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USMC Sniper stops insurgents from 950 yards
marines.mil ^

Posted on 11/30/2004 2:32:35 AM PST by iso

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 27, 2004) -- A U.S. Marine sniper waited patiently inside a one-story house deep within the city. Lying in the prone position for several hours, he scanned the area through his scope before he finally found the three insurgents responsible for two previous mortar attacks.

Sgt. Memo M. Sandoval, a platoon sergeant with Scout Sniper Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, needed to positively identify the insurgents before he could take his shot.

Sandoval, 26, saw that one of the men was about to place a mortar in a mortar tube. He knew he had to make a well-aimed shot before the insurgent gunner launched the deadly round. Sandoval cleared his thoughts and slowed his breathing as he gently squeezed the trigger of his M-40A3 sniper rifle. The 7.62 mm round covered the 950 yards in a flash, slamming into the chest of the first insurgent.

"The battalion (executive officer) ordered me to 'make the mortars stop,'" said Sandoval, a native of El Paso, Texas. "I took it personally and went out specifically to stop the insurgents."

With two more insurgents still alive and ready to continue the mortar attack, Sandoval composed himself for the next shot at the assistant gunner. The last two shots took out the driver of the vehicle that carried the weapon.

"When I finally spotted them along a tree line, I realized how far they were but it was surprising how easy it was," said Sandoval.

Those four shots were the longest in Sandoval has taken since he became a scout sniper.

"It was very impressive of Sandoval to shoot from so far away and be on target with all four shots," said 1st Lt. Samuel Rosales, a platoon commander with Scout Sniper Platoon, H&S Co., 3/5.

"When you are being mortared you never know where they will land, to be able to stop them from shooting anymore felt good," said Sandoval.

He joined the Marine Corps straight out of high school in 1997 and has been with 3/5 since April. His leadership ability has reflected on the Marines around him and allowed Sandoval to accomplish his mission.

"(Sandoval) is filling a staff noncommissioned officer's billet, He is a great Marine to work with," said Rosales, 32, a native of San Clemente, Calif.

After recently reenlisting for four more years, Sandoval, who has been in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since September, hopes to represent the United States in the Olympics in competition shooting.

Sandoval says a fellow Marine, Staff Sgt. Jared M. Casanova, with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, helped him improve his skills with the rifle, which has become a valuable commodity in Iraq.

"We have always been in competitions against each other, one day he would win and the next day I would win," said Sandoval. "Out here in Iraq it is a two way rifle range, with insurgents shooting at you. You have to make well aimed shots."


TOPICS: War on Terror
KEYWORDS: banglist; hooah; marines; marinesnipers; snipers
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To: iso

bttt


41 posted on 11/30/2004 3:48:07 AM PST by Born Conservative (New annual national holiday for liberals: Shock and Awe Day , November 3rd.)
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To: cowtowney; Recon Dad
When my son was 13 or 14, he handed me a book, Marine Sniper, and said "Read this Mom, you'll love it!" The Carlos Hathcock story is incredible.
42 posted on 11/30/2004 3:50:38 AM PST by Quilla
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To: Stoat
And some contractors and soldiers use them too . :-)


43 posted on 11/30/2004 3:51:50 AM PST by iso
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To: iso
Teufelhunden bump
44 posted on 11/30/2004 3:53:37 AM PST by LowCountryJoe (Only to a Buchananite could one be a capitalism-extolling Marxist)
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To: Stoat
Still, the new rifle comes with some drawbacks. For one, it's heavier. The new rifle outweighs the old by 2 pounds. Some shooters still like the old rifle. "I'd rather shoot the M-40A1," said Sgt. Andrew C. Giermann, a reconnaissance and surveillance instructor with I Marine Expeditionary Force. "It's lighter than the M-40A3, making it much easier to maneuver." "The M-40A3 is more of a defense weapon," said Staff Sgt. Van Seelay, chief reconnaissance and surveillance instructor with I MEF. "It's basically a bench-rest weapon, and the M-40A1 is an offensive weapon because it's a lot easier to employ."

Reminds me of back in 1963 or so when we made the switch from the good ole M-1 to that new fangled thumb biting M-14.

Me, I liked the 20 round clips, so the M-14 and I became fast friends real quick.

