The Reality of War: A Soldier's First Kill

Nick Irving was a member of the elite Army Rangers, serving three deployments each in Iraq and Afghanistan.  He became a sniper and earned the nickname “The Reaper” for his deadly accuracy and high body count. But returning home wasn’t so simple. “Overseas,” Irving said, “I had all the control in the world. I just pull a trigger and anything that was bad went away.” Once he was stateside, he realized that the most dangerous enemies he faced were his own demons.

For more powerful memories from veterans, visit the PBS series, American Veteran, where you can also watch the television series and digital short films. 

Learn more about American Experience 

Follow the show on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads