By Chuck Taylor
The Alpine Sun
On January 16th, American Sniper hits the movie screens all over this country.
It is a painfully honest portrayal of Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL who served 5 tours in Iraq and was awarded 2 Silver Stars and 5 Bronze Stars as well as a number of Purple Hearts for his service to our country.
By Chuck Taylor
The Alpine Sun
On January 16th, American Sniper hits the movie screens all over this country.
It is a painfully honest portrayal of Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL who served 5 tours in Iraq and was awarded 2 Silver Stars and 5 Bronze Stars as well as a number of Purple Hearts for his service to our country.
The movie is not a war movie, it’s not a “shoot em up” movie. It goes way beyond the story of the service that Chris provided for our country. Instead, American Sniper looks inside the mind of Chris and his wife Taya to showcase how his duties affected both him and his wife. Many times Chief Kyle was conflicted between his duty, his love of his brother SEALs and his wife and children.
It has been said that someone has to get their hands dirty so that the rest of us can enjoy our clean hands. Chris did the dirty work and that work saved hundreds, if not thousands of American Soldiers lives. His wife Taya also had to live through the mental effects that Chris went through while serving our nation.
I, and my family, knew the Kyles well. They lived right across the street from us on Bay Meadows Drive. While Chris was deployed, I made sure the grass was mowed and the garbage was at the curb. My Granddaughter was Taya’s go-to baby sitter. Knowing Chris and Taya personally gave me a great deal of insight about their private life. The book and the movie are brutally honest and will give you a view of the life of an American Hero who was also just a human like the rest of us.
I, and my family, were honored to know Chris and we are still in close contact with his wife Taya and their Children. We attended his funeral in Dallas and were in the 200 mile procession to his final resting place at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin. Over 60,000 people lined the interstate to pay respects to Chris.
I urge you to see the movie. I know that you will be proud that Alpine, for about 3 years was the Kyle home and I am positive, you will come away with a new perspective on these amazing men who choose to be SEALS and the families they leave behind.
Well Done Chief Kyle. You paid your dues. Rest in Peace.
Editor’s Note: This week, we had another conversation about Chris Kyle, in The Alpine Sun office. Donald W. Zub visited to chat about how he met Chris Kyle in Alpine, while Daniels was still in business at the Alpine Creek Towne Center. He shared fond memories about Chris Kyle’s fervor and respect for his brother SeALs.
He also shared how Chris Kyle often enjoyed spending time at the Alpine Inn, as well as the Alpine VFW. He, Chris Kyle was a man who had a presence, and a stature that made you turn and notice him. As he was described, “Chris Kyle was a man to be reckoned with”.
He mentioned that there is a beautiful memorial at the Greek Village Grill, here in Alpine, owned by Anthony Donnelson. There is also a program from the memorial service that was held in Texas, available to look at.
Zub said that Chris Kyle’s story needed to be told, and smiling Zub indicated that, with friends and a whole lot of time and stories, an idea was born and now the world will know.
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