45 posted on 11/30/2004 3:54:50 AM PST by newsgatherer
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To: MEG33

When I read the headline, I said, "Bet he's a Texan!" Lots of Latino surnames in this article, too. They make great soldiers, and El Paso and San Antonio have good reason to be proud of their sons.


46 posted on 11/30/2004 3:55:18 AM PST by kittymyrib
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To: Born Conservative
Been thinking about this some more ... and trying to relate 950 yards distance wise to something here locally. Damn!!! to think that someone can have you in their sites from over a 1/2 mile a way and your as good as dead is amazing.

I'd love to hear more stories about our sniper teams in Iraq and Afganistan.
47 posted on 11/30/2004 3:55:58 AM PST by ajolympian2004
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets
As the Southern Republican's daughter said, "Nice grouping, Daddy!" The ballistic accuracy of that weapon is awesome, the Marine's marksmanship incredible!

Tax dollars well-spent, bump.

Agreed, and I think that articles such as this help to improve public awareness of what our armed forces do, and with this greater understanding comes a greater willingness to support our troops.  Hopefully we can rebuild our armed forces back to pre-Clinton levels without endless budget cuts....our armed forces are a GREAT investment and I think that more and more people are realizing this.

48 posted on 11/30/2004 3:57:23 AM PST by Stoat
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To: iso
And some contractors and soldiers use them too . :-)

It's a great rifle, and in this case I'm glad that it's in the hands of a good guy  :-)

49 posted on 11/30/2004 4:00:01 AM PST by Stoat
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To: iso

Only thing missing...video! I love to see our service men and women in action!


50 posted on 11/30/2004 4:01:08 AM PST by 4everontheRight ( "I'm learning to dread one day at a time" --- Charlie Brown)
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To: kittymyrib

Indeed they do!..

Texas mourns the deaths of over a hundred Texans who have died serving our country in the war...and among those who gave all are those with names from Mexico and other countries south of the US.


51 posted on 11/30/2004 4:03:20 AM PST by MEG33 ( Congratulations President Bush!..Thank you God. Four More Years!)
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To: kittymyrib

Indeed they do!..

Texas mourns the deaths of over a hundred Texans who have died serving our country in the war...and among those who gave all are those with names from Mexico and other countries south of the US.


52 posted on 11/30/2004 4:03:20 AM PST by MEG33 ( Congratulations President Bush!..Thank you God. Four More Years!)
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To: newsgatherer
Reminds me of back in 1963 or so when we made the switch from the good ole M-1 to that new fangled thumb biting M-14.

Me, I liked the 20 round clips, so the M-14 and I became fast friends real quick.

I think that in recent decades, our military has been more open to change and quickly adopting new technologies than they may have been in times past.  Sometimes you need to carry some extra band-aids while you get used to the new things though  :-)

Thank you for serving our country  :-)


53 posted on 11/30/2004 4:04:57 AM PST by Stoat
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To: cowtowney

No, close, but the Canadians have it in Afghanistan

2430 Meters or 7987.5 feet as opposed to 7500 feet for the Gunny.

Still impressive both ways!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/713521/posts


54 posted on 11/30/2004 4:06:38 AM PST by MHak
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To: Stoat

You mean having girls with guns?

Yeah, I'm game!


55 posted on 11/30/2004 4:09:41 AM PST by Eagle Eye (Al Anbar -- not just another bad neighborhood, it's a state of mind)
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To: ajolympian2004

Check out past medalists. You'll find a very healthy representation from the Army and Army Reserve.

There have been some Olympics where the Army alone won more gold medals than some countries, and not just in shooting competitions.


56 posted on 11/30/2004 4:12:13 AM PST by Eagle Eye (Al Anbar -- not just another bad neighborhood, it's a state of mind)
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To: iso

Get 'er done!


57 posted on 11/30/2004 4:14:07 AM PST by Elephino
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To: 4everontheRight
Only thing missing...video! I love to see our service men and women in action!

Raw footage of Fallujah Fighting

 

58 posted on 11/30/2004 4:16:27 AM PST by Stoat
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To: iso

"Who's your Daddy?"

59 posted on 11/30/2004 4:16:42 AM PST by DBeers
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To: iso
When I finally spotted them along a tree line, I realized how far they were but it was surprising how easy it was.

    
When you care to send the very best.
60 posted on 11/30/2004 4:19:53 AM PST by oh8eleven (RVN '67- '68)
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