Chris Kyle remembered for what he did

UPDATE
From Milbloggers

People pay respects to Chris Kyle on Twitter Sunday, February 3, 2013

Reading these comments along with comments from others, I am stunned by the fact everything in this country has to be a political issue with both sides. The fact Kyle did so much for others, was shot with a handgun and not an "assault" weapon has caused people to come out swinging for their own ideas and not what Kyle stood for. He was in favor of protecting assault weapons according to reports. Frankly, I don't care. I don't care about what his politics were. What I do care about is what he did with his life along with the fact he was trying to help another veteran and that cost him his life.

Don't they get it? Don't they understand how much help these veterans need? Don't they understand that the men and women in the military are not like the rest of the people in this country and are in fact willing to die for others?

I am not one of the people fitting into any group. Republicans think I am a Democrat and Democrats think I'm Republican. I am an Independent because I don't think either side represents what I believe.

Yesterday a friend on Facebook posted a link to Liberals on Twitter celebrate murder of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and it made me sick. They don't seem to get the fact that Chris Kyle did everything for others. As a Navy SEAL trained sniper, his job was to shoot with deadly accuracy to protect the troops. He was ready to die for their sake. Even back home, when he could have done anything, he still wanted to do for others and did whatever he could to help fellow veterans heal from where they were sent. He tried to help them with PTSD issues. The greatest component in healing is knowing someone cares. Kyle did.

Carrollton nonprofit that aims to help veterans with PTSD remembers Chris Kyle on its website
Dallas Morning News
By Tommy Cummings
February 3, 2013

Former Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle, who was fatally shot Saturday in Glen Rose, was an advocate for veterans dealing with PTSD. In August, he provided a testimonial to a fitness center outfitting business based in Carrollton.

Kyle told neighborsgo that he slipped into a “black hole” upon his return from deployment, but had “turned his head around” once he bought some gym equipment and started getting back into shape.
read more here

Iraq veteran held on $3M bond in shooting deaths

I do not agree with some of my friends saying that "machine guns" or "assault weapons" should be legal or that bullets should be as easy to get as they are but even within the gun owners groups, they don't all agree with each other. Something has to be done but what that "something" is, won't be discovered as long as different sides refuse to talk about it.

My problem with this story is simple. Anyone saying such terrible things about Kyle because he was involved with guns must not like the troops, veterans, law enforcement or most of my friends since I spend most of my time with members of these groups.

What Chris Kyle did was put his life on the line for the sake of others. Something the haters will never understand.

Iraq veteran held on $3M bond in shooting deaths

Iraq veteran held on $3M bond in connection with Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle's death
By Jamie Stengle and Christopher Sherman
NBCDFW.com

A 25-year-old Iraq war veteran charged with killing former Navy SEAL and "American Sniper" author Chris Kyle and his friend turned his semi-automatic handgun onto the pair while they were at a North Texas shooting range, authorities said Sunday.

Eddie Ray Routh, of Lancaster, Texas, was arraigned early Sunday on two counts of capital murder in the deaths of Kyle, 38, and Chad Littlefield, 35, at the shooting range in Erath County.

Meanwhile, police continue to block off the street near Kyle's home in Midlothian. On Sunday, some friends dropped off teddy bears at the Littlefield's home.

Capt. Jason Upshaw with the Erath County Sheriff's Office said Routh used a semi-automatic handgun that authorities later found at his home. Upshaw said ballistics tests weren't complete Sunday, but authorities believe it was the gun used in the shootings. Upshaw declined to give any more details about the gun.
read more here

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Famous Navy SEAL Sniper Chris Kyle killed at Texas gun range

Famous Navy SEAL Sniper Chris Kyle killed at Texas gun range

UPDATE from CNN
Ex-Navy sniper killed at Texas gun range
By the CNN Staff
February 3, 2013

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: The suspect is a former Marine, a U.S. military official says
Eddie Ray Routh faces two counts of capital murder
Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield were working to help veterans with PTSD
Kyle had declared himself the "most lethal sniper in U.S. history"

"He was a man of incredible character, he led by example," Jason Kos, a friend of Kyle's, told CNN. "He always stopped to take time to talk to whoever was around him. Just incredibly humble, very funny as well."

Kyle helped establish the nonprofit Fitco Cares Foundation to enable veterans battling post-traumatic stress syndrome get access to exercise equipment.

