>> Narrator: HE WREAKS HAVOC
FROM THE SHADOWS...
>> WE CAN SEE WHAT YOU DON'T
SEE, AND YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WE'RE
THERE.
>> Narrator: ...FACING DECISIONS
FEW WILL EVER CONFRONT.
>> PERSON HAS AN EXPLOSIVE VEST.
HE'S WALKING TOWARDS THE
KINDERGARTEN.
YOU GONNA TAKE THE SHOT?
[ GUNSHOT ]
>> Narrator: BUT JUST AS THE
SNIPER LIVES BY THE GUN, HE CAN
ALSO DIE BY THE GUN.
>> THERE'S ZERO ROOM FOR ANY
ERROR.
[ GUNSHOT ]
HESITATION WILL KILL YOU.
>> Narrator: FROM THE LONGEST
SHOT...
TO A HOSTAGE RESCUE...
TO A SHOOTOUT AT POINT-BLANK
RANGE...
THE SNIPER MUST USE CUNNING AND
INSTINCT TO REMAIN...
SNIPERS ON THE FRONT LINES FACE
DEATH AT EVERY TURN.
THEY'RE OFTEN THE FIRST ONES
INTO A COMBAT ZONE, WORKING
UNSEEN AND ALONE.
TO REMAIN BULLETPROOF, THEY RELY
ON AN ARRAY OF TACTICS AND
WEAPONRY.
>> YOU ADAPT AND MODIFY YOUR
TRAINING TO THE TASK AT HAND.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST SKILLS OF A
>> Narrator: U.S. SNIPERS
FIGHTING IN IRAQ FACE AN URBAN
KILLING FIELD.
TO STAY ALIVE, THEY MUST BE
STEALTHY AND AGGRESSIVE.
>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN
LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE WHEN YOU'RE
OPERATING IN A COMBAT ZONE.
[ GUNFIRE ]
YOU HAVE TO ADOPT AN ATTITUDE OF
"HOW DARE YOU?
>> Narrator: JON WEILER
COMMANDS A SNIPER TEAM
OPERATING IN BAGHDAD AFTER THE
FALL.
AS THE TEAM'S MOST EXPERIENCED
MEMBER, WEILER FUNCTIONS AS THE
PRIMARY SPOTTER.
HE NOT ONLY GUIDES SHOOTERS ON
TARGET...
BUT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING
THEM SAFE.
PRECISION AND TIMING ARE
CRITICAL.
>> ONCE YOU GET IN THERE, YOU
HAVE TO TRAIN YOUR MIND TO WORK
ON A TICKER.
IF WE DID GET IN TROUBLE, WE'D
HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 40 MINUTES
BEFORE ANY HELP WOULD ARRIVE.
YOU'RE CONSTANTLY MOVING AND
THINKING ABOUT, "WHAT AM I GOING
TO DO NEXT?"
THAT TICKER IN MY HEAD DID KEEP
ME ALIVE.
>> Narrator: THE ABILITY TO STAY
BULLETPROOF AND EXECUTE MISSIONS
HANGS ON WEILER'S QUICK THINKING
AND A NEW "X" FACTOR.
[ GUNSHOT ]
.50-CALIBER BARRETT XM107.
THE NEWLY MINTED BARRETT IS
DESIGNED TO TAKE OUT PERSONNEL
CARRIERS, VEHICLES, AND OTHER
HARD TARGETS.
BUT WEILER AND HIS TEAM ATTEMPT
TO HARNESS THE WEAPON'S POWER...
AND TURN IT INTO A PRECISION
SNIPER RIFLE, ABLE TO TAKE OUT
TARGETS BEHIND WALLS AND
BARRIERS AT GREAT DISTANCES.
>> IT WAS STILL AN XM107,
MEANING THAT IT HADN'T PASSED
THE ARMY'S TESTS.
ESSENTIALLY, WE WERE IN
UNCHARTED TERRITORY.
AND WE FOUND OUT VERY QUICKLY
YOU HAVE TO ADJUST FOR THE
MOVEMENT OF THE RIFLE.
ANY TYPE OF SMALL MOVEMENT THAT
OCCURS DURING THE RECOIL PHASE
IS GONNA AFFECT THAT PROJECTILE,
SO YOU'RE SETTING UP YOUR
POSITION SO YOU CAN MANAGE THAT
RECOIL.
STARTS TO GET INTO A REALLY
FLUID MOTION.
YOUR MIND IS GOING THROUGH, AND
IT'S DICTATING YOUR BODY TO GO
ON YOUR BREATHING AND THEN YOUR
POSITION.
YOU'RE RESETTING YOURSELF, AND
YOU'RE PULLING THAT TRIGGER...
TILL THAT MOVEMENT STOPS, AND
YOU'RE SEEING WHAT IT IMPACTS,
AND YOU'RE SENDING ANOTHER
>> Narrator: WEILER'S TEAM AND
THEIR NEWEST WEAPON ARE ABOUT TO
ENDURE A BAPTISM BY FIRE.
THEY MUST AVOID THE ENEMY WHILE
TRACKING DOWN AND ELIMINATING
MORTAR TEAMS THAT ARE SHELLING
AMERICAN TROOPS.
>> THAT AREA, THERE'S A STRONG
PRESENCE OF FEDAYEEN SADDAM,
WHICH IS A PARAMILITARY UNIT.
THERE WAS A MORTAR TUBE IN THERE
THAT WAS FIRING AT VARIOUS
POINTS AROUND THE CITY AT OUR
GUYS.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THERE HAS TO
BE FORWARD OBSERVERS.
>> Narrator: FORWARD OBSERVERS
CALL IN THE COORDINATES FOR
MORTAR FIRE.
>> THAT GUY WITH THE RADIO --
HE'S A BIGGER THREAT THAN THE
GUY WITH THE RPG.
HE CAN CALL IN FIRE WITH THE
TOUCH OF A BUTTON.
>> Narrator: WEILER IS ORDERED
TO SEEK AND DESTROY.
THE HUNT IS ON.
THE ARMY TRACKS MORTAR FIRE WITH
RADAR.
BUT WEILER AND HIS TEAM MUST
LOCATE THE FORWARD OBSERVERS
CALLING IN THE STRIKES.
WEILER RECEIVES WORD THAT
FORWARD OBSERVERS ARE OPERATING
OUT OF A HOSPITAL IN THE AREA.
>> OUR AIR FORCES WILL NOT BOMB
A HOSPITAL.
SO IT'S A PERFECT COMMAND POST.
THEY KNOW THAT IT'S NOT GONNA
GET BLOWN UP.
I COULD SEE TWO MEN.
ONE WAS DRESSED ALL IN WHITE.
THE OTHER WAS DRESSED IN IRAQI
UNIFORM.
I COULD SEE HIM TALKING ON A
RADIO.
ACTUALLY, I COULD SEE HIM
POINTING OUR LOCATION OUT.
>> Narrator: THE ENEMY PINPOINTS
WEILER'S LOCATION.
THE HUNTER...
BECOMES THE HUNTED.
>> WE TAKE AN AIR BURST FROM
THAT MORTAR TEAM RIGHT OVER OUR
POSITION.
AND IT SOUNDED LIKE A CRACK OF A
WHIP.
IT'S LIKE "WHOO-POW!"
AND I CAN SEE THE SMOKE, AND I
COULD SMELL BURNING METAL.
AND I REALIZED, WE NEED TO GET
DOWN.
MY SHOOTER WAS STILL UP,
LOOKING.
AND HE'S LIKE, "WOW."
AND I GRABBED HIM, AND I PULLED
HIM DOWN.
I WAS LIKE, "YOU NEED TO GET
DOWN."
>> Narrator: TO REMAIN
BULLETPROOF, WEILER AND HIS TEAM
MUST ACT QUICKLY.
>> I CALLED THAT BACK TO OUR
PLATOON LEADER, AND ALMOST
IMMEDIATELY WE GOT THE OKAY TO
GO AHEAD AND TAKE A SHOT.
>> Narrator: IT'S TIME TO SEE IF
THE .50-CALIBER CAR KILLER WILL
WORK AS A PRECISION WEAPON.
THEY LOAD IT WITH ARMOR-PIERCING
M8 ROUNDS INTENDED TO PIERCE
ENEMY TANKS.
>> THEY HAVE AN INCENDIARY MIX
IN THE TIP THAT'LL SPARK.
SO IF YOU DO MISS, YOU CAN SEE
WHERE YOUR ROUND IMPACTED AND
YOU CAN ADJUST FOR THAT.
