Reading '13 Cent Killers' feels like crouching in the bush beside these snipers. Mawhinney’s chapter reads like a thriller—how he’d wait days for the perfect shot, sometimes letting closer targets pass to hit higher-value ones. The book emphasizes teamwork too; spotter Joe Ward’s role in calling wind adjustments was crucial, though he rarely gets the spotlight.
What stuck with me was the ethical weight. These men weren’t just counting kills; they agonized over civilians and refused questionable orders. The author doesn’t glorify war but shows sniping as a grim calculus—one life taken to save dozens. The gear section is gold: how they waterproofed rifles with condoms, or used chewing gum to stabilize loose scope mounts. For more on this era, try 'Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills' for Hathcock’s story, or 'Dead Center' for Ed Kugler’s gritty memoir.
If you want to understand the art of sniping in Vietnam, '13 Cent Killers' is essential reading. It doesn't just list names—it immerses you in the lives of these Marines. Mawhinney’s 103 confirmed kills make him the most lethal, but what’s fascinating is how he adapted his techniques. Unlike traditional snipers, he often worked without a spotter, relying on his intimate knowledge of wind and terrain. His record shot—a 900-yard kill—wasn’t just luck; it was physics and intuition combined.
Then there’s Carlos Hathcock, though technically 1st Marine Division, his influence bled into the 5th’s tactics. His white feather signature became a psychological weapon. The book contrasts these legends with unsung heroes like Bob Chastain, whose fieldcraft was so refined he could disappear into a patch of grass. Their gear was basic—mostly M40 rifles with rudimentary scopes—yet their impact was disproportionate. One chapter details how a single sniper team stalled a Viet Cong battalion for hours by picking off officers methodically. The psychological toll on enemy forces was often as crippling as the physical losses.
The book '13 Cent Killers: The 5th Marine Snipers in Vietnam' highlights some of the deadliest marksmen in Marine Corps history. Chuck Mawhinney stands out with 16 confirmed kills in one day alone, his patience and precision legendary among his peers. Eric England was another key figure, known for his calm under pressure and ability to take out targets at extreme ranges. These snipers weren't just shooters; they were masters of camouflage, tracking, and psychological warfare. Their skills turned the jungle into a hunting ground, where one well-placed shot could change the course of an entire engagement. The book details how their training and instincts made them fearsome opponents, with some achieving kill ratios that are still studied in military courses today.
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Savage Sons MC Books 1-5
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Savage Sons Mc books 1-5 is a collection of MC romance stories which revolve around five key characters and the women they fall for.
Havoc -
A sweet like honey accent and a pair of hips I couldn’t keep my eyes off.That’s how it started.Darcie Summers was playing the part of my old lady to keep herself safe but we both know it’s more than that.There’s something real between us.Something passionate and primal.Something my half brother’s stupidity will rip apart unless I can get to her in time.
Cyber - Everyone has that ONE person that got away, right?
The one who you wished you had treated differently.
For me, that girl has always been Iris.So when she turns up on Savage Sons territory needing help, I am the man for the job.
Every time I look at her I see the beautiful girl I left behind but Iris is no longer that girl.
What I put into motion years ago has shattered her into a million hard little pieces.
And if I’m not careful they will cut my heart out.
Fang-The first time I saw her, she was sat on the side of the road drinking whiskey straight from the bottle.
The second time was when I hit her dog.
I had promised myself never to get involved with another woman after the death of my wife.
But Gypsy was different.
Sweeter, kinder and with a mouth that could make a sailor blush.
She was also too good for me.
I am Fang, President of the Savage Sons. I am not a good man, I’ve taken more lives than I care to admit even to myself.
But I’m going to keep her anyway.
They had a pact. SEAL Team Seven, seven men who had formed an unbreakable bond while fighting to protect their country. None of them would marry until their service to home and country had been fulfilled. Now five of the brothers have found love, smack dab in the middle of them trying to chase down a madman who’s out to destroy them and everything they love.As the only two left standing, Quinn and Devon decided that their job now was to protect their brothers and their women. Though they got a kick out of watching the by-play between their brothers and their new sisters, neither man believed that life was for him.Seal Team Quinn and Devon is created by Jordan Silver, an eGlobal Creative Publishing Signed Author.
