Chris has 255 confirmed kills...plus it's rumored he has two more in Texas from a couple of guys that tried to hold him up as he was pumping gas. 257 I guess....
Chris is a pretty humble guy and I’m sure he had mixed feelings about releasing his book American Sniper. Like many guys, including myself, it’s a tough decision to write a book because there’s always some sort of backlash in the SOF community. The decision is often based on leaving something behind for kids who turn into adults later in life and close family.
Like most books of this nature, sensitive events and names have been changed to protect unit tactics and active duty members.
I poured my guts into the SEAL course as an instructor because of guys like Chris and Marcus Luttrell author of Lone Survivor. Guys like these (there are many) kept me fired up as the SEAL Sniper Course Manager during my last tour in the Teams. During OEF we would get calls back to the school house from Army and Foreign SOF units asking us what the hell we were teaching our snipers. They would explain how deadly and effective they were on the battlefield supporting their units. “How do we train our own snipers to this standard…”. This was a common statement and we were more than ready to help out in anyway.
Chris actually had a bounty put on his head by Al Qaeda while he was in Ramadi. I’m sure you guys will enjoy his story and you can’t argue with the facts, he has the most confirmed kills in all of the US Military branches and is a modern day Hathcock in my opinion. I’m sure wherever Carlos is he’s got a big smile on his face. I encourage you guys to check out the book. Out Here-Brandon
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Guys in the community may have reservations about writing books, but I think it’s a great thing to do. Whether fact or fiction its important to tell the story of what we did “over there” and how we did it. Many civilians have no idea what actually goes on in combat, and that’s a shame. Books give everyone a look at the amazing stories of sacrifice during past and present conflicts.
I will definently pick this one up Brandon. Thanks for the suggestion.
Well, Marine Sniper was a great book and so was Lone Survivor, so I'll definitely have to get this one now. Even though I just spent $40 at half-price books – I can't resist a good book.
Oh and thanks for book recommendations!!! Keep 'em coming.
You got it HalP!
This is a must-read on my list… looking forward to it.
Ahh dadgum it doesn't come out til January!!! Just pre-ordered on Amazon.
Chris has 255 confirmed kills…plus it's rumored he has two more in Texas from a couple of guys that tried to hold him up as he was pumping gas. 257 I guess….
Pics or it didn't happen!
While I’ll admit that the definition of “confirmed” has changed somewhat in this day in age. I don’t think the lack of pics means it didn’t happen!
I think the TX governor actually called to congratulate him in private….this is all rumor though…
Good hunting.
How do we know if he has the most confirmed kills in the US Military? What about those JSOC guys (Delta, DEVGRU)? Or even the RRC guys. Either way I'll be picking this book up.
The person with the most confirmed kills in the US Military is Thomas Ferebee
Still a little behind of Simo Häyhä's 505 confirmed kills during 100 days… there were a lot more targets though during the Winter War.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simo_H%C3%A4yh%C3%A4
Shooting enemy soldiers with an iron sighted bolt rifle is probably a bit more challenging than shooting untrained insurgents with a semi-auto tack driver from a 600 yards.
Chewing on snow to cool your breath and prevent fogging is…clearly something a normal individual would not think to do.
To be fair, it was the Russian Army in WW1, they weren't very well trained, either. And there were a lot of them,. And they wore uniforms and didn't try and blend in with civilian populations.
It was in WW2… :) or actually a separate war between Soviet Union and Finland during the winter of 1939-40.
Untrained insurgents!? You make it sound so easy. I can assure you that the enemy we have fought and continue to fight is not without experience and training!
If they'd just put on uniforms and advance at us in formation…
Pretty pathetic if it was hard for you warrior.
In Iraq most insurgents had less than a quarter of the training we have and even less in the form of quality gear, technology, and weapons. Combine that with the fact they can't shoot for shit, and on major offensives they were even easier. (Been there and done that.)
Afghan is a little different and the insurgents are better trained. Their equipment is nearly the same, but tactics are way better. Quality enemy, but a good sniper can get his share in a hot AOR.
I think you need to read this book the most mate.
By the way has anyone read lions of kandahar yet ?
Well put DhuntAUS. Have you read lions yet? I've heard of it…what do you think? -Brandon
I wasn't suggesting they were all untrained. Nor was I saying it was easy. But you have to admit our guys have a pretty big advantage in pretty much every way besides being able to dress like civilians and knowledge of the area.
Simo Häyhä deserves a book or two as well by the sound of it:
"It was during the Winter War (1939–1940), between Finland and the Soviet Union, that he began his duty as a sniper and fought for the Finnish Army against the Red Army. In temperatures between −40 and −20 degrees Celsius, dressed completely in white camouflage, Häyhä was credited with 505 confirmed plus 37 unconfirmed kills of Soviet soldiers. The unofficial Finnish front line figure from the battlefield of Kollaa places the number of Häyhä's sniper kills at over 800. A daily account of the kills at Kollaa was conducted for the Finnish snipers. Besides his sniper kills, Häyhä was also credited with over two hundred kills with a Suomi KP/-31 submachine gun, thus bringing his credited kills to at least 705. Remarkably, all of Häyhä's kills were accomplished in fewer than 100 days at a time of year with very short hours of daylight."
Also don't forget that he had to contend with artillery bombardments, etc. by the Soviets in an attempt to flush him out.
If you did that in a video game you would be banned for cheating.
Any idea if this book will be available on Audible.com?
I agree that it's important for those who have served to tell their stories because I think the civilian world does take the sacrifices and the hard, dangerous things our military does for us too much for granted. World would be a whole lot different, whole lot scarier without the men and women who go and protect us. When I got my job at the day job years ago (heavy science place) it was hard to relate to the many co-workers who had never served, no one in their family had ever served, totally clueless. Somewhat better now, I'm happy to say, more appreciation. Can't wait to read the book. And thank you *all*.
I'm very much looking forward to reading Chris' account. I consider it part of my duty as "one who has slept behind the wall of security" provided by men like Chris Kyle. I find my gratitude deepens with every nonfiction account I read from our warriors. Unlike the famed Finnish sniper, Chris was likely using very high quality modern optics while performing his duties. The price paid by a modern sniper for that level of accuracy humbles me and heightens my appreciation for what these men are asked to do. May God bless them all.
Gents;
Just finished the book last night……Awesome read. Something particularly special about the read, Chris’s wife periodically adds to the context. Great change in the course of a book of this nature. I often used the same line directly out of this book some years ago. My wife would ask where are you going and what are ya going to be doing? Normal reply…..Watch CNN and you’ll see later, I can’t tell ya now. That’s the way it was until I could get to an embassy and use the phone. The years have changed, but the context of doing the job hasn’t. Bad guys are bad guys no matter where you might be working. Thank You Chris!
Beerz for my friends, Shots for my Brothers!
“De Oppresso Liber”
American Sniper is a phenomenal read. Five stars!!!! Thank you to all who keep us safe and make incredible sacrifices.
Awesome read!
something i wish i would have tried to do. just one of them arkansas hillbillys ,yeah aint the best but,i can shoot a bit. thanks for your service…. and my freedom!