5th marine scout sniper vietnam book

Born in virginia in march of 1933, adelbert waldron iii served in the vietnam war as a staff sergeant for the 9th infantry division. 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. Gulf war and the 1990s dec 30, 1999 on december 1, 1990, the battalion deployed to the middle east in support of operation desert shield. 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. Read more usmc scout sniper weapons of the vietnam war. This book has my grandfather in it, he was a 5th marine scout sniper. Wooten usmc scoutsniper charles mawhinney and his spotter, 5th marine regiment, in vietnam.

Carlos norman hathcock ii may 20, 1942 february 22, 1999 was a united states marine. Thus, marines looking to enter the scout sniper course must meet stringent physical requirements. The marine scout sniper rifle or mssr is a semiautomatic sniper rifle developed from the colt m16a1 rifle by the philippine marine corps scout snipers due to the lack of a dedicated sniper rifle which is used in the armed forces of the philippines. With 98 confirmed kills within six months of action, he is one of the five american snipers with most kills in the vietnam war. Vietnam war dec 30, 1975 from june 1966 to march 1971, the 3rd battalion, 5th marines fought in south vietnam during the viet. 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. Most other conventional armed forces, including the u.

Carlos hathcock93 confirmed kills is either not a book, or a different book. He served with the 5th marines in the 1st marine division on the dmz in 1968. 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. Carlos hathcock white feather usmc scout sniper hardback book chandler new. The ricegrowing regions of i corps, particularly in quang tri and quang nam. Mawhinney, the son of a world war ii marine corps veteran, was born in. The 5th marine snipers in vietnam, the stories of 5th marine regiment marksmen who, as the publisher describes, fought with bolt rifles and bounties on their heads during the. The scout sniper basic course moved from its previous location at 3rd marine regiment to mcb hawaii, kaneohe bays regimental schools, in order to more efficiently train devil dogs of the 3rd marine division. Usmc scout sniper for sale military collectibles for sale. 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. Usmc scoutsnipers, lightning bolts and nazi symbols, part.

Feb 08, 2018 it was the vietnam war that finally saw the u. He is a record setting marine sniper in the vietnam war. That man is the best any scout sniper can hope to be. The book white feather is written by brothers roy and norm chandler, who publish military shooting publications through iron brigade publishing, a jacksonville, north carolina based corporation. Vietnam war white feather usmc scout sniper carlos hathcock marine corps. The school will now receive its funding from the base and is also allowing other branches of the armed forces to attend the 10weeklong.

Marine corps scout sniper mos 0317 the balance careers. Jan 14, 20 196668 vietnam 5th marines scout sniper reunion in alamosa 2002. In 1962, he became the alltime long range champion. 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. This book is a longoverdue account of, and a welldeserved tribute to, the marine corps sniper program in vietnam. Many times i have mentioned the fact that the winchester model 70 30.

A great book for those interested in the vietnam sniper program. The marine corps is unique in its consolidation of reconnaissance and sniper duties for a single marine. See more ideas about vietnam, vietnam war photos and vietnam war. 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. Marine corps infantrymen and reconnaissance marines that have graduated from a u. A former marine scout sniper, ed kugler served two tours in vietnam as a sniper and sergeant with the 4th marines in i corps. Mar 05, 2017 a marine student undergoing the 2nd marine division combat skills center pre scout sniper course looks through an m40a5 sniper rifle at camp lejeune, n. In 16 months as a marine corps sniper in vietnam in 1968 and 1969. The less glamorous but very important spotter in a scout sniper team carried more common weapons that every rifleman was familiar with. Army, separate the reconnaissance soldier or scout from the sniper. Aug 02, 2012 the less glamorous but very important spotter in a scout sniper team carried more common weapons that every rifleman was familiar with. Voir plus didees sur le theme guerre du vietnam, vietnam et guerre. Sticker usmc unit 1st battalion 5th marine scout sniper ooo lisc no 20187. Dedicated to locating past members of 7th marine scout sniper platoon, 67 to 70 vietnam era.

Ask any marine about the corps greatest snipers and a flurry of references to the legendary gunnery sgt. Willoughby vc sapper attack, marine corps base, chu lai. A very informative and interesting interview with steve can be found in chapter four of the book conversations with vietnam heroes, written by the podcaster. Hathcock said in a book written about his career as a sniper. Jun 25, 2019 the scout sniper basic course moved from its previous location at 3rd marine regiment to mcb hawaii, kaneohe bays regimental schools, in order to more efficiently train devil dogs of the 3rd marine division. The battalion is based at marine corps base camp pendleton, california and consists of approximately 1,000 marines and fleet marine force navy personnel. Moore presents his navy cross to the audience after being pinned by the secretary of the navy, the honorable ray mabus, during an awards ceremony nov. Feedback from marsoc use, as well as an assessment by mcsc and a year of use by scout snipers. Scout sniper awarded navy cross 8th marine regiment. The vietnam war was one of the first wars to use snipers in the way that it did. Jun 07, 20 he served in the united states marine corps, third marine division, as a sniper. In 2003, former 5th marine sniperturnedvietnam war author, john j.

