USMC - They are Marines first, and all of them are Riflemen

[Stubob]

Iwakuni Marines aim high, hit mark during Interservice Rifle Championships
Submitted by: MCAS Iwakuni
Story by: Computed Name: Lance Cpl. Noah S. Leffler
Story Identification #: 200783104633


MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan(Aug. 30, 2007) -- Whether they work in a warehouse, office or airplane hangar, all Marines are riflemen, trained killers ready to drop their pens and pick up an M-16 at a moment’s notice. Two Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron marksmen here proved this by representing the air station and Marine Corps during the Interservice Rifle Championships at Marine Corps Weapons Training Battalion, Quantico, Va., July 17-24.

Gunnery Sgt. Christopher J. Geraci, weather forecaster, and Cpl. Esteban M. Ramirez, air traffic controller, contributed to the Far East Team’s first place finish in the Commanding General and Marine Corps Infantry Trophy Team Matches.

“We didn’t win any individual awards, but we were shooting against the best,” said Geraci. “The competition is pretty high out there.”

Check the link for the rest of the story - http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/200783104633

“The case in point right now is in Iraq,” said Geraci. “It doesn’t matter what your MOS is. Whether you’re on a convoy or flying, every Marine has a rifle and the potential to use it at any time.”

http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2007831104/$file/070830-M-4498L-514lil.jpg

[Genghis77]

As an Army man and Viet Nam vet I speak from experience. If you needed a ground extraction from a really bad situation, you wanted the Recon Marines. They got the job done. Rangers were also supposed to be good but never saw any.

If you want to read of one of the greatest Marines of all time, read Marine Sniper as told by Carlos Hathcock. Not only a great shot but he killed a North Viet Namese general right in the middle of his own camp. Cong was practically stepping on him bet he didn't give away his position. He also had a deadly krait crawl across him. Many other kills recorded in excess of one mile. He was severly wounded by an incindary blast and later suffered from Multiple Sclorosis. He died a few years ago, still instructing and lecturing Marine snipers.

I am familiar with Multiple Sclorosis and many vets from Viet Nam suffer with it. My own thinking is that it was caused by Agent Orange exposure.

[hygyliac]

He died a few years ago, still instructing and lecturing Marine snipers.

Several years ago I bought some of Carlos Hathcock's White Feather rifle slings. A portion of the proceeds were to be given to Mr. Hathcock. But one of my treasures was from a former marine officer, now retired police officer, who gave me three boxes of White feather .308 ammo. They are supposed to remain supersonic at 1,000 yards, but I've never shot them to see what the recoil felt like. You know that to remain supersonic at 1,000 yards it must have a very respectable initial velocity at the muzzle.

P.S. former US Army, Combat Engineer 12B-20