DIDN'T HAVE ANY RANGE FINDERS
THAT WERE WORTH USING.
SO WE HAD TO RELY ON OUR
MATHEMATICAL FORMULAS.
>> Narrator: TO ESTIMATE RANGE,
OR DISTANCE FROM THE TARGET, THE
SPOTTER OF THE SNIPER TEAM USES
A PROCESS CALLED TRIANGULATION.
COMBAT GEOMETRY 101.
STANDARD WINDOW IS 3 FEET WIDE.
WEILER MEASURES AGAINST THE MIL
DOTS IN THE SCOPE.
EACH MIL DOT REPRESENTS A FIXED
UNIT OF ANGLE.
THE TWO MEASUREMENTS COMBINE TO
YIELD A DISTANCE.
>> AND YOU'RE GOING OFF THE
WINDOW FRAME.
YOU TURN OUT TO BE JUST UNDER A
MILE.
WEILER'S MATH BRINGS HIS SHOOTER
ON TARGET.
HE FIRES.
>> HE WAS SHORT.
>> Narrator: THE ROUND IMPACTS
WELL BELOW THE TARGET.
WEILER REALIZES HIS ERROR.
>> THE REAL DRAWBACK TO AREAS
LIKE THAT IS NOTHING IS BUILT TO
STANDARD.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW BIG THE
WINDOW FRAMES ARE THAT YOU'RE
GONNA RANGE OFF OF.
WE DIDN'T THINK THEY WOULD BE
BACK AT THAT WINDOW ANY TIME
SOON, IF AT ALL.
WE MISSED OUR SHOT.
>> Narrator: GRUELING HUNT
CONTINUES.
WEILER AND HIS PARTNER ALTERNATE
BEHIND THE RIFLE TO STAY FRESH.
IT'S GETTING HOT.
IT'S GETTING AROUND NOON.
AND I GOT BEHIND THE RIFLE.
THE SAME TWO TARGETS APPEARED IN
THE WINDOW AGAIN.
AND I SAID, "I GOT TWO IN THE
WINDOW."
AND HE GOES, "OKAY, LET'S DO
IT."
YOU'RE NOT THERE TO GET THE
GLORY OF SHOOTING SOMEBODY.
YOU'RE THERE TO STOP THESE MEN
WHO ARE KILLING YOUR FRIENDS.
HAVING SEEN THE IMPACT OF HIS
EARLIER MISS, WEILER KNOWS HIS
SHOT IS 3 MILS LOW.
>> WE HAD TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT
BASED OFF THE POINT OF AIM TO
THE POINT OF IMPACT.
>> Narrator: HE RAISES HIS POINT
OF AIM THREE MILS TO GET ON
TARGET.
WEILER KNOWS HE ONLY HAS ONE
SHOT.
[ GUN COCKS ]
HE AIMS TO MAXIMIZE THE DAMAGE
BY FIRING INTO THE CENTER OF
BOTH FORWARD OBSERVERS, A MUCH
BIGGER TARGET THAN A HEAD SHOT.
>> I'M AIMING AT THE CENTER OF
MASS OF THAT WINDOW, WHICH GIVES
ME MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO
TAKE OUT MORE THAN ONE TARGET
WITH THAT ROUND.
I SAID, "OKAY, HERE WE GO."
YOU'RE GOING THROUGH YOUR
BREATHING, AND YOU'RE PICKING UP
A GOOD POINT OF AIM.
AND THEN AS YOU FIRE...
PULLING WITH A VERY DELIBERATE
PULL, AND YOU PULL THAT TRIGGER
TO THE REAR TILL ALL MOVEMENT
WITHIN THAT RIFLE STOPS.
I SAW IT HIT...
AND THEN THEY WERE GONE.
I SAT BACK KIND OF IN SHOCK, AND
I SAID THAT I'M PRETTY SURE I
SHOT TWO WITH THAT ONE SHOT.
ALL MOVEMENT WITHIN THE ENEMY
WAS SHUT DOWN.
>> Narrator: WEILER'S
.50-CALIBER ROUND IS TRAVELING
AT ROUGHLY 1,300 FEET PER
SECOND...
WHEN IT STRIKES THE FIRST IRAQI
FIGHTER.
THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF ENERGY
TRANSFERRED FROM THE ROUND
CREATES A TEMPORARY WOUND CAVITY
BIGGER THAN THE TARGET ITSELF,
RIPPING THE TORSO IN HALF.
THE ROUND ENTERS THE SECOND
TARGET WITH EQUALLY DEVASTATING
RESULTS.
>> THEY'RE THINKING TWICE WHEN
THEY'RE GONNA STICK THEIR HEAD
OUT TO CALL IN MORTAR ROUNDS ON
US.
>> Narrator: THE BARRETT .50 CAR
PROVES ITSELF WITH
DEADLY LONG RANGE
PRECISION.
ONE ROUND, TWO DEAD INSURGENTS.
WITH A SINGLE SHOT, WEILER
TERMINATES THE MORTAR THREAT AND
WRITES THE BOOK ON .50-CALIBER
PRECISION SHOOTING, KEEPING
HIMSELF AND HIS TEAM
BULLETPROOF.
>> I DIDN'T FEEL ANY REMORSE FOR
IT, BECAUSE THESE MEN ARE ACTIVE
COMBATANTS.
IT'S ME AGAINST THEM.
[ GUNSHOT ]
>> Narrator: T1G HIGH-CALIBER
TRAINING FACILITY.
STEVE REICHERT PREPARES TO
DEMONSTRATE THE ACCURACY AND
STOPPING POWER OF THE BARRETT'S
.50-CALIBER ROUND.
ALONG WITH MORTAR TEAMS, ONE OF
THE BIGGEST THREATS SNIPERS FACE
ARE VEHICLE-BORNE I.E.D.s
THE BARRETT'S LONG RANGE AND
POWER, COUPLED WITH A SKILLED
SHOOTER, IS AN IDEAL WEAPON TO
COUNTERACT SUCH THREATS FROM A
DISTANCE.
>> THE BARRETT .50-CALIBER IS A
VERY POWERFUL WEAPON.
IF YOU PUT THE RIGHT ROUND INTO
THE ENGINE BLOCK, IT'LL STOP THE
VEHICLE.
YOU HAVE A VEHICLE-BORNE I.E.D.
INBOUND, THE .50, THAT'S GONNA
SHUT OFF THE EXPLOSIVE ON THE
INSIDE IF THEY GET DIRECTLY HIT.
BUT IF THEY DO HIT AN INITIATOR,
BASICALLY THE FUSE OF THAT
EXPLOSIVE, IT CAN DETONATE THE
VEHICLE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA TRY TO
SIMULATE HERE.
>> Narrator: REICHERT TAKES AIM
FROM A DISTANT HILLSIDE.
THE CAR IS RIGGED WITH 2 POUNDS
OF C-4 EXPLOSIVES.
REICHERT IS READY.
HE FIRES.
REICHERT'S ROUND FINDS ITS MARK.
>> WE STOCKED 2 POUNDS OF TNT.
TYPICAL BEDS ARE FULL OF
HUNDREDS OF POUNDS.
MULTIPLY THIS BY 100, 200 TIMES,
AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THE
DESTRUCTION YOU HAVE OUT HERE.
VERY IMPORTANT TO STOP THAT
VEHICLE AS FAR AWAY FROM YOU AND
THE FRIENDLY TROOPS AS POSSIBLE.
AND THAT'S ONE THING THE BARRETT
ALLOWS YOU TO DO.
>> Narrator: WHETHER IT'S
MULTIPLE TARGETS OR A SINGLE
VEHICLE, PRECISION AND FIREPOWER
ARE A SNIPER'S PRIMARY TOOLS TO
SAVE LIVES AND STAY...
VIETNAM, 1966.
A YOUNG MARINE SNIPER'S SIXTH
SENSE IS ALL THAT STANDS BETWEEN
HIS COMPANY AND A DEADLY ENEMY
IS THE MOST LETHAL WEAPON ON THE
BATTLEFIELD, POSSESSING THE
ABILITY TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF
A BATTLE WITH ONE WELL-PLACED
SHOT.
BUT BEFORE HE REACHES THE
BATTLEFIELD...
HE MUST MASTER HIS CRAFT AND
SURVIVE 13 WEEKS OF SNIPER
SCHOOL.
>> SNIPER SCHOOL IS VERY
DEMANDING AND EXTREMELY TOUGH.
HIGH RATE OF FAILURE.
HALF THE CLASS THAT STARTS THERE
WON'T PASS.
