied about Jesse Ventura. He also lied about another encounter in which he played the hero.

He's fucking scum. Any right-wing hero is automatically scum, but this one is proven to be a liar.

I don't believe in hero worship of the military. They are people just like us, not automatically heroes and a number turn out to be liars and criminals.

[4Q2u2]

71. I never said Hero

I was pointing out the fact that just because we do not like someone that all of a sudden Glen Greenwald is a credible source, even when the Navy's record of his service clearly points out that he did earn those Awards.

Riddle me this?
Is Glen Greenwald a KNOWN liar?

Which liar do we hold to a different standard?

[EL34x4]

74. My sentiments as well

Not even sure why it merits investigation.

[underpants]

54. Quite the opposite

We saw with John Kerry's records from Vietnam that the Navy keeps very accurate records.

We also saw from W's AWOL information that those records were very well kept and easily retrieveable.

[Iggo]

6. All I need to know about that fucker is...

...he either lied about murdering two dozen people in the aftermath of Katrina, or he told the truth about murdering two dozen people in the aftermath of Katrina.

He was either lying scum or he was murdering scum.

But he was fucking scum.

[Stuckinthebush]

9. Well said

Any way you slice it....scum

[Laurian]

7. In my experience, those who brag incessantly are

often embellishing their stories. I'll take a humble hero over this type of guy anyday.

[7962]

14. That really is true most of the time, isnt it?

It amazes me

[mentalsolstice]

18. So right about that! Particularly when it's military or first responders.

My husband served in Vietnam, he rarely talks about it. I also dated USMC helicopter pilot for 3 years, also a Vietnam vet, again not a word. When he would don his dress blues for the birthday ball, that's when I knew he must have seen some action. There was a lot of metal on his chest, and the deference shown to him by others.

My dad was well respected state policeman in KY before I was born. I only know about heroic things he did from others, as he never spoke of it.

OTOH, my husband's nephew did two tours in Afghanistan, and won't shut up about it, even 5 years later. However, if you really question him about it, he spent the time sitting in front of a computer, even though he was infantry.

[Skittles]

29. CORRECT

[BlueStater]

8. The guy was a known liar so this is hardly surprising.

I really don't care if it's good on a technical level. I have no desire to ever see Eastwood's propaganda bullshit.

[TexasBushwhacker]

10. Just curious. How many here consider him a hero?

The reason I ask is that on a recent road trip from Houston to Ft. Worth I noticed part of the highway about 30 miles south of Ft. Worth was "Chris Kyle Memorial Highway". I just thought it was odd to choose him. He didn't die in action or saving someone else's life. Despite his embellishments, I figure that he was good at his job as a sniper, but better than all other soldiers?

[Kingofalldems]

11. He has a couple DU pals.

I remember when the movie came out a few were all aflutter about it.

[ReRe]

15. I never did consider him a hero.

Did not see the movie or go near the book. There is no glory in killing people. I feel sorry for his wife and however many kids he had. Hope they have been able to get on with their lives.

[TexasBushwhacker]

19. I think he just had two children

His royalties for the book were estimated to be around $3 Million and film rights would be added onto that. But he was sued for defamation by Jesse Ventura. Chris said in the book that he punched Ventura in a bar after Ventura said some disparaging comments about the SEALs. Jesse said the whole thing never happened and was awarded $1.8 Million. He's gotten a lot of flack for taking away money from a widow and she's appealing.

[ReRe]

23. Damn...

... That is so sad. What's wrong with Jesse V? She should not be held responsible for what her husband chose for his life. If Jesse was awarded that $1.8 Million, he should just give it back to her. He doesn't need the GD money.

[TexasBushwhacker]

39. I imagine they will end up settling out of court n/t

[Person 2713]

43. What's wrong with making up lies about someone and publishing it ? Award was correct not sad

Widow is a grifter just like her husband
Check out all the money they raised for vets but never gave to vets
She is still a grifter and will do fine

[ReRe]

45. Well, if she was as bad as her husband...

... I will stop feeling sorry for her. But still, I can't feel that way about those kids. Kids don't ask for this shite. When you was a kid growing up, did you ever think that you might have been born into the wrong family? I did and still do. but kids are resilient. I hope they grow up and go to college for a long long time.

[malokvale77]

41. I see nothing appealing about her.

She is banking on his name though.