He is the author of the inspirational selfhelp booklet a dozen things i learned about life as a marine sniper in vietnam. To this day no other marine has been able to match his number. See more ideas about usmc, marine corps and vietnam war. 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. Born in 5 dec 1919 and died in 23 oct 1985 wynne, arkansas carlos norman. He remained in this unit for 3 months until he was reassigned to 5th marine regiment hq scout sniper. 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. As a member of 5th marine regiment hq scout sniper platoon, he was constantly in the jungle. May 11, 2018 the boltaction mk was already the primary sniper rifle for marine corps special operations command. Army, the 19d mos, cavalry scout is the primary special reconnaissance and surveillance soldier and. As a result, there was a bit of overlapping as the author said would happen. World war ii dec 30, 1945 shortly before world war ii in april 1940, 3rd battalion was again reactivated.

Chuck mawhinney had 103 confirmed enemy kills in vietnam. If you really want to be a scout sniper which is extremely difficult to be accepted to and actually pass the training school for, you would join the marine corps with an infantry mos, most likely 0311, and then apply to the scout sniper program after you graduate boot camp. 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. World war i dec 30, 1919 3rd battalion, 5th marines, along with the 5th marine regiment, was first organized on june 8, 1917. A former marine scoutsniper, ed kugler served two tours in vietnam as a sniper and sergeant with the 4th marines in i corps. The 5th marines finally left vietnam in april 1971. Over the next 16 months, mawhinney would become a marine corps legend. The association was started in 1998, and received its irs ruling as a 501c19 veterans organization in 2004. The marine snipers vietnam story continues by henderson.

Marines scout sniper 0317 is a secondary military occupational specialty mos open to marines with certain qualifications. Suttles deployed to vietnam in december 1968 and served with the 5th marine regiment based at an hoa. Marines in vietnam, 19711973, the war that would not end, 199 1. 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. 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. He attended scout sniper school at camp pendleton and graduated in april 1968. Usmc scoutsnipers, lightning bolts and nazi symbols, part 2. Secondly, you cant join the marine corps to be a scout sniper.

He had just returned from leave to his 5th marine regiment combat base at an. Marine scout snipers were among the most highly trained soldiers in vietnam. The one that seems the most thought of as the spotters weapon when talking about the usmc sniping teams, is the m14 us rifle caliber. He served in the united states marine corps, third marine division, as a sniper. The 5th marine snipers in vietnam by john culbertson. The united states marine corps scout sniper association is nonpartisan, nonprofit, taxexempt, veterans service organization under section 501c19 of the internal revenue code. All prospective scout snipers must pass the marine corps physical fitness test pft with a firstclass rating.

As the author said, it was more about the stories of men as they remembered what happened being discussed in an informal setting. Culbertson, a former 5th marine sniper himself, presents. Marine corps 3rd bn, 5th marine regiment 35, 5th marine. This marine sniper left vietnam with 103 confirmed kills military times. He tells about his chronological experiences in the jungles of vietnam where he was deployed for a year. Mawhinney always figured war stories were for wannabes and bores. Regarding the above post, while it doesnt detail the training or how to become a scout sniper, marine sniper the book on then sgt. With their unparalleled skill, freedom of movement, and deadly accurate longrange remington 700 bolt rifles, the scout snipers were sought after by every marine unitand so feared by the enemy that the vc bounty on the scout snipers was higher than on any. 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. Scout snipers must earn the rank of lance corporal, be selected by their battalion to join the scoutsniper platoon. Interwar period dec 30, 1935 in august 1919, the battalion was deactivated following world war i and less than two years later, i. United states marine corps scout sniper mos 0317, formerly 8541 is a secondary mos military occupational specialty designator of u.

Turner wrote a book, phantom of phu bai, about him. 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. Oklahoma man recalls experience as sniper in vietnam. Marines in vietnam, 19701971, vietnamization and redeployment, 1986 u. The 3rd battalion falls under the command of the 5th marine regiment which falls under the command. Hathcocks record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the u. In 1966, the marine corps established a sniper school in da nang and a scout sniper secondary mos at camp. He missed the marine corps, however, and returned to vietnam in 1969, where he took command of a. The boltaction mk was already the primary sniper rifle for marine corps special operations command. Tom berenger sniper 2 movie with first unofficial ss logo hat usmc snipers were technical advisors on the movie 36 scoutsniper platoon with ss logo photo courtesy of snipers author holding usmc scoutsniper chuck mawhinneys sniper rifle used in vietnam and attributed with 103 confirmed kills photo courtesy of alex popovic. The 5th marine snipers in vietnam by culbertson soldier. So feared were these lethal marksmen that the viet cong offered huge rewards for killing them. 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.

Mawhinney would run up an incredible talley of 103 confirmed enemy killed with 216 probables. The story of a marine grunt in the first battle of khe sanh april 1967 duration. Book about snipers in the marine 5th infantry in vietnam. He is the recipient of two purple hearts and the vietnamese cross of gallantry. Joseph war, one of the elite marine scout snipers, wrote home reveal a side of the vietnam war seldom seen.

Marines are already calling their first new sniper rifle. 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. Apr 07, 2018 he is a record setting marine sniper in the vietnam war. Vietnam war carlos hathcock was a usmc sniper who will forever be a legend. It is more of a rant about politics and praise for the marine corps,which they certainly deserve.