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| Iraq-Jordan |
| 1/23 snipers reclaim city from insurgents |
| 2004-10-26 |
| Marines from Scout Sniper Platoon, Headquarters and Support Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, won a decisive battle against a heavy insurgent threat recently. The snipers were called to action after they received reports that hundreds of heavily armed insurgents, dressed in black garb, were occupying the city. "We are the eyes, ears and trigger finger for the battalion commander," said Sgt. Herbert B. Hancock, the chief scout sniper for the platoon. "Anything that he sees as a threat, we are sent out to check up on." The snipers were the first Marines to enter the city and observe the threat. Once the snipers had located the insurgents and established positions to assess the situation, the snipers realized just how right the reports had been. "They were all out in the open doing whatever they wanted to," said Hancock, 35, a native of Bryan, Texas. "They were in control of that side of the city, rerouting traffic, threatening to kill people and terrorizing people. Any convoy that looked like it had anything to do with the coalition was attacked and hit by (improvised explosive devices). There were civilians and civilian cars in the area, but they didn't care. They were being blatant about the fact that they were in control." After witnessing the insurgents pull people from their cars, shoot at civilians and detonate IEDs in the traffic circle, the snipers began to fire at them. Sergeant Milo S. Afong, a sniper with the platoon, took the first shot. "I had a perfect silhouette of his body and his weapon," said Afong, 23, a native of Vista, Calif. "It had been the first time I saw people out here with weapons." |
| Posted by:Bernie |
| #19 John Q. That is a Barrett. It is not for use on Baby Ducks. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-10-26 11:52:16 PM |
| #18 I love this story. I had to come back and re-visit it. Is that a Barrett 50 cal pictured? Looks like it can definitely reach out and touch someone! Attaway Marines-semper fi. |
| Posted by: John Q. 2004-10-26 7:19:59 PM |
| #17 Or hold it. |
| Posted by: raptor 2004-10-26 6:33:49 PM |
| #16 it's all in how ya cock the gun? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-10-26 5:30:35 PM |
| #15 Odd coincidence - a Marine sniper sgt Hancock as opposed to the ace Marine sniper sgt Carlos Hathcock. You suppose there is something in a name? |
| Posted by: Glising Slang5927 2004-10-26 5:27:27 PM |
| #14 RWV, thanks to your son and his parents. Please convey our gratitude to him. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2004-10-26 3:30:24 PM |
| #13 Hit, pronounced, at least by the Marines, "heat" is up river from Ramadi. |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-10-26 3:21:17 PM |
| #12 The city is Hit. A few weeks ago there were news reports of about 100 foreign terrorists that were fleeing other cities (Samara?), being discovered and killed in Hit. |
| Posted by: ed 2004-10-26 3:05:47 PM |
| #11 Notice they dont mention which city is involved. Fallujah or elsewhere? To me, one of the really encouraging signs recently is that there is less and less reporting coming out of the Sunni triangle. Must be getting lonely in there. |
| Posted by: Grunter 2004-10-26 2:37:25 PM |
| #10 The 1/23 is a reserve unit comprised of Texas and Louisiana boys. The H&S (Headquarters & Support) Company is from Houston. My son is in the H&S Company, but not a sniper. I knew they were good, just not how good. I don't think I'll show this to his mother. |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-10-26 1:42:51 PM |
| #9 Ye gods. Our guys are good! |
| Posted by: Mike 2004-10-26 12:08:41 PM |
| #8 Most excellent job1/23. Nothing like death from afar to put fear in the hearts (if they have any) of the thugees. |
| Posted by: John Q. 2004-10-26 11:22:13 AM |
| #7 They make Gunny proud! |
| Posted by: raptor 2004-10-26 9:39:14 AM |
| #6 40 to 0 kill ratio - we'll take it. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2004-10-26 9:35:02 AM |
| #5 I love how they negotiate! |
| Posted by: Cornîliës 2004-10-26 8:55:39 AM |
| #4 A great way to start out another Semper Fi Day! |
| Posted by: RN 2004-10-26 8:49:17 AM |
| #3 At first they were fighting us out in the open and behind cars. That wasn't working for them... I love the understatement. Well done. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2004-10-26 8:38:45 AM |
| #2 Well done. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2004-10-26 8:33:38 AM |
| #1 Great story. Great picture at link. I want one but the pin heads in my state say they are "bad" |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-10-26 8:32:45 AM |