In a statement, the foundation described Kyle as an "American hero" and pledged to carry on his mission.

"What began as a plea for help from Chris looking for in-home fitness equipment for his brothers- and sisters-in-arms" struggling with PTSD turned into an organization that will continue after his death, Fitco Director Travis Cox said in a statement. "Chris died doing what he filled his heart with passion -- serving soldiers struggling with the fight to overcome PTSD. His service, life and premature death will never be in vain. May God watch over his family and all those who considered Chris a true friend."

"What began as a plea for help from Chris looking for in-home fitness equipment for his brothers- and sisters-in-arms" struggling with PTSD turned into an organization that will continue after his death, Fitco Director Travis Cox said in a statement. "Chris died doing what he filled his heart with passion -- serving soldiers struggling with the fight to overcome PTSD. His service, life and premature death will never be in vain. May God watch over his family and all those who considered Chris a true friend."

Littlefield was also a veteran working to help people with PTSD, and also leaves behind a wife and children, Cox said.
read more here

'American Sniper' author Chris Kyle fatally shot at Texas gun range
By Gil Aegerter and Alastair Jamieson
NBC News

A former Navy SEAL who wrote "American Sniper," a best-selling book about his lethal career as a marksman in Iraq, was shot to death with another man at a gun range near Stephenville, Texas, on Saturday.

Chris Kyle, 38, and the other man were found dead at the shooting range of Rough Creek Lodge on Saturday afternoon, Texas Highway Patrol spokesman Lonny Haschel told KXAS.

The gunman, identified as (the shooter) of Lancaster, Texas, was arrested after a brief pursuit, Trooper Haschel said. The other victim was named as Chad Littlefield, aged 35.

Kyle, a Texas native who grew up hunting, served four tours in Iraq with Navy SEAL Team 3. His shooting during battles in Ramadi and Fallujah became legendary, and insurgents nicknamed him the "Devil of Ramadi" and put a bounty on his head.

He was credited with 160 confirmed kills, including one in 2008 in which he said he fired from 2,100 yards away -- 1.2 miles.
read more here

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Marine Sea Knight pilot risked all to stop carnage

40 years after sniper Mark Essex, Marine pilot is proud he helped stop the carnage
By Ramon Antonio Vargas
NOLA.com
The Times-Picayune
January 05, 2013

Retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Charles H. "Chuck" Pitman, the branch's former Deputy Chief of Staff for Aviation, was at Veterans Memorial Park in Pensacola, Fla., on January 2, 2013. Forty years ago, on Jan. 7, 1973, Pitman volunteered to pilot a Sea Knight helicopter and helped police stop Mark Essex, the Howard Johnson's sniper in New Orleans, risking his life and his career.
(Photo by Michael Spooneybarger, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune contributor)

Like most other residents of New Orleans, Marine helicopter pilot Charles H. "Chuck" Pitman watched the television in horror on Jan. 7, 1973, as authorities tried to stop a sniper or snipers who had invaded the Downtown Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge that morning and fatally shot seven people, including three police officers. Shots rang out from various spots in the 17-story hotel, making police think there was more than one gunman, but the cops eventually contained the killer or killers to the roof.

Though cornered, whoever was on the hotel roof was out of the NOPD's reach. Disturbed, Pitman -- at the time a 37-year-old lieutenant colonel in charge of a Marine air unit stationed in Belle Chasse -- thought, "We've got to do something. Those people need help out there."

So Pitman did do something. He flew a Marine helicopter to the hotel on Loyola Avenue and helped police officers, some of them on board the chopper, kill 23-year-old Mark Essex, who investigators determined was the sole sniper. In doing so, however, Pitman placed his career with the Marines in jeopardy.

Four decades later, many New Orleanians are still thankful for Pitman's actions on the day Essex terrorized the city. "Without that helicopter and without his piloting, it would've been a lot worse," Moon Landrieu, New Orleans' mayor at the time, said recently. "The city owes him a debt of gratitude."
read more here

Ex-Marine sniper found in woods after traffic crash

UPDATE
Marine vet with PTSD found after 2 days in snow

Former U.S. Marine sniper spends 48 hours in snowy woods after fleeing traffic crash
Published: Thursday, February 09, 2012
By Stuart Tomlinson, The Oregonian

A former U.S. Marine sniper who fled a traffic crash in a remote area of Douglas County was found huddling beneath pine boughs Wednesday after spending 48 hours in the snowy woods, police said.