[TipTok]

52. Depends on the people...

[Igel]

56. Lots of oddball choices for "honoring" people these days.

It's not what you do, it's how you can be used as a symbol to annoy others.

Some are honored for merely existing in a given place and time and being oppressed. Sort of memorializing the reason for hatred and a sense of grievance. As opposed to memorializing somebody who did something considered meritorious.

[TexasBushwhacker]

57. Well, the Chris Kyle highway is in Midlothian, TX

where he settled with his family when he left the service. He's probably their only claim to fame.

[LiberalFighter]

12. I would call into question a person's character that would find glory with publicizing it.

[riversedge]

17. I have never had the desire to read it-Fox news pushed it too much.

[Blue_Tires]

20. Is that really a shock?

I was calling BS on some of his book excepts years ago...

And I always thought his kill count was abnormally high, even for a great sniper...

[KG]

21. American Shitbag

[Stainless]

25. Lots of Keyboard Chicken Hawks commenting on this......

As a Veteran, I'll withhold judgment on a military hero who was murdered and is no longer here to defend himself.

I don't like this kind of bullshit from anonymous gutless bastards. IMHO, DU allows way too much of this activity to occur. It's why I don't have a yellow star.

[BlueStater]

36. "Keyboard Chicken Hawks"?

You're misusing that term. A "chickenhawk" is a person who supports war but refuses to serve in it themselves. No one here supported the Iraq war.

Being a "military hero" doesn't make a liar not a liar. He lied about punching Jesse Ventura in a bar and he lied about shooting people in New Orleans during Katrina (and on the unlikely chance he didn't lie about that, that just makes him a psychotic murderer). So you can why, based on his past behavior, people here think him lying about his medals is not out of the realm of possibility of something he would do.

[Spider Jerusalem]

38. Sorry, but Chris Kyle lied about all sorts of things.

He claimed to've found WMD in Iraq. He claimed to've shot looters in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He claimed to've killed a pair of carjackers. He claimed to've punched out Jesse Ventura. He lied in all of those instances, provably and verifiably. And did it publicly (and in most instances in his book). He may or may not have served honorably in Iraq and been a very effective sniper, but his character is demonstrably poor, he was a serial liar, braggart, and blowhard (Alvin York he wasn't).

[ReRe]

47. He was a...

... legend in his own mind. He lived by the rifle and died by the rifle. And he would have wanted his demise no other way.

[Feeling the Bern]

49. If it would advance his massive, sociopathic ego, he would have claimed he found the gold under

the rainbow.

[libodem]

50. And a cold blooded murderer

Just in a sanctioned condition.

[canuckledragger]

44. As a peaceful person that abhors killing for any reason...

I don't like anonymous gutless bastards that try to shame others for pointing out the truth about lying racist blowhards that try to grandstand at shooting ranges while showing off to folks suffering from PTSD.

Kyle is dead because he's a moron.

[Iggo]

51. As most vets probably know..

...a chicken hawk is someone who supports war but gets deferment after deferment after deferment....like Dick Cheney or Mitt Romney.

Chris Kyle claimed to have murdered dozens of Americans on American soil in the aftermath of Katrina. That makes him a liar or a murderer. One or the other. No in-between. There's your hero.

[LisaM]

26. Color me not shocked.

But, RIP anyway.

[Press Virginia]

28. Is there anything in there about him trying to bring down a plane in Bosnia

back around 1996?

[kacekwl]

40. Barking up the wrong tree

This guy is HERO number one with soooo many military and gun lovers that nothing will tarnish him . Kinda like Trump.

[Paladin]

42. The Sniper Worshippers will find a way to ignore this. (nt)

[libodem]

48. Go Figure

How we now take pride in snipers and mercinaries I'll never fathom.

Spit. Pffft.

[rockfordfile]

53. There are good ones and bad ones. He was a bad apple.

[4Q2u2]

65. Source is Wrong

This is a Glen Greenwald hit piece for pub. The writer is a pogue and a wanna be.
The facts of his DD-214 show 2 Silver Stars and 5 Bronze Stars with V. Just because we do not like someone does not abdicate doing proper research and due diligence. When did Greenwald become unimpeachable?

[alarimer]

68. That 'hero" is a lying piece of shit, like so many right-wing assholes.

When the right-wing anoints someone a hero, I immediately try to figure out the con.