Until the book marine sniper had made him famous, and confirmed him as a legend among united states marines, carlos hathcock was just another retired marine living a quiet existence in virginia beach, virginia. The marines, a scout sniper team with 3rd battalion, 23rd marines, were leading a convoy of. If you are and army reservist you are eligable to attend the us army school at ft benning as long as you meet the prerequesites. Carlos norman hathcock ii may 20, 1942 february 22, 1999 was a united states marine. See more ideas about usmc, marine corps and military. 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. 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. Volumes in the marine corps vietnam series operational histories series u. Vetfriends is proud to help reunite heroes in the us marine corps. 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.
As marine sniper, a best seller for nine years relayed his heroism in vietnam, white feather covers carlos entire career and the other details not found in any other title. Reservists come aboard the base for sniper training marine. The explosive true story of sergeant carlos hathcock, a legendary marine sniper in 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. So yes you can definitely go far with your combat training, even in the guard or reserves. A former marine reservist recently told me that he was a scout sniper. In addition to writing his own books and for various publications, he runs his familys cattle enterprise in peyton, colorado. But for a marine sniper, that is all that is needed. Anyone who is really interested in this sort of thing should read marine sniper. One such veteran was eddie ray routh, a 25yearold marine who had served. Americas top sniper of the vietnam war wasnt a marine.
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. Vietnam gallantry cross unit citation military ribbon. Chris kyle, author of american sniper reported killed in texas. Turner wrote a book, phantom of phu bai, about him. Marine sniper pens books, is still dealing with vietnam. Make offer marine sniper 93 confirmed kills by charles henderson signed by carlos hathcock behind the barbed wire. United states marine corps scout sniper mos 0317, formerly 8541 is a secondary mos military occupational specialty designator of u. A vietnam war sniper crawled for 3 days across 2000m of open field, killed nva general with one shot, then crawled back. Brooke nihart, deputy director of the marine corps museum, explains. He spent 3 days crawling 1500 yards into a vietnamese compound, sniped a bigwig and then crawled out undetected.
The association was started in 1998, and received its irs ruling as a 501c19 veterans organization in 2004. The book is well written and outlines hathcocks shooting career and then his subsequent deployment to vietnam where he carries out the most audacious sniper. Carlos hathcock, us marine corps, 93 confirmed kills in vietnam. Jun 07, 20 he served in the united states marine corps, third marine division, as a sniper. He asked which of the recruits was going in to the reserves. Aaron burnett, scout sniper with 1st battalion, 7th marines, regimental combat team 6, runs his ghillie suit through the mud and water on forward operating base jackson, helmand province, on april 20, 2012. Marine corps provided ground, air, supply, and logistic support in the vietnam war for over two decades as part of iii marine amphibious force. 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. Hathcock was an excellent sharpshooter by then, winning the wimbledon cup shooting championship in 1965, the year before he would deploy to vietnam and. 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. Long before chris kyle penned american sniper, carlos hathcock was already a legend.
Can you go to scout sniper school as a marine reservist or. Other snipers have written books or had books written about them. Carlos hathcock, the subject of the biography, was born in 1942 and died in 1999. Marine scout sniper eyeing the streets for insurgents. The 5th marine snipers in vietnam culbertson, john on. Marines scout sniper 0317 is a secondary military occupational specialty mos open to marines with certain qualifications. Marine corps infantrymen and reconnaissance marines that have graduated from a u. After a few guys raised their hand he yelled id rather have eight daughters that were whores than one son in the reser. American singleshot warriors in iraq and afghanistan.
Vanuatu, venezuela, viet nam, virgin islands, british, virgin islands. His first book was critically acclaimed military classic marine sniper, which first chronicled the exploits of u. 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. He served with the 9th infantry division of the united states army. Oct 30, 2016 the two years kugler spent as a sniper with the u. Those were the words that penetrated a handheld radio as marines drove through a small town outside of blair airfield in al kut, iraq. Every marine whether active duty, reserve, former, officer or enlisted should have these books in their. A vietnam war sniper crawled for 3 days across 2000m of open. In the spring of 1969 9th infantry divisions most successful ambush tactic was the sniper mode. But there has only been one sergeant carlos hathcock. He had a bad attitude, some much disregard for his fellow marine and simply could not make the marine corps a career. Im reading the book marine sniper, its about carlos hathcock in vietnam.
Some of these races wont allow backpacks for security purposes, such. School liaison program resource book is available at the base library. A sniper s vietnam, carlos hathcocks 93 confirmed kills was considered the vietnam record. The graduation rate for scout snipers school for the past several. The army sniper school is a 5 week program while the marine scoutsniper receive 9 weeks of specialized training. In the chaos of the combat zone, there are the living, the dead, and the ghost.