Jason D. Cooper, 37, of Temecula, Calif., was shivering and suffering from hypothermia when Oregon State Police trooper Sgt. Dave Randall and Fish & Wildlife Division Senior Trooper Don Frerichs found him lying on the ground covered with branches around 3 p.m. Wednesday.
read more here

U.S. general warns troops to treat dead with 'dignity and respect'

U.S. general warns troops to treat dead with 'dignity and respect'
By the CNN Wire Staff
January 13, 2012
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: The Marine Corps promises an "expeditious, full and fair investigation"
The four Marines in urination video have been identified, a Marine official says
General reminds troops to treat dead with "appropriate dignity and respect"
NATO says the U.S. individuals involved are no longer in Afghanistan

(CNN) -- The deputy commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan ordered troops Friday to treat the corpses of slain insurgents and civilians with "appropriate dignity and respect."

The order follows a video that appears to show four U.S. Marines urinating on bodies, images that sparked swift condemnation from the United States and Afghanistan at a particularly crucial period in the U.S.-led war.

"We must treat the living and the dead with dignity and respect," Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti said in the directive, which was published Friday on the website of the NATO-led force in Afghanistan. He said troops must follow the rules of armed conflict and "act honorably at all times."

"In order to prevail, for the good of the coalition nations and the Afghan people, we can do no less."

The video surfaced as the United States and the Taliban have taken tentative steps toward peace negotiations and as the U.S. and its allies plan to withdraw troops by the end of 2014.

The general's directive instructed officers to ensure subordinates know that they are obligated to report any allegations of misconduct involving corpses. He promised swift investigations and "appropriate actions" against offenders.

The directive notes that "defiling, desecrating, mocking, photographing or filming for personal use insurgent dead constitutes a grave breach" of the armed-conflict laws. It also violates "basic standards of human decency, and can cause serious damage to relations with the Afghan government."
read more here

Marines investigating video

UPDATE
Jan 12, 2012 1:24

I just watched the video and it is real. The shadows I was questioning moved. Maybe I just didn't want to believe it was real.

What were they thinking doing this in the first place and putting it up on YouTube afterwards? Did they think about the other Marines still there and how this would make them hated by a lot more Afghans?

That is not what bothers me the most about this. Look at the picture and see what is wrong with it.

Unless there are two suns in Afghanistan, this doesn't make sense.  Two shadows go toward the left, but two go right.  The other odd thing is there is a shadow with an arm up but it does not match the figure.  Either this is a twisted idea of a photoshop stunt or I'm seeing things.

UPDATE from CNN

ISAF: Video appears to be work of 'small group of U.S. individuals'
By the CNN Wire Staff
updated 7:55 AM EST, Thu January 12, 2012
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: NCIS is the lead investigative agency, a senior military official says
NATO says the U.S. individuals are no longer in Afghanistan
It is a "reasonable conclusion" the video was taken in Afghanistan, an official says
The story was made public after videos surfaced on TMZ and YouTube

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- NATO-led forces in Afghanistan denounced a video purporting to show a Marine sniper team urinating on dead bodies, saying Thursday the actions appear to be the work of "a small group of U.S. individuals" who are no longer in the country.

The statement appears to indicate that military officials believe the video is real, even though the Marine Corps says it is still working to verify its origin and authenticity.

"A video recently posted on a public website appears to show U.S. military personnel committing an inappropriate act with enemy corpses. This disrespectful act is inexplicable and not in keeping with the high moral standards we expect of coalition forces," the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan said in a statement.

"ISAF strongly condemns the actions depicted in the video, which appear to have been conducted by a small group of U.S. individuals, who apparently are no longer serving in Afghanistan."
read more here

Speechless.

Marines investigating video allegedly showing troops urinating on Taliban corpses
By LEO SHANE III
Published: January 11, 2012

WASHINGTON – Marine Corps officials said they are investigating a YouTube video that allegedly shows four servicemembers urinating on the corpses of Taliban fighters.

The video, posted Tuesday on YouTube , shows four men in U.S. military uniforms standing above the corpses, joking and making references to relieving themselves on the dead men.

