A marine snipers twoyear odyssey in the vietnam war. These 3 snipers had more kills than carlos hathcock in vietnam. Marines are already calling their first new sniper rifle. Tells the exciting true story of sergeant carlos hathcock, a legendary marine sniper in the vietnam war. He stalked the viet cong behind enemy lineson their own ground. Marines in vietnam, the defining year, 1968 like the preceding volumes in this series is largely based upon the holdings of the marine corps historical center. A true hero who saved many american lives by his daring and use of. Richard tisdale, staff noncommissioned officer in charge of the scout sniper school. Recently we remembered the day that navy seal chris kyle, the american sniper, was killed. The garand was a great infantry rifle, but it didnt do as well for sniping. Jun 07, 20 he served in the united states marine corps, third marine division, as a sniper.
But wards account of mawhinneys 101 kills, most accomplished with his primary m40 modified remington 40x bolt action rifle with a redfield 39x accurange scope. Carlos hathcock set the bar for us marine snipers during the vietnam war with 93 confirmed kills. This marine was the american sniper of the vietnam war. The sniper initially started his deployment in vietnam as a military policeman before carrying out feats of stamina, skill, and endurance that wouldnt sound out of place in a historical fiction novel. This marine sniper left vietnam with 103 confirmed kills. Reviewed in the united states on december 29, 2019.
May 11, 2018 the marine corps confirmed in early april that its snipers would get the mk mod 7 sniper rifle to replace the m40 rifle, versions of which the corps snipers have been carrying since the early. Carlos hathcock is a marine corps sniper whose success in the vietnam war became legendary. The comprised list is what was published by the commandant of the marines corps. Considered the first major book on the vietnam war written by an american, it highlighted how little the united states knew about the country, its leaders, and its culture before invading. Whether under nigthly mortar attack in an hoa, with a marine company in the bulletscarred jungle, on secret missions to laos, or on dangerous twoman hunterkills, ward lived the war in a way few men did. His first book was critically acclaimed military classic marine sniper, which. Oct 30, 2016 the two years kugler spent as a sniper with the u. I believe this is a story about true american war hero. This is an exciting tale of a real killer who served our country well during the viet nam war. The m40 rifle is a boltaction sniper rifle used by the united states marine corps. Aug 27, 2017 carlos hathcock is a marine corps sniper whose success in the vietnam war became legendary. He attended scout sniper school at camp pendleton and graduated in april 1968. From there he received orders to vietnam where upon arrival he was assigned as a rifleman to 1st marine.
Carlos norman hathcock ii may 20, 1942 february 22, 1999 was a united states marine corps usmc sniper with a service record of 93 confirmed kills. Aug 02, 2012 in the past months i have written a bit about the use of and primary rifles used by the usmc for sniping use in the vietnam war. By giving us your email, you are opting in to the early bird brief. Charles benjamin chuck mawhinney born 1949 is an oregonborn american who served in the united states marine corps as a sniper during the vietnam war. Section 5 sniper skills 501 range card, log book, field sketching 51. Joseph war, one of the elite marine scout snipers, wrote home reveal a side of the vietnam war seldom seen. Read more usmc scout sniper weapons of the vietnam war. The book white feather is written by brothers roy and norm chandler. Turner wrote a book, phantom of phu bai, about him. As marine sniper, a best seller for nine years relayed his heroism in vietnam, white. The author of the bestselling vietnam war memoir marine sniper continues the incredible true story of sergeant carlos hathcock. A vietnam war sniper crawled for 3 days across 2000m of open.
He was a united states marine corps sniper with a service record of 93 confirmed kills and hundreds of probable kills during the vietnam war. Prior to the publication of fellow marine sniper joseph wards book, dear mom. Vietnam war carlos hathcock was a united states marine corps gunnery sergeant sniper with a service record of 93 confirmed kills. This page is in no way intended to glorify the amount of people these soldiers have killed, it is intended to recognize the manner in which these soldiers excelled at accomplishing the misson assigned to them in a time of war.
During the last battle of the vietnam war, three u. The commandants reading list is a list of books that marines are recommended and often required to read. In the past months i have written a bit about the use of and primary rifles used by the usmc for sniping use in the vietnam war. Paperback editiontrue story of marine corps legendary sniper, gysgt carlos. These include the official unit command chronologies, afteraction reports, message and journal files, various staff studies, oral histories, personal papers, and reference collections. Beyond combat, hathcock was a championship shooter and a respected instructor in marksmanship and sniper skills. He served in the united states marine corps, third marine division, as a sniper. Now i would like to talk a little about them again along with some of the supporting spotter weapons and equipment used by typical sniper teams during the. But there has only been one sergeant carlos hathcock. The truth about the lost marines of the vietnam wars last battle.
From there he received orders to vietnam where upon arrival he was assigned as a rifleman to 1st marine division, 5th marine regiment, 1st battalion lima company. Marine corps is replacing its existing sniper rifles with a newer model that fires a heavier, longerrange bullet. In 1962, he became the alltime long range champion. Carlos hathcock always wore a white feather on his cap, as if to dare enemy snipers to take a shot at him. In marine sniper, the truelife missions of united states marine corps sniper carlos hathcock were revealed in compelling detail. Hathcock ii used his uncanny marksmanship in vietnam to record more than 300 hits, and how he dragged. But there was another sniper that was also legendary, one from the marine corps. Charles henderson is a veteran of more than twentythree. Marine sniper pens books, is still dealing with vietnam. The changeover to the a1 model was completed in the 1970s, the a3 in the 2000s, and the a5 in 2009.
