255 confirmed kills: Meet Navy SEAL Chris Kyle... the deadliest sniper in US history

• Served four tours of duty in Iraq, where he gained the nickname 'The Devil of Ramadi' from insurgents

• Longest shot was a 2,100-yard strike against a man armed with a rocket launcher

• Prefers a bolt-action .300 Winchester Magnum custom sniper rifle

•  Left the Navy after 10 years to 'save his marriage'

By Michael Zennie

Chris Kyle hesitated the first time he killed a person at long range with a rifle. It was a woman who was about to attack a group of US Marines with a hand grenade.  

The US Navy SEAL was overlooking an Iraqi town from a shabby building as US forces were still invading the country, before Saddam Hussein had been ousted. The Marines didn't see the woman coming.

'Take a shot,' Mr Kyle's chief told him.

Mr Kyle stammered: 'But...'

'Shoot!' the chief told him again.

Making the shot: Chris Kyle takes aim from on top of an overturned crib during the Second Battle of Fallujah