USMC SnipersUSMC Snipers

By

Mason Beemer

The USMC has always used snipers or The USMC has always used snipers or sharpshooters since thesharpshooters since the formation of formation of

the Corps.the Corps.

Believe it or not, until after the Vietnam Believe it or not, until after the Vietnam war, the sniper position was never kept war, the sniper position was never kept after a war and would have to start from after a war and would have to start from

scratch for each war.scratch for each war.

This soldier is using the new 50 cal. This soldier is using the new 50 cal. sniper rifle. It has a range of about 1 ½ sniper rifle. It has a range of about 1 ½

miles. miles. USMC_50_Cal_Sniper.wmvUSMC_50_Cal_Sniper.wmv

The military grade ballistic bullet can go The military grade ballistic bullet can go through a 2 ½ inch of steel and still have through a 2 ½ inch of steel and still have

the power to take out its target.the power to take out its target.

Snipers will train every day to keep Snipers will train every day to keep up their skill even in time of peace. up their skill even in time of peace.

Every sniper, while in training will Every sniper, while in training will have to make his own ghillie suit.have to make his own ghillie suit.

Just incase you didn’t see them Just incase you didn’t see them before.before.

Snipers always have a spotter with them. Snipers always have a spotter with them. Spotters help snipers find and target their Spotters help snipers find and target their

marks by giving them the range and the wind marks by giving them the range and the wind speed so they can make a precise shot.speed so they can make a precise shot.

This is Carlos Hathcock, he is the most This is Carlos Hathcock, he is the most successful sniper in the history of successful sniper in the history of snipers. His nickname was White snipers. His nickname was White

Feather, because of the white feather he Feather, because of the white feather he always had in his hat.always had in his hat.

He had 93 confirmed kills. His He had 93 confirmed kills. His actual total is believed to be well actual total is believed to be well

over 400.over 400.

One of Hathcock's most famous accomplishments One of Hathcock's most famous accomplishments was shooting an enemy sniper through his scope, was shooting an enemy sniper through his scope, hitting him in the eye and killing him Hathcock and hitting him in the eye and killing him Hathcock and John Burke, his spotter, were stalking the enemy John Burke, his spotter, were stalking the enemy

sniper in the jungle near Hill 55, the firebase where sniper in the jungle near Hill 55, the firebase where Hathcock was operating from. The sniper had Hathcock was operating from. The sniper had

already killed several Marines, and was believed to already killed several Marines, and was believed to have been sent specifically to kill Hathcock. When have been sent specifically to kill Hathcock. When Hathcock saw a flash of light (light reflecting off the Hathcock saw a flash of light (light reflecting off the enemy sniper's scope) in the bushes, he fired at it, enemy sniper's scope) in the bushes, he fired at it, shooting through the scope and killing the sniper. shooting through the scope and killing the sniper. Surveying the situation, Hathcock concluded that Surveying the situation, Hathcock concluded that the only feasible way he could have put the bullet the only feasible way he could have put the bullet

straight…straight…

down the enemy's scope and through his eye down the enemy's scope and through his eye would have been if both snipers were zeroing in would have been if both snipers were zeroing in on each other at the same time, and Hathcock on each other at the same time, and Hathcock

fired first, which gave him only a few seconds to fired first, which gave him only a few seconds to act. In theory, the two snipers could have killed act. In theory, the two snipers could have killed each other simultaneously. The enemy rifle was each other simultaneously. The enemy rifle was recovered and the incident is documented by a recovered and the incident is documented by a

photograph.photograph.

Hathcock only once removed the white Hathcock only once removed the white feather from his bush hat while deployed feather from his bush hat while deployed in Vietnam. During a volunteer mission in Vietnam. During a volunteer mission on his first deployment, he crawled over on his first deployment, he crawled over

a thousand meters of field to shoot a a thousand meters of field to shoot a commanding NVA general. He wasn't commanding NVA general. He wasn't informed of the details of the mission informed of the details of the mission until he was en route to his insertion until he was en route to his insertion point aboard a helicopter. This effort point aboard a helicopter. This effort

took four days and three nights, without took four days and three nights, without sleep, of constant inch-by-inch crawling.sleep, of constant inch-by-inch crawling.

As the general was stretching in the As the general was stretching in the morning, Carlos fired a single shot morning, Carlos fired a single shot which struck him in the chest and which struck him in the chest and killed him. He had to crawl back killed him. He had to crawl back

instead of run when soldiers started instead of run when soldiers started searching.searching.

After the arduous mission of killing the After the arduous mission of killing the general, Hathcock returned to the United general, Hathcock returned to the United

States in 1967. However, he missed States in 1967. However, he missed being away from the Marine Corps and being away from the Marine Corps and returned to Vietnam in 1969, where he returned to Vietnam in 1969, where he took command of a platoon of snipers. took command of a platoon of snipers.

In Carlos's words, one enemy soldier (or In Carlos's words, one enemy soldier (or "hamburger" as Carlos called them), "hamburger" as Carlos called them),

"shortly after sunset", almost stepped on "shortly after sunset", almost stepped on him as he lay camouflaged with grass him as he lay camouflaged with grass and vegetation in a meadow and vegetation in a meadow ("Marine ("Marine

Sniper" by Charles Henderson)Sniper" by Charles Henderson). At one . At one point he was nearly bitten by a bamboo point he was nearly bitten by a bamboo viper but had the presence of mind to viper but had the presence of mind to not move and give up his position.not move and give up his position.

Hathcock generally used the standard sniper Hathcock generally used the standard sniper rifle: The Winchester Model 70.30-06 caliber rifle: The Winchester Model 70.30-06 caliber rifle with the standard Unertl scope. On some rifle with the standard Unertl scope. On some

occasions, however, he used a different occasions, however, he used a different weapon: the .50-caliber M2 Browning weapon: the .50-caliber M2 Browning

Machine Gun, on which he mounted the Machine Gun, on which he mounted the Unertl scope, using a bracket of his own Unertl scope, using a bracket of his own

design.design. This weapon was accurate to 2500 This weapon was accurate to 2500 yards when fired one round at a time. At one yards when fired one round at a time. At one

point, he took careful aim at a courier carrying point, he took careful aim at a courier carrying a load of assault rifles and ammunition on a a load of assault rifles and ammunition on a

bicycle.bicycle.

He had second thoughts when he saw a 12-He had second thoughts when he saw a 12-year-old boy in his sights, but after year-old boy in his sights, but after

considering the intended use of those considering the intended use of those weapons, he fired, hitting the bicycle frame. weapons, he fired, hitting the bicycle frame. The boy tumbled over the handlebars and The boy tumbled over the handlebars and

grabbed a gun, so Hathcock killed him.grabbed a gun, so Hathcock killed him.