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."
I just used SVD .
I'm sorry, I don't understand. Can you tell me what SVD is?
"You can run but you'll just die tired" Get one for Carlos!
Well Done, Marine!!
Take two Bronze Stars and the rest of the day off!!
OH! The Dragunov. Yes, thank you for your clarification. A very popular rifle; some have been confiscated from terrorists in Iraq.
Agreed, they would be great! The Marine sniper training program is plenty rigorous and VERY physically-intensive as it is, so they would be naturals for biathlon competitions.
Simple and elegant. Nice rifle.
Not only do I like girls with guns, but that is a great shot of the pintle mounted Barret.
I've seen those mouunted with a SAW on a pintle right beside it.
Talk about a dream! Side by side pintles with a SAW on one and a Barret on the other.
I was thinking the same thing. I just love a happy ending.
My rifle back in college was the same way, with adjustable butt plate and cheek rest.
Excellent.
Agreed. Any serious shooter would be proud to own one.
JMO, but that Marine's shooting has already won him more significance than would an Olympic medal.
You'd be ready for anything with that setup, wouldn't you? :-)
"You can run but you'll just die tired" Get one for Carlos!
That's right. I think the longest sniper kill ever documented was US Marine Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock at 2500 yards in Vietnam.
http://www.grunt.com/scuttlebutt/corps-stories/heroes/carloshathcock.asp
Very impressive. One criticism. I think the military ought to teach military people to call them terrorists.
My rifle back in college was the same way, with adjustable butt plate and cheek rest.
Excellent.
Yes, it's great to know that our Marines are getting the very best and latest in technological advances isn't it?
Tax dollars well-spent, bump.
You are right .
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.