The American Reaper: Sniper dubbed one of the 'deadliest' in history for killing 33 Taliban members says his job was like 'playing whack-a-mole' as he prepares for his story to hit TV screens

  • Ranger sniper Nick Irving, now 30, continues to recount jarring pastimes from his notorious military career through writing excerpts
  • Irving was deemed one of 'America's deadliest snipers' who compared his hits to a simple game 'of whack-a-mole' after losing count of the men he's taken out
  • Irving spoke in an interview with news.com.au, where he discussed events from what he called his most violent deployment in Mosul, the 'Hotel Party'
  • He said his most notable pastime was also from that deployment — where he accomplished some of the greatest missions of his military career
  • Irving's autobiography will be retold in an NBC miniseries produced by Jay-Z
  • 'The Reaper' gives credit to the trials and tribulations from the military that taught him life lessons he carries with him today

Nick Irving, the notorious 30-year-old Ranger sniper who exited the Army nearly six years ago, continues to recount jarring pastimes from his military career which will soon be depicted further through an NBC miniseries.

Irving earned the name 'The Reaper' — also the title of his first book — for his body count of 33 men during a single deployment in Iraq. He was deemed one of 'America's deadliest snipers' as he compared hits to that of a simple game 'of whack-a-mole.'

Already at age of 18, Irving fired a seven-round shot into a man's head as he watched him burst into 'a cloud of mist and chunks' on a battle ground in Tikrit, Iraq — an event he reveals in his memoir to be something nightmares are made of.

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Ex-Army sniper Nick Irving earned the name 'The Reaper'  for his body count of 33 men during a single deployment in Iraq

Ex-Army sniper Nick Irving earned the name 'The Reaper' for his body count of 33 men during a single deployment in Iraq

At the age of 18, Irving fired a seven-round shot into a man's head as he watched him burst into 'a cloud of mist and chunks' on a battle ground in Tikrit, Iraq

At the age of 18, Irving fired a seven-round shot into a man's head as he watched him burst into 'a cloud of mist and chunks' on a battle ground in Tikrit, Iraq

Irving's autobiography 'The Reaper,' was a best-selling book that will soon be made into a miniseries on NBC

Irving's autobiography 'The Reaper,' was a best-selling book that will soon be made into a miniseries on NBC

Irving discussed his experiences further in an interview with news.com.au

Irving discussed his experiences further in an interview with news.com.au

Irving recently spoke further on his experiences in an interview with news.com.au, where he discussed what he believes was the most violent deployment — his second — the 'Hotel Party' in Mosul.

Irving remembered a specific horrific and cloudy scene one afternoon that reminded him of some sort of 'dystopian birth.'

It was the traumatic moment he witnessed his tour leader and buddy, Keith, get brutally shot in the leg.

He heard him scream out in pain, 'I'm hit, I'm hit!' 'My leg, I think it's f***ed up! It might be gone ... Holy s***.' 

He talked about what he believes to be the most violent deployment — his second — the 'Hotel Party' in Mosul

He talked about what he believes to be the most violent deployment — his second — the 'Hotel Party' in Mosul

Irving remembered a specific horrific and cloudy scene one afternoon that reminded him of a kind of 'dystopian birth'

Irving remembered a specific horrific and cloudy scene one afternoon that reminded him of a kind of 'dystopian birth'

Irving explained going out on the streets in broad daylight was a 'literally and figuratively eye-opening' experience

Irving explained going out on the streets in broad daylight was a 'literally and figuratively eye-opening' experience

Irving said his most notable pastimes were from that deployment, where he accomplished some of the greatest missions of his entire career.

'It was one of those times I got to feel like a cool guy ... I was 18, 19 driving a Stryker, ready to get shot at by bad guys. I thought I was invincible,' he said.

'There were guys hopping out of helicopters, all types of bombs, munitions, I'm hanging out, cigarette in one hand, shooting bad guys. There's a guy hanging out of a helicopter spraying a machinegun ... It was an experience.'

Going out on the streets to battle in broad daylight was a 'literally and figuratively eye-opening' experience for him.

'I'd heard people say we should blow Iraqis and others into the Stone Age, and it kind of looked like we had tried,' he wrote. 

'I'd heard people say we should blow Iraqis and others into the Stone Age, and it kind of looked like we had tried,' he wrote

'I'd heard people say we should blow Iraqis and others into the Stone Age, and it kind of looked like we had tried,' he wrote

'Shattered buildings and islands of rubble all dotted the landscape. All I know is that we had each other's backs at the time and did everything we could to support one another. Whether or not the higher-ups did the same is tough to say.' 

Irving, who since jump started a career in television, told the newspaper his life really took off following the wild success of his memoir.

He's appeared in shows like 'The IT Crowd,' 'The Rob Brydon Show,' and more recently, 'American Grit' with WWE superstar and actor, John Cena.

The NBC miniseries produced by Jay-Z will retell the timeless stories from his 2015 autobiography. 

The Reaper gives credit to the tribulations he experienced during his time in the military that taught him valuable lessons he couldn't receive elsewhere.

Irving, who since jump started a career in television, said his life really 'took off' following the wild success of his memoir

Irving, who since jump started a career in television, said his life really 'took off' following the wild success of his memoir

'I've learnt a lot from struggle ... You have to go through struggles to appreciate things,' Irving said.

'Special ops guys have been overseas and seen different things. In the military community, we harp on about not expressing emotions, you're the tough guy. That eats guys up in the long run.

'There's nothing wrong with talking about what you did overseas, what not to do, what to do. Everyone has feelings, emotions,' he added.

'In the military, you get into a mindset of 'failure is not an option.' You're not used to rejection, the army doesn't allow it. On the civilian side, you get that. The first dose is hard to overcome, then you realize, 'this is just life.''

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