Stechler 1

Dear Reader,
The following paper is an essay arguing in favor of the heroism of the American military
as opposed to the demonized persona that is becoming prominent within the United States. The
topic of the paper is rooted in the controversy surrounding the negative American perception of
former U.S. Navy Seal, Chris Kyle, also known as the American Sniper. However, through
extensive research from a variety of sources, I discovered that this issue is far greater than Kyle
alone. I found that that evil perceptions of this nations protectors have and continue to gain
support due to the evolution of society, yet the most common sources of misguided perceptions
come from the media, perspective gaps, and moral divides. The importance of these three topics
in the development of this issue allowed me to tailor my argument to the reasons behind the lack
of heroism associated with the military and the ways in which this can be changed.
As I conducted my research I had very little trouble finding reliable scholarly sources. I
intend to address Americans who hold demonized perceptions of the American military and
convince them, through scholarly research, of the misconceptions that are often seen as truths. I
began the source collection process by determining the main causes of the demonized perception
of the military. Once identified, I used John Carroll Universitys database resources to locate
scholarly articles. As a result, I found a variety of journal articles, online books, and case studies
regarding both the psychological, historical, and statistical components to the effects of the
media, perspective gaps, and moral divides. These sources thus enhanced the credibility of the
main arguments of my paper. I then moved my research to the more specific topic of Chris Kyle.
I found various websites devoted to the personal life of Kyle which were beneficial in setting up
background to the controversy. However, a source that I found very useful was an extensive
interview with Time where Kyle himself spoke of his intentions and the mission of the military

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abroad while also addressing the controversy tied to his name. This source provided a sense of
pathos to my argument as well as ethos in that it allowed for a firsthand account of a soldier who
felt the harsh effects of the demonized perspective of the military.
Overall, I found the researching and writing of this paper to be a very rewarding process.
In the past I have never been one to select a topic that centers on a heavily controversial issue,
but I was determined to challenge myself and my researching ability. I found the collection of
sources to be an eye opening experience in that it allowed for the incorporation of both sides of
the argument and also opened my eyes to contributing factors that I had not previously
anticipated. I originally thought that the organizing of this paper to be the most challenging
portion, however I found that once I wrote a rough outline the ideas flowed into each other
seamlessly which advocates for the strength and validity of the argument. Overall, I found this
topic to be a challenge to my own writing ability but the final product, and the argument itself to
be incredibly rewarding.
Thank you for taking the time to read this essay,
Megan Stechler

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Megan Stechler
Professor Grisham
English 116
6 May 2015
American Soldiers: The Genuine Heroes
Heroism is a term that holds a powerful connotation within American society. Stemming
from several generations prior, this word covers a broad spectrum of actions from rescuing a
stranded kitten in a tree to fighting for ones country overseas. However, due to the variety of
actions deemed heroic, a universal definition is nearly impossible to generate. This lack of
universality of heroism can thus cause controversy, especially in a diverse society such as
America. This debate has become particularly relevant with the actions of military members
overseas. Even more specifically, America is experiencing a divide of military heroism based on
the story of former U.S. Navy Seal Chris Kyle. As a former sniper for the American military,
Kyles actions have caused those of the conservative ideology to see a heroic act, while others of
the liberal end of the spectrum see brutal, murderous tendencies. This ideological divide thus
shifts the line of what characterizes a hero in terms of the military. The quarrel over heroism of
U.S. soldier actions abroad is one that will not disappear anytime soon due to media
involvement, perspective gaps among society, and issues of morality; yet, it is illogical to deem
those who voluntarily put themselves in the forefront of the brutality of war as anything but
heroic.
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a hero can be defined as a person who is
admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities (Merriam-Webster). In reference to this

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definition, it would be logical to argue that Chris Kyle, and all others in the military, represent
the qualities encompassed in heroism. Risking ones life and time with their families for the
safety of the entire country is a sacrifice that most individuals do not have the courage or
strength to endure. However, many Americans disregard these sacrifices, focusing solely on the
brutality of war and corrupt actions of the military that often leads to a disconnect between
soldiers as heroes.
This lack of heroism felt for the American military stems directly from individuals
interpretation of a hero. According to Elizabeth Goren, author of Society's Use of the Hero
Following a National Trauma, when the hero cannot transit into the emotional state which
reflects that of the society which has created him, the hero will no longer serve the culture.
(Goren 2). Overtime, America has set parameters for the qualities of a hero. In immediate times
of distress, heroes are defined similarly to the Merriam-Webster definition. However, personal
definitions evolve synonymously with the diversity of American culture and the urgency of
trauma. It is in these cultural changes that many Americans begin dissociate soldiers from
heroism, seeing the military instead as a vicious hindrance rather than a protective force.
Americans need to understand that heroism cannot be boiled down to one simple definition. One
persons view of a hero can differ from the next; yet, that does not mean that one holds
superiority over the other. Although, due to the egocentric nature of society, this acceptance is
difficult to initiate. Author David Mascriota exemplifies this challenge in an op-ed when writing,
Calling all cops and troops heroes insults those who actually are heroic the soldier who runs
into the line of fire to protect his division, the police officer who works tirelessly to find a
missing child (Mascriota 14). This author claims that the heroic definition is encompassed too
broadly on police force and military as a whole rather than individual acts of bravery. However,

