Has anyone read "Shooter"?

[Mr White]

Has anyone read Marine sniper Jack Coughlin's autobiography "Shooter"?

What did you think of it?

I just finished it. Jack must be a much better sniper than he is an author. I wasn't particularly impressed by his writing style. I also thought some of the terminilogy he uses is kind of odd for a professional soldier; calling magazines clips, saying he loaded bullets into his rifle, and just some of the gung-ho language he uses throughout the book.

He seems to be pretty full of himself too, often describing his finely honed instincts, or razor sharp skills, or some other superhuman abilities that his sniper training has endowed him with.

All in all its a good account of a Marine sniper team's exploits in Iraq, but some things about it just didn't sit quite right with me and I was wondering if anyone else thought the same.

 

[Pilgrim]

It made me think of a comment Samuel Clemons made about growing older and recalling in vivid detail the things that weren't quite true at the expense of forgetting things that were really true.

Pilgrim

 

[mons meg]

Mr. White, I know exactly what you mean. I just tried to ignore the "scout/sniper trained killer" mojo and concentrated on the accounts of the various battles. I do think he had a lot to say, but wasn't sure how much of it was editorial influence.

 

[LarryS.]

I got the impression he'd barely made the cut for Scout/Sniper Training.....at least psychologically....like he really didn't want to have been there.
VERY disappointing read....

 

[ProficientRifleman]

It is Point of Impact, by Stephen Hunter.

It is a good read for the most part. Hunter isn't a shooter, but he tries to be technically accurate.

The movie is decent, but they had to change the story too much from the book.

 

[fadlan12]

He was refering to the book not the movie "shooter".

Hunter is a good writer, I have read several of his books including POI and all are good reads, he knows how to write action.

 

[ProficientRifleman]

My mistake then...

 

[JamesM]

I read it and wasn’t very impressed. I remember thinking it wasn’t very well written considering it had three authors.

 

[Gator]

Very disappointing, didn't ring true at all. And according to Marines who knew Coughlin, he was always a huge BS artist.

 

[PaulBk]

I have an autographed copy and, in a year, I haven't been able to get past chapter two, which is telling since I read 1-2 books/week...

-Paul

 

[adobewalls]

My impression, Coughlin's answer to rejigging military doctrine is to employ:

1. Hot Rod Humvee
2. Wild-assed driver
3. Spotter
4. Scout Sniper

then to:
1. Fire, redeploy
2. rinse, repeat

 

[Mr White]

Good, so it isn't just me. I thought maybe I was just spoiled after reading and rereading the REAL Marine Sniper Autobiography.

 

[Walter]

Good, so it isn't just me. I thought maybe I was just spoiled after reading and rereading the REAL Marine Sniper Autobiography.

Yea, Carlos Hathcock wrote 'THE' book about Marine snipers.
Even though he didn't write IT, it is still 'THE' book.
I haven't read Coughlin's book, but I may pick it up, now, just to see
what all the talk is about.

Walter

 

[Belgiboy]

This is interesting, I just thought that the macho BS in Couchlins book was normal marine speak. I did enjoy reading that book though, I think it was an entertaining account of the drive to Bagdad. Carlos Hatchcocks story is definately better and gets the respect it deserves from Couchlin. My ultimate sniper read is 'Out of Nowhere' by Martin Pegler.

 

[SMLE]

I read it a while back. I didn't think it was all that bad. I've actually excahnged e-mail with Gunner Jeff Eby who is mentioned in the book.

 

[warodgers]

I read "Shooter" a year or so ago and thought it was an entertaining read. I took the macho jargon to be some ghost writer or editor's idea of how Marines talk. As for Coughlin's character or veracity, I can speak for neither. If the words in the book were his, I'd have to agree he's a megalomaniac.

When I was on Okinawa in 1969/70, I shot on the Camp Butler pistol team. The team captain was an O3 who's name I don't recall right now. We needed another shooter, so he shainghaied his 1st Sgt., whom we called Top England. England was some piece of work, but a pretty fair pistol shooter. He said he much preferred the rifle, and looked down his nose at the pistol, but he regularly turned in scores in the mid-2600's. He kept a pint Jack Daniels bottle in his shooting box. It was full of some kind of oil, but looked just like JD. He'd pretend to take a pull from it in the middle of a match, just to drive those Air Force and Army shavetails out of their minds.

Many years later, I ran across a book called, "The Phantom of Phu Bai," about a Marine sniper named Eric England. I spoke with the author, and he said this was my "Top" England. When he was on Oki, he'd occasionally draw a 72- or 96-hour liberty and go to Phu Bai for a little hunting. I never had any idea of all that, being a smart-a***d 21-year old corporal who thought he was God's gift to nitrocelluolose. England was also a top-flight competition shooter with the rifle.

I haven't been able to come up with a copy of the book. If anyone has a copy, I'd love to make you and offer for it!

 

[Mr White]

My ultimate sniper read is 'Out of Nowhere' by Martin Pegler.

I'll have to look for that at the library or have B&N order it for me.

I also want to read "Notes of a Sniper". I know Vassili's story and have watched Enemy at the Gates a few times, but stories of the WWII Eastern Front have never really been my cup of tea, so I don't know if I'd like it or not.