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The Enemy Within: The inside story of Eddie Routh, the man accused of killing legendary "American Sniper" Chris Kyle

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Journalist Laura Beil recounts the tragic inside story of Eddie Routh, the Iraq war veteran and PTSD patient charged with killing American Sniper author and legendary Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and another man at a remote shooting range in Texas in 2013.

Kyle was considered the most lethal sniper in American military history, a reputation that earned him the name "the Devil of Ramadi" during his tours of duty in Iraq. His story became a New York Times bestselling autobiography. Following his military career, Kyle attempted to give back by counseling troubled veterans. This goal brought Kyle, his friend Chad Littlefield, and Routh together with firearms in early February 2013, when tragedy struck.

In exclusive interviews with the Routh family and others conducted prior to a Texas judge's gag order issued in July 2013, Beil pieces together Routh's history of mental illness as he moved through a Veterans Health Administration system struggling to meet demand for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder care, brought on in part by a decade of war. The Enemy Within is a reexamination of a hero's tragic death and the life of a troubled young marine.

36 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 5, 2013

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Laura Beil

4 books

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5 stars
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22 (32%)
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
208 reviews3 followers
February 28, 2015
A small look at PTSD and VA problems.

Interesting and fast read. A good look at what ptsd looks like from the family members perspective. The VA system is definitely broken in many ways as is our general idea of just medicating for many different things. There has to be a way to weed through and provide help for those who need it most. He should have been admitted to a mental health institute long before this event occurred. They should be able to talk to family members as part of diagnosing the severity of the problems these veterans have,
10 reviews
February 6, 2015
Sad story of heroism and horror

I was prepared to hate Eddie Routh for what he had done. But I wound up grieving for his family as much as I do the Kyle's. I grew up in a WW II military family. My dad suffered from some of the same kind of erratic behavior and 'demons' as Eddie did. They just didn't give it a name like PTSD. We owe the vets more than we are doing for them. Disturbing that his peace time duty may have sent him over the edge.
Profile Image for Erin Hennigan.
184 reviews2 followers
January 21, 2015
This is a disturbing look into the man who shot and killed Chris Kyle. I read this to find out why he did it, but unfortunately we may never know. So many things could have been done differently to avoid this tragedy but then hindsight is 20/20. Prayers of peace and strength to all families involved.
Profile Image for Jim Allen.
51 reviews18 followers
January 24, 2015
informative but...

...too brief and too disorganized. The "book" (and I would describe it more accurately as an essay) does provide some Insight into eddies condition, but only sketches it out.
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5 reviews1 follower
April 19, 2015
A good read

This was a short but informative book showing just how real PTSD Is and how we are failing in their treatment..
Profile Image for Teri.
57 reviews
February 10, 2015
Just happened to finish this short, heartwrenching ebook on the day Eddie Routh's trial begins.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews

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