Jack Coughlin

Infobox Military Person
name= Jack Coughlin
born=
died=
placeofbirth= Waltham, Massachusetts
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption=
nickname= "Gabriel" (Callsign during time in Somalia)
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Marine Corps
serviceyears=
rank= Gunnery Sergeant
commands=
unit= 3rd Battalion 4th Marines
battles= Iraq War Somalia
awards= Bronze Star (with V)
laterwork=
portrayedby=

Jack Coughlin (b. January 12, 1966) is a retired Gunnery Sergeant of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and is the author of "Shooter".

Early years

Coughlin was born and raised in Waltham, Massachusetts. He had four elder sisters. His father had been a painting contractor until he decided to change his career to one that included history and literature. Before joining the USMC, Jack had never learned how to shoot a rifle. His first experiences with operating firearms occurred while he was in the USMC.

At a young age Jack was temporarily blinded in his right eye (his shooting eye) after stumbling into a rock fight between two older kids when a sharp rock hit his eye. The eye did not only repair itself but also improved his vision from it, so that he now has 20/10 vision allowing him to see better through a scope than most people.

Jack was very passionate about playing baseball throughout his childhood and adolescence. As he proceeded to college, his dreams of making it to Major league baseball were shattered after he hurt his pitching shoulder. Soon after this incident, at the age of 19, Jack decided to enlist in the Marine Corps.

Life in the Marines

After completing boot camp, Jack was assigned to the 3rd Battalion 4th Marines (3/4) (AKA "The Bull"), part of the 7th Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division.

During the early stages of his military career, Jack was asked to prove the continued merit of snipers by demonstrating the sniper's role in more modern "urban fighting."

Coughlin was deployed to Basra during the United States 2003 invasion of Iraq, or "Operation Iraqi Freedom," with British troops. Later making his way north to the city of Baghdad with his USMC battalion, Jack was present at the famous toppling of the statue of Saddam Hussein.

Legacy and aftermath

While in Iraq, Jack received his second Bronze Star and a V for Valor.When Jack returned from the war in Iraq, he was divorced and retired. Coughlin originated the concept of the Mobile Sniper Strike Team (MSST), which he employed in Iraq and is now gaining broader support in the military. When asked of their opinion of Coughlin, his commanders only said, "I'm just glad he's on our side."Fact|date=March 2007Jack has written a book entitled "Shooter", which recounts his military experiences in Iraq.
* [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0312336861 Shooter The Autobiography of the Top-Ranked Marine Sniper as well as Kill Zone: A Sniper Novel]

ee also

*Carlos Hathcock
*Lyudmila Pavlichenko

References

*Coughlin, GySgt Jack and Kuhlman, Capt. Casey with Davis, Donald A., "Shooter: The Autobiography of the Top-Ranked Marine Sniper", St. Martins, hardback edition - 2005, paperback edition - 2006.