>> Narrator: BUT THE SKILL MOST
CRITICAL TO A SNIPER'S SURVIVAL
CAN'T BE TAUGHT -- THE INNATE
ABILITY TO SENSE DANGER BEFORE
IT APPEARS, THE SIXTH SENSE.
>> DOGS HAVE IT. PEOPLE HAVE IT.
IF YOU WORK THE SIX SENSES HARD
ENOUGH, YOU'D BE WALKING, AND
ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU KNOW
SOMETHING'S WRONG.
THE HAIR COMES UP ON THE BACK OF
YOUR NECK.
>> AND I WOULD JUST GET THAT
SENSE, AND I WAS JUST LIKE, "I'M
OUT OF HERE."
YOU'RE EITHER BLESSED WITH IT,
>> Narrator: 12 MEN GRADUATE THE
FIRST MARINE SCOUT SNIPER
SCHOOL.
AT THE TIME, TRAINING IS A MERE
THREE DAYS.
YOU'RE 19 YEARS OLD.
YOU FEEL VERY INVINCIBLE.
YOU'RE A LEAN GREEN FIGHTING
MACHINE.
BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT
YOU CAN HAVE A TARGET ON YOUR
>> Narrator: THE HUNTING GROUND,
AS PART OF A BIGGER PLAN TO
SUPPRESS GUERILLA ACTIVITY, ECHO
COMPANY 25 DEPLOYS TO A
VILLAGE IN CHU LAI, A SUSPECTED
VIETCONG STRONGHOLD.
THE MARINES PLAN TO FLUSH OUT
THE ENEMY AND ELIMINATE THEM.
>> WE HAD SET UP WITH THE
ANTICIPATION THAT THE ENEMY
SOLDIERS WOULD BE COMING OUT OF
THE VILLAGE INTO THE RICE
PADDIES OR ALONG THE TREELINE,
WHICH WAS ON THE EDGE OF THE
VILLAGE.
>> Narrator: SZPOND SETS UP A
FIRING POSITION ATOP A SMALL
SCHOOLHOUSE OVERLOOKING THE
VILLAGE AND SURROUNDING AREA.
SZPOND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
SECURITY OR OVERWATCH OF THE
MARINES AS THEY PUSH THROUGH THE
VILLAGE.
HE SCANS THE SECTOR FOR ANY V.C.
GUERILLAS ESCAPING INTO THE RICE
PADDIES.
HIS WEAPON...
...THE WINCHESTER MODEL 70 --
PRIMITIVE BY TODAY'S STANDARDS,
BUT IN THE HANDS OF A TRAINED
SNIPER, DEADLY TO 900 YARDS.
SZPOND SCANS THE PADDIES WITH
THIS 8-POWER UNERTL SCOPE.
HE DETECTS NOTHING MORE THAN A
FARMER AND A WATER BUFFALO.
BUT HE SENSES A THREAT.
IN COMBAT PARLANCE, JDLR --
"JUST DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT."
>> IF YOU SEE A FARMER OUT THERE
WITH A BUFFALO, WHAT'S HE DOING?
WHY IS HE OUT THERE WITH THAT
BUFFALO?
I MEAN, IS IT THE TIME OF YEAR
HE SHOULD BE TRYING TO TURN UP A
FIELD?
>> Narrator: THE FARMER AND
BUFFALO NOW HAVE SZPOND'S FULL
ATTENTION.
>> MY SIXTH SENSE KICKED IN.
THE VIETNAMESE SOLDIERS HAD A
TENDENCY OF USING NOT ONLY
ANIMALS BUT USING PEOPLE --
CHILDREN, WOMEN, WATER
BUFFALO -- TO INFLICT CASUALTIES
OR TO TRANSPORT WHATEVER THEY
FELT THEY HAD TO DO TO DO THE
JOB.
SO I LOOKED, AND SURE ENOUGH,
THAT BUFFALO HAS A LOT OF LEGS.
SEE THE FEET BETWEEN THE REAR
AND THE FRONT.
THEY WERE TRYING TO EVADE
OBSERVATION AND HIDE BEHIND THE
BUFFALO.
>> Narrator: SZPOND ALERTS HIS
PLATOON COMMANDER.
HIS FIRST THOUGHT IS TO KILL THE
BUFFALO, ELIMINATING THE ENEMY
TROOPS' COVER.
>> I SAID, "I NEED TO SHOOT THE
BUFFALO."
>> HE SAID, "FINE."
SO I ADJUSTED MY SIGHT.
IT WAS ABOUT 750 YARDS.
[ GUN COCKS ]
THE WATER BUFFALO SITS AT THE
EDGE OF HIS WINCHESTER 70's
EFFECTIVE RANGE.
SZPOND USES THREE BASELINE
RANGES FOR TARGETING -- 300,
600, AND 900 YARDS.
AT 750 YARDS, SZPOND'S ROUND
WILL DROP APPROXIMATELY
7.5 INCHES, A DISTANCE
EQUIVALENT TO ONE MINUTE OF
ANGLE.
WITH HIS RIFLE SET AT 600 YARDS,
SZPOND HOLDS OFF "X" FEET ABOVE
HIS TARGET, 750 YARDS AWAY, TO
COMPENSATE FOR BULLET DROP.
WITH EACH PASSING SECOND, THE
ENEMY TROOPS ARE A STEP CLOSER
TO ESCAPE.
SZPOND TAKES AIM AT THE BUFFALO
AND FIRES.
>> THE SHOT WAS RIGHT AT THE
FRONT OF THE BUFFALO...
[ BUFFALO CRIES ]
...KILLING INSTANTLY.
IT UNCOVERED THE TWO V.C., WHICH
WERE HEAVILY ARMED.
THEY HAD AK-47s AND AMMUNITION
TO GO ALONG WITH THAT.
>> Narrator: TWO VIETCONG
GUERILLAS STAND DIRECTLY IN
SZPOND'S CROSS HAIRS.
IF THEY ESCAPE, THEY LIVE TO
FIGHT AND KILL MORE MARINES.
>> I ALREADY KNEW WHERE I WAS
PUTTING THE CROSS HAIRS, BECAUSE
I HAD TAKEN A SHOT WITH THE
BUFFALO.
THEIR SIXTH SENSE SHOULD HAVE
TOLD THEM TO DO SOMETHING -- RUN
OR HIDE BEHIND IT.
I LINED UP THE CROSS HAIRS ON
THE FIRST SOLDIER AND SQUEEZED
OFF THE ROUND.
>> Narrator: BECAUSE OF THE
HUMIDITY, SZPOND IS ABLE TO
FOLLOW THE ROUND'S VAPOR TRAIL
AS IT CUTS THROUGH THE MOISTURE
AT SUPERSONIC SPEED.
>> IT'S CUTTING THROUGH THE
HUMIDITY.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE GOING THROUGH
WATER.
AND IT ALWAYS SPARKS.
IT'S A TOOL THAT YOU CAN USE TO
SEE HOW YOU'RE DOING.
THE V.C. SPUN AROUND...
BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT.
>> Narrator: ONE ENEMY SOLDIER
REMAINS LOCKED IN SZPOND'S
SIGHTS.
>> I REBOLTED, SQUEEZED OFF THE
ROUND.
AND HE FELL.
>> Narrator: DEVASTATING AND
EFFICIENT, SZPOND'S SHOTS
DEMORALIZED THE ENEMY.
THE REMAINING V.C. RETREAT INTO
THE SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE.
WITH THE THREAT NEUTRALIZED, THE
MARINES DISCOVER THE BUFFALO'S
HIDDEN PAYLOAD.
>> IT WAS CANNISTERS FULL OF
ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADE AND
OTHER BOXES OF AMMUNITION.
>> Narrator: THE SIXTH SENSE,
ACCURACY...
AND THREE FIVE-CENT BULLETS...
TURNED THE TIDE OF A FIREFIGHT,
SPARING MARINE LIVES.
>> THIS WAS A GOOD-SIZE UNIT,
AND BY THE AMOUNT OF AMMUNITION
AND ORDNANCE THAT WE GOT OUT OF
THAT KILL THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT.
>> Narrator: SOUTH VIETNAM,
1966.
RON SZPOND WILL SOON LEARN
ANOTHER LESSON ABOUT A SNIPER'S
ABILITY TO REMAIN BULLETPROOF --
THE SKILL OF IMPROVISATION IN
THE FACE OF ALMOST-CERTAIN
DEATH.
