Beyond combat, hathcock was a championship shooter and a respected instructor in marksmanship and sniper skills. Hathcocks record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the u. 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. The garand was a great infantry rifle, but it didnt do as well for sniping. 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. The list of war time snipers contained on 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 mission assigned to them in a time of war. Oct 01, 2001 the true story of the final days of the vietnam war from the author of marine sniper. Marine sniper pens books, is still dealing with vietnam. These 3 snipers had more kills than carlos hathcock in vietnam. This book was written after the death of carlos hathcock, in 1999.
The amount of melodramatic fictionalization of everything charles hendersons marine sniper is a dramatized account of the life of a vietnam war sniper. Henderson wrote the original book about hathcock, marine sniper, 93 confirmed kills also. Oct 30, 2016 the two years kugler spent as a sniper with the u. 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. 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. 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. 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. The true story of carlos hathcock, a marine sniper in vietnam with probably over 300 kills. Various books written by marines and other authors covering the accounts. The book details carlos hathcocks multiple tours of vietnam and his eventual life in.
The marine sniper s vietnam story continues 9780425181720 by henderson, charles and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Tells the exciting true story of sergeant carlos hathcock, a legendary marine sniper in the vietnam war. Winner of the 2016 pulitzer prize for fiction, this debut novel could fit into half a dozen genres of vietnam war books from war narrative to immigrant story, from mystery to political, from metafiction to. The explosive true story of sergeant carlos hathcock, a legendary marine sniper in the vietnam war. As a new sniper with the 4th marines, kugler picked. 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. Carlos norman hathcock ii may 20, 1942 february 22, 1999 was a united states marine. In this series of poems flows the pain, anguish and anxiety of many years. Marines in the boxer rebellion, an article in prologue. This book contains details of his training under lt land with the one shot, one kill idea for snipers. Mawhinney always figured war stories were for wannabes and bores. Naval history links, from the archives library information center finding aids the ellsdran filing system, records of the us marine corps, record group 127 navymarine corps standard subject classification system, october 1959 36. A marine snipers twoyear odyssey in the vietnam war. I think this is an excellent book, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good read.
Marine sniper pens books, is still dealing with vietnam wars. 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. The book begins with his high school years and the decisions which led to his enlistment. And each time, he emerged from the jungle having done his duty. Among the most positive is an abundance of topnotch books, many written by veterans of the conflict. A story of modern war by mark bowden used books, books.
You can try sniper on the easter front by albrecht wacker about sepp alleberger, a crack german sniper on ww2 credited with 257 kills and possibly responsible for 5x more. Carlos hathcock, the subject of the biography, was born in 1942 and died in 1999. Marine corps command chronologies for the vietnam war u. A slew of war memoirs stand with the best writing of that genre. The author of the bestselling vietnam war memoir marine sniper continues the incredible true story. I do what i can to verify personal claims, if you have any discrepancies and can verify them, please email me so i can correct the information. It documents the circumstances behind training and employment, the equipment chosen for use, the transition from the m700 sniping rifle to the m40a1 and the extreme effectiveness of the vietnamera sniping effort overall. The battle that changed the war in vietnam 1 mar 2002. But there has only been one sergeant carlos hathcock. And each time, he emerged from the jungle having done. 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. You cant get into this sniper unit if you havent read it, said sergeant barrett, who has been a marine sniper for six years.