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what Mascriota and others of his position fail to realize is that the military itself is one cohesive
unit accepting the potential of death as means of keeping this nation free. This selective nature is
a key factor in the discrepancy over military heroism. Americans need to understand the various
forms in which heroism can reside and become more accepting and appreciative of the acts of
those who protecting the nation overseas.
An example of the difficulty in the defining of an American hero can be seen through the
recent controversy over Chris Kyle, also known as The American Sniper. Upon the release of his
autobiography, American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military
History, in 2012, and the Clint Eastwood film adaptation in 2014, Kyle has single handedly
brought the debate over the heroic nature of military members actions to a boil. According to
biographical research conducted by a USA Today journalist, Kyle was born in Odessa Texas in
1974. He was son to a church deacon and Sunday school teacher, therefore instilling a large
religious basis to his upbringing. Due to the rural location of his childhood, Kyle found an
interest in hunting as well as the aggressive nature of football. However, as he grew older, he
knew that he would not pursue a normal career. This realization led him to begin training to
become a Navy Seal, and during 2001 he joined Navy Seal Team 3, leaving his wife and two
children in the United States. While a part of this team, he served four consecutive tours in Iraq
making approximately one hundred and sixty confirmed kills of foreign threats, granting him the
title of the most lethal sniper in the military at that time. Upon finishing his fourth deployment in
2009, Kyle was honorably discharged. Due to his work abroad, the former Navy Seal earned two
Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars, a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and two Navy
and Marine Corps Achievement Medals. Kyle also found a passion for providing support for
those of the military. He became co-founder of the company Craft-International in 2009, which

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works to provide training for servicemen and women working both home and abroad. Kyle also
took part in an organization called FITCO Cares, which helps former military members cope
with their PTSD. However, in 2013, at the age of 38, Kyle was shot and killed at a gun range
while assisting with the recovery of a former service member (Deutsch).
Despite Kyles untimely death, his presence lives on within the United States through the
controversy of his story. The opinions seem to be split amongst Americans in regards to whether
Kyles actions abroad were justified on a number of levels. There are individuals who see his
devotion to his country as brave and heroic, while others see his use of violence as shameful.
However, this issue is bigger than just one individual. Unfair judgement of American soldiers is
an issue that is gaining popularity as diversity continues to grow in this nation. Yet, there is no
need for the military to have to justify their actions to those who criticize based on
misconceptions. Kyle supports the militarys work abroad as well as addressing those with
degrading outlooks when stating in an interview, You live in a dream world. You have no idea
what goes on the other side of the world, the harsh realities that these people are doing to
themselves and then to our guys, and there are certain things that need to be done to take care of
them (Kyle). The brutality of war that men like Kyle willingly endure is something most
Americans can never imagine; however, there are a variety of factors in todays society that
allow for the unfair judgment of military members. It is in the identification of these obstacles
and the understanding of the truth that American civilians will be able to leave their demonized
opinions behind and understand the true heroism that resides in Kyle and all military personnel.
Public media has become the prominent source of information in regards to the action of
U.S. Soldiers abroad. Technological advancements over the past decade and a half allow
Americans access to countless sources of information including interviews, articles, and video

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footage from overseas. However, the dizzying media world is a business that thrives on publicity,
which often leads to picking and choosing what the general public sees. In specific regards to the
media coverage of the military, oftentimes news only breaks headlines if it relates to scandal or
large trauma. It is because of this that many soldiers, including Chris Kyle, feel that, [] the
media does cause more tension and a lot more problems than they do good (Kyle). The
selective media coverage of the military is skewing the perception and reputation of the soldiers
that fight for this nation.
Thomas E. Ricks writes in an Atlantic Monthly article regarding the gap between military
and society, As far as media coverage is concerned, the U.S. military has fallen to the level of a
mid-sized Asian nation that breaks onto the front page with a large disaster but gets just a few
paragraphs for bus plunges and plane crashes (Ricks). Arguing against the selective nature of
American media, Ricks states that the media is skewing the perception of soldiers actions abroad
by releasing stories that only seek to grab the publics attention. From a business standpoint, the
media covers what will sell the most copies and increase viewership and ratings. However,
according to David Masciotra, author of the book Mellencamp: American Troubador,
Explosions and smoking guns might make for entertaining television, but they are not
necessary, and more and more in modern society, not even helpful in determining what makes a
hero. (Masciotra). The media, according to Masciotra, is succeeding in its endeavor to capture
the attention of the public when it comes to military actions; however, this success is only
benefitting the media because it is actually skewing Americas perception of a military hero.
Kyle elaborates on this claim when justifying his reasons for becoming part of the media through
writing a book and filming a movie based on his personal story. He states that he wanted to shed
light on, stories about my guys who deserve to be out there. They didnt get the Medal of Honor

