Silent Warrior

by Charles Henderson

The author of the bestselling Vietnam War memoir Marine Sniper continues the incredible true story of Sergeant Carlos Hathcock...In the United States Marine Corps, the most dangerous job in combat is that of the sniper. With no backup and little communication with the outside world, these men disappeared for weeks on end in the wilderness with nothing but intellect and iron will to protect them—as they would watch, wait, and finally strike.But of all of the snipers who ever hunted human prey, one man stands above and beyond as one of the most legendary fighting men ever to pull a trigger. That man was Carlos Hathcock.In Marine Sniper, the true-life missions of United States Marine Corps sniper Carlos Hathcock were revealed in explosive detail. Now, the incredible story of a remarkable Marine continues—with harrowing, never-before-published accounts of courage and perseverance. These are the powerful stories of a man who rose to greatness not for personal gain or glory, but for duty and honor. A rare inside look at the U.S. Marine’s most challenging missions—and the one man who made military history.

Genres: Military Fiction, History, Nonfiction, War, Biography, Military History, Thriller

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Retired from the United States Marine Corps, July 1, 1993 as a Chief Warrant Officer with 23 years and two months active duty service. Combat duty includes Vietnam and Lebanon. Decorations include Combat Action Ribbon and Meritorious Service Medal. Training included: infantry skills, combat tactics and leadership, special operations and terrorism (anti and counter), sniper, reconnaissance, parachute, infantry weapons, survival in desert and jungle environments, rough terrain skills (mountaineering), cold weather, water survival qualified (both from ground and aviation perspectives) (highest possible water survival rating), marksmanship and instruction of marksmanship (competition in arms program, shooting team member at Quantico), and public affairs (public affairs officer, combat correspondent, photojournalist, print and broadcast journalist).

In 1976 received Commercial Airplane Pilot Certification (commercial pilot license) with Instrument Airplane rating.

In 1997 licensed as a commodity futures broker and commodity futures brokerage firm manager. Worked as Director of Commodities and Communications at National Livestock Producers Association and as General Manager of NLPA’s National Producers Service Company (a national commodity futures brokerage firm whose primary business was assisting livestock producers in risk management, marketing and hedging their enterprises) until July 1999. Resigned to the position to write books full-time.

For two years prior to joining the Marine Corps worked as a newspaper reporter and sports editor for the Artesia Daily Press in New Mexico, also a stringer reporter for United Press International.

After Marine Corps service pursued career as full-time, free-lance journalist. Also operated family cattle ranching operation in Oklahoma until 1997 when accepting the executive position with National Livestock Producers Association.

While working as a free-lance journalist, returned to Vietnam on assignment for LIFE Magazine with friend and colleague, Dirck Halstead, then senior White House photographer for TIME Magazine. After completing LIFE assignment, remained in Vietnam and filmed a documentary that examined the end of the Vietnam War. While shooting the documentary, gathered material and compiled interviews for Goodnight Saigon, published January 4, 2005 by the G. P. Putnam / Berkley Publishing Group, Penguin Group (USA), New York, New York.

Today, resides at Peyton, Colorado, near Colorado Springs, writing books, and breeding, raising and developing registered American Quarter Horses for professional rodeo and futurity competition.

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start by saying this is a good read. However, I found that it repeated many of the stories from Marine Sniper, the first book about Hathcock. There were some new stories, but much of the book was repeating stories from Marine Sniper in a different way (for example, Hathcock telling junior Marines the story, or a group of Marines telling the story in a drinking session) some were almost word for word. If you consider the sub-title “the Marine Snipers Vietnam story continues”, you could be forgiven for thinking that it would be all new content. It most certainly is not, and I felt that it was a re-hash of the first book with a few extra stories to pad it out. In short - too much of the first book in this one. Good read, but the fact that so much of it was in the first book detracts from it.

[Valerie Culpepper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read. Always enjoy good stories about great Marines.

[Patti Merz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

Knowing a little in advance about the marine Sniper Carlos Hathcock. I know they say the book is fiction but I’ll bet more than some of the events were based on real events. The Marine Corps Snipers I believe we’re and probably still are the best of the best. Thanks to all who have served and are now serving in the defense of our country.

