Oooh. What a cutie! The rifle's not bad either.
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."
Not me. I get a LARGE feeling of pleasure every time they read of another terrorist getting just what they deserve.
It's personal. See tag line...
Thanks for the reference. I'll check it out.
Dear Santa, I now know what I want for Christmas!!!
BTTT!
Oooh. What a cutie! The rifle's not bad either.
Ha ha ha!
Really?
Little Dr. Ruth?
Wow, I'll have to ask my friend the psychologist if she fits the 'profile'!!
Redefines the comment, "straight shooter"...
Tom Foreman: You were trained as a sniper?Dr. Ruth: We were all trained in the forerunner of the Israeli Defense Force, and for some reason that I can't explain I'm a very good sniper. I can put five bullets into this little red circle (makes circle with her fingers). I know how to throw hand grenades. I've never killed anybody. I was badly wounded.
He shows what one motivated marine and his rifle can do!
Our military at its best. Sometimes I wonder, where do so many great men come from? We're certainly lucky as nation.
Bump!
I saw that movie.. It was good. To me there was no good guys (both Russia and Germany was evil), it told the truth about the WWII.
Thanks, I forgot she was in the IDF...
Looks like you had decent weather for your LRR-1 class. It rained straight through mine. Nothing like going prone in the wet grass while it's drizzling and a raw 50 degrees out! It was interesting going for the 720 yard target in the fog... now you see it, now you don't...
I wonder if this marine has ever missed his intended target. He could always claim he forgot to adjust his sites and hit "Sites" by accident. Just a pleasant thought. (sarcasm)
For those interested heres a link to a group supporting snipers in Military.
http://www.adoptasniper.org/items.html
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