Chris Kyle
A Navy SEAL whose confirmed sniper record in Iraq made him a symbol of modern warfare, later memorialized in a controversial biography.
1974–2013 (age 39)·American sniper·Birthday: April 8·Generation X
Biography
Chris Kyle's story is one of extreme skill and profound complexity. Deploying to Iraq as a SEAL sniper, he earned a reputation for lethal efficiency, with the U.S. military crediting him with over 160 confirmed kills—a record that framed him as a legend within the armed forces. His valor in combat was recognized with a Silver Star and three Bronze Stars. The transition from war to home, however, proved difficult. He channeled his experiences into a bestselling autobiography, 'American Sniper,' which offered a raw, unvarnished look at the psychological toll of combat and became a cultural flashpoint. The book's success and subsequent film adaptation turned Kyle into a household name, but also attracted scrutiny over certain claims. His life ended tragically in 2013 when he was killed while attempting to help a fellow veteran struggling with PTSD, cementing his narrative as one intertwined with both the heroism and the lasting scars of war.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Chris was born in 1974, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1974
#1 Movie
The Towering Inferno
Best Picture
The Godfather Part II
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Chris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1974Born
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1979Started school
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1987Became a teenager
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Could drive
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1992Could vote
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Turned 21
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2004Turned 30
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Died at 39
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Key Achievements
- Credited by the Department of Defense with over 160 confirmed kills as a sniper, the most in U.S. military history.
- Awarded the Silver Star and three Bronze Star Medals with 'V' devices for valor during his four tours in Iraq.
- Authored the bestselling autobiography 'American Sniper,' which was adapted into a major Oscar-nominated film.
Did You Know?
Before becoming a SEAL, he was a professional bronco rider in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
He named his rifle 'Christine' after the Stephen King novel.
Kyle founded a nonprofit organization, Craft International, which provided tactical training to military and police personnel.
““I’m not a hero. I’m just a man who did his job.””