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so you dont know about them, but they died heroes and people should know about them
(Kyle). Rather than releasing stories regarding the heroic nature of soldiers, stories of sexual
scandal and brutality often surface in society. These stories thus paint a demonizing picture of the
actions of soldiers in the eyes of average Americans, when in reality, what the media releases is
often misinterpreted and blown out of proportion. The media should work to emphasize the
heroic qualities and actions of military members to build national morale on the home front
rather than generating misguided strife.
The growing diversity of society has forced individuals to realize the challenge in
understanding experiences that we ourselves have not encountered. However, this realization has
led many to adopt judgmental mind frames when it comes to actions and experiences between
the American military and civilians. This lack of understanding between two dominant groups of
the United States culture is yet another contributing factor to the demonization of todays
American soldier.
This issue is one that has been around since Americas first involvement in foreign wars.
The term used to describe the dissonance between the views of the general public and those of
the military is called a perspective gap, coined by Richard Kohn in his book Soldiers and
Civilians: The Gap Between Military and Civilian. According to Christopher Gelpi, author of the
book Choosing your Battles, this mental gap has arisen because, the military immerses its
members in a set of beliefs, traditions, and experiences that those outside of the institution do not
share (4). Those of the military will inevitably encounter experiences that differ from that of the
average American, as Gelpi explains. Chris Kyle exemplifies this dissonance in an interview
with Time when stating, It definitely makes it hard to come back from that to learn to be a
civilian now, and theres different rules being a civilian (Kyle). However, American civilians

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have taken the initiative to widen this gap further by failing to adopt a sense of understanding for
the experiences of military members. This thus leads to greater consequences for the military as a
whole. Peter D. Feaver, author of the book Soldiers and Civilians, expresses this issue in stating,
[] the gap in values or attitudes between people in uniform and civilian society may have
become so wide that it threatens the effectiveness of the armed forces and civil military
cooperation (1). When those of the military encounter a lack of support on the home front, it
will inevitably correlate to the effectiveness of their mission. If soldiers cannot gain the support
of their own people, then the ability to act in means of protection will be limited and the respect
that they work to earn by those they protect will be diminished.
One of the greatest contributors to the perspective gap is the dominance of pop culture in
modern society. Celebrities, due to societal idolization, play a large role in the formation of ideas
among the general public. However, this can become a problem when celebrities unfairly assess
the actions of those whose experiences differ greatly from their own in front of the public. This
problem recently became prominent when world famous actor Seth Rogen made an offensive
comparison of the film adaptation of Chris Kyles life on social media when writing, American
Sniper kind of reminds me of the movie that's showing in the third act of Inglorious Basterds
(Rogen). Celebrities, such a Rogan, play a large part in determining how the average American
thinks because of their prominence in society. However, Americans often tend to disregard the
lifestyle difference between that of a soldier and a celebrity. Most Hollywood actors live lavish
lifestyles of large mansions, designer clothing, and more money than most will ever be fortunate
enough to earn. They do not have the slightest idea of the lifestyle of an American solider; yet,
some feel the need to criticize the heroic work of the military, and because pop culture is so
prominent today, these opinions spread like wildfire. Celebrities who define pop culture must be

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viewed scrupulously by the public when it comes to negative comments of the military because
oftentimes they are the most removed from a soldiers kind of lifestyle. The American public has
no right to judge and degrade the soldiers that protect this nation when they themselves have no
experience in on the battlefield. Instead, Americans must look at the bigger picture and attempt
to understand the mindset of the military as means to foster support for the nations fighters.
Morals have and will continue to be a fundamental component to the general ideology of
individuals. However, morals often differ among various groups of people and this can
contribute to the demonization of military members. This moral divide is productively
demonstrated in a 2014 survey conducted by the PEW Research center. Participants of this
survey were divided into groups based on social standings such as business people and faith
based individuals. When asked the best way to ensure peace, 67% of those of the business sector
responded that military strength was more effective than good diplomacy, while 62% of the faith
and family based organizations said good diplomacy was more effective (Public Opinion on
Foreign Affairs, Terrorism, and Privacy). These statistics show a strong correlation to a moral
divide over the general publics view of the actions of military members. Many business people
have a get the job done at whatever cost attitude, while faith-based groups hold morals of nonviolence to a higher standard. These faith-based groups often degrade soldiers for their work
abroad due to the violence that accompanies their tasks. Yet, being of a strong faith does not
necessarily mean that violence should be unnecessary. Chris Kyle, in an interview, makes claims
to being a strong practicing Christian in an attempt to contradict faith based individuals who call
his violent work as a sniper hypocritical. He justifies the combination of faith and violence in
stating, Well even in the Bible, God sent the Jews to war. I am not going to murder someone,
but if it is in war, I do not think God has a problem with that (Kyle). This statement thus allows