[Richard Pierce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the book is a rehash of the first book, “Marine Sniper”. Some extra detail but if you have read the first book this is rather boring. If you haven’t read “Marine Sniper” for a few years , this will be a good read.

[Julie Pint · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great telling of the life of renowned Marine Sniper Carlos Hathcock. His skill and bravery during the Vietnam War are what our heroes aspire to be like even today. The parts where we are with Hathcock in his last moments do feel a bit contrived but I understand the perspective as a tool.

[Sean Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The boogeyman checks under his bed for Carlos Hathcock before turning out the lights at night.

[David Rand · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing and extraordinary book

[Nathan Piercy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’ve read Marine Sniper by Henderson than you can skip this book.

[Jerry]

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[Dri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing story, mediocre writing. It's rare that I encounter a story so good that I persevere despite the writing. I think the author jumps back and forth in time far too often that some of the narrative thread is lost. During some parts of the book, I would find myself engrossed in a particular section when the author abruptly shifts topic and time. Also, the author is a Marine and unfortunately did not adequately explain the meaning of jargon typically used by fellow marines. To a reader without a background in the marines, this can get frustrating.

The story itself is about a marine sniper named Carlos Hathcock. The author details Hathcock's exploits as a sniper during the Vietnam war. Hathcock was responsible for the execution of key figures during the war on top of accruing an impressive tally of kills. His kill tally stood as the record until recently, when it was overtaken by a Navy Seal sniper, Chris Kyle. Hathcock was so feared by the North Vietnamese army that a bounty was placed on his head. The price: a 3-year salary to anyone who could put a bullet in Hathchock's head. One of the most engrossing chapter detailed a sniper war, where the hunter became the hunted.

The story is unbelievable if it weren't true. I felt like I lived the horrors of war and witnessed the worst and best in the human race. The book detailed some torture accounts that were difficult to read and get through. However, it also detailed marines putting themselves in danger for the sake of their marine brothers in the ultimate demonstration of self sacrifice. Hathcock himself rescued a number of fellow marines from a burning truck prior to getting airlifted for suffering third degree burns in 90% of his body. This book was a riveting read.

[Jeremy Wiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silent Warrior is a non-fiction book about the marine sniper Staff Sergeant Carlos Hathcock. It focuses on his kills and how he made them, and the intense moment he has had. He was, and still is, the worlds most decorated sniper and has the most confirmed kills in history. He was very successful in Vietnam where he served and one of the highlights of the book and his career was when he pinned down a entire platoon of soldiers from a cliff. He was very good at what he did and this book shows it, it goes through how he felt about events and how he did what he did.

No movie was made about this book.

I would recommend this book to everyone who loves books about actual people in wars. It is very interesting and a real eye-opener to me, and I'm sure to others who have read it, about what Vietnam was like for soldiers and for him especially. It makes you appreciate the efforts made by soldiers in the Vietnam war and anyone who you know that was in it. It was a very descriptive book about the guns, setting, the climate, and the kills he made. It didn't have very many weaknesses besides the fact on how descriptive it was on some things. But if I could change something about it I wouldn't change a thing. I would recommend this to anyone interesting in history and snipers and what they were like, so teenagers like me.

[Bryce Teague]

This book was written in third person omniscient. The setting is in Vietnam and in the united states during and after the Vietnam war. Charles Henderson tells the story of Carlos Hathcock, a Marine Corps sniper. Hathcock is credited with 93 confirmed kills and over 300 probibles.The main characters in this book are Carlos Hathcock and John Burke, Hathcock's partner. Henderson's writing style is straight and to the point. The book is non-fiction. The theme is history is important. I liked this book because it acheived its goal very well. It told the story of Haccock very well and the facts weren't just heresay. Henderson interviewed Hathcock and others to get his facts straight. Even though the feats acheived by Carlos were amazing his stroy was never really told. This book told his story in great detail about his thoughts, feelings and actions exactly how it happened. He was a hero, he taught his students to always value human life and ever enjoy taking one.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sequel to Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills, Henderson tells, through the memory of Carlos Hathcock as he lay dying of multiple sclerosis,
the exploits of the "Gunny" during his two tours in Vietnam. In addition to his military exploits, the struggle to recover from burns and his fight against his disabling disease, and attempt his to live a useful life is also told.