He stalked the viet cong behind enemy lineson their own ground. He is the author of the critically acclaimed military classics marine sniper and silent warrior. Firefights of the mind when the demons of war follow you home ed kugler is the author of dead center a marine snipers two year odyssey in the vietnam war. Mawhinney, the son of a world war ii marine corps veteran, was born in 1949 in lakeview, oregon, and was. Poems of a rogue a marine sniper s reflections on war ed kugler, author of dead center a marine snipers twoyear odyssey in the vietnam war bring you, poems of a rogue describes in vivid detail the impact of war on our kids, an impact that is felt for many years. 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. I had often heard of the sniper lore tales of gunny sergeant hathcock during the vietnam war but to read about his exploits was a revelation. Various books written by marines and other authors covering the accounts of conflicts. Culled from extensive interviews and research, goodnight saigon is the achingly dramatic story of the end of the vietnam war as told from both sides of the conflict. The book is an interesting biography and treatise on what it takes to be. Online shopping for vietnam war from a great selection at books store. Carlos hathcock was born on may 20, 1942 at little rock, arkansas and died on february 23, 1999 at the age of. Dead center is a straightforward, no bs, skip the fluff, unglamorous account of ed kuglers two years as a marine sniper in vietnam.
Raw, straightforward, and powerful, ed kuglers account of his two years as a marine scoutsniper in vietnam vividly captures his experiences therethe good, the bad, and the ugly. 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 war. In the united states marine corps, the most dangerous job in combat is that of the sniper. Aug 02, 2012 usmc sniper teams used a wide variety of equipment during the war in asia with this being a small part. The only book snipers all seem familiar with other than the bible is marine sniper. This book is a longoverdue account of, and a welldeserved tribute to, the marine corps sniper program in vietnam. One day during a forward observation mission, hathcock and his spotter encountered a newly. It documents the circumstances behind training and employment, the equipment chosen for use, the transition from the m700 sniping rifle to the m40a1 and the extreme effectiveness of the vietnam era sniping effort overall.
No other marine sniper in vietnam had more confirmed kills of viet cong and north. He was a screwup as a recruit but later saw brief action in the dominican republic. Born october 30, 1949, in zanesville, ohio, ronnie marshall served as a us army sergeant and a sniper in south vietnam. Charles hendersons marine sniper is a dramatized account of the life of a vietnam war sniper. As an example, he puts dialogue in the north vietnamese mouths and minds which detracts from the authenticity of the story. The information on this page was obtained through historical documents, books and also personal contact via email and other means. Carlos hathcock, a marine sniper during the vietnam war. After enlisting in the marines at seventeen, then being wounded in santo domingo during the dominican crisis, kugler arrived in vietnam in early 1966.
Other snipers have written books or had books written about them. One, i love war books and two, i love history books marine sniper is set in the vietnam war. Marine corps during the vietnam war in the 1960s are still never far from his mind. One of the first fictional vietnam war books, and often touted as one of the best vietnam novels, its a facepaced wonder that follows draftee philip dosier as he is drafted into the war, completes a of tour of duty, and comes home. Here is the story of a rare individual who managed to combine the latent talent of a top match sharpshooter with that of a skilled woodsman. 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. Dec 09, 2014 raw, straightforward, and powerful, ed kuglers account of his two years as a marine scout sniper in vietnam vividly captures his experiences therethe good, the bad, and the ugly. Great book about carlos hathcock with images books. The true story of the final days of the vietnam war from the author of marine sniper. This marine was the american sniper of the vietnam war. The author of the bestselling vietnam war memoir marine sniper continues the incredible true story of sergeant carlos hathcock. Marine corps tanks and ontos in vietnam war pb sku. The list would have also included radios, binoculars, food, the colt 1911 as sidearms, maps, hats and camo uniforms and face paint, extra ammo, ponchos, poncho liner, knives etc. Vietnam history with the marine corps the marine shop.
These include winners of national book awards and pulitzer prizes, both fiction and nonfiction. A fascinating though a bit hagiographic in parts biography of carlos hathcock, legendary sniper in the vietnam war. Winner of the 2016 pulitzer prize for fiction, this debut novel could fit into half a dozen genres of vietnam war books from war narrative to immigrant story, from mystery to political, from metafiction to historical and even dark comedy. He missed the marine corps, however, and returned to vietnam in 1969, where he took command of a platoon of snipers. Read lrrp company command the cavs lrprangers in vietnam, by. One mans story of serving as a marine sniper during the early days of americas involvement in vietnam.
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