'American Sniper' Portrayal of Marc Alan Lee is Inaccurate Says His Widow

'American Sniper' portrayal hides the real Marc Lee

February 20, 2015

FoxNews.com - As the film “American Sniper” continues to draw a lot of attention, more Americans may come to recognize the name Marc Lee.

Marc was a teammate of Chris Kyle and the first Navy SEAL killed in Iraq -- his death is graphically portrayed in the movie.

Marc was also my husband. 

I feel compelled to write this essay as a tribute to Marc’s legacy, and for the brothers he fought alongside in Charlie Platoon. 

A movie is a powerful way to enlighten and illuminate us on a specific time in history, and Hollywood understandably often takes liberties with the facts to make a film. But it’s the true stories of sacrifice that we must tell. For the stories we tell today, in print or through film, will be the stories told to our children, and our children's children. We all bear the responsibility to get it right.  It is with this mindset, and it is with a heavy heart, that I must share Marc’s truth and beliefs, which were, in fact, deeply sacrificed for the film.

“American Sniper” is rightfully focused on the incredible story of Chris and Taya Kyle. I am truly happy for the movie's success and do not want to take anything away from a very important story. But the character of Marc Lee falls short on everything that the real Marc Lee stood for and what Chris Kyle expresses about his brother and teammate in his book, which inspired the film.

The movie portrays Marc as a reluctant warrior -- one who seems casual in combat -- who questions America's mission in Iraq. Nothing could be further from the truth.


In contrast to the movie, Marc was a fierce fighter who believed he was making a difference in Iraq. He believed in the war with his whole heart and had a strong sense that his service had a higher purpose -- not only for America, the country he loved, but to protect innocent Iraqis who lived in constant fear of terrorists. He carried a big, heavy machine gun on most of Charlie Platoon’s operations, wielding it with precision to protect his teammates. He was a “Team Guy” -- as SEALs call those who would do anything for their SEAL brothers.

When you hear the name "Marc Lee," know the real man was a strong patriot, fierce warrior and loving husband.

Four months into his deployment, in the midst of one of the biggest battles for the city of Ramadi, Marc stepped into the line of fire to protect his teammates behind him. He laid down his life for them. For that, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart. For additional valorous actions on other operations, he was awarded a Bronze Star with Combat “V” for valor. Unlike the character portrayed in the film, Marc gave his utmost for his SEAL teammates and believed in the cause for which they fought to the very end.

No military honor can ever reflect how he felt about his “brothers.”

The film was right on one account -- Marc’s initial desire to become a pastor before he joined the SEALS.   This, in fact, was true.  After high school he did not go to college, but instead decided to stay in Hood River, Ore., to learn carpentry.  Several years later, Marc moved to Colorado to play professional soccer. As fate would have it, he sustained a knee injury that led to a move to California, where he studied Theology in hopes of becoming a pastor. It was during this time of deep reflection about his path in the world when he realized his true dream of becoming a Navy SEAL. 

In the movie, his character says he chose the SEALs because he’s “a gambling man” -- a bizarre reference that doesn't reflect Marc's drive and determination to join The Teams.

Even though Marc did not become a pastor, he remained a devout Christian. We spent many days and nights talking about his faith. He was raised Christian; I was raised Jewish. Marc and I had many religious and political differences, yet, despite these differences, we had an incredible, unequivocal love.

Marc and I met in 2001, when he was in Basic Underwater Demolitions/SEAL (BUD/S) training in Coronado, Calif. We married in August 2002. Marc was a spiritual, perceptive, selfless, intelligent, hilarious, loud, strikingly handsome man with many layers.  We were young, deeply in love and we thought we would live the rest of our lives together.  Marc graduated BUD/S his second time around in 2004 and deployed to Iraq April 10,  2006.  I never imagined those moments before he boarded the U.S. Air Force C17 aircraft with Charlie Platoon would be the last I would share with him.

In “American Sniper,” a letter Marc wrote is shared. It is severely edited, giving an entirely different image of Marc’s message.  Chris Kyle's character says: “The war didn’t kill Marc, his letter did” -- a confusing reference to those who knew Marc because it seems to suggest Marc gave up on the mission, and that led to his death. This is absolutely false.

