Harrowing and unforgettable, these accounts pay tribute to the heroes who made the greatest sacrifice of all. Allied snipers in 15 extraordinary photographs during wwii. After his death, a variant of the m25 rifle was named after him. His fellow american warriors, whom he protected with deadly precision from rooftops and stealth positions during the iraq war, called him the legend. There have been sharpshooters and snipers ever since the advent of firearms. Chris kyle is the most decorated and revered sniper in american military history and had more than 150 confirmed kills during his time in iraq and afghanistan. Whether he pulled down on a highly decorated nva officer or some anonymous vc cadre, the american sniper faced unique challenges in vietnam. Most decorated soldier of vietnam war was also a troublemaker. Carlos hathcock, american sniper ooorah vietnam war.
In addition to your three sog books, you are also the author of ultimate sniper, the history of sniping and sharpshooting. The book is an interesting biography and treatise on what it takes to be. A snipers vietnam revealed that he had the most confirmed kills in marine corps history. He was also one of the most decorated soldier in american international combat, even. The best thing about this sniper was the fact that he killed only german officers. In the 1980s gritz undertook a series of private trips into southeast asia, purportedly to locate united states prisoners of war which as part of the vietnam war powmia issue some believed were still being held by laos and the socialist republic of vietnam. During the vietnam war, hathcock had 93 confirmed kills of pavn and viet cong personnel. Howard was wounded 14 times while serving over 54 months of combat. Another key topic is the 9th infantry divisions sniper program. In fact, the 9th infantry divisions sergeant adelbert waldron was americas topscoring sniper of all time with 109 confirmed kills. 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. In just 16 months he killed 103 enemies and another 216 kills were listed as probables by the military.
This marine was the american sniper of the vietnam war. The garand was a great infantry rifle, but it didnt do as well for sniping. Known as the vietnam wars deadliest sniper, carlos hathcock once killed an enemy sniper through their own rifle scope from 500 yards away. He won a battlefield commission at 20 to become the youngest captain the korean war and was the. A vietnam war sniper crawled for 3 days across 2000m of. Waldron was awarded the distinguished service cross twice. Raw, straightforward, and powerful, ed kuglers account of his two years as a marine scoutsniper in vietnam vividly captures his experiences there the good, the bad, and the ugly. 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. One of the scout snipers greatest engagements came when an enemy platoon was attempting to cross a river at night on valentines day to attack an american base. These are the 10 deadliest snipers in history tribunist. He tells about his chronological experiences in the jungles of vietnam where he was deployed for a year.
Audie leon murphy 20 june 1925 28 may 1971 was an american soldier, actor, songwriter, and rancher. Incredibly, he would earn 91 medals as one of the most decorated soldiers who ever lived, including two distinguished service crosses, 10 silver stars, 8 bronze stars, and 8 purple hearts. Americas top sniper of the vietnam war wasnt a marine. Just to become a navy seal, you need to complete what is widely considered as the toughest military training in the world. Usmc sniper legend carlos hathcock his own words complete. Carlos hathcock, the marine sniper whose exploits can hardly be. White feather is the only authorized biography of gunnery sergeant carlos hathcock ii, who was recognized as the most successful sniper in the vietnam war.
Marines got all the press and the glory, but an army guy was the top sniper shot of the vietnam war. Joe ronnie hooper june 17, 2019 by katie lange several medal of honor recipients earn the honor for a moment of. 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. Navy seal chris kyle recorded the most career sniper kills in united states military history. Webb is an accomplished seal sniper turned entrepreneur and investor. It focuses on his kills and how he made them, and the intense moment he has had. These 3 snipers had more kills than carlos hathcock in vietnam. Silent warrior is a nonfiction book about the marine sniper staff sergeant carlos hathcock. Who is the most decorated sniper in the american military. Americas most decorated soldier exposes the real truth about. Ruby bradley world war ii and korean war a survivor of two wars, a prison camp and near starvation, colonel ruby bradley is one of the most decorated women in u.
It looked good and so i bought it, and here is what its about. At the dawn of world war ii in 1939, josef stalin sent over half a million men across russias western border to invade. Oct 25, 2017 the anti vietnam war movement in 39 photos. A sniper s vietnam revealed that he had the most confirmed kills in marine corps history. Tells the exciting true story of sergeant carlos hathcock, a legendary marine sniper in the vietnam war. 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. Murphy received the medal of honor for valor that he demonstrated at the age of 19 for.
David hackworth left home at 14 in search of a war. He was, and still is, the worlds most decorated sniper and has the most confirmed kills in history. Waldron had served in the united states navy for 12 years before going to civilian life. Hes book shooter nothing to do with the movie is a good book.
Chris kyle shot looters, carjackers, punched jesse ventura. Dec 07, 2017 with 62 decorations for valor, gritz was the most decorated green beret of the vietnam war. How white death simo hayha became the deadliest sniper in. After enlisting in the marines at 17, then being wounded in santo domingo during the dominican crisis, kugler arrived in vietnam in early 1966. Snipers training at the same sniper school as the photographs above, somewhere in a french village, 27 july 1944. 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. Fifth marine sniper was the most decorated platoon in the vietnam war. A marine snipers twoyear odyssey in the vietnam war. This book came to me while i was at a book store, just looking around. Culbertson 2003, paperback at the best online prices at ebay.
