This letter is written in support of congressional candidate Ryan Zinke, a retired SEAL Team commander, and Montana native son.

I was first told of Ryan, and his stellar reputation with the SEAL Teams while I was working with Chris Kyle in the writing of “American Sniper.” I have had the opportunity to get to know Ryan after he agreed to be interviewed for my book “Eyes on Target.” Subsequently I was able to do some travelling with his campaign team in Montana.

Given the work that I do with the SEALs, and charities affiliated with them, I have gotten to know literally dozens of SEALs that served with Ryan, and who he commanded while on active duty. To a man, every single person has had something good to say about Ryan.

Moreover, I did not believe any of these comments to be “lip service.” Instead, these were the stories of warriors speaking as highly as possible of their commanding officer that went to battle beside them. Not ordering them to do a job he would not do, but instead working with them to get it done irrespective of the risk. Ryan always took the side of his men many of whom have told me that he was the finest officer they ever served with while in the SEAL Teams.

I have seen Ryan recently attacked by his opponents as too “hawkish” on events that the United States is currently facing in the war on terror. One of the most important things Ryan ever told me was that his toughest job he had as a commanding officer was writing letters to a father or mother that had lost a son while in Ryan’s command. He knows better than anyone the cost to the family when we lose one of our men or women in this country’s defense. He does not take this responsibility lightly, nor does he underestimate the enemies that would destroy this country.

Ryan also has a plan to make this country energy independent within five years and thereby never again be forced send our sons and daughters to fight for the free flow of oil from the Middle East. He is a staunch advocate of increasing our domestic capacity to produce oil and gas, and has lobbied publicly for the immediate building of the Keystone pipeline. He has the training as a geologist, and the experience of being a commander at SEAL Team Six to back up both of these comments.

In closing, I ask the citizens of the great State of Montana to please send this SEAL to Congress to help clean up this mess we call Washington, D.C. This man is not a “politician,” he is an American patriot that has decided he can do something to help this great nation. He is not only the best-qualified candidate in Montana; he is quite probably the best-qualified candidate in this country!

McEwen, of San Diego, California, is the co-author of “American Sniper” and the author of “Eyes On Target” and the “Sniper Elite” series of novels.