Sniper apreciation

[boosterp]

Ahead of Veterans Day in 1941 the Army created the first official sniper school.

I was selected after basic training to go because of my score but my MOS (being a medic and we were in need) prevented me from going. I have an old Army buddy from when I was in who taught sniper school for 4 years and now he is part of special ops. I can say he is stationed in Afghanistan but I think that is all I am allowed to say. I have kept up my skills but wonder what it would be like in today's warzone behind a sniper rifle?

My asking with this post is to please honor these Army and Marine snipers. They do a lot in 2 man teams often left without support or communication for 48 hours or more.

Thank you.

[PapaBear]

Don't bother running. You'll just die tired.

[boosterp]

I should add that I did this because he had sent me an email that one of his students died recently in Afghanistan while in combat. I do not know if I can say the unit but this guy got a posthumous Silver Star.

Edit to say i think I can add this; the spotter got awar with a purple heart, not sure (email did not specify) what else happened.

[boosterp]

I will also add it is just over a year and a month since a guy I trained was blown up in a Humvee road side explosion. He is a Staff Sergeant, was a Private First Class when I trained him. He lives with his parents, had such a head injury he has to write himself notes to remember his daily activities, deaf in one ear, and partially blind in one eye.

I honor each of these people whether I know them or not, just this hit home.

I still hold a secret (downgraded when I left the military) clearance so I get to know the intimate details sometimes I wish I did not. My Army.mil mailbox is sometimes tearfully difficult to read.

[Farmer Dave]

Nerves of steel, those guys. They are the shit.

[A.J.]

The only thing they feel is recoil.

[mendyweiss]

http://www.grunt.com/scuttlebutt/corps-stories/heroes/carloshathcock.asp

Lock it up

[El Mudo]

http://www.dontroiani.com/images/product_large/24R-Berdan%27s-Sharpshooters-1863.jpg


FTW

[Tallman388]

http://www.grunt.com/scuttlebutt/corps-stories/heroes/carloshathcock.asp

Lock it up

I agree (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Hathcock).

[biggestmexi]

sniper elite....great game

[Furtherman]

http://www.grunt.com/scuttlebutt/corps-stories/heroes/carloshathcock.asp

Lock it up

I agree (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Hathcock).

x3.

I highly recommend reading his story. Edge of your seat tension and just incredible.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0425103552.01.LZZZZZZZ.gif

[Dougie Brootal]

my buddy corey was a sniper over there. hes got some crazy stories.

[Tallman388]

x3.

I highly recommend reading his story. Edge of your seat tension and just incredible.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0425103552.01.LZZZZZZZ.gif

Read it, it was fucking crazy! I might have to go back and re-read it.

I know he's not a sniper, but the story of Roy Benavidez (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Benavidez) is equally inspring.

[boosterp]

http://www.grunt.com/scuttlebutt/corps-stories/heroes/carloshathcock.asp

Lock it up

No shit, he is the bad ass of badasses.


I know he's not a sniper, but the story of Roy Benavidez (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Benavidez) is equally inspring.

Roy P. was quite the man, I did a book report on him in Jr. High. He suffered through life after that but damn I wanted to be half the soldier that he was.

[TheMojoPin]

Snipers are just sociopathic creeps.

They're all probably perverts, too.

CREEPS.

[ANC]

Really?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4C_tSMqS810/SJu7R8ECmwI/AAAAAAAABfU/0HBo0JfRDHI/s400/Mohel.jpg

Oh I'm sorry, you said sniper.


Yes I honor them. I wanna go to sniper school!

"No women, no kids" <bang>

[furie]

i have nothing but respect for snipers.

as i stated in another thread, I only fired a sniper rifle once, and ended up smacking myself in the eye with the scope.
granted i'm an idiot,
still, the skill and dedication they display is worthy of our respect

[beachbum]

Read it, it was fucking crazy! I might have to go back and re-read it.

I know he's not a sniper, but the story of Roy Benavidez (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Benavidez) is equally inspring.

This is a great book.The Lt Burke in the book was my mom's cousin.He was in charge of the sniper teams and was killed in "Nam.

[Brad in Bama]

My Uncle served as both a spotter, and a shooter in the Army. Those guys stick their necks out with little or no support in hostile territory and for the most part are alone for days.

Those guys are probably pretty high up on the list of unsung hero's.

[boosterp]

Gary Gordon sacrificed his life for others in Somalia. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Gordon)

Randy Shughart sacrificed his life in Somalia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Shughart)


Top Vietnam sniper. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelbert_Waldron)

# Canadian soldier Corporal Rob Furlong, formerly of the PPCLI (Operation Anaconda, Afghanistan) - holds the record for the longest-ever recorded and confirmed sniper kill at 2,430 meters (1.509 miles) using a .50 caliber (12.7 mm) McMillan TAC-50 rifle.[11][41]
# U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Timothy L. Kellner - regarded as one of the top snipers still active in the U.S. Army with 139 confirmed kills and over 100 unconfirmed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
# Canadian soldier Master Corporal Arron Perry, formerly of the PPCLI (Operation Anaconda, Afghanistan) - briefly held the record for the longest-ever recorded and confirmed sniper kill at 2,310 meters (1.435 miles) after eclipsing US Marine Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock's previous record of 2,286 meters (1.420 miles) until it was later eclipsed by fellow Canadian Corporal Rob Furlong. Hathcock's record had stood for thirty five years. Perry used a .50 caliber (12.7 mm) McMillan TAC-50 rifle.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

Is this thread and the mikeyboy thread from today related in some inexplicable way?

[boosterp]

Is this thread and the mikeyboy thread from today related in some inexplicable way?

Gvac has not paid me yet so no.

[Furtherman]

Sniper kills Qaeda-from 1½ mi. away (http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/sniper_kills_qaeda_from_mi_away_sTm0xFUmJNal3HgWlm EgRL)


It was silent but deadly.

A British sniper set a world sharpshooting record by taking out two Taliban soldiers in Afghanistan from more than a mile and a half away -- a distance so great, experts say the terrorists wouldn't have even heard the shots.

Craig Harrison killed the two insurgents from an astounding distance of 8,120 feet -- or 1.54 miles -- in Helmand Province last November firing an Accuracy International L11583 long-range rifle.

"The first round hit a machine-gunner in the stomach and killed him outright," said Harrison, a corporal of horse in the British Army's Household Cavalry, the equivalent of a sergeant in the American military.

"The second insurgent grabbed the weapon and turned as my second shot hit him in the side. He went down, too," Harrison told the Sunday Times of London.

[Serpico1103]

This happened recently? That is scary, like a level 5(?) tornado, the hand of god.
I shot my friend's vietnam sniper rifle recently, did't do anything long range, but I like the bolt action, makes you feel more connected than a semi-auto.
Of course, the semi-auto can be useful.

[StanUpshaw]

A Brit should not be better at shooting guns than an American. That's just crazy talk.

[A.J.]

Sniper kills Qaeda-from 1½ mi. away (http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/sniper_kills_qaeda_from_mi_away_sTm0xFUmJNal3HgWlm EgRL)

Beautiful.