The letter that Marc wrote was never sent out to family. He died two weeks later on Aug. 2,  2006.  I decided to place the letter in the back of the pamphlet for his funeral service.  I invite everyone to please read this letter in its entirety, and experience Marc’s words as he intended – raw from the battlefield.

When you hear the name "Marc Lee," know the real man was a strong patriot, fierce warrior and loving husband. He was a family man, a faithful Christian and, without a doubt, a proud American who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country, fighting alongside the SEAL brothers whom he loved, for a cause he firmly believed in.

Marc Lee's Last Letter Home

This is the letter that Marc Lee wrote to his family, but never sent. He died two weeks later on Aug. 2, 2006. 

Glory is something that some men chase and others find themselves stumbling upon, not expecting it to find them. Either way it is a noble gesture that one finds bestowed upon them. My question is when does glory fade away and become a wrongful crusade, or an unjustified means by which consumes one completely?

I have seen war. I have seen death, the sorrow that encompasses your entire being as a man breathes his last.

I can only pray and hope that none of you will ever have to experience some of these things I have seen and felt here.

I have felt fear and have felt adrenaline pump through my veins making me seem invincible. I will be honest and say that some of the things I have seen here are unjustified and uncalled for. However for the most part we are helping this country. It will take more years than most expect, but we will get Iraq to stand on its own feet.

Most of what I have seen here I will never really mention or speak of, only due to the nature of those involved. I have seen a man give his food to a hungry child and family.

Today I saw a hospital that most of us would refuse to receive treatment from. The filth and smell would allow most of us to not be able to stand to enter, let alone get medicine from. However you will be relieved to know that coalition forces have started to provide security for and supply medicine and equipment to help aid in the cause.

I have seen amazing things happen here; however I have seen the sad part of war too. I have seen the morals of a man who cares nothing of human life…I have seen hate towards a nation’s people who has never committed a wrong, except being born of a third world, ill educated and ignorant to western civilization. It is not everybody who feels this way only a select few but it brings questions to mind. Is it ok for one to consider themselves superior to another race?

Surprising we are not a stranger to this sort of attitude. Meaning that in our own country we discriminate against someone for what nationality they are, their education level, their social status. We distinguish our role models as multimillion dollar sports heroes or talented actors and actress who complain about not getting millions of dollars more then they are currently getting paid.

Our country is a great country, don’t get me wrong on this, otherwise none of us would be living there. My point of this is how can we come over here and help a less than fortunate country without holding contempt or hate towards them if we can’t do it in our country. I try to do my part over here, but the truth is over there, United States, I do nothing but take.

Ask yourself when was the last time you donated clothes that you hadn’t worn out. When was the last time you paid for a random stranger’s cup of coffee, meal or maybe even a tank of gas? When was the last time you helped a person with the groceries into or out of their car?

Think to yourself and wonder what it would feel like if when the bill for the meal came and you were told it was already paid for. More random acts of kindness like this would change our country and our reputation as a country.

It is not unknown to most of us that the rest of the world looks at us with doubt towards our humanity and morals.

I am not here to preach or to say look at me, because I am just as at fault as the next person. I find that being here makes me realize the great country we have and the obligation we have to keep it that way.

The 4th has just come and gone and I received many emails thanking me for helping keep America great and free. I take no credit for the career path I have chosen; I can only give it to those of you who are reading this, because each one of you has contributed to me and who I am.

However what I do over here is only a small percent of what keeps our country great. I think the truth to our greatness is each other. Purity, morals and kindness, passed down to each generation through example. So to all my family and friends, do me a favor and pass on the kindness, the love, the precious gift of human life to each other so that when your children come into contact with a great conflict that we are now faced with here in Iraq, that they are people of humanity, of pure motives, of compassion.

This is our real part to keep America free! HAPPY 4^th

Love Ya
Marc Lee

P.S. Half-way through the deployment can’t wait to see all of your faces