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for the realization that soldiers are not bloodthirsty demons. Many of them practice a strong
faith, and it is in their ability to maintain a moral basis in situations that make it easy lose sight
that makes them heroes. Religion is not the sole factor that plays into the moral controversy of
soldiers actions.
Many argue that soldiers violate basic human morals of decency by voluntarily inflicting
violence upon others. However, these individuals fail to realize the morality that goes into
soldiers decisions to act aggressively overseas. The academic journal, Iraq War: Was It Morally
Justified? Clarifies this point in stating, No one political leader can send soldiers into battle,
asking them to risk their lives and to kill other people, without assuring them that their cause is
just (Miljenko 100). Soldiers have morals as strong as the general public; if they did not, they
would not be fighting to protect the beliefs and freedoms of the United States. Kyle solidifies this
statement in a Time interview when addressing one of his first kills, It was difficult. I mean first
of all its a woman, and there is a child involved. But just like the story played out in the book, I
had to do it to protect the Marines, so, do you want to lose your own guys or would you rather
take one of them out? (Kyle). Kyle makes evident the moral struggles he faced when
performing his duties abroad; however, his ability to evaluate his beliefs in times of pressure and
remain loyal to the country he aimed to protect shows great heroism. Those who demonize the
military based on morals need to take into account the religious and basic moral understanding
that American soldiers possess and appreciate that many of these individuals fight to protect the
religious and moral freedom of this country.
Heroism is a term that should undoubtedly be associated with United States soldiers; yet,
due to the misconceptions brought about by the media, perspective gaps, and moral differences,
the military is portrayed in a demonized light. This unfair association has most recently been

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seen through the controversy over Chris Kyle the American Sniper; however, the issue is much
larger than just one person. Americans must attempt to understand and recognize the falsehoods
that are produced from the media and focus rather the sacrifices soldiers willingly make to
protect the rights and freedoms that are so often taken for granted. When society is able to
achieve this realization perspective gaps and moral divides will inevitable decrease and
American soldiers will finally be recognized as the heroes that they are.

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Works Cited
Antik, Miljenko. "Iraq War (2003-): Was It Morally Justified?" Croatian Political Science
Review 46.1 (2009): 88-113. EBSCO. Web. 03 Apr. 2015
Deutsch, Lindsay. "The Fascinating Life of Chris Kyle, the 'American Sniper'" USA Today.
N.p., 23 Jan. 2015. Web. 4 Apr. 2015.
Gelpi, Christopher. "Introduction." Choosing Your Battles: American Civil-Military Relations
and the Use of Force. By Peter D. Feaver. Princeton: Princeton UP, 2004. N. pag. Web
Goren, Elizabeth, Ph.D. "Society's Use of the Hero Following a National Trauma." The
American Journal of Psychoanalysis (2007): 37-52. Web. 03 Apr. 2015
Kohn, Richard H. "Introduction." Soldiers and Civilians: The Gap Between Military and Civilian
in the United States in Perspective. By Peter D. Feaver. Cambridge: Belfer Center for
Science and International Affairs, 2001. 1-11. Web
Kyle, Chris. Interview by Belinda Luscombe. Time. 20 Jan. 2015. Web. 03 Apr. 2015.
Masciotra, David. "You Dont Protect My Freedom: Our Childish Insistence on Calling Soldiers
Heroes Deadens Real Democracy." Editorial. Atlantic Monthly 9 Nov. 2014: n. pag. Web.
03
Merriam-Webster. Merriam Webster, Incorporated, 2015. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.
"Public Opinion on Foreign Affairs, Terrorism, and Privacy." PEW Research Center U.S.
Politics & Policy. PEW Research Center, 26 June 2014. Web.

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Ricks, Thomas E. "The Widening Gap Between Military and Society." Editorial. Atlantic
Monthly 1997: n. pag. Web. 03 Apr. 2015.
Rogen, Seth (SethRogen). American Sniper kind of reminds me of the movie that's showing in
the third act of Inglorious Basterds. 18 Jan 2015, 2:05 p.m. Tweet.