OPERATING ALONE, HUNTING FAR
FROM THE SAFETY OF THEIR UNITS,
VIETNAM-ERA SNIPERS LEARNED TO
THINK LIKE THE ENEMY TO STAY
ALIVE.
>> YOU NEVER TAKE THE SAME ROUTE
BACK THAT YOU TAKE GOING OUT.
BECAUSE IF YOU WAS -- ANYBODY
PICKED UP ON ANYTHING, THEY'RE
GONNA SET UP AN AMBUSH FOR YOU
IN THAT AREA.
IN THE EARLY DAYS OF VIETNAM,
MARINE SNIPERS WORK WITHOUT
SPOTTERS OR SECURITY.
UNSEEN AND UNHEARD, THEY
PENETRATE DEEP INTO ENEMY
TERRITORY, SERVING AS AN EARLY
WARNING SYSTEM FOR NVA OR
VIETCONG AMBUSHES.
>> BEING ALONE IN THAT
ENVIRONMENT IS EMOTIONALLY
DRAINING.
I JUST SAID I WAS NEVER GONNA
GET CAPTURED.
I'M GONNA DIE FIGHTING.
>> Narrator: THE HUNTING GROUND,
A TYPICAL MISSION, RON SZPOND
MOVES INTO AN AREA HOURS AHEAD
OF HIS COMPANY.
HE STAKES OUT A FIRING POSITION
TO PROVIDE SECURITY AND COVER
WHEN THEY ARRIVE.
>> I WOULD GO 200, 300, 400
YARDS, 500 YARDS.
I WOULD LOOK FOR AN OPEN AREA IN
THE BACK WHERE THE PATROL WAS
GOING THROUGH WHERE I WOULD HAVE
AT LEAST A 300-YARD SHOT.
>> Narrator: THE COUNTRYSIDE IS
CRAWLING WITH VIETCONG AND NVA.
BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST THREATS
SZPOND FACES IS CIVILIANS.
>> THE FARMERS HAD A TENDENCY OF
SOMETIMES RATTING YOU OUT.
'CAUSE THEY WERE LOOKING FOR
SOME REWARD MONEY.
IF THEY KNEW IT WAS A SNIPER,
>> Narrator: CENTRAL I-CORP RE,
RON SZPOND DEPLOYS THROUGH HILLY
TERRAIN AHEAD OF A MARINE
PATROL.
HIS WINCHESTER 70 IS THE FIRST
LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST AN ENEMY
ATTACK.
>> I'M SETTING UP ON THE SIDE OF
THE HILL, WHICH IS NOT TOO
DENSE, GOING DOWN THE SIDE OF
THIS HILL, LEADING TO A TRAIL,
AND THEN THERE'S RICE PADDIES.
BUT THE PATROL IS GOING INTO A
THICKET.
SZPOND WATCHES AND WAITS.
HE SEES NO ENEMY TROOPS IN THE
AREA.
SUDDENLY, HE HEARS THE
DISTINCTIVE FIRE OF AK-47s IN
THE DISTANCE.
>> THE PATROL HAD BEEN INVOLVED
IN A FIREFIGHT.
IT APPEARED TO BE QUITE INTENSE.
[ GUNFIRE ]
>> Narrator: FIREFIGHT
INTENSIFIES, THE POINT OF THE
MARINE PATROL 300 YARDS FROM
SZPOND'S POSITION.
HE RACES TO THE AID OF HIS
AMBUSHED COMPANY.
NOW, IT'S VERY THICK, DIMLY
LIGHTED IN THE DAYTIME.
YOU REALLY CAN'T HEAR A LOT
'CAUSE OF THE THICKNESS, SO THE
SOUND IS MUFFLED.
AND I'M RUNNING.
EVERYTHING'S POUNDING.
MY SIXTH SENSE IS TELLING ME THE
ONLY WAY I CAN HELP IS WITH
A .45.
AND I CAN'T USE MY SNIPER RIFLE
UNTIL I CAN SET UP.
I'M SCANNING ACROSS THE FRONT,
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR
THEY'RE AHEAD OF ME.
IN A FLASH, I'M LOOKING AT NVA
SOLDIERS.
NOW, THEY'RE DOING THE SAME
THING, BUT THEY'RE HOLDING THEIR
WEAPONS IN THEIR HAND.
>> Narrator: RON SZPOND STANDS
LESS THAN 30 FEET FROM FIVE
ENEMY SOLDIERS.
HIS ONLY CHOICE -- A FIGHT TO
>> Narrator: FOR A SNIPER, THERE
IS NO TRUER TEST OF HIS SURVIVAL
SKILLS THAN WHEN HE MUST
CONFRONT THE ENEMY FACE TO FACE.
IN THE MIDST OF THIS CHAOS, THE
ABILITY TO IMPROVISE AND ACT
WITHIN SECONDS MEANS THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND
DEATH.
VIETNAM, 1966.
A MARINE PATROL IS AMBUSHED BY
NVA TROOPS.
19-YEAR-OLD SNIPER RON SZPOND
RUSHES TO THEIR AID ONLY TO
STUMBLE UPON FIVE HEAVILY ARMED
ENEMY SOLDIERS.
>> WHEN I SAW THE NVA,
EVERYTHING KICKED IN.
BY THE TIME EVERYBODY STOPPED,
IT WAS PROBABLY 30 FEET, SEVERAL
YARDS.
THEY WERE BASICALLY THREE ACROSS
AND TWO MORE BEHIND THEM.
>> Narrator: SZPOND'S SNIPER
RIFLE IS USELESS AT THIS
DISTANCE.
OUTMANNED AND OUTGUNNED, HE MUST
MAKE A SPLIT-SECOND
IMPROVISATION.
HIS ONLY OPTION -- HIS SECONDARY
WEAPONS, A COLT .45 AND A
.38-CALIBER REVOLVER.
>> WHAT WENT THROUGH MY MIND WAS
I GOT TO GRAB MY OTHER PISTOL.
IN AN AMBUSH, FIREPOWER IS LIFE
OR DEATH.
SZPOND'S SIDEARMS PACK 13 ROUNDS
TOTAL.
EACH OF THE ENEMIES' AK-47s CAN
DELIVER 7.62 ROUNDS AT A RATE OF
600 PER MINUTE.
SZPOND'S ONLY CHANCE -- BE
FASTER ON THE DRAW.
[ GUNFIRE ]
>> IT WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE OLD
WEST.
YOU SMELL THE GUNPOWDER.
>> Narrator: SZPOND LAUNCHES A
TWO-FISTED ASSAULT, SENDING LEAD
DOWNRANGE AS QUICKLY AS HE CAN
PULL THE TRIGGER, A TEXTBOOK
EXAMPLE OF WHAT'S KNOWN AS
VIOLENCE OF ACTION --
OVERWHELMING THE ENEMY WITH
SHEER FORCE OF FIREPOWER.
>> AS CRAZY AS THAT SOUNDS,
THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.
YOU HAVE TO OVERPOWER THAT
FIREPOWER.
>> Narrator: SZPOND QUICKLY
DROPS AN NVA SOLDIER.
A STUNNED ENEMY RETURNS FIRE,
BUT IT'S HIGH AND OFF TARGET.
HE CONTINUES FIRING.
A SECOND NVA CATCHES A .45 ROUND
AND DROPS.
SZPOND IS STILL OUTNUMBERED
THREE TO ONE.
HE'S OUT OF AMMO.
>> WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY WERE
THINKING?
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THE ODDS WERE
AGAINST ME.
THE OTHERS WERE AS PANICKY AS I
WAS.
NOT KNOWING IF THERE WAS SOMEONE
BEHIND ME, THEY CHOSE TO JUST
TURN AROUND AND RUN FOR IT.
>> Narrator: IN LESS THAN
20 SECONDS, IT'S OVER.
RON SZPOND DELIVERS 13 SHOTS,
SAVING NOT ONLY HIS OWN LIFE BUT
THUNDER RANCH, LAKEVIEW, OREGON.
PRECISION FIRING RANGE.
SNIPER INSTRUCTOR CLINT SMITH
AND FORMER SWAT SNIPER
STEVE RODRIGUEZ DECONSTRUCT
RON SZPOND'S DECISION TO USE
PISTOLS RATHER THAN A
HIGH-POWERED SNIPER RIFLE TO
DEFEAT AN ENEMY AMBUSH.
IN OTHER WORDS, FIREPOWER VERSUS
STOPPING POWER.
FIRST UP, A SIDE-BY-SIDE
COMPARISON OF STOPPING POWER --
A .308 SNIPER RIFLE VERSUS A
.38 REVOLVER AND A COLT .45.