Capt. Kendra Hardesty, a spokeswoman for the Corps, said officials have not verified any details of the incident but added, “The actions portrayed are not consistent with our core values and are not indicative of the character of the Marines in our Corps. This matter will be fully investigated and those responsible will be held accountable for their actions."
read more here

Wyoming Army National Guard sniper kills wife then self

It's over: David Munis dead of self-inflicted gunshot wound to chest

By Cameron Mathews

cmathews@wyomingnews.com

CHEYENNE -- The Cheyenne man wanted for the sniper-style murder of his estranged wife died Tuesday night of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.

Cheyenne Police Chief Bob Fecht said a ranch hand spotted David Munis earlier Tuesday evening and contacted the Albany County Command Center.

The center then contacted Albany County sheriff's deputies, who approached Munis in a Wyoming Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter, Fecht said.

As the helicopter was landing about six miles northwest of the Rogers Canyon area near the Albany-Laramie County border, deputies watched Munis shoot himself in the chest, Fecht said.

"He had been hiding up there in a small camper," he added.

Munis, 36, was wanted by the Laramie County District Attorney's Office on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Robin Munis, 40, early Saturday morning at the Old Chicago restaurant here.

She died while singing with a band inside the restaurant.

Cheyenne Police Lt. Jeff Schulz said Munis was taken in the Black Hawk helicopter to Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie. He was pronounced dead there.

"Obviously we wanted to catch him alive," Schulz said. "We didn't want him to do this to himself, but it's a relief the search is over."

David Munis' death ended a nearly four-day manhunt for the Army-trained sniper, who had been a member of the Wyoming Army National Guard since 2003.
read more here
David Munis dead of self-inflicted gunshot wound to chest

Can you see a sniper in this video?

I couldn't.

Three tour Marine Sniper dead after standoff

UPDATE

Marine's Wife Gives Birth Day After His Death

Friend: Roxanne Gonzales, Baby Doing Well

POSTED: 11:16 pm MST December 30, 2010
SANTA FE, N.M. -- The pregnant wife of a Marine, who died after a shootout with state police in Santa Fe, gave birth to their second child on Thursday.
Lawrence Lujan said his friend, Roxanne Gonzales, gave birth to a baby boy named Cruz.
“Today was a big day for the Gonzales family,” Lujan said. “The baby and Roxanne are doing well. We are kind of in a mixed state.”
Lujan said Gonzales is also mourning the loss of her husband, Diego Gonzales. State police said they tried pulling Gonzales over after getting reports he kidnapped his wife and their other child, but the Marine shot at them before turning the gun on himself.
read more here
http://www.koat.com/news/26328689/detail.html



TSA officer kills himself during police shoot out
A TSA spokeswoman confirmed that Diego Gonzalez was a TSA behavior detection officer who had been employed at the Albuquerque Sunport for almost four years.
http://www.KOB.com/article/stories/S1900502.shtml?cat=500

Sister: Man Who Shot Himself Troubled By PTSD

Marine, 27, Dies In Shootout With State Police On I-25
http://www.koat.com/news/26317539/detail.html



Three tour Marine Sniper dead after standoff
December 30, 2010 posted by Chaplain Kathie
The police are not sure if is this veteran shot himself or not but all seem to agree PTSD was behind it all.

Man dead after shootout on I-2527-year-old veteran suffering PTSD may have fired fatal bullet himself
Geoff Grammer | The New Mexican
Posted: Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Diego Gonzales wanted help.
It didn’t come in time for the 27-year-old Pecos High School graduate, who was suffering post-traumatic stress disorder after two tours of duty in Iraq and another in Afghanistan as a U.S. Marine Corps sniper. He died late Tuesday in a shootout with police on Interstate 25 south of Santa Fe.
It’s still unclear whether the fatal shot came from state police or from Gonzales’ own gun. That won’t be determined until an autopsy is completed by the state Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque.
“He was owning up to the fact that he had problems he knew he had to fix to be the best dad he could be,” said Lawrence Lujan, a childhood friend who spoke on behalf of the Gonzales family. “He did his thing in Iraq, served this country, and did so honorably. God only knows what he saw. But he was affected deeply, and he was seeking treatment for PTSD.”
read more here
Three tour Marine Sniper dead after standoff