In the united states marine corps, the most dangerous job in combat. A marine snipers twoyear odyssey in the vietnam war ed kugler. Marines in vietnam, 19541964, the advisory and combat assistance era, 1977. Henderson wrote the original book about hathcock, marine sniper, 93 confirmed kills also. Carlos hathcock, the subject of the biography, was born in 1942 and died in 1999. With 98 confirmed kills within six months of action, he is one of the five american snipers with most kills in the vietnam war.
Among the most positive is an abundance of topnotch books, many written by veterans of the conflict. Consequently, it would degrade service and be less efficient were the marines to establish a new medical department. And each time, he emerged from the jungle having done his duty. A vietnam war sniper crawled for 3 days across 2000m of. The explosive true story of sergeant carlos hathcock, a legendary marine sniper in the vietnam war. Im reading the book marine sniper, its about carlos hathcock in vietnam.
Dec 11, 2010 carlos hathcock always wore a white feather on his cap, as if to dare enemy snipers to take a shot at him. The 5th marine snipers set the records for the most kills, most combat operations, and lastly became the most feared adversaries that the viet cong and north vietnamese would. The retired sergeant, who has lived on a mountainside south of big arm since 2000, has written several books about his war experiences, starting with dead center in 1999, in which he intimately shares his twoyear odyssey as a sniper. He was honorably discharged from the united states marine corps in 1970. Jun 14, 2018 it went on to win a number of prestigious awards, including the pulitzer prize for nonfiction, national book award, and the bancroft prize. It went on to win a number of prestigious awards, including the pulitzer prize for nonfiction, national book award, and the bancroft prize. Charles henderson is a veteran of more than twentythree years in the united states marine corps, with a distinguished career spanning from vietnam to the gulf war, after which he retired as a chief warrant officer. Culbertson, a former 5th marine sniper himself, presents the riveting true stories of young americans who fought with bolt rifles and bounties on their heads during the fiercest combat of the war, from 1967 through the desperate tet battle for hue in early 68. After his death, a variant of the m25 rifle was named after him. A sniper needs to be trained as best as possible because they must be combat ready at all times, he explained. The association was started in 1998, and received its irs ruling as a 501c19 veterans organization in 2004. Charles benjamin chuck mawhinney born 1949 is a former united states marine who holds the corps record for the most confirmed sniper kills, having recorded 103 confirmed kills and 216 probable kills in 16 months during the vietnam war.
He is the author of the critically acclaimed military classics marine sniper and silent warrior, which first chronicled the exploits of usmc sniper carlos hathcock. Gysgt carlos hathcock the american sniper of the vietnam. In the united states marine corps, the most dangerous job in combat is that of the sniper. The united states marine corps scout sniper association is nonpartisan, nonprofit, taxexempt, veterans service organization under section 501c19 of the internal revenue code.
We are still the patriots and marines of times gone by and offer these tales of heroism, death, fear, and loyalty from the most decorated sniper unit in the vietnam war. Why does the united states marine corps have no medical. He deployed in 1966 as a military policeman, but immediately volunteered for combat and was soon transferred to the 1st marine division sniper platoon, stationed at hill 55, south of da nang. In the book it says that he uses a winchester 70 in 3006 during his first deployment, but later in the book it said that the marines were switching over to the remington 700 in. They are meant to help marines develop their personal and professional character. He missed the marine corps, however, and returned to vietnam in 1969. A vietnam war sniper crawled for 3 days across 2000m of open field, killed nva general with one shot, then crawled back. In the intervening years he has worked in numerous jobs from gravedigger to engineer in the oil business. Based on the life and times of sergeant carlos hathcock an american soldier who apparently eventually became the posterboy of the marine sniper program the book seemed an interesting prospect at first. A sniper s vietnam, carlos hathcocks 93 confirmed kills was considered the vietnam record. He tells about his chronological experiences in the jungles of vietnam where he was deployed for a year. He holds the record for the most confirmed kills by a usmc sniper, having recorded 103 confirmed kills and 216 probable kills in his 16 months of action. The new mark mod 7 sniper rifle, a favorite of navy seals is. The marine corps has the best sniper program in the world, said gunnery sgt.
This book could never have been published at this time without his. Five of the best snipers of all time business insider. The short answer is that the us navy provides excellent medical service to the marines through its navy corpsman. With no backup and little communication with the outside world, these men disappeared for weeks on end in the wilderness with nothing but intellect and iron will to protect.
Commandants reading list a complete list usmc officer. The truth about the lost marines of the vietnam wars last. Charles hendersons marine sniper is a dramatized account of the life of a vietnam war sniper. Marine sniper pens books, is still dealing with vietnam wars. Scout sniper mos 0317, formerly 8541 is a specialist in the united states marine corps whose mission is to deny the enemy freedom of movement by neutralizing enemy leaders, crewserved weapons operators, radiomen, observers, messengers, and other key personnel with single, wellaimed shots. Marine corps during the vietnam war in the 1960s are still never far from his mind. The marine corps confirmed in early april that its snipers would get the mk mod 7 sniper rifle to replace the m40 rifle, versions of which the. Americas wars have inspired some of the worlds best literature, and the vietnam war is no exception. This book was written after the death of carlos hathcock, in 1999. These include winners of national book awards and pulitzer prizes, both fiction and nonfiction. This book contains details of his training under lt land with the one shot, one kill idea for snipers.
711 52 874 412 1552 1488 277 478 787 457 898 868 1425 1517 260 1531 1531 1373 876 1012 128 1261 290 993 503 1351 397 926 13 41 705 1305 342 387 1440