National museum of the marine corps, triangle, virginia. This book is by far the best book i have read and is inspired by a true story. National museum of the marine corps posts facebook. Hathcocks record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the u. His gentle, softspoken nature, his slight build, and his kind spirit, hid from most people the courageous, silent warrior. I started shooting at a very young age, and he taught me to shoot like the. Looking for that old marine buddy you lost touch with a while back. The tournament challenges competitors to three categories of knife fighting, grappling and baton fighting to become the overall king of the ring champion. The marine corps is facing a critical gap of scout snipers due to the high. As with all secondary mos, you cant enter directly from boot camp into this job, but the marine corps has considered changing scout sniper to a primary mos due to declining enrollment.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. In 1962, he became the alltime long range champion. Ill explain the sniper role first, this will give you a view of what both marine and army snipers do. Prior to the publication of fellow marine sniper joseph wards book, dear mom. He stalked the viet cong behind enemy lineson their own ground. Scout snipers must earn the rank of lance corporal, be selected by their battalion to join the scoutsniper platoon, and complete an. Snipers keep their guard up marine corps forces reserves. Marines in vietnam, 19541964, the advisory and combat assistance era, 1977 u. 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. Read more usmc scout sniper weapons of the vietnam war. Marine sniper pens books, is still dealing with vietnam wars. United states marine military ribbon in order of precedence.
Swafford was a marine that is not to be looked upon with admiration. Routh is currently a member of the marine reserves. Waldron had served in the united states navy for 12 years before going to civilian life. It is a terrific school run by former marine, ranger, sotic, and regular army snipers. Marine with marine forces reserve takes down his opponent during a grappling match for the king of the ring tournament at marine corps support facility new orleans, jan. This sniper program was initiated in the states and was set in motion as.
With 98 confirmed kills within six months of action, he is one of the five american snipers with most kills in the vietnam war. Why does the united states marine corps have no medical. 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. He did not think the job would be difficult, he wrote in his book, american sniper. I worked as an instructor at the scout sniper school in little rock, arkansas for several years. A former marine reservist recently told me that he was a scoutsniper. If your looking for first rate instruction on the civilian side by former and current marine scoutsnipers try surgical shooting in wa. Written in true chandler format, this volume covers, from beginning to end, the story and tales of a true marine corps legend and last american hero. 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. And each time, he emerged from the jungle having done his duty. Written in true chandler format, this volume covers, from beginning to end, the story and tales. Enlisted or officer, as one of the few in the marine reserve, you will forever be known by the title you earnunited states marine. Not many marine corps bases offer the variety of training facilities that marine corps base quantico does. In the ongoing iraq conflict, there are no battle lines, no direct offensives, no ground won or lostjust the daily fight against an enemy who hits and runs, hides and sneaks.
Its about carlos hathcock, the greatest marine sniper of the vietnam war. Nov 07, 2015 vietnam veteran reflects on life nothing can extinguish the horrors albert miranda witnessed and experienced as a young marine sniper in south vietnam. Marine reservist can go to sniper school as well, its just less likely than active duty. He missed the marine corps, however, and returned to vietnam in 1969, where he. The united states marine corps scout sniper association is nonpartisan, nonprofit, taxexempt, veterans service organization under section 501c19 of the internal revenue code. These 3 snipers had more kills than carlos hathcock in vietnam.
The training commitments of marine officers and enlisted marines in the reserve are identical. 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. Anthony swoffords experiences as an sta sniper are recounted in his book, jarhead, and the 2005 film of the same name. The marine reserves also have some highspeed recon units dont think its force recon though that would give you what youre looking for. 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 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. To my knowledge, there is no reserve component sniper school. Marines got all the press and the glory, but an army guy was the top sniper shot of the vietnam war. Army reserve officer runs to honor fathers vietnam generation. Marine corps during the vietnam war in the 1960s are still never far from his mind. The short answer is that the us navy provides excellent medical service to the marines through its navy corpsman. Beyond combat, hathcock was a championship shooter and a respected instructor in marksmanship and sniper skills. The sniper always has been an almost mystical figure a loner, the best shot in the outfit, an expert. Carlos hathcock fucking badass marine corps reserve, my war, usmc, mindfulness.
The book covers hathcocks legendary career as a sniper. I believe the scout snipers are in quantico so is that where i be going for weekend drill. Jerry, a vietnam veteran still suffering from posttraumatic stress. This is why the scout sniper platoon, 2nd battalion, 25 marines, a reserve unit out of garden city, n. They dont operate like wwii or vietnam snipers operated. A vietnam war sniper crawled for 3 days across 2000m of. United states marine corps military ribbons in order of precedence chart. Marine sniper credited with longest confirmed kill in iraq. Chuck mawhinney was probably born to be a marine sniper. No other marine sniper in vietnam had more confirmed kills of viet cong. Initially in vietnam as advisors, the marines forces grew with the need to protect the key airbase at da nang. 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. One day our senior drill instructor had the entire squad line up. Select the military ribbon to view informaiton and availbale options.
Corps usmc sniper with a service record of 93 confirmed kills, hence the book. Vietnam veteran reflects on life nothing can extinguish the horrors albert miranda witnessed and experienced as a young marine sniper in south vietnam. In addition, reserve marines of the marine corps reserve flying corps flew. Lets say as a reservist i successful complete ss school and become a marine sniper, where will my weekend training be held. Vietnam war carlos hathcock was a united states marine corps gunnery sergeant sniper with a service record of 93 confirmed kills. This marine was the american sniper of the vietnam war. This book is not easy to put down for those who love action and suspense books. Consequently, it would degrade service and be less efficient were the marines to establish a new medical department. Dedicated to locating past members of 7th marine scout sniper platoon, 67 to 70 vietnam era, and. I was an active duty grunt several years ago, and had a few friends in sta, so i asked him when he went to sniper school. A 32yearold navy reservist and a marine veteran are and a former marine among the police officers killed in the dallas sniper attack shooting that claimed the lives of five police officers and. Hathcock said in a book written about his career as a sniper.