Talked to a Marine sniper who was in Vietnam

[5POINT56]

This was one of many pics I still have of Gunny and me. Gunny was a good friend of mine. I was introduced to him in 1993 by Neal Crane of the FBI at Quantico. Neal DID serve with Gunny and was a fellow sniper in his own platoon at the same time on one of Gunny's TsOD. He was a very soft spoken and gentle man. His wife Jo was as sweet and kind as can be as well. Gunny's son, GnySgt Carlos Hathcock III and I are still friends and shot side by side at Camp Perry DCM matches in 1995-96. We called Gunny from the firing line on my old "brick" Sprint PCS phone. It was quite an experience standing there listening to his dad coach him about "being in his bubble". On February 24th 1999, I recieved a call from Jo and Carlos III to say that Gunny passed the day before. Fortunately, I had gotten to see and visit with him for the last time in October, prior to his passing in February. He is sadly missed by myself and countless others.

George

Wow.

How incredibly cool.

[PhotomanM4]

As of January 15, 2004, there are 1,875 Americans still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War

Major Roy A. Knight, USAF
Laos
May 19, 1967

[jacketch]

I work with a fellow who was in the military and he frequently till stories about his service. Most of it is intentionally vague but interspersed with tales of being a sniper in Nam. He has given various service dates. He avoids talking about his training and usually answers questions with "If I told you, I'd have to kill you." He didn't know what rifle the military issued it's sniper teams.



I may never know the whole truth but in all likelihood he is just a bs'er. It is sad that he served honorably but feels he needs to 'embellish' his record.

By the way, I served USArmy '66-'69 in the Signal Corps and though I wasn't sent to Nam, I did serve honorably and am proud of what I did to contribute.

[Ofc.JL]

I can not imagine demeaning the sacrifice of so many American service members by lying about being something that they were not. That kind of Bravo Sierra gets all over me! I've heard it done about Desert Storm and now about Iraq. What unmitigated gall! My heart hurts for the sacrifice of American service men and women so some prick can brag and "impress" people. Be advised all you "phony" vets, what goes around, comes around. JL OUT!

[ZOMBIE101]

Thanx for the cool read

[madryan]

After I got out I was working at the Southern Oregon VA Domiciliary. One day I'm sitting there at my desk and this dude comes in all pissed off about his PTSD claim getting denied. So we start talking and after a while I start getting the distinct smell of BS so I pull his file and it turns out he was a pay clerk in Okinawa the whole time he was in. I pretty much threw him out of my office.

Both my grandfathers were in WWII. One was a B-26 pilot and the other was infantry in the Army. Grandpa Mac who was the grunt spent 39 straight months in combat in the S Pacific. Was shot multiple times, and never said a word about his exploits. Grandpa Dale the pilot flew his 25 missions and then shipped over for another 25, of which he flew 23 before the war ended.

In both cases I never knew jack about their service until I met some of their comrade's in arms, who told me all about them. It's funny how that works.

[Bigun]

I can not imagine demeaning the sacrifice of so many American service members by lying about being something that they were not. That kind of Bravo Sierra gets all over me! I've heard it done about Desert Storm and now about Iraq. What unmitigated gall! My heart hurts for the sacrifice of American service men and women so some prick can brag and "impress" people. Be advised all you "phony" vets, what goes around, comes around. JL OUT!

I work for a VA hospital, just about every vet we have problems with claims he was a Vietnam Vet and Special Forces or a sniper, when you see the actual service record most searved in Germany or Korea durring the conflict. Also to be remembered for every troop that saw combat there were 5 support troops that were living in the rear. I'm not saying that there wasnt any stress involved with living for a year in a combat zone but come on. It really is true the ones that really saw heavy combat do not talk about it and that leads to the real PTSD, unfortunately there are alot of posers sucking up the money and treatment needed by those who really have been there and done that. A friend of mine who searved 2 tours can not get PTSD treatment because he makes too much money but a person who saw no combat, doesnt have a service connected disability and hasnt been able to keep a job since being released from duty can move in for life. I realise I may be stepping on a few toes here but I"m feeling more than just a little dissalusioned by the way the VA is portrayed in the press, The poor conditions at most VA hospitals are caused by the vets themselves, constant vandalism, throwing trash everywhere, pissing and crapping on the grounds and a sense of entitlement that is hard to believe. I'm a Honorably discharged vet and am shocked to see the behavior and attitudes put foreward by many of our patients.