U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., has partnered with “American Sniper” author Scott McEwen on a book that will arrive in bookstores in September, 49 days before the general election.
“American Commander: Serving a Country Worth Fighting For and Training the Brave Soldiers Who Lead the Way,” is a book Zinke said he’s been planning with McEwen for some time.
You've reached your daily free article limit.
Subscribe and support our veteran writing staff to continue reading.
U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., has partnered with “American Sniper” author Scott McEwen on a book that will arrive in bookstores in September, 49 days before the general election.
“American Commander: Serving a Country Worth Fighting For and Training the Brave Soldiers Who Lead the Way,” is a book Zinke said he’s been planning with McEwen for some time.
The two met through Chris Kyle, whose book “American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History,” was a best-selling collaboration with McEwen. The book later became a major motion picture that ended with Kyle’s tragic shooting death by a troubled veteran.
“The book is not about me personally,” Zinke said “It’s about American exceptionalism, and it’s about how we get guys to do what they do.”
Zinke was a SEAL Team Six commander, who earned two bronze stars as the acting commander of Joint Special Forces in Iraq. He mentored Chris Kyle, as well as SEALs who rescued Capt. Richard Phillips of the MV Maersk Alabama, whose cargo ship was taken by Somali pirates in 2009. The Maersk rescue was the subject of the movie “Captain Phillips.” Zinke is also credited with mentoring SEAL Marcus Luttrell, the subject of the movie and book “Lone Survivor.”
Zinke said the timing of the book’s release was more determined by getting the House Rules Committee to vet his contract with publisher Thomas Nelson. The U.S. Navy also received a copy of the final draft to make sure the contents didn’t reveal sensitive information about operations.
The book does cover subjects like advanced interrogation methods, which Zinke said will be part of the political discussion about President Barack Obama’s proposed closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. Specifically, the book discusses sleep deprivation of terrorist suspects.
McEwen said Zinke was a good subject to tell the SEALs story through a different perspective, but one with a common thread to McEwen’s other collaborations with SEALs. The story is Zinke’s, he said. The editing was McEwen’s.
Luigi Mangione, Suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder, Held in Custody in PA
Inside Delta Force: America’s Most Elite Special Mission Unit
Navy SEALs To Rally Behind Pete Hegseth in a March on Washington
Head Coast Guard Chaplain Removed Due To Knowledge of Sexual Misconduct
What Assad’s Downfall Means for Syria and the Middle East
Join SOFREP for insider access and analysis.
TRY 14 DAYS FREEAlready a subscriber? Log In
COMMENTS
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.