(CNN)As a proud Army mother, Kelly Copeland cannot bear to see "American Sniper," even though it now rates as the biggest grossing war movie of all time. Her son, Brandon Smith, told her that his life mirrored the movie. "I can't bring myself to watch it," Copeland said. Smith was only 20 when he was assigned to the sniper section of a mortar platoon at the height of the Iraq war. When I met him there in early 2008, he told me he was well-suited for his mission. He grew up hunting in Georgia and was used to waiting for his prey.
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Brandon Smith believes he is well-suited to be a sniper
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He, like Chris Kyle in the movie "American Sniper," has no regrets about killing the enemy
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He was proud of what he did in Iraq and has struggled with adjusting to a more mundane existence
American Sniper
Chris Kyle
American Sniper
This is supposed to be @placeholder's legendary longest shot at 2,100 yards away.
Brandon Smith
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Brandon Smith
@placeholder still believes he, like Kyle, is one of the 2%.
American Sniper
Chris Kyle
American Sniper
He tried to beat up his dog once, just like @placeholder does in the movie.
Brandon Smith
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Brandon Smith
The opening scene of the movie, when Kyle takes aim at a woman and child, took @placeholder back to that day.
American Sniper
Chris Kyle
American Sniper
At one point in the movie, @placeholder is back home sitting in front of a television set staring at what sounds like a battlefield.
American Sniper
Chris Kyle
American Sniper
@placeholder, he said, was a brilliant marksman, but he also happened to be in all of the hot spots in Iraq.