From june 1967 to june 1968, tom johnson accumulated an astonishing 1,600 flying hours piloting the uh1 iroquois better known as the huey as part of the famous first air cavalry division. June 19, 2019 comments off on seven hours under enemy fire. Raw, straightforward, and powerful, ed kuglers account of his two years as a marine scout sniper in vietnam vividly captures his experiences there the good, the bad, and the ugly. He was awarded the medal of honor for his actions on february 21, 1968. Brandon webb, former navy seal sniper, and sniper instructor. The vietnam wars audie murphy decatur widow recalls husband, conflicts most decorated soldier. Sergeant ronnie hooper is the most highly awarded soldier of the vietnam war and one of the most internationally decorated soldiers in the world. Navy seal chris kyle, and the source for clint eastwoods blockbuster movie which was nominated for six academy awards, including best picture from 1999 to 2009, u. A sniper applying camouflage face cream at a sniper school in a normandy village, 27 july 1944. Receiving two distinguished service crosses, waldron also became the most decorated sniper. Oct 04, 2018 the decorated marine pilot whose heroics helped stop 1973 new pentagon investigating whether fire that killed marine raider the sandgram 11 legends of the us marine corps americas military.
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. A british sniper takes aim through the telescopic sights of his rifle on the range at a sniper training school in france, 27 july 1944. As one of the most talented snipers of his day, webb held the prestigious position of sniper course manager at the naval special warfare school. Kyles heroism and service give reason to celebrate his life, however, the public and media often. A sniper s vietnam, carlos hathcocks 93 confirmed kills was considered the vietnam record. The fame of this sniper can be understood from the fact that the movie, enemy at the gates, featured his life. Mar 27, 2018 simo hayha has the most confirmed kills of any sniper on record and he endured astonishing conditions to earn that title. One of the scout sniper s greatest engagements came when an enemy platoon was attempting to cross a river at night on valentines day to attack an american base. While carlos hathcock is perhaps the most famous sniper of the vietnam war, he actually. While under heavy enemy fire he helped drag the wounded to safety. Carlos norman hathcock ii may 20, 1942 february 22, 1999 was a united states marine.
Merchant marine at age 14, towards the end of world war ii, when teenagers routinely entered the armed services before their. Merchant marine at age 14, towards the end of world war ii, when teenagers routinely entered the armed services before their 18th birthday by lying about their age. It was the only army division to make widespread use of snipers in vietnam. Army, as well as french and belgian awards for heroism. Howard was born july 11, 1939 and he died at age 70 on december 23, 2009. Otero barreto has been called the most decorated puerto rican veteran, and the news media and various organizations have called him the most decorated soldier in the vietnam war. The decorated marine pilot whose heroics helped stop 1973 new pentagon investigating whether fire that killed marine raider the sandgram 11 legends of the us marine corps americas military. In the military in vietnam, it took some 204 hours of special training to produce a. Two viet cong prisoners are led to an arvn command outpost at ha tien.
Dec 15, 2008 snipers werent really decorated like other miliatry members, but if you are set on doing the bio on a sniper, definately look up gunnery sergeant carlos hathcock, usmc 0 3 0 login to reply the answers post. After supplies and weapons were found in a viet cong tunnel network, a soldier burns a nearby hut used for rice storage by the viet cong. Faye hooper will gather with others this morning at 10 at roselawn cemetery and do what she recommends for every american. Jan 26, 2019 incredibly, he would earn 91 medals as one of the most decorated soldiers who ever lived, including two distinguished service crosses, 10 silver stars, 8 bronze stars, and 8 purple hearts.
He received every military combat award for valor available from the u. The marine corps conducted all other significant sniper operations. Marine corps during vietnam and holds the record for number of confirmed kills for marine snipers, exceeding that of legendary marine sniper carlos hathcock. Some boys dream of running away to join the circus. 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. Well, this vietnam war veteran had his share nonjudicial punishments authorized by article 15 of ucmj, racked up 115 confirmed kills and was awarded the medal of honor. He served five tours in vietnam and is the only soldier in our nations history to be nominated for the congressional medal of honor three times for three separate actions within a thirteen month period. Among the most respected and feared warriors on the planet in the modern era, navy seals are trained for the sea, air, and land operations. He taught himself to shoot as a boy, just like alvin york and audie murphy before him. Here is the most decorated soviet sniper from the times of the second world war. In ten years, webb deployed to the middle east four times. 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. Most decorated american soldier in us military history.
Mar 23, 2016 well, this vietnam war veteran had his share nonjudicial punishments authorized by article 15 of ucmj, racked up 115 confirmed kills and was awarded the medal of honor. Carlos hathcock always wore a white feather on his cap, as if to dare enemy snipers to take a shot at him. Mawhinneys work in the vietnam war was almost forgotten until a book, dear mom. His battalion was one of the most decorated units of the vietnam war, and helped redefine modern warfare. During the vietnam war, marine gunnery sergeant carlos hathcock white feather became the most accomplished sniper of the era, with. The title of most decorated american soldier probably goes to robert lewis howard, a us army soldier and medal of honor recipient of the vietnam war. 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. He won a battlefield commission at 20 to become the youngest captain the korean war and was the youngest full bird colonel in vietnam. Hathcocks record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the u. I know he was top ranked but i dont know if that was all time or not. One of hathcocks most famous accomplishments was shooting an enemy sniper. Long before chris kyle penned american sniper, carlos hathcock was already a legend.
Five of the best snipers of all time business insider. He was also one of the most decorated soldier in american international combat, even eclipsing both alvin york and audie murphy. The great sniper ever told in world history vietnam war. With 62 decorations for valor, gritz was the most decorated green beret of the vietnam war. He served with the 9th infantry division of the united states army. Prior to the publication of fellow marine sniper joseph wards book, dear mom. A chinese sniper who fought in the korean war with 214 confirmed kills in 32 days. Sep 26, 2015 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.