Jack Coughlin (author): Difference between revisions

Jack Coughlin is a retired Gunnery Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps and is the author of Shooter.

Coughlin was born and grew up in California. He grew up never shooting a rifle in his life which later helped because the Marines taught him how to shoot properly without any bad habits. He was hit in the eye bad enough when he was young that they told him he would not be able to see properly again but this was not the case he ended up having improved vision which enabled him to be an amazing sniper.

Coughlin dropped out of college and joined the Marine Corps. After his boot camp he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion 4th Marines (3/4) which are part of the 7th Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division. He proved himself on the rifle shooting range and quickly was sent to the Marines Scout/Sniper school. Jack was stationed in 29 Palms California for most of his career.

During his early career he was asked to prove the snipers skill and show they were not outdated even with the new "urban fighting." Many believed he would fail. He and a team of personally selected snipers tore up everything they gave to the snipers during a ProMet (practice battle using lasers instead of bullets in a real life like setting). Officers overseeing the operation ended up having to split his team of six into two teams because they were taking out so many officers that there was no one left to command the troops.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, he was told he would be shipped out soon and began to get excited because it would have been the first action he had been in since Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. This never happened though, his battalion was told to stay at base.

Then when the United States decided to invade Iraq, he was told he will be shipped out but this time it is for real. His path starts in Basra and moves north to Baghdad along the Euphrates River. Along this trek he is allowed to go into battles and help out with his spotter and co-sniper Captain Casey Kuhlmuan. Jack began to pick off the enemy with great effect. With only one known survivor he gained over sixty confirmed kills. It was never something he was proud of but it was something that proved snipers were effective.

When he reached Baghdad he and just about everyone there was on a "police duty". He watched over streets from building tops and watched for any suspicious behavior. Jack was there when the famous statue of Saddam Hussein was taken down, and provided the Iraqi's with Iraq's flag before Sadaam took control.

While in Iraq Jack recieved another Bronze Star and a V for Valor.

Coughlin was one of the best snipers in the United States Marines. With over 60 confirmed kills he was able to prove that a sniper team was still effective. He also came up with the idea of a Mobile Sniper Strike Team (MSST). He used this method in Iraq and it is now supported by many more in the military.

When his commanders were asked what they thought of him they only said "I'm just glad he's on our side."

He has now written a book titled Shooter on his experiences in Iraq and tells the story of his military action.

• Coughlin, GySgt Jack and Kuhlman, Capt. Casey with Davis, Donald A., Shooter: The Autobiography of the Top-Ranked Marine Sniper, St. Martins, hardback edition - 2005, paperback edition - 2006.

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