A. The first thing I get is this man (Chris) enlisting in the military. He wasn't passionate one way or the other about being in the military, but it felt like the path that was chosen for him. There is this feeling of indifference I get when I focus on him during his very early years..?? Having said that, when he committed to signing on, he did commit- he wasn't one to back down from an obligation.
Being a sniper appealed to him. He felt he could make a difference. He practiced, and he was good- it was very natural for him (physically). Mentally it was a challenge. He was constantly faced with the tough decisions when he was on active duty. These things haunted him often (I see a man standing and flashing back like it was a dream). I even hear a message about him being "tired of always making these tough decisions- going with your gut to know if it is right or wrong and living with the choice you made." I also get he was upset that the US would tell him to do what was needed (rarely did they have a very specific person), the the accountability fell on Chris, rather than someone else. I see that the mental games you have to play to make it right in your mind is exhausting.
Then I see something changed with him.. it was an event during a mission that did something (the image I have is like something snapped in his head- someone was killed that shouldn't have been??). He felt guilty, and to deal with that guilt he got vocal, as if he had to justify his actions over and over. Through this constant overjustification for what he had to do, some kind of an ego emerged. This man that was once quiet and humble (wanting to help protect people) turned into some kind of very vocal person that liked having attention. I want to use the word belligerent and obnoxious- which was very much not who he was...??Then I get that when this idea of a book came about during a point in his career he was nervous, but excited about the opportunity. I see some dialogue going back and forth during the creation of this book, and as he gave his story he embellished some things and stretched the truth at times. I want to say this story is a fiction story based on factual events (it may even be labelled that somewhere??).
As people called him out or questioned things, he was angry and defensive. I even get the impression that he revealed things that he shouldn't have (tactics, how the military trained, strategies, and the admittance of less popular decisions that are made in the name of "security"). Because he didn't always paint the US in a positive light (based on things he was forced to do and carry all the guilt) not only were his truths questioned, but the over exaggerations were as well.
The attention he drew and his level of openly talking put him on the radar as someone to watch. I also see that he was on the verge (by dropping some hints) of possibly revealing some truths our government would not want out. I get that certain higher military officials were worried that it was only a matter of time, and he was in the face of the media. They had him taken out to prevent more "truths" from being revealed (and also send a message). It was made to look like an accident, and the goal was to allow him to die a hero...I also get that had he not have had a movie that evoked such compassion and emotion- he would have died being labeled something "other than a hero."
And that is all I have for this reading. Thank you. L&L-
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