From the American Revolution's “expert riflemen” to modern warfare's elite marksmen, “Sniper's Discretion” unveils the complex and often misunderstood history of America's sharpshooters. With meticulous research and firsthand battlefield perspective, author B. James Johncox examines how snipers have been both essential combat multipliers and morally questioned warriors throughout American military history.
This comprehensive chronicle follows the evolution of precision combat through every major American conflict, revealing how technological advancements, military doctrine, and cultural attitudes have shaped the sniper's role. Johncox expertly balances technical analysis with powerful human stories—from Revolutionary War sharpshooters to Civil War marksmen, from WWI trench warriors to modern counter-terrorism specialists.
Beyond tactical achievements, the book explores the psychological dimension of precision killing and the ethical paradox snipers face: how the most discriminate application of lethal force became the most condemned. Johncox challenges readers to reconsider the dismissive “Murder, Inc.” label while confronting the moral complexity of warfare.
With detailed appendices covering modern precision rifle anatomy and tactical decision frameworks, this definitive work illuminates a martial discipline that has been cyclically embraced during wartime and abandoned during peace—often at tremendous cost when the next conflict erupts.
If you enjoyed “American Sniper,” “One Shot, One Kill,” and “Out of Nowhere: A History of the Military Sniper,” you'll love “Sniper's Discretion: Unveiling America's Sharpshooter History.”
