There was a film "American Sniper", produced by Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper, one of the highest grossing films of 2014. It was based on the book by Chris Kyle, a real life Seal Team 3 member. He had tattooed a Christian cross on his arm, and hated Muslims, so he enjoyed killing them and claimed to have killed over 160. After his four tours with Seal Team 3 he became a legend in his own lifetime, indeed his nickname was "Legend". He was killed not in Afghanistan or Iraq, but in Texas, whilst trying to help the very people he held so dear, US soldiers. A deranged one shot him dead. As his life came under scrutiny it was discovered that some of the stories Kyle told, like killing two guys who wanted to rob him, were a lie. Kyle claimed to have killed looters during Katrina, also a lie. His supposed 160 plus kills could never be verified. So this man, who wanted to protect America, was killed in America, by an American. This man who was a bona fide war hero, made up stories about killing people. How bizarre is this?

They called him "Legend"...

As in, a Legend in his own mind.

Because he made <deleted> up. 🤗

Just now, SiSePuede419 said:

They called him "Legend"...

As in, a Legend in his own mind.

Because he made <deleted> up. 🤗

He was called Legend by his fellow soldiers. Mostly because as a sniper he made some important calls and saved a few lives apparently. He really was a highly respected soldier and sniper. His legend status came up when he was fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, because other soldiers told these stories. The guy was a real bona fide war hero. So why on earth did he make up the stories he clearly made up, like killing two guys who tried to rob him, killing 30 looters during Katrina?

But the real kicker, he was killed by an American ex soldier whom he tried to help. In America. The name of the killer? Eddie Ray Routh. The name of the guy who tried to kill Trump at the golf course? Ryan Routh. No relation mind, just pure coincidence.

If someone made up this story, I would not believe it. Reality truly is vastly stranger than fiction.

Edited August 13Aug 13 by Cameroni

It's stories like this that make one wonder if Karma is real. He obviously killed a lot of people, whether it was 160, 100, 80 or whatever. And he wrote in his book he enjoyed killing them. In the end he was killed by the people he loved and fought for, an American soldier. You can't make it up. As a tragedy it surpasses the Greeks.

Too bad ICE wasn’t around then. They would’ve got him.

The reason why he was shot was even more bizarre. He and his friend wanted to help a disturbed US soldier. As they had him in the car they realised he was nuts. So they didn't talk to him. But still took him to a shooting range to decompress. Once there the crazy soldier shot them both. Because they wouldn't talk to him.

The facts remain that he saved many lives, which in itself is enough to see him as a hero. That he hated Muslims was known, but that also was a part of many US soldiers.

When a person gets famous, they'll likely take liberties with that reputation, much as Hollywood stars and sports figures. Many are egotists who think what they do makes them more special than the thousands of surgeons, EMT's, medics and nurses who save lives daily. Part time entertainment is a good thing, but that's all it is. Anyone who puts their life on the line in any wars and saves others is a hero.

It's not karma that killed Kyle but the wrong person at the wrong time, from a mental illness. The lives he took in the war were to help US soldiers stay alive, the same as any individual efforts by any number of soldiers. There are many snipers who killed close to and many more than Kyle internationally.

Look at how many times Trump exaggerates about himself, taking credit from other's actions. That's the ego thing some have.

Just now, fredwiggy said:

The facts remain that he saved many lives, which in itself is enough to see him as a hero.

Yes, he's still seen as a hero by many soldiers. You can see them singing his praises on Youtube.

1 minute ago, fredwiggy said:

That he hated Muslims was known, but that also was a part of many US soldiers.

And it's hardly surprising, if your job is to kill Muslims it would be odd if you don't develop a hatred for them.

2 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

When a person gets famous, they'll likely take liberties with that reputation, much as Hollywood stars and sports figures. Many are egotists who think what they do makes them more special

I think that is part of the explanation, Kyle started to think he was very special for saving other soldiers lives, having the ability to decide over life and death of so many people. So when he retired he wanted to keep up this feeling of specialness and decided to make up stories about his supposed killing of muggers and looters. Funny how the human mind works.

3 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

It's not karma that killed Kyle but the wrong person at the wrong time, from a mental illness.

I'm not so sure. I mean he killed all these people. He loved US soldiers. And then he himself is killed, in America, by a US soldier. It's almost perfect Karma retribution. If it exists this is it surely.

4 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Look at how many times Trump exaggerates about himself, taking credit from other's actions. That's the ego thing some have.

