General Discussion

DustyJoe

(849 posts)

62. INFANTRY ?????

Wed Jan 28, 2015, 06:22 PM

Jan 2015

What unit were you in you were not supposed to engage the enemy ? Certainly not an Infantry unit.
I sure got into the wrong unit. The 199th Light Infantry was an Airmobile unit that were specifically flown to hotspots to interdict, engage and kill the enemy. Not flown in, look around, withdraw and call for help.

During TET 1968 the 199th was the only major reaction force in and around Saigon during the first days of Tet, they were charged with clearing the infamous Cholon district of Saigon including the Phu Tho Racetrack. Hardly making contact and pulling back, but routing them out of their stronghold and chasing them all the way back across the Cambodian border.

Line companies of the 199th usually had a complement of 2 snipers that carried M14 or Remington Model 700 or Winchester Model 70. These guys were not looked down on by their mates, but called on for very important anti-sniper and long range targets.

Seems like a few here talk the talk, but never walked the walk.

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How Snipers are Viewed by Soldiers: "Unacceptable to ordinary footsoldiers" [View all] kpete Jan 2015 OP

Do you think that our Infantry prefers to fight, without us having snipers? braddy Jan 2015 #1

Do you think our infantry prefers to fight illegal wars? Malraiders Jan 2015 #3

Since the topic is soldiering, tell us if you think our Infantry wants to eliminate the Sniper MOS braddy Jan 2015 #7

I remember reports and investigations of snipers placing a length of wire Malraiders Jan 2015 #11

One can hear just about any story, or even make one up, stories don't count for much. braddy Jan 2015 #15

A story based on fact: Malraiders Jan 2015 #51

Those are from 2007, what did the research into the claims end up revealing? braddy Jan 2015 #52

Research reveals that "stories" of snipers baiting innocents for death is Malraiders Jan 2015 #53

Well, there are a few other frivolous posts on this thread, I guess there is no update or research. braddy Jan 2015 #54

So, were these reports mere hearsay? Adrahil Jan 2015 #57

We get it whatchamacallit Jan 2015 #9

Thank you for the kind advice. nt Malraiders Jan 2015 #12

Huh? braddy Jan 2015 #13

^^^THIS^^^ Tom Ripley Jan 2015 #55

Yes most definitely I do Bandit Jan 2015 #23

You have other means of what? The biggest portion of their mission is gathering intelligence braddy Jan 2015 #32

We had LRRPs and Special forces teams for that Bandit Jan 2015 #33

You also had snipers gathering intelligence, it has been described as up to 90% of their mission. braddy Jan 2015 #35

The Marines call theirs Scout Snipers hack89 Jan 2015 #42

You get your information from movies, I get mine from real time action. Bandit Jan 2015 #36

I get my information from reading and my military associations from my Army service from braddy Jan 2015 #44

*snort* sarisataka Jan 2015 #64

What were we doing in Iraq do you think? sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #37

Well, they certainly didn't like the other side's snipers. Brickbat Jan 2015 #2

This is what Michael Moore was referring to in his own family riderinthestorm Jan 2015 #4

Nah - he was excoriated for being Michael Moore. Maedhros Jan 2015 #63

Yeah. Ok. His personal experience and family lore riderinthestorm Jan 2015 #67

You misunderstand. Maedhros Jan 2015 #72

Oops! So sorry! riderinthestorm Jan 2015 #74

It's my experience soldiers don't see themselves as warriors HereSince1628 Jan 2015 #5

I don't think it's that at all. Snipers were considered cowardly and cruel. Marr Jan 2015 #14

A Navy SEAL, Scout Sniper, is hardly a coward. American Snipers tend to be braver, for instance braddy Jan 2015 #16

I think you've watched too many Rambo movies. /nt Marr Jan 2015 #21

movies - "Suddenly" Locrian Jan 2015 #25

No, just a student of the military, warfare, and a veteran, that knows something about the duties of braddy Jan 2015 #27

Show me where I said that SEALs or snipers are cowards, please. Marr Jan 2015 #30

Fine, if you never claimed that, then you would be correct, they are exceptionally brave. braddy Jan 2015 #34

I'm a retired Vet. SEALs aren't snipers unless they absolutely have to be. Nor are Rangers. haele Jan 2015 #56

Good Lord man, of course not all SEALs, or Special Forces, or Rangers are snipers, or braddy Jan 2015 #58

Why was that a brave act? What were we doing there? If shooting a General like that is a heroic sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #47

The soldier's goal in war is to survive. Striking from outside the enemy's range HereSince1628 Jan 2015 #20

We're talking about lionizing snipers here. Marr Jan 2015 #26

The concept behind sniping is high-value and critical targeting HereSince1628 Jan 2015 #39

So he was talking about American snipers, or the other sides? oneshooter Jan 2015 #65

Lets put down our weapons and kill each other like civilized men FLPanhandle Jan 2015 #6

"Our artillery . . . The Germans feared it almost more than anything we had." - Ernie Pyle braddy Jan 2015 #8

That lines up with what my grandfather and uncles used to say. Marr Jan 2015 #10

Are you kidding? Comparing a drone pilot back at base, with a man operating behind enemy lines? braddy Jan 2015 #17

Are you insulting our heroic drone pilots? /nt Marr Jan 2015 #19

One can be cutsy, but comparing sitting at a desk with being the kind of elite soldier that operates braddy Jan 2015 #22

Honestly, "heroism" is a kinda ridiculous to argue about. Adrahil Jan 2015 #59

The old, "unless it was hand to hand with a knife it was not real warfare" argument. dilby Jan 2015 #18

We did not use them when I was a grunt Bandit Jan 2015 #28

Which war was this? n/t dilby Jan 2015 #29

Charlie didn't tip you off I guess Bandit Jan 2015 #31

Man named Hathcock would like a word Telcontar Jan 2015 #41

Bring him on... Bandit Jan 2015 #43

Heh, ok keyboard commando Telcontar Jan 2015 #46

Ever heard of Major Maguire or a Maguire Rig Bandit Jan 2015 #50

Ummm there WERE snipers in Vietnam Nam.... n/t Adrahil Jan 2015 #60

Here he is. oneshooter Jan 2015 #66

My step father was a sniper in Vietnam. dilby Jan 2015 #45

You never heard of snipers in Vietnam? braddy Jan 2015 #49

INFANTRY ????? DustyJoe Jan 2015 #62

And yet those same soldiers Codeine Jan 2015 #24

In Harry Craig's non-fictional work, Enemy at the Gates LanternWaste Jan 2015 #38

Soldiers hate the other side's snipers. hack89 Jan 2015 #40

Double plus this. n/t Adrahil Jan 2015 #61

Misleading OP hack89 Jan 2015 #48

The USMC had dedicated snipers and special rifles for them before WW2. oneshooter Jan 2015 #69

Marine Scout Snipers were envisioned primarily as reconnaissance units hack89 Jan 2015 #73

Yeah, we get it, you didn't like American Sniper. NuclearDem Jan 2015 #68

even in Team Fortress they're disliked (NSFW) MisterP Jan 2015 #70

A large part of a sniper's value in war is her/his ability to terrorize the enemy. Zorra Jan 2015 #71

I've met a sniper from my war madokie Jan 2015 #75

Whole bunch of sniper worship is evident in this thread. Unfortunate, but nothing new. (nt) Paladin Jan 2015 #76