Yep I have two friends who were "in the shit" in Viet Nam both were wounded in firefights.
They have a saying about Honorable or fair fights in war. "We have a technical name for people who fight fair in battle. They are called Casualties"
My other problem with MM's statement and overall sentiments is this notion that surprise attack (eg. a sniper round) is somehow cowardly. Because of the ROE in place at the time, as I understand it Mr. Kyle had to verify all his targets were combatants. As far as I'm concerned if you're carrying a weapon in a war zone, you're a combatant. If you're a combatant in a war zone, your life is at risk and you can be engaged at any time, in any way.