This book is a "one nighter." as a chapter ends instead of putting in a bookmark you will want to read one more chapter and sudenly, in the middle of the night, the story comes to n end.

The story of a true American hero. Anyone in the service during the Vietnam era will want to, nd should, read this book.

[Kyleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read Marine Sniper yet. Yet being the key word, because Silent Warrior was so fantastic. It's like a biography, but really interesting and jam packed with action. It re-accounts Henderson's life and journey while he was a Marine Sniper, but it makes you feel like you're in the story.

You will truly appreciate the services men and women do for our country after reading this book. An incredible read, and what's even cooler is that it actually happened.

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles Henderson threads another extraordinary volume about one of the greatest Marines to ever live! I would place his first work (Marine Sniper: 93 confirmed kills) as one of the greatest non-fiction books ever composed. This book adds more insight into the life of Carlos Hathcock and gleans as clear a picture of an American hero and patriot, humble and full of valor! Carlos Hathcock is one of my real life heroes! Semper Fidelis!

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the companion story to Marine Sniper by the same author. It is told as Hathcock's memories as he lays on his death bed. I laughed and I cried while reading this compelling novel of a Sniper's courage and humility as he helped better the United States Military through injury and illness. A must read!

[Jonathan Friedmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent sequel to Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills. It continues the biography of one of the best US snipers, Carlos Hathcock, covering some of the same experiences during his tours in Vietnam with different details, telling some new stories, but adding a much clearer focus to who Carlos Hathcock was as a person (and not just listing all his amazing achievements as a hero).

[Dustin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is basically a long post script to Marine Sniper. I haven't read that one yet, but I was already familiar with who Carlos Hathcock II was from a previous book. There are a few points where it's obvious you need to read the first book about him to get a full understanding. Overall, though, you can read this on its own and enjoy it.

[Gail GB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the previously written book Marine Sniper, this book was fascinating and well worth ready. The personal look at the culture of the marines and a particular man, was enlightening for me. I don't read many war books and especially about the Viet Nam War period, but I found both books compelling to read.

[ReyMichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

In high school, I was one of those kids that went through a war phase in which I loved every history lecture that had to do with past wars and watched every mainstream war movie that came out. During this time, I only read two war books, this one and Ghost Soldiers. This man's experience as a sniper was definitely exciting and probably why I took a liking to sniping in all my fps games.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silent Warrior is an excellent biography of the United States Marine Corps' legendary sniper Carlos Hathcock II written by the former Marine sniper who penned Marine Sniper. The story continues, covering the Gunny's life with it trials and tribulation along with personal comments by the author. This is an inspiring read for anyone inside or out of the Corps.

[Jaden · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started reading this book it was a bit slow but as I got into it, it started having lots of action. It was very intense in many parts of the book making it great for people who like action. Overall I thought it was a great story about a real man who did real things and how he had to overcome those things.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This true story of Vietnam veteran Carlos Hathcock is a thrilling tale of when he was in the Vietnam War. It tells how he grew up to become a sniper in the marine corps, and what had happened in the time he was in service. It explains how he became a sergeant, and his bond with his fellow comrades.

[Samantha Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, just as good as the first one

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of like a fallow up of Marine Sniper. Its seems to add greater depth to the stories and charters. It would be good as a standalone book also.

[Pat Dugan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles is a fellow Recon Marine and a damn good friend of mine. EXCELLENT BOOK!

[Winnie Thornton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great companion to Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills. Needs another trip to the editor's desk before it is truly worthy of the preternatural Carlos Hathcock.

[Bob Crosthwait · Rating 5 out of 5]

The true story account of probably the greatest sniper in the world, Carlos Hathcock. This book dialogs most of his missions in Vietnam with a 'sniper like' precision.

[Damon Thueson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ending to the first book...and more stories that could not be included in the first book as well. Love it!

[Emma]

so far its great!