STEVE AND CLINT PLACE A BLOCK OF
BALLISTIC GELATIN DOWNRANGE.
THE POWER OF EACH ROUND WILL BE
ETCHED IN THE IMPACT OF THE
GELATIN AND THE PERMANENT WOUND
CHANNEL THAT IT CARVES PASSING
THROUGH.
>> DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PISTOL
CALIBER AND A RIFLE CALIBER IS
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE IN A FEW
MOMENTS.
>> Narrator: FIRST UP,
CLINTON SMITH SIGHTS THE GEL
WITH THE .38.
[ GUNSHOT ]
>> OKAY, THAT WAS A PRETTY CLEAN
SHOT, BUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO NOW
IS GIVE YOU THE COMPARISON WITH
THE OTHER PISTOL THAT WOULD HAVE
BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS
INCIDENT -- A 1911 PISTOL WITH
230 BALL AMMUNITION IN IT.
[ GUNSHOT ]
THE BOTTOM IS A .38 SPECIAL.
IT JUST WENT RIGHT THROUGH,
DIDN'T IMPART VERY MUCH ENERGY
ONTO THE GELATIN BLOCK.
TOP ONE'S THE .45.
YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE BIT BIGGER,
BUT THE SAME THING.
IF A GUY TOOK A HIT THROUGH THE
CENTER LINE WITH THIS, IT WILL
PROBABLY PUT HIM DOWN, BUT I
DON'T THINK THAT HE WOULD BE OUT
OF THE FIGHT.
>> Narrator: STEVEN RODRIGUEZ
SETS UP WITH THE .308.
HE FIRES.
THE ROUND LEAVES THE MUZZLE AT A
SPEED OF 2,800 FEET PER SECOND.
WHEN IT COMES TO STOPPING POWER,
THE .308 WINS HANDS DOWN.
WHAT YOU'LL NOTICE HERE IS THE
PROJECTILE FROM A .308 CARTRIDGE
TRAVELED THROUGH, AND AT THIS
POINT HERE, YOU'RE GONNA NOTICE
SOME MAJOR DISRUPTION.
THE PROJECTILE INVERTED AT THIS
POINT.
IT THEN BEGAN TRAVELING
FACE-FORWARD AS IT EXITED OUT
THE BLOCK.
IF A PERSON WERE TO TAKE A HIT
LIKE THIS, I THINK IT'D PROBABLY
BE A NONSURVIVABLE WOUND.
PROBABLY PUT THEM OUT OF THE
FIGHT PRETTY FAST.
>> Narrator: BUT IT WASN'T
STOPPING POWER THAT SAVED
RON SZPOND IN THE SHOOTOUT.
IT WAS HIS CHOICE OF WEAPONS AND
VIOLENCE OF ACTION, THE ABILITY
TO GET MORE LEAD DOWNRANGE THAN
THE OTHER GUY.
SMITH AND RODRIGUEZ DEMONSTRATE
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A
BOLT-ACTION SNIPER RIFLE VERSUS
TWO HANDGUNS IN CLOSE-QUARTERS
COMBAT.
>> WE'RE GONNA TRY AND DO A
DEMONSTRATION OR RE-CREATION OF
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ONLY HAVE
HANDGUNS AVAILABLE AGAINST
MULTIPLE TARGETS, AND YOU'RE
TRYING TO CREATE AS MUCH
VIOLENCE OF ACTION AS POSSIBLE
SO THAT YOU CAN THEN GO AHEAD
AND ESCAPE THE AREA.
>> Narrator: RODRIGUEZ AND SMITH
WILL EACH HAVE 10 SECONDS TO
ENGAGE TARGETS REPRESENTING THE
NVA SQUAD SZPOND FACED IN 1966.
SMITH WILL FIRE DUAL .38- AND
.45-CALIBER PISTOLS, REPLICATING
SZPOND'S SIDEARMS.
STEVE WILL SHOOT A .308
BOLT-ACTION RIFLE SIMILAR TO
SZPOND'S WINCHESTER 70.
>> SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE
ACTUALLY LOOKING AT -- HOW MANY
ROUNDS CAN WE PUT DOWNRANGE
EFFECTIVELY AND THE DAMAGE THOSE
ROUNDS CAN DO.
>> Narrator: SMITH IS FIRST.
THE 10-SECOND TIME FRAME WILL
SIMULATE THE CRITICAL OPENING
BURST LAID DOWN BY SZPOND.
>> STAND BY.
GO!
TIME.
>> Narrator: SMITH RUNS OUT OF
AMMO JUST AS TIME EXPIRES.
IN 10 SECONDS, HE HAS EMPTIED
THE .38's 6-BULLET CYLINDER AND
THE .45's 7-ROUND MAGAZINE AT A
COMBINED RATE OF NEARLY A ROUND
AND A HALF PER SECOND.
HE'S REGISTERED SEVERAL HEAD
SHOTS, BUT HOW MANY?
>> THAT'S A HIT THERE.
HERE.
THERE.
HIT HERE.
HERE.
THERE.
HE FIRED 13 ROUNDS.
WE HAD TWO MISFIRES, SO WE GOT
11 ROUNDS, AND THEN THE REALLY
KEY POINT IS WE PUT A LOT OF
AMMO DOWNRANGE TO HELP US BREAK
THAT CONTACT THAT WE WERE TRYING
TO GET AWAY FROM THESE PEOPLE.
>> Narrator: SMITH REGISTERS
7 HITS IN 10 SECONDS.
NOW IT'S RODRIGUEZ'S TURN.
USING THE BOLT-ACTION RIFLE, HE
SIMULATES WHAT COULD HAVE
HAPPENED HAD SZPOND CHOSEN TO
FIGHT WITH HIS WINCHESTER 70.
>> STAND BY.
GO!
TIME.
>> Narrator: 4 HITS IN 10
SECONDS.
NOT BAD.
BUT FAR SHORT OF THE DAMAGE
SMITH INFLICTED FIRING THE .38
AND THE COLT .45 SIMULTANEOUSLY.
>> I THINK THE RIFLE WAS MUCH
MORE POWERFUL, AS EXAMPLED BY
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FRUIT.
>> Narrator: THE STOPPING POWER
OF THE .308 IS UNDENIABLE.
BUT THE FOUR ADDITIONAL HITS
TALLIED BY SMITH PROVED THAT
RON SZPOND MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE
IN HIS SHOWDOWN WITH THE NVA.
HIS ABILITY TO IMPROVISE KEPT
HIM ALIVE AND MOST LIKELY SAVED
THE LIVES OF HIS FELLOW MARINES.
UP NEXT...
ALASKA, 1992.
UNLIKE RON SZPOND, ANCHORAGE
POLICE SNIPERS HAVE THE
ADVANTAGE OF NUMBERS.
BUT FOUR HOSTAGES AND 4 POUNDS
OF C-4 EXPLOSIVES STAND BETWEEN
THEM AND A MADMAN.
AND LATER...
A BRITISH SNIPER IN AFGHANISTAN
HAS ONLY MINUTES TO SAVE HIS
AMBUSHED COMPANY.
TO DO SO, HE MUST HIT THE
THREATS...
[ GUNSHOT ]
...AND TARGETS.
HE MUST QUICKLY DIFFERENTIATE
THE ENEMY FROM CIVILIANS AND
TAKE ACTION.
FOR POLICE SNIPERS, THE TARGET
IS OFTEN CLEAR -- A CRIMINAL
WHO'S GONE OVER THE EDGE.
TO REMAIN BULLETPROOF, SWAT
SNIPERS MUST TIRELESSLY TRAIN
FOR THE UNEXPECTED...
>> ALL RIGHT, GENTLEMEN, LOAD
YOUR RIFLES AND MAKE READY.
>> Narrator: ...AND ABOVE ALL
ELSE, WORK AS A TEAM, READY TO
TAKE A KILL SHOT AT A MOMENT'S
NOTICE.
[ GUNSHOTS ]
>> YOU HAVE TO BE AT PEACE WITH
THAT YOU MAY HAVE TO TAKE
SOMEBODY'S LIFE.
BECAUSE THE SITUATION DICTATES
THAT YOU CAN'T HESITATE AT THAT
>> Narrator: MARCH 25, 1992.
41-YEAR-OLD CONN WAYNE DUNCAN,
OUT FOR REVENGE AGAINST HIS
EX-GIRLFRIEND, TAKES A FAMILY OF
FOUR HOSTAGE.
