Chris Kyle was not a sniper.
Christopher Scott Kyle -LRB- April 8 , 1974 − February 2 , 2013 -RRB- was a United States Navy SEAL veteran and sniper .. United States Navy SEAL. United States Navy SEAL. Kyle served four tours in the Iraq War and was awarded several commendations for acts of heroism and meritorious service in combat .. Iraq War. Iraq War. He was awarded one Silver Star Medal , four Bronze Star Medals with `` V '' devices , a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and numerous other unit and personal awards .. Silver Star Medal. Silver Star Medal. Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Achievement Medal. V Device. Achievement Medal. Achievement Medal. Kyle was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 2009 and published his bestselling autobiography , American Sniper , in 2012 .. American Sniper. American Sniper ( book ). honorably discharged. honorably discharged. An eponymous film adaptation of Kyle 's book , directed by Clint Eastwood , was released two years later .. eponymous film adaptation. American Sniper. Clint Eastwood. Clint Eastwood. On February 2 , 2013 , Kyle was murdered by Eddie Ray Routh at a shooting range near Chalk Mountain , Texas .. A former Marine with PTSD , Routh was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without parole .