Yah, that was definitely an ego thing, that he made up these false stories about killing robbers and looters.

Still a good movie

3 minutes ago, jippytum said:

Still a good movie

Well, Clint Eastwood directed it. He only makes good movies really.

I wonder what he thinks about Kyle now that the truth came out.

Islam is the enemy of freedom, democracy and civilisation, some things need to be hated.

Just now, visalady said:

Islam is the enemy of freedom, democracy and civilisation, some things need to be hated.

I don't know, there's a lot of sensible things in the Quran. It seem a bit harsh to indict a whole religion because of a few extremists. I meaning having 4 wives I could totally get behind.

2 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Well, Clint Eastwood directed it. He only makes good movies really.

I wonder what he thinks about Kyle now that the truth came out.

Keeping your thinking of what good he did can have you forgetting the ego gratification he tried to pull. Even Audie Murphy killed a lot of enemy soldiers, and soldiers by and large weren't the main problem in wars but those behind them , who allowed some to commit atrocities like the Japanese did, along with all other countries commanders. Nazis and Gestapo weren't the same as the regular German soldiers. I'm thinking he might smile when asked about Kyle's after war stories. Some think they can walk on water after they get a few medals.

On 8/13/2026 at 10:36 AM, SiSePuede419 said:

They called him "Legend"... As in, a Legend in his own mind.

Because he made <deleted> up. 🤗

He must have a lot of relatives in TH, that are members of AN

1 minute ago, fredwiggy said:

Keeping your thinking of what good he did can have you forgetting the ego gratification he tried to pull. Even Audie Murphy killed a lot of enemy soldiers, and soldiers by and large weren't the main problem in wars but those behind them , who allowed some to commit atrocities like the Japanese did, along with all other countries commanders. Nazis and Gestapo weren't the same as the regular German soldiers. I'm thinking he might smile when asked about Kyle's after war stories. Some think they can walk on water after they get a few medals.

Well Kyle clearly was no Nazi or Gestapo, or even white supremacist guy. But he did share this hatred of the enemy, which the Nazi soldiers would have had at times. It's a normal thing for soldiers I think. I mean Kyle may have done some terrible things. We know he shot a woman, but we're told she had a bomb and it was the right decision. Who knows if all his victims were bona fide terrorists, snipers have to make these calls in seconds and surely get it wrong at times.

It's a shame in a way Kyle made up these stories, as it does seem to tarnish his reputation, that we has a liar and fibber who made up stories. It even brought into question his claimed kills, which the US army never verified. Clearly he was an actual war hero, he didn't have to make up stories.

5 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

I don't know, there's a lot of sensible things in the Quran.

There’s a lot of good things in most all religions which is a form of mind control that just requires a few simple words to trigger a not so good response by its followers. Take the media for example, all calm one day, then they throw out a few words and it triggers their followers and next thing you know that most of its followers and half the country is going berserk.

5 minutes ago, novacova said:

There’s a lot of good things in most all religions

Yes, all religions have a lot of wisdom. Christianity is full of it as well. And just like Islam Christianity too was misused for extremism, terrorism, killing etc, just think of the Crusades. It seems to be the fate of wise men that their wise words are inevitable going to be misused by idiots. Nietzsche had the same problem.

The ironic thing, if Kyle had been a Muslim, and had actually had 4 wives, he would probably have died a hero, as it was his wife that got him to end his tours and come home, where he was so bored he made up these stories.

If he'd had 3 other wives he probably wouldn't have been so beholden to his strong willed wife ordering him to come home or she'll walk. And he would have been killed in Iraq like a true hero.

On 8/13/2026 at 10:41 AM, Cameroni said:

So why on earth did he make up the stories he clearly made up, like killing two guys who tried to rob him, killing 30 looters during Katrina?

PTSD, it comes in many different forms. After Nam, folks would come up with all sorts of stories that were questionable and as years roll by you’d start to realize that it’s probably their way of coping with their experiences. Some folks are more apt to compartmentalize it and and put it behind them, while others tend to hash it over and over and try to make sense out of it expressing and/or suppressing it in different ways, drugs, alcohol, violence, story telling etc.

12 minutes ago, novacova said:

PTSD, it comes in many different forms. After Nam, folks would come up with all sorts of stories that were questionable and as years roll by you’d start to realize that it’s probably their way of coping with their experiences. Some folks are more apt to compartmentalize it and and put it behind them, while others tend to hash it over and over and try to make sense out of it expressing and/or suppressing it in different ways, drugs, alcohol, violence, story telling etc.