In this continuing saga, the seven brothers in arms who have retired to their little slice of heaven finds themselves embroiled with some kind of mastermind criminal ring. With suspicions rising about the death of their old friend the commander, Logan has his hands full with his new lady love. A little firebrand who doesn't fear the SEAL not even a little bit and is set on giving him fits at every turn. SEAL Team Connor and Logan is Created by Jordan Silver, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.
Aiden, a skilled sniper who initially served in the border areas of the world's most conflicted, but was suddenly drawn to become the leader of the elite presidential guard, as well as to carry out a suicide mission that he never imagined before. In this mission, he must take care of a beautiful girl who is innocent, but dangerous because she is the daughter of one of the most well-known mafia in the world. Aiden's task is not only to protect the girl from those who want her life, he also has to keep the girl away from those who want all of her father's possessions in Cuba.
Aiden's task to protect Calistha is getting heavier when sparks of desire between them begin to ignite. Aiden had never been with a woman before. And Calistha would be the first woman to be his weakness.
What makes a hero?
They say a hero is someone that has given his life to something bigger than himself.
I say a hero is no braver than an ordinary man, he is just braver for five minutes longer.
All soldiers are brave, it's what they do with their bravery that makes them heroes.
Am I a hero?
Clayton Jackson dedicated his life to serving his country. Enlisting in the Marine Corps at the young age of eighteen, he never imagined following any other path. However, fate had other plans for him as a life-altering accident during his last deployment left him disabled and forces him to return home.
Hiding in the small town he grew up in, Clayton tries to keep his secret from his loved ones at all costs. One day while seeking refuge from his troubled mind, his path crosses with Isabella Jones. Their connection is instantaneous as if the universe conspired to bring them together.
Isabella, a mysterious and enigmatic woman, is haunted by the demons from her own past. As their relationship quickly blossoms, the unspoken truths between them threaten to tear them apart. When Clayton is presented with the opportunity to rejoin the Marine Corps, Isabella is faced with a decision: whether to accompany him or remain behind.
Caught in this web of secrets and lies, they try to navigate their love through the murky waters, desperately hoping to find solace in each other's arms. But will love be enough to conquer the shadows that lingered in their hearts? Or would the truth ultimately be their undoing?
Blanche Lucille Emerson, a relentless and calculating Captain haunted by the loss of her wife, Venus, in a mysterious accident. Now driven by a thirst for vengeance, Blanche navigates a world of secrets, betrayal, and political machinations as she digs into the layers of deceit that surround her family's powerful pharmaceutical empire.
Alongside her, Yama Laine, a trusted ally, and Cessair, her estranged sister, reveal their own hidden agendas. Blanche uncovers a vast conspiracy linked to General Grey and an underground organization known as the Black Spectre, which her father, Silas Grey, once controlled. The deeper she digs, the more she realizes that not only her wife’s death but also her parents' and countless others' were orchestrated to protect a dark secret connected to her family.
As Blanche takes calculated risks and enlists Yama’s help, her plan teeters between survival and self-destruction. Along the way, her encounters with spies like Aracelli and the revelation of her sister Cessair’s resentment deepen the conflict. Old alliances crumble, as personal motivations clash, and long-buried truths about her family and its ties to the Black Market come to light.
All the while, Blanche's mind is torn between her mission and her lingering love for Venus. With a final showdown on the horizon, the question remains: Can Blanche take down the enemy and clear her family’s name, or will the weight of the past bury her alive?
Catch-22: To Die is To Live Hard is a story of revenge, loyalty, and the heavy price of uncovering the truth.
I recently dug into '13 Cent Killers' and the true story angle is fascinating. The book blends real Marine sniper tactics with fictional elements for dramatic effect. While not a direct historical account, it pulls from actual Vietnam War sniper operations where Marines used the 13 cent stamp as their unofficial emblem. The author clearly researched the legendary Carlos Hathcock and other confirmed kills from that era. The gear descriptions match period-accurate equipment like the M40 rifle. What makes it feel authentic is how it captures the psychological toll of sniping - the endless waiting, the precision calculations, the moral weight of taking lives at 1000 yards. It's a gritty, boots-on-the-ground perspective that rings true even if some characters are composites.