ANCHORAGE P.D. SWAT RECEIVES THE
CALL.
>> THE SUSPECT WAS WARNING US
NOT TO SCREW AROUND WITH HIM
ANYMORE, AND WE HAD BETTER DO IT
IN AN HOUR, OR PEOPLE WERE GONNA
>> Narrator: SWAT SNIPER
MARK MEW ARRIVES ON SCENE.
HE'S FACED WITH A SITUATION THAT
GROWS MORE GRIM BY THE MOMENT.
A HIGHLY AGITATED SUSPECT HOLDS
FOUR HOSTAGES, INCLUDING TWO
CHILDREN.
HE'S ARMED WITH A PISTOL AND A
LARGE QUANTITY OF EXPLOSIVES.
>> WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS AS
MUCH AS 3 OR 4 POUNDS OF C-4.
AND HE HAD THE DETONATOR SET UP
WITH A STRING ATTACHED TO HIS
FINGER SO THAT EVEN IF HE WERE
SHOT BY POLICE, THE PACKAGE
WOULD STILL EXPLODE.
>> IF HE WAS ABLE TO SET THE
BOMB OFF, THERE WOULD BE NOTHING
THAT YOU COULD DO TO HELP THE
HOSTAGES.
>> Narrator: PHIL BROWN AND THE
SWAT PERIMETER TEAM FAN OUT
AROUND THE RESIDENCE.
>> THE ROLE OF THE PERIMETER
TEAM IS BASICALLY TO GET INTO
THAT INNER PERIMETER TO CONTAIN
THE INCIDENT.
IN CASE THE SUSPECT HAD TRIED TO
RUN FROM THAT TRAILER UP TOWARD
MY DIRECTION, I WAS RESPONSIBLE
FOR CONTAINMENT OF HIM.
>> Narrator: BROWN'S TEAM BLOCKS
ANY POSSIBLE ESCAPE ROUTE.
MEANWHILE, A SWAT ENTRY TEAM
MASSES, READY TO RUSH THE DOOR
IF NEEDED.
MEW SETS UP HIS FIRING POSITION
ON A ROOFTOP DIRECTLY FACING THE
HOME.
>> THE POSITION I PICKED WAS A
HOME THAT HAD SORT OF TWO WINGS
WITH PITCHED ROOFS ON EACH WING,
AND THEN A FLAT ROOF THAT
CONNECTED THE TWO PITCHED ROOFS.
>> Narrator: MEW'S LOCATION
OFFERS IDEAL COVER AND
CONCEALMENT.
HE WEARS A WHITE OUTER SHELL FOR
CAMOUFLAGE TO BLEND IN WITH HIS
SNOWY SURROUNDINGS.
>> I COULD KIND OF GET SORT OF
DOWN NEXT TO THE CHIMNEY, AND
THE ANGLE WAS SUCH THAT I REALLY
WASN'T BACK-LIT AND HAD SOME
THINGS THAT I COULD SORT OF
CONCEAL MY VIEW.
>> Narrator: MEW'S WEAPON...
...A CUSTOM-BUILT REMINGTON 700.
THE BOLT-ACTION RIFLE IS HIGHLY
ACCURATE, CAPABLE OF
CONSISTENTLY HITTING WITHIN A
QUARTER-INCH OF ITS INTENDED
TARGET AT 100 YARDS.
THE FRONT DOOR SITS 120 YARDS
AWAY, A LITTLE MORE THAN A
FOOTBALL FIELD.
BUT MEW'S LINE OF FIRE IS
COMPLICATED BY TWO STANDS OF
TREES SITTING BETWEEN HIS
POSITION AND THE HOME.
>> THE TRUNKS VARIED FROM BEING
AN INCH THICK TO BEING 6 INCHES
THICK WITH A LOT OF LITTLE
TWIGS.
I CAN'T PREDICT WHAT TWIG I'M
GOING TO HIT AND AT WHAT ANGLE
AND WHAT DEFLECTION I MIGHT PICK
UP.
I MIGHT PICK UP WHAT COULD
TRANSLATE INTO 3, 4 INCHES IF I
HIT SOMETHING WRONG.
>> Narrator: THERE'S NO MARGIN
FOR ERROR IN THE STANDOFF.
IF MEW IS OFF BY AN INCH, HE
COULD ACCIDENTALLY KILL A
HOSTAGE.
AN EVEN GREATER THREAT --
THE BOMB STRAPPED TO
CONN WAYNE DUNCAN.
RIGGED WITH A DEAD MAN'S SWITCH,
THE EXPLOSIVES WILL DETONATE
EVEN IF DUNCAN IS KILLED OR
INCAPACITATED.
HE IS LOADED DOWN WITH ENOUGH
C-4 TO KILL ANYONE WITHIN
10 YARDS OF THE HOME.
POLICE ARE ORDERED TO HOLD THEIR
FIRE.
AS LONG AS DUNCAN HOLDS THE
HOSTAGES, ANY SHOT IS LIKELY TO
BE CATASTROPHIC.
>> IT'S LIKELY GOING TO KILL THE
HOSTAGE, AS WELL.
BECAUSE IF THAT BOMB GOES, I
DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GONNA SAVE
THEM.
>> Narrator: THE STANDOFF ENTERS
ITS THIRD HOUR.
>> ABOUT 11:15, I SAW THE
CURTAINS WIGGLE A LITTLE BIT,
AND I SAW THE DOOR OPEN, AND A
YOUNG GIRL CAME OUT AND WAS
RELEASED.
SHE HAD A NOTE SAYING THAT THE
SUSPECT WAS WARNING US TO NOT
SCREW AROUND WITH HIM ANYMORE.
>> Narrator: BY NOON, DUNCAN
FREES THE OLDER CHILD.
BUT HE'S GROWING MORE AGITATED
BY THE MOMENT.
TENSIONS RISE AS THE TEMPERATURE
STEADILY DROPS.
BUT MEW MUST STAY ALERT AND KEEP
HIS TRIGGER FINGER READY.
JUST BEFORE 1:00, THE ADULT
WOMAN IS RELEASED.
AND SHE'S TAKEN AWAY FOR FURTHER
DEBRIEFING.
WE WERE TOLD THAT THESE FOLKS
WERE ABOUT READY TO COME OUT.
SO AT THIS POINT, I HAD TO START
MAKING SOME DECISIONS.
>> Narrator: THE VOLATILE
SUSPECT STILL HOLDS ONE HOSTAGE.
IF DUNCAN EXITS WITH HIM, THE
SITUATION ESCALATES GREATLY.
POLICE CAN'T FIRE ON HIM WITHOUT
RISKING KILLING THE HOSTAGE.
A TRUCK SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY OF
THE HOME.
SWAT TEAM MEMBER PHIL BROWN
WORRIES DUNCAN WILL ATTEMPT TO
ESCAPE WITH THE HOSTAGE AND A
BOMB THAT COULD GO OFF AT ANY
SECOND.
>> MY FEELING WAS THAT SINCE HE
WAS NOT GETTING WHAT HE WANTED,
HIS GIRLFRIEND, THAT HE WAS
GOING TO MOVE FROM THIS LOCATION
TO SOMETHING THAT WAS MORE OF A
HIGHER STAKE, LIKE A SCHOOL OR A
GROCERY STORE.
>> A SHOPPING MALL AND A HIGH
SCHOOL SIT WITHIN 2 MILES OF
THE HOME.
4 POUNDS OF C-4 ARE DETONATED IN
A CROWDED SPACE, IT KILLS
HUNDREDS INSTANTLY.
>> THIS WAS LIKE A SNIPER'S
NIGHTMARE.
I MEAN, IT DOESN'T GET ANY WORSE
THAN THIS.
THERE REALLY WASN'T MUCH TIME,
MAYBE A ONE-SECOND WINDOW.
>> I WASN'T GONNA LET HIM LEAVE
>> Narrator: THE WORLD OF THE
SNIPER IS FILLED WITH PERIL.
FOR POLICE SHARPSHOOTERS, MOST
ENGAGEMENTS TAKE PLACE INSIDE OF
200 YARDS.
TO REMAIN BULLETPROOF AT SUCH
CLOSE RANGE, THEY MUST WORK AS
ONE WITH THEIR SWAT TEAM
ANCHORAGE P.D. SWAT SNIPER
MARK MEW STARES DOWN THE BARREL
AT A POTENTIAL CATASTROPHE.
>> YOU'VE GOT A GUY IN THERE.
HE'S GOT A HANDGUN.
HE'S TAKEN HOSTAGES.