It seems he was bored after he got back from his tour of duty. And his psychological support work for veterans was unlikely to give him the cachet to be called a legend any further.

So he made up these stories. Which is ironic because he was the real deal, who decided to fake it. If he hadn't made up the stories he'd be a pristine war hero. Now he's a liar and fibber, and people are doubting his kill figure.

On 8/13/2026 at 11:19 AM, Cameroni said:

It's stories like this that make one wonder if Karma is real. He obviously killed a lot of people, whether it was 160, 100, 80 or whatever. And he wrote in his book he enjoyed killing them. In the end he was killed by the people he loved and fought for, an American soldier. You can't make it up. As a tragedy it surpasses the Greeks.

Just heard a story about a guy in the New York mob.

Roy De Meo.

He was abusing his position in the mafia to kill a bunch of innocent people for no apparent reason other than he enjoyed killing people.

He was basically a serial killer, not just a hitman

The mafia doesn't operate that way. They need to have a valid reason to kill someone.

So the mafia "family" he belonged to basically killed him.

8 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

If he hadn't made up the stories he'd be a pristine war hero.

There’s no such thing as a pristine war hero, humans are flawed as are you.

10 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

It seems he was bored after he got back from his tour of duty. And his psychological support work for veterans was unlikely to give him the cachet to be called a legend any further.

So he made up these stories. Which is ironic because he was the real deal, who decided to fake it.

We know little of what goes on in the mind of any particular individual that may have ptsd, given that the human mind is highly adaptive and manipulative in order to cope/survive, no two people are identical. Yet you seem to have special insight and are bent on maintaining a certain narrative that you probably know nothing or little about.

The most amazing story I heard recently is about an AN poster who solved the problem they were complaining about.

Edited August 15Aug 15 by VocalNeal

20 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Just heard a story about a guy in the New York mob.

Roy De Meo.

He was abusing his position in the mafia to kill a bunch of innocent people for no apparent reason other than he enjoyed killing people.

He was basically a serial killer, not just a hitman

The mafia doesn't operate that way. They need to have a valid reason to kill someone.

So the mafia "family" he belonged to basically killed him.

Like Nietzsche said, there are a thousand snakes inside human beings.

2 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

exaggerates about himself, taking credit from other's actions. That's the ego thing some have.

I agree, wholeheartedly, about egotists and narcissists who exaggerate. Claiming they proved everyone wrong in every discussion they are in and that they only post facts and don't ever assume nor lie.

Crazy, aren't they?

If that's the most amazing story you ever heard then your magnet is probably getting wet. 😉

your magnet is definitely wet

Just now, SiSePuede419 said:

If that's the most amazing story you ever heard then your magnet is probably getting wet

How is this not an amazing story? Guy becomes soldier and a war hero. He's the real deal. Then says he killed 30 looters during Katrina, a lie, he killed 2 guys who tried to rob him, a lie. He becomes a liar and fibber. Then he wants to help American soldiers and an American soldier shoots the war hero in America. Who just happens to have the same surname as the guy who wanted to kill Trump.

This is God having a laugh.

The fisherman is back, but as usual, using the wrong bait. The same bait doesn't catch the smarter fish, but just makes the fisherman look like he's hopeful yet reaching with the same def(l)ective lures. Maybe he can try the other fish here, although they're also very aware since his camouflage came off.

Edited August 15Aug 15 by fredwiggy

There are Greek tragedies that don't have the level of tragedy the Chris Kyle story has.

Indeed, I am reminded of the story of Achilles.

According to myth, his mother, the nymph Thetis, dipped him into the River Styx to make him immortal. However, she held him by his heel, leaving that single spot untouched by the water and vulnerable to harm. He was ultimately killed during the Trojan War when a poisoned arrow, shot by Paris, struck him in that exact heel.

The Greeks knew already, every hero has an achilles heel, a vulnerability.

Kyle's was his love of the American soldier. That's what ultimately killed him. Not in Iraq. In America.

You can't make it up.

19 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

How is this not an amazing story? Guy becomes soldier and a war hero. He's the real deal. Then says he killed 30 looters during Katrina, a lie, he killed 2 guys who tried to rob him, a lie. He becomes a liar and fibber. Then he wants to help American soldiers and an American soldier shoots the war hero in America. Who just happens to have the same surname as the guy who wanted to kill Trump.

Somewhat interesting, but far from amazing.