Q: It is sad that former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield were killed by someone whom they were trying to help. Is there more information on Littlefield? What were some of the charity organizations Kyle was involved with. — William McKee Jr., Flowery Branch
A: Littlefield, who was 35 years old, was Kyle's neighbor and "workout buddy" in Midlothian, Texas. He was married and had a 7-year-old daughter. Kyle helped establish the FITCO Cares Foundation, a charity that has a "vigilant passion to help combat veterans struggling with PTSD," according to a letter on its website from the group's director, Travis L. Cox. It also provides home fitness equipment to wounded veterans. Kyle donated the royalties from his book, "American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History," to the families of fellow SEALS Marc Lee and Ryan Job. Lee died in combat in Iraq, and Job died after surgery for injuries he suffered in Iraq. Kyle's book spent seven weeks at No. 1 on The New York Times best-sellers list, and co-author Jim DeFelice told the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram that Kyle's royalties "amounted to a lot of money, a lot of money." Eddie Ray Routh, an Iraq war veteran who reportedly is struggling with PTSD, is accused of killing Kyle and Littlefield on Feb. 2 at the gun range at Rough Creek Lodge and Resort in Glen Rose, Texas. Kyle wrote he had 160 kills during four tours in Iraq. Jodi Leigh Routh, the suspect's mother, had asked Kyle to help her son, the Star-Telegram reported.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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