HE'S GOT A BOMB.
IT'S WIRED SO THAT EVEN IF WE DO
SHOOT HIM, IT'S GONNA BLOW UP
AND KILL BOTH HIM AND THE
HOSTAGE.
>> Narrator: THE SUSPECT,
CONN WAYNE DUNCAN, HAS RELEASED
ALL BUT ONE HOSTAGE.
BUT WITH C-4 STRAPPED TO HIS
BODY, HE IS A HUMAN TIME BOMB,
DEADLY TO ANYONE WITHIN 10
YARDS.
MEW CAN'T FIRE AT DUNCAN WITHOUT
KILLING THE HOSTAGE.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GONNA
SAVE HIM.
HOW DO WE GET OUT OF THIS
UNSCATHED?
>> Narrator: JUST AFTER
1:00 P.M., DUNCAN APPEARS IN THE
DOORWAY WITH THE HOSTAGE.
>> HE HAD A GUN IN HIS RIGHT
HAND, A SEMIAUTOMATIC, AND A
PACKAGE IN HIS LEFT HAND THAT
WAS AN OPAQUE PLASTIC THING
ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF THE SUNDAY
NEWSPAPER.
I COULD SEE THE SUSPECT'S FACE
AND HIS CLOTHING, AND IT WAS
RUNNING THROUGH MY MIND, "WHICH
ONE IS THE GOOD GUY, AND WHICH
ONE IS THE BAD GUY?"
>> Narrator: MEW CAN'T AFFORD A
MISTAKE.
HE REFERS TO A MUG SHOT OF THE
SUSPECT.
>> I COULD SEE FROM THE
PHOTOGRAPH THAT THE CLEAN-SHAVEN
MAN WAS THE SAME MAN AS THE
BEARDED MAN THAT WAS PICTURED.
THEY SEEMED TO PAUSE FOR A
MOMENT ON THE PORCH.
THE SUSPECT ALLOWED THE HOSTAGE
A FEW PUFFS OF A CIGARETTE.
THAT SEEMED OMINOUS TO ME.
THEN HE PRODDED HIM WITH THE
HANDGUN AND MARCHED HIM OFF THE
PORCH.
>> Narrator: DESPITE RIGOROUS
TRAINING AND CLEAR-CUT RULES OF
ENGAGEMENT, MEW AND THE SWAT
TEAM ARE FACED WITH A DEADLY
CHOICE.
THEY MUST STOP DUNCAN BEFORE HE
ESCAPES WITH THE BOMB.
BUT IF THEY SHOOT HIM, THE BOMB
DETONATES, KILLING THE HOSTAGE.
>> THE HOSTAGE WOULD TAKE THE
HIGHEST PRIORITY, AND THEN AN
INNOCENT CITIZEN WOULD TAKE THE
NEXT LEVEL OF PRIORITY OF
SAFETY, THEN THE OFFICERS
THEMSELVES, AND THEN THE
SUSPECT.
>> Narrator: AN IMPOSSIBLE
DECISION.
THE FATE OF THE HOSTAGE...
OR THE FATE OF HUNDREDS OF
NEARBY RESIDENTS?
WITH DUNCAN AND THE HOSTAGE
INCHING CLOSER TO THE TRUCK,
TIME IS RUNNING OUT.
>> I WAS TRACKING THIS PAIR
MOVING.
I'M TRACKING THEM, AND I'M
SEEING IN MY SCOPE THESE TREE
TRUNKS GO BY.
>> Narrator: DUNCAN CLINGS TO
HIS HUMAN SHIELD AS HE EDGES
ACROSS THE YARD.
PHIL BROWN AND THE PERIMETER
TEAM MUST KEEP THE SUSPECT FROM
LEAVING THE PROPERTY AT ANY
COST.
>> I WAS THINKING, "WELL, I
CAN'T SHOOT RIGHT NOW.
I GOT TO WAIT FOR THE HOSTAGE TO
CLEAR MY LINE OF FIRE.
>> Narrator: A GAP IN THE TREES
PROVIDES MEW A CLEAR FIELD OF
VIEW.
HE READIES FOR THE KILL.
>> I WAS SEEING OVER THAT
PITCHED ROOF WITH MY SCOPE, BUT
MY SCOPE IS 3 INCHES HIGHER THAN
THE BORE OF THE RIFLE.
>> Narrator: THE RIFLE BORE
OVERLAPS THE ROOF LINE.
BEFORE HE CAN FIRE, MEW MUST
MAKE A CRITICAL LAST-MINUTE
ADJUSTMENT.
MEW WEDGES HIS BODY AGAINST THE
TILTED ROOF AND RAISES HIS RIFLE
BORE INTO THE CLEAR.
MEANWHILE, DUNCAN REACHES THE
DRIVER'S-SIDE DOOR OF THE
PICKUP.
>> HE GETS TO THE TRUCK, AND THE
CAB DOOR IS OPENED.
SO THEN I WATCH THE HOSTAGE GO
OVER INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF
THE TRUCK.
THE SUSPECT MOTIONS TO THE
HOSTAGE TO GET IN THE DRIVER'S
SIDE, SO THEY'RE MOVING IN MY
FIELD OF VIEW FROM LEFT TO
RIGHT.
THE HOSTAGE GETS IN BEHIND THE
WHEEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND
THEN STARTS SCOOTING OVER TO THE
PASSENGER'S SIDE.
AT THIS POINT, THE SUSPECT PUTS
A FOOT ON THE RUNNING BOARD AND
STARTS STEPPING HIMSELF UP INTO
THE CAB OF THE TRUCK.
HE'S FACING AWAY FROM ME NOW.
SO THERE REALLY WASN'T MUCH
TIME, MAYBE A ONE-SECOND WINDOW.
I CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER NOW,
BECAUSE ANOTHER HALF-SECOND OR
SO, HE'S GOING TO BE IN THE
VEHICLE, AND THE DOOR'S GONNA
CLOSE.
>> Narrator: MEW LINES UP A
CENTER-MASS SHOT.
HIS CROSS HAIRS FIND THE UPPER
SPINE.
HE BREATHES.
THE SCOPE SETTLES.
>> I'D GET THE RETICLE WHERE I
WANT IT TO BE, AND THEN I'D STOP
BREATHING, AND THEN BEGIN MY
GENTLE RELEASE OF THE TRIGGER.
I REMEMBER THINKING, "WHATEVER I
DO, DO NOT BOTCH THIS THING UP.
DO NOT JUMP ON THIS TRIGGER."
YOU PRACTICE OVER AND OVER AND
OVER TO HAVE A VERY CAREFUL,
GENTLE RELEASE ON THAT TRIGGER,
A RELEASE THAT TAKES YOU BY
>> A SPLIT SECOND AFTER HE SHOT,
I SAW THE SUSPECT FLINCH.
AND I THOUGHT, "OKAY, HE HIT
HIM," BUT HE DIDN'T GO DOWN
RIGHT AWAY.
>> THE SUSPECT WAS THROWN
FORWARD.
I COULD SEE HIS KNEES.
HE WAS KIND OF SQUATTING.
I COULD SEE HIS HANDS ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR, SO HE
WAS BEHIND THE DOOR, AND HE WAS
DOING SOMETHING WITH HIS HANDS.
>> Narrator: AFTER MEW'S SHOT,
PROTOCOL GIVES WAY TO INSTINCT.
BROWN FIRES.
HIS .223 ROUND HITS DUNCAN
BENEATH THE LEFT RIBCAGE.
BUT DUNCAN CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE
WITH THE EXPLOSIVES.
>> WELL, I'M THINKING, "I HAVE
TO SHOOT AGAIN.
HE'S GONNA SET THE C-4 OFF."
AND AS I WAS FIGURING THAT
OUT...
I HEARD ANOTHER GUNSHOT FROM
MARK MEW.
THEN I SEE HIM STRUGGLE,
CONTINUE TO DO SOMETHING WITH
HIS HAND.
AND THAT'S WHEN I SHOT.
>> Narrator: BROWN'S NEARLY
SIMULTANEOUS SHOT GIVES THE
HOSTAGE PRECIOUS SECONDS TO
ESCAPE.
>> THAT'S WHEN THE C-4 WENT OFF.
>> WHEN I SAW THE FLASH IN THE
SCOPE, IT WAS KIND OF BLINDING A
LITTLE BIT, AND I REMEMBER
THINKING, "WHOA," AND SEEING
THIS BIG FIREBALL ERUPT -- AN
ORANGE AND BLACK EXPANDING BALL.
