Review (PDF) Silent Warrior: The Marine Sniper's Story Vietnam Continues
In the United States Marine Corps, the most dangerous job in combat is that of the sniper. With no backup and little communication with the outside world, these men disappeared for weeks on end in the wilderness with nothing but intellect and iron will to protect them--as they would watch, wait, and finally strike. But of all of the snipers who ever hunted human prey, one man stands above and beyond as one of the most legendary fighting men ever to pull a trigger… That man was Carlos Hathcock. In Marine Sniper, the true-life missions of United States Marine Corps sniper Carlos Hathcock were revealed in explosive detail. Now, the incredible story of a remarkable Marine continues—with harrowing, never-before-published accounts of courage and perseverance. These are the powerful stories of a man who rose to greatness not for personal gain or glory, but for duty and honor. A rare inside look at the U.S. Marine’s most challenging missions—and the one man who made military history.
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley; Reprint edition (January 7, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425188647
ISBN-13: 978-0425188644
Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.9 x 6.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (107 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #338,423 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #90 in Books > History > Military > Life & Institutions #250 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Military > Vietnam War #574 in Books > History > Military > United States > Vietnam War
When I read Silent Warrior I was expecting to read about more experiences that Carlos Hathcock had while in Vietnam. I had already read Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills (of which I must say two things: 1- is an absolutely magnificent book, and 2- is necessary to get much of anything from this sequel) and found that this book did nothing to live up to my expectations. Instead of reading about new adventures, I found myself seemingly rereading Marine Sniper. Indeed, the only chapter which held my interest was chapter 12- The Valor of Corporal John R. Burke. Besides this, there wasn't another high-point for me.In the preface, author Charles Henderson writes that over 300 pages were cut by the publisher of Marine Sniper for marketability due to length. Not being able to predict the success of this first novel, this was probably necessary. However, later taking the cut material and marketing it as a continuing story is not fair. The material in Silent Warrior seems to be the extraneous information which was cut, and though while it may add some degree of color and vitality to the event which it describes, does little on its own since the description of the major event is missing since it is in Marine Sniper. In my opinion, Henderson would have been better off to write an expanded version of Marine Sniper with the cut material added to it.Overall, I would have settled for just reading Marine Sniper, which is a truely wonderful read. Silent Warrior has detail, and I LOVE detail, but this detail seems out of context to me since it is largely about the events in Marine Sniper, and the description of these events is not as complete as in Marine Sniper. I gave this book a 1 star rating because it was a great disappointment.
I read the really bad putdown that the reader from Oceanside hands Silent Warrior and its author. I have read both Marine Sniper and Silent Warrior and found their depictions very accurate. I was in Vietnam as a Marine and drank 333 Beer. I even had a T-shirt with the yellow, red and black 333 label on it. Corporal Burke was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism at Khe Sanh. I have personally read the documentation, and know the Gunny who put Burke in for the Navy Cross (second to the Medal of Honor). Burke was not acting as a sniper at Khe Sanh, but as a rifle squad leader, and had several men on the hill under his leadership when overrun. He saved their lives, and died doing it. It is documented fact, easily obtainable through Marine Corps headquarters. Henderson draws Burke's death directly from what is written in the documentation used to award the Navy Cross to Burke. Did they get it wrong too? The reader's accusation that Burke's heroism and character are false is shameful. With time memories do fade, and Viet Vets like myself and Henderson may remember things differently. Little things like German Tape, so what!
Breathe, Relax, Aim, Stop, Squeeze. The technique taught to all Marine recruits during marksmanship training and an appropriate metaphor for Charles Henderson's follow up to Marine Sniper. Thorough with it's attention to detail as well as enlightening, Henderson includes that material which was cut from his first book about Carlos Hathcock and additional information garnered from North Vietnamese military personnel, including those who had tried in vain to eliminate Hathcock and Jim Land on the battlefield over 30 years ago. I was pleasantly surprised to read about David Sommers who served as Sergeant Major of Second Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California nearly 20 years ago when I made that transformation from slimy civilian to United States Marine and his relationship with Hathcock. The letter to Henderson from Jerry Burke Bouchard, sister of Corporal John R. Burke, will simply bring you to tears.All Americans owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Henderson for bringing Hathcock's story to print again. Every Marine whether active duty, reserve, former, officer or enlisted should have these books in their library. If you haven't read either, then read both. If you've already read them, then read them again.
I have read Silent Warrior as well as Charles Henderson's first book about Carlos Hathcock II, Marine Sniper, and I enjoyed this book just as much as I enjoyed the first one. Both were well written, and both were inspiring. The life and career of Carlos Hathcock II embody those traits most noble in mankind: courage and devotion to duty, but most of all, concern and love for a fellow human being. Carlos Hathcock II demonstrated that care time and again in risking his own life to help protect his fellow Marines, and especially in risking himself saving men from a burning vehicle. His friend and fellow sniper took this to the ultimate limit in sacrificing his life to save injured men.I feel that this book, along with its companion volume, Marine Sniper, could be an inspiration, not only to servicemembers, in ALL branches of the military, but also to the public in general.
I'll keep this short. Marine Sniper is an astonishing account of Carlos Hathcock's unique courage and dedication during his service in Vietnam. Anyone interested in the Marine Corps, the Vietnam War, sniping, or military heroes must read Marine Sniper. And if you read it, then you won't have to read Silent Warrior. Why? Because Silent Warrior is the exact same book, except not nearly as well done. The same exact stories - the Apache, the NVA general, the Frenchman, Burke's death, the VC sniper hunt, Hathcock's rehabilitation of his unit upon his return to Vietnam - are retold in Silent Warrior, except in sketchier form, and frequently intermingled with the author's fabricated conjectures about Hathcock's state of mind as he died of MS. Don't buy this book. It is a shameless ripoff, and a transparent money grab by Charles Henderson, who apparently couldn't think of anything new to write so he wrote the same book twice. This is a disappointing waste of money. Avoid, avoid.
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