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The army has a five week sniper school, and the marines have a ten
week course that is considered one of the best in the world. These
schools turn out professional snipers who know how to operate
independently in two man teams. Marine regiments (about the same size as
army brigades) have about three times as many snipers per battalion as
do army units. But both the army and the marines are taking advantage of
the greater number of veteran troops in their combat units, and the fact
that just about every soldier has a rifle with a scope, and has a lot of
target practice behind them. Infantry commanders are encouraged to find
and designate about ten percent of their men as “sharpshooters” (sort of
“sniper lite”) and make use of these guys to take out enemy troops at a
distance, and with single shots. This is a trend that has been growing
for over a decade, but has now become a major feature of American
infantry tactics.
 Marine
Sniper
Marine Sniper is not only one of the most astonishing true stories to
emerge from the Vietnam War, it has become a classic of military
nonfiction, inspiring a sequel, Silent Warrior: The Marine Sniper's
Vietnam Story Continues.
There have been many Marines. There have been many marksmen. But there
has only been one Sergeant Carlos Hathcock. A legend in the Marine
ranks, Hathcock stalked the Viet Cong behind enemy lines-on their own
ground. And each time he emerged from the jungle having done his duty.
His record is one of the finest in military history, with 93 confirmed
kills.
This is the story of a simple man who endured incredible dangers and
hardships for his country and his Corps. These are the missions that
have made Carlos Hathcock a legend in the brotherhood of Marines.
There are few books that capture the essence of a Marine the way that
this tale does. Gunny Hatchcock was more than a Marine, he was also a
heroe and a pioneer. His mastering of the sniper craft and his eventual
legend were responsible for the ultimate success of the Marine Corps
sniper program.
Charles Henderson does an admirable job with this book but realistically
it is a story that sells itself. This narration details some of the many
missions Hatchock underwent during two tours of Vietnam. It chronicles
the more often than not painful self discipline that made Hatchcock the
deadliest sniper in Vietnam. The author also peppers the account with
enough of Hatchcock's personal life to show what a great man and Marine
he really was.
The tale is amazing enough in relaying how great of a shot that
Hatchcock was but the true mark is hit in that is shows that Hatchcock
was a devoted Marine. To say he was dedicated would be a dramatic
understatement. The tale of his stalking the Vietnam general and the
patience it took to get that one shot is worth reading the book alone.
It is a testament to not only his training but his own self discipline.
The book reads in a flash. I have read it several times and it hasn't
lost any interest. A must read for Marines, military and history buffs,
and just anyone curious about a tale of a hero.
 Shooter
"The 3rd Battalion has a veteran sniper, Staff Sergeant Jack Coughlin,
for whom the war in Iraq was only the latest of many wars; he fought in
Mogadishu, too. On the first day of battle at the Diyala Bridge, he had
eleven kills. He is one of the best snipers in the Marine Corps, perhaps
the very best. When I asked one of his commanders about his skills, the
commander smiled and said, 'I'm just glad he's on our side.' "
This is a very gripping book by a man who has a rather unusual job.
The job he does is a job that when troops are deployed must be done. It
is a job that we collectively as a country sanction. It is an
interesting study of one man's mind as he is doing this job. Whether you
are hawk or dove it is a book that should be read as it more about human
psychology than it is about war.
Of course by saying this I do not mean to say that the book is devoid
of history as it is chock full of it.
It is also not just about killing but about skill and what it means to
be skilled at something.
If you give this book a chance it will get you thinking. A very
challenging and multileveled book that is not so easy to dismiss (as
much as many would perhaps like). It is very much worthy of your
attention.
 13
Cent Killers
In 1967, a bullet cost thirteen cents, and no one gave Uncle Sam a
bigger bang for his buck than the 5th Marine Regiment Sniper Platoon. So
feared were these lethal marksmen that the Viet Cong offered huge
rewards for killing them. Now noted Vietnam author John J. 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.
In spotter/shooter pairs, sniper teams accompanied battle-hardened
Marine rifle companies like the 2/5 on patrols and combat missions.
Whether fighting their way out of a Viet Cong “kill zone” or battling
superior numbers of NVA crack troops, the sniper teams were at the
cutting edge in the art of jungle warfare, showing the patience,
stealth, combat marksmanship, and raw courage that made the unit the
most decorated regimental sniper platoon in the Vietnam War. Harrowing
and unforgettable, these accounts pay tribute to the heroes who made the
greatest sacrifice of all–and leave no doubt that among 5th Marine
snipers uncommon valor was truly a common virtue.
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