Chuck Mawhinney
Encyclopedia
Charles Benjamin "Chuck" Mawhinney (born 1949) is an Oregon
-born American
who served in the United States Marine Corps
as a sniper
during the Vietnam War
. He holds the record for the most confirmed kills by a USMC sniper, having recorded 103 confirmed kills and 216 "probable kills" in his 16 months of action.
Marine Corps veteran, was an avid hunter in his youth. He graduated from high school in June 1967 and joined the U.S. Marine Corps later that year—after the deer season. He spent 16 months in Vietnam, starting in early 1968.
On Valentine's Day
1969, Mawhinney encountered an enemy platoon
and killed 16 North Vietnamese Army soldiers with head shots from his M14 rifle
.
"It was the ultimate hunting trip: a man hunting another man who was hunting me," Mawhinney told the Los Angeles Times. "Don't talk to me about hunting lions or elephants; they don't fight back with rifle
s and scope
s. I just loved it." Mawhinney sought to change the public perception about snipers, who he maintains save lives by sapping the enemy's will to fight
. "My rules of engagement
were simple: If they had a weapon, they were going down. Except for an NVA paymaster I hit at 900 yards, everyone I killed had a weapon," he said. Mawhinney's one regret was the one that got away. "I can't help thinking about how many people that he may have killed later, how many of my friends, how many Marines. He [messed] up and he deserved to die. That still bothers me."
After a chaplain declared him "combat fatigued", Mawhinney returned to the states and served briefly as a marksmanship instructor at Camp Pendleton.
until his retirement in the late 1990s.
Mawhinney told no one about his service as a sniper, not even his wife. For more than two decades, his accomplishments as a sniper were almost entirely unknown—even Mawhinney himself did not know how his record compared to his peers.
In 1991, Mawhinney was thrust into the limelight when his exploits were recounted by fellow Marine sniper and author Joseph Ward in his book, Dear Mom: A Sniper's Vietnam. In it, Ward credited Mawhinney with 101 confirmed kills. This was controversial at the time, as it was generally believed that the 93 confirmed kills by the legendary Carlos Hathcock
was more than any other American sniper. However, subsequent research showed that US Army sniper Adelbert Waldron
actually held the record, with 109 confirmed kills. Mawhinney's documented total was found to be 103 confirmed kills, with an additional 216 "probable kills". A third Marine Corps sniper, Eric R. England
, had 98 confirmed kills. Mawhinney was then recognized as the USMC
sniper with the most confirmed kills, and the second most of any US service member.
After the revelation of his extraordinary record as a sniper, Mawhinney slowly increased his public profile. Following his retirement from the Forest Service, he began speaking at conventions and public events and attending national sniper shooting competitions. Mawhinney is a spokesman for Strider Knives
, which produces a knife bearing his signature on the blade. One of these knives is awarded to the top graduate of each class from the USMC Scout Sniper
School in Camp Pendleton, CA. , Mawhinney continues to speak to classes of professional snipers in training.
The rifle
he used in Vietnam is displayed in the Vietnam Gallery of the National Museum of the Marine Corps
, where it has been shown since its opening in 2006.
An “astounding” shot by Mawhinney has been recreated for the History Channel special, “Sniper: The Anatomy of the Kill”.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
who served in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
as a sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. He holds the record for the most confirmed kills by a USMC sniper, having recorded 103 confirmed kills and 216 "probable kills" in his 16 months of action.
Service in the Vietnam War
Mawhinney, the son of a World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Marine Corps veteran, was an avid hunter in his youth. He graduated from high school in June 1967 and joined the U.S. Marine Corps later that year—after the deer season. He spent 16 months in Vietnam, starting in early 1968.
On Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
1969, Mawhinney encountered an enemy platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
and killed 16 North Vietnamese Army soldiers with head shots from his M14 rifle
M14 rifle
The M14 rifle, formally the United States Rifle, 7.62 mm, M14, is an American selective fire automatic rifle firing 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition. It was the standard issue U.S. rifle from 1959 to 1970. The M14 was used for U.S...
.
