Exhaling through his nose, aiming through the scope of his rifle, Navy SEAL Chris Kyle pulled the trigger. The bullet leapt out of the rifle, screamed through the air, and directly hit its target: a woman. The women, a middle-aged Iraqi, had been attempting to set off a grenade and to blow herself up, taking many U.S. Marines along with her, as well as her own young son who was standing nearby.
Before taking the shot, Kyle hesitated; he had never killed a person, and he did not want this mother to be his first. But finally, after waiting as long as he possibly could have, Kyle realized he had no choice and did what he had to do. He never hesitated to pull the trigger again while fighting in Iraq. Although this was the only woman Chris Kyle ever had to shoot, there would be plenty of male insurgents who met the same fate.
American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History is the incredibly gripping and dramatic account of how Chris Kyle became the deadliest sniper in U.S. history with more than 160 confirmed kills in the Iraq War between 2003 and 2009. Topping out at number three on The New York Times Bestseller List, this book examines the daily grind and constant warfare that encumbered Kyle and his fellow SEALs.
Marcus Luttrell, a former Navy SEAL himself and the bestselling author of Lone Survivor, says, “Kyle has done and seen things that will be talked about for generations to come, not only by the American military, but by those who stood against us in battle and bore witness to the awesome effectiveness of the world’s most lethal sniper.”
For more on Marcus Luttrell’s Lone Survivor, see https://jesuitroundup.org/?p=4337
Nicknamed “Legend” by his fellow SEAL and Marine soldiers, Kyle singlehandedly saved countless American soldiers’ lives because of his innate ability to spot Iraqi insurgents before anyone else did. It was if he could sense their presence and the dangers they posed. Another nickname, “the Devil,” was bestowed upon Kyle by the Iraqi insurgents because of the daily havoc he wreaked upon their forces. To him, the nickname was actually flattering because it meant he was fulfilling his obligation to his fellow servicemen by protecting them.
However, this book isn’t just about Kyle’s astonishing ability to hit his mark; it’s about the pain of war; it’s about the hardships a war places upon a family; it’s about getting shot twice; and it’s about the toughness—both mental and physical—required of a U.S. Navy SEAL. Richard Marcinko, arguably the most notable Navy SEAL ever and founder of SEAL Team 6, said, “A brave warrior and patriot, Chris Kyle writes frankly about the missions, personal challenges, and hard choices that are a part of the daily life of an elite SEAL sniper.”
To read more about the Navy SEALs and to find out how to become one, see http://www.sealswcc.com/seal-default.aspx
One of the best war memoirs regarding the recent War on Terror, American Sniper is a must read for anyone interested in the military or military history. Charles Sasser, a former U.S. Army Green Beret and author of One Shot, One Kill, called Kyle’s book “raw and unforgettable,” adding, “Kyle is a true American warrior down to the bone.” Published in January 2012, this book has already had outstanding success, so be sure to buy yours now.
