In the book, Kyle talks about the war and his part in it. His job as a sniper is usually to set up camp at a good vantage point and make sure that the area is clear for the Army/Marines to move in. He worked in Fallujah (known as the most dangerous city in Iraq for a period of the war). Their objective was to slowly move in and take the city back from the insurgents, with the help of the Iraqi police to give them the confidence and training to take their city back. He also discusses his wife, and how the war affected their family.
The book was incredible. In a lot of ways it was similar to "No Easy Day" in that they were both Seals. Once difference I enjoyed was how much Kyle discussed the war and their missions, where "No Easy Day" discussed a lot of training and building up to one specific mission, the one that killed Bin Laden. For someone like me, with no military experience/background/insight, it's enlightening to read about the war from a soldier's point of view. Even more interesting to compare it to the news and see what gets reported.
I will say this. Chris Kyle is a great soldier, an incredible sniper, but if I met him in person I doubt we would actually get along. There were little things he did (rummage people's apartments, take things he liked) that gave me the sense of someone arrogant and rude. That being said, those are traits that would make a good sniper, as confidence is key. Like him or not on a personal level, he was an incredible soldier and an asset to the country.
Unfortunately, right after this book was released, he was murdered on a gun range by a fellow veteran who was mentally deranged. I'm glad he was able to share his story. If you are at all interested in military, or just details of the current war from a more personal standpoint, I highly recommend this book as well as "No Easy Day."
<3, jacq
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