FELLOW SEAL, FRIEND
Chris and Marcus Luttrell relaxing in 2012 before a speaking appearance. The two Texas boys were good friends before fame touched each one.
Chris Kyle is not a man I ever thought I would refer to in the past tense. No matter how much danger he faced, we always knew Chris would come out alive with an awesome story filled with close calls. To say I lost a friend this year does not say enough. I lost someone I looked up to as a frogman and Texan brother. He exemplified each word of the SEAL creed, and he deserves the highest honor and respect for what he put on the line to keep his brothers safe from the enemy. I know there are mothers and fathers out there right now who are grateful their son or daughter returned home from war thanks to Chris Kyle. He saved countless lives. Whether he sat high on a rooftop taking out the enemy threatening his teammates, or if he was fighting side by side with a Marine platoon, his mission was always clear: “draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect his brothers.”
Chris gave a piece of his life to the SEAL Teams, but there came a time when he needed to refocus on his family. No matter how difficult his decision to leave the military, he knew he was doing the right thing for his wife and two children. He became well known after the much-deserved success of his first book, American Sniper. The ways he handled himself under the spotlight and shared his passions are a testament to the man he was. Chris gave away the proceeds of his book to veterans and families of fallen teammates. He was the founder of a security company that was dedicated to teaching fine skills to law enforcement and other security details. He was committed to his family, he was committed to helping veterans, he was committed to several charities, he was committed to serving others. That was Chris. He lived by his own rules, and I couldn’t respect him more.
I have to pay tribute to Chris’s wife, Taya. Taya is carrying the torch for Chris, their kids, and those he fought to defend. She has promised to see through all of the projects Chris left behind (including the excellent book American Gun: A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms), as well as to ensure that Chris’s memory is honored as it should be. I think Chris married a person who may be stronger than even he was—that’s saying something. With Chris’s spirit beside her, she is never out of the fight.