I disagree with the second.

from a concealed position doesn't invoke that word in my mind.

He's a hero.

There is no doubt.

Two purple hearts.

He wasn't always at a distance.

I don't think that's exactly wise...

Being awarded medals does NOT make anyone a hero. Our country's history is full of psychopaths in uniform who have collected chests full of hardware.

But indeed a deeply flawed man, who, if his autobio is anything to go by, actually *enjoyed* blowing people's heads off. He was also a compulsive liar.....remember when he claimed that Jesse Ventura got his ass kicked in a bar?

So I don't disagree with most of what you're saying, though I do think his hero status is debatable to a degree, hence the word *may*.

Everything else about your post is precisely the point I am making.

If I was on the field of battle, I would want a Chris Kyle there with me. It would mean I would stand a better chance of coming home.

It doesn't mean he wasn't flawed or racist or any number of other things that make him less than admirable.

is a person who you WANT fighting on your side because you stand a better chance of coming home.

If you were in a firefight and a Chris Kyle was there, you *would* stand a better chance of coming home.

Having somebody like that watching your back while you do your job means any threats are dead. That keeps you alive.

In battle, you aren't fighting for flags or ideals or a country.

You're fighting for the person next to you.

Kyle wasn't a MOH level hero, or a Navy Cross level hero, but a Silver Star isn't just handed out to anybody.

John Kerry is a Silver Star recipient. John Kerry was a hero in Vietnam.

Chris Kyle was a hero in Iraq. He was also a racist murderous bastard.

You can hold the two thoughts at one time.

Getting pins and trinkets because you were good at murdering people doesnt make one a hero.
It makes them a murderer.

You are calling a man who bragged he shot dozens of American civilians a "hero" because he was given some pins and patches?

A hero that is not. A psychopath, yes.

He was a foreign invader and a racist murderer in service of an evil administration. You are free to pick your own fucking heroes but don't call me names because I don't worship at the same altar as you.