Some of you may scold me for this, others may agree... Specially with memorial day just around the corner. To bring up a fallen brother who distinguished himself and holds the admiration and respect of millions. But before you come over to kick my dog and burn my truck, bear with me. Chris Kyle was a hero. No doubt about it. He saved numerous lives of Marines, Sailors and Soldiers. It is a debt that we forever owe him, but he lied. He exaggerated his awards. In his book American Sniper, he ends it by saying “I would end my career as a SEAL with two Silver Stars and five Bronze, all for valor,”, but his recently released records show that this is not the case. Instead, he actually earned only one silver star and 3 bronze. That's nothing to sneeze at. Kyle was a legitimate hero with what he actually earned. Why embellish your already impressive record and run the risk of tarnishing your memory forever? Only Kyle knows why. Perhaps it was the editor's decision to embellish and he simply went along with it. Perhaps he was suffering from a bad case of survivor's guilt and in some warped way wanted to show that he did all he could. Perhaps he was simply chasing the money. No one will ever know.
What we do know is that Stolen Valor is a disgrace to those of us who have served both in peacetime and war. It is a violation of the unwritten code of honor that exists among those of us that served. It stands as an affront to us because many of us lost buddies in the theater of war, and they gave their all for us. They had our backs and gave the ultimate sacrifice.Heroism, to me, is rooted in love. It is the greatest act of love. It follows the biblical principle of Jesus' own words in John 15 that " Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends". As we approach Memorial Day and remember those who have given their all, who have laid down their lives selflessly for their friends, I would ask you to take a moment and ponder the significance of that. What a person gives up besides his or her life for someone else... Their spouse, their children, growing old with friends and family, thanksgivings and Christmases. Everything in life we take for granted was given so that we could enjoy these things... So their buddies would be safe. One man lays his life down so many might live. My friend Ray stated it well... I am my brother's keeper... That is the unwritten code those who were and are in the military live (and die) by.
So when someone comes along and steals valor by claiming they are something they are not, it doesn't sit well with us. It shouldn't. Why? because it flies in the face of selflessness. It reeks of selfishness, glory seeking, and greed. Our brothers, sisters, moms, dads cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends may all have been one of these selfless few who have given all, and it should offend us that someone is attempting to steal the honor these fallen have earned. It brings shame upon them to claim something that isn't rightfully theirs. Like an illicit lover who takes away a spouse from a marriage. They are liars and cheats, they are the lowest of the low.
And this is what confuses me. We live in a society where a man surgically becomes a woman and is given an award for bravery and our society applauds him, while our "new generation of activists" denigrate and all but abandon those who truly make a difference. Make no doubt about it. I am saddened by Kyle's false claims, but it does not change the fact he was a real hero. He served honorably, and distinguished himself honorably. I hope we remember him for his deeds done well, and not his failures. It is the same hope I have for my friends and family as I pass on as well.
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