Tri-Service
‘American Sniper’ May Have Exaggerated Medal Count
Chris Kyle, one of the deadliest Navy SEALs in history, exaggerated the number of medals he received, according to official documents.
Kyle, who wrote American Sniper, a bestselling autobiography that was made into a Hollywood movie, said in a book that he had received two Silver Stars and five Bronze Stars.
Navy papers, obtained by The Intercept, indicated he was awarded one Silver Star and three Bronze Stars with valour.
Navy spokeswoman, Lt. Jackie Pau, confirmed the documents and said they were looking into why there was a difference between the report and how many medals Kyle said he had received.
Bradley Cooper played Chris Kyle in the movie American Sniper
According to the Washington Post, the Navy had previously released the sniper’s discharge paperwork, which said he had received two Silver Stars and at least five Bronze Stars.
The Silver Star is the third-highest military combat decoration, while the Bronze Star is given to servicemen and women for heroic achievements in combat zones.
The fact that Kyle served with distinction is not in dispute.
He was the most lethal US sniper on record with 160 confirmed kills.
The SEAL was killed, along with his friend Chad Littlefield, at a shooting range in the US in 2013 by Eddie Ray Routh.
Routh was sentenced to life in prison without parole by a court in Texas.
The movie American Sniper, starring Bradley Cooper and directed by Clint Eastwood, was released just over a year after Kyle’s death and was nominated for six Academy Awards.
Cover Image: Chris Kyle in 2012. Courtesy: Cpl. Damien Gutierrez
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