"It was the ultimate hunting trip: a man hunting another man who was hunting me," Mawhinney told the Los Angeles Times. "Don't talk to me about hunting lions or elephants; they don't fight back with rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
s and scope
Scope
The word scope may refer to many different devices or viewing instruments, constructed for many different purposes. It may refer to a telescopic sight, an optical device commonly used on firearms. Other uses of scope or Scopes may refer to:...
s. I just loved it." Mawhinney sought to change the public perception about snipers, who he maintains save lives by sapping the enemy's will to fight
Morale
Morale, also known as esprit de corps when discussing the morale of a group, is an intangible term used to describe the capacity of people to maintain belief in an institution or a goal, or even in oneself and others...
. "My rules of engagement
Rules of engagement
Rules of Engagement refers to those responses that are permitted in the employment of military personnel during operations or in the course of their duties. These rules of engagement are determined by the legal framework within which these duties are being carried out...
were simple: If they had a weapon, they were going down. Except for an NVA paymaster I hit at 900 yards, everyone I killed had a weapon," he said. Mawhinney's one regret was the one that got away. "I can't help thinking about how many people that he may have killed later, how many of my friends, how many Marines. He [messed] up and he deserved to die. That still bothers me."
After a chaplain declared him "combat fatigued", Mawhinney returned to the states and served briefly as a marksmanship instructor at Camp Pendleton.
Civilian life and recognition
After leaving the Marine Corps in 1970, Mawhinney returned home to Baker City, Oregon, married, and worked for the U.S. Forest ServiceUnited States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
until his retirement in the late 1990s.
Mawhinney told no one about his service as a sniper, not even his wife. For more than two decades, his accomplishments as a sniper were almost entirely unknown—even Mawhinney himself did not know how his record compared to his peers.
Carlos Hathcock
Carlos Hathcock was a United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant sniper with a service record of 93 confirmed kills. Hathcock's record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the Marine Corps...
was more than any other American sniper. However, subsequent research showed that US Army sniper Adelbert Waldron
Adelbert Waldron
Staff Sergeant Adelbert F. Waldron, or Adelbert F. Waldron III, was a United States Army sniper serving during the Vietnam War . Although little known, Waldron holds the record for confirmed kills by any American sniper in history at 109. Carlos Hathcock had 93 confirmed kills, Eric R...
actually held the record, with 109 confirmed kills. Mawhinney's documented total was found to be 103 confirmed kills, with an additional 216 "probable kills". A third Marine Corps sniper, Eric R. England
Eric England (sniper)
Eric England was a sniper for the United States Marine Corps 3rd Marine Division during the Vietnam War. Joining the US Marine Corps in 1950, England was a Nationals rifle shooting champion by age 19 in 1952, and the all-time long-range champion by 1968. He received his first competitive training...
, had 98 confirmed kills. Mawhinney was then recognized as the USMC
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
sniper with the most confirmed kills, and the second most of any US service member.
After the revelation of his extraordinary record as a sniper, Mawhinney slowly increased his public profile. Following his retirement from the Forest Service, he began speaking at conventions and public events and attending national sniper shooting competitions. Mawhinney is a spokesman for Strider Knives
Strider Knives
Strider Knives, Inc. is a custom and production knifemaking facility headed by Mick Strider and Duane Dwyer based in San Marcos, California.-Materials and design:...
, which produces a knife bearing his signature on the blade. One of these knives is awarded to the top graduate of each class from the USMC Scout Sniper
Scout Sniper
Scout Sniper is a secondary MOS designator of U.S. Marine Corps infantrymen and reconnaissance Marines that have successfully graduated from a USMC Scout Sniper School. Scout Snipers provide close reconnaissance and surveillance to the infantry battalion...
School in Camp Pendleton, CA. , Mawhinney continues to speak to classes of professional snipers in training.
The rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
he used in Vietnam is displayed in the Vietnam Gallery of the National Museum of the Marine Corps
National Museum of the Marine Corps
The National Museum of the Marine Corps is the historical museum of the United States Marine Corps. It is located in Quantico, Virginia and is open to the public with free admission. The museum had its grand opening on November 10, 2006 and is now the number one tourist attraction in Virginia,...
, where it has been shown since its opening in 2006.
An “astounding” shot by Mawhinney has been recreated for the History Channel special, “Sniper: The Anatomy of the Kill”.
External links
- http://www.chuckmawhinney.com/