A LOT OF THIS WAS SURREAL.
A LOT OF IT WAS DISBELIEF.
I MEAN, YOU TRAIN TO KNOW THAT
YOU MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE A SHOT
SOMETIME, BUT NOW THAT DAY IS
HERE.
>> I SAW THE FLASH, AND
BASICALLY HE DISAPPEARED.
HE WAS GONE.
HE WAS DESTROYED IN THE BLAST.
>> Narrator: MEW AND BROWN SAVED
COUNTLESS LIVES WHILE
UNWITTINGLY REWRITING THE
PROTOCOL FOR POLICE SNIPING.
SYNCHRONIZED OR SIM SHOTS BECOME
STANDARD TRAINING.
DUAL SHOTS INCREASE THE
PROBABILITY OF NEUTRALIZING AN
ARMED AND DANGEROUS SUSPECT.
>> WE BEGAN TRAINING ON
SYNCHRONIZED SHOOTING AFTER
THIS.
OFFICER BROWN'S SHOTS AND MY
SHOTS WERE ROUGHLY SYNCHRONIZED.
AND WE BEGAN CONSCIOUSLY
TRAINING ON SYNCHRONIZED
>> Narrator: THUNDER RANCH,
PRECISION FIREARMS TRAINING,
LAKEVIEW, OREGON.
SNIPER INSTRUCTOR HEIDI SMITH
AND FORMER SWAT SNIPER
STEVE RODRIGUEZ DEMONSTRATE TWO
TACTICAL STYLES OF SYNCHRONIZED
SNIPING.
FIRST UP, THE SNIPERS ALTERNATE
SHOTS, ACTING AS EACH OTHER'S
SPOTTER, CALLING OUT CORRECTIONS
TO BRING BOTH SHOOTERS ON
TARGET.
>> WELL, TODAY, HEIDI AND I ARE
GONNA GO AHEAD AND WORK AS A
TEAM.
>> AS STEVE SHOOTS, ANY TYPE OF
DEVIATION LEFT OR RIGHT, I'M
GONNA GIVE A CORRECTION.
>> SHE'LL GIVE ME THE
INFORMATION.
I'LL THEN JUST HOLD OFF IN THE
DIRECTION SHE TELLS ME, AND I'LL
FIRE.
>> Narrator: HORIZONTAL
CORRECTIONS WILL BE GIVEN IN
FAVORS AND HOLDS.
A FAVOR IS A QUARTER OF A BODY
WIDTH, MEASURED FROM THE CENTER
LINE TO THE EAR LINE.
A HOLD IS HALF A BODY WIDTH,
MEASURED FROM THE CENTER LINE TO
THE ELBOW.
SMITH AND RODRIGUEZ TARGET THREE
STEEL MARKERS AT 150 AND 200
>> OKAY.
GOOD HIT.
NEXT SHOT, I WANT YOU TO HOLD
I'LL FAVOR LEFT.
SPOTTING.
GOOD HIT.
>> Narrator: WORKING AS A TEAM,
SMITH AND RODRIGUEZ ELIMINATE
THREE TARGETS IN UNDER 20
SECONDS.
NEXT UP, THE SNIPERS EMPLOY AN
ALTERNATE TACTIC, CALLING FOR
BOTH SHOOTERS TO FIRE AT THE
SAME TIME, COORDINATED BY A
COUNTDOWN.
THIS TACTIC ALLOWS FOR MULTIPLE
TARGETS TO BE HIT AT ONCE.
SYNCHRONIZED FIRE CAN ALSO BE
AIMED AT A SINGLE TARGET TO
SYNCHRONIZED FIRE DELIVERED WITH
DEADLY PRECISION...
ANOTHER WEAPON WIELDED BY THE
SNIPER WITH TIME RUNNING OUT AND
LIVES HANGING IN THE BALANCE.
>> SACRIFICE ONE OR TWO PEOPLE,
OR SACRIFICE MANY PEOPLE?
IT'S THE LESSER OF EVILS, BUT...
THAT'S MAYBE ALL YOU GET TO
CHOOSE FROM, IS THE LESSER OF
EVILS.
>> Narrator: RAMADI, 2003.
HIGH EXPLOSIVES THREATEN ANOTHER
SNIPER TEAM WHO RACE THE CLOCK
TO REMAIN BULLETPROOF.
>> THE THREAT OF THEM TAKING
THAT BUILDING DOWN, AND SEEING
THEM DO IT BEFORE AND KNOWING
THAT IT'S COMING -- IT'S NOT IF
IT'S COMING.
>> Narrator: SNIPERS ARE A
DEVASTATING WEAPON IN THE
IRAQ WAR.
ONE SHOT FROM THE SHADOWS CAN
INSTANTLY DEMORALIZE A MUCH
LARGER ENEMY FORCE.
BUT TO STAY BULLETPROOF WHILE
SURROUNDED BY THE ENEMY, A
SNIPER MUST ALWAYS REMAIN AWARE
OF MURPHY'S LAW...
ANYTHING THAT CAN GO WRONG WILL
GO WRONG.
>> MURPHY NEVER LIES.
HE'LL GET YOU.
WHETHER IT'S THE TRAIL OF BREAD
CRUMBS YOU LEFT GOING INTO YOUR
POSITION OR THE NOISE YOU MADE,
THERE'S A MILLION THINGS, AND
THEY'LL ALL GET YOU KILLED.
MURPHY WILL SEND THE BAD GUY
RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
>> Narrator: THE EARLY DAYS OF
THE EARLY DAYS OF THE IRAQ WAR.
TEAM OF 12 MARINE SNIPERS ENTERS
RAMADI.
THEY FACE THOUSANDS OF
MILITIAMEN AND FOREIGN FIGHTERS.
>> MUJAHIDEEN, FEDAYEEN
OVERRUNNING COMPOUNDS, CLIMBING
WALLS, PENETRATING COMPLEXES.
LIKE, "OKAY, LET'S GET THE LUBE
OUT AND GREASE THE GUNS, AND
WE KNEW IT WAS HOT.
WE KNEW IT WAS GONNA BE A
"SHOOT FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS
LATER" TYPE OF SITUATION.
IT WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF
CONTROL.
[ GUNFIRE ]
>> Narrator: LA SAGE AND HIS
TEAM ARE ATTACHED TO
2nd BATTALION 5th MARINES.
THEIR ORDERS...
[ GUNSHOTS ]
...BRING ORDER TO THE EASTERN
SECTOR OF THE LAWLESS CITY BY
SUPPRESSING INSURGENT ACTIVITY.
>> IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE SYMPHONY
OF CHAOS.
[ GUNFIRE ]
AND IF YOU CAN THRIVE IN THAT...
IT'S PERFECT.
WE OWNED RAMADI.
>> Narrator: THE MARINES' KILLS
MOUNT.
WORD OF THEIR PRESENCE SPREADS
QUICKLY AMONG THE INSURGENTS.
>> PATROLLING THROUGH RAMADI AND
SEEING YOUR OWN "WANTED" POSTER
UP, YOU KNOW, I GOT GOOSE BUMPS.
ANYBODY WITH A SCOPE THEY WANTED
KILLED.
YOU GOT A PRICE ON YOUR HEAD.
AND THERE'S NO ESCAPING THAT.
>> Narrator: LA SAGE AND HIS
TEAM STAGE MISSIONS OUT OF THE
O.P. HOTEL, AN ABANDONED
BUILDING OVERLOOKING
SUPPLY ROUTE MICHIGAN, THE MAIN
ROADWAY THROUGH RAMADI.
ON ONE SUCH MISSION, THEY
DISCOVER JUST HOW CLOSELY
THEY'RE BEING WATCHED.
>> THIS ONE DAY, WE WALKED INTO
THIS HOUSE, AND IT'S A CLEARED,
EMPTIED-OUT ROOM.
COME ACROSS SOME OBJECTS ON THE
DECK.
COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
IT WAS ABSOLUTE SCHEMATIC
TERRAIN MODEL OF HOW WE POST AND
RELIEF AT THAT O.P. HOTEL --
THE WAY THE HUMVEES PULL UP AND
THE WAY THEIR NOSES ARE
ORIENTED, THE WAY THE TROOP
CARRIER WILL PULL IN, DOTS ON
THE GROUND WHERE THE MARINES
WOULD RUN OFF.
IT'S QUITE UNNERVING, TO SAY THE
LEAST.
>> Narrator: DESPITE BEING
SURROUNDED BY THOUSANDS OF ENEMY
FIGHTERS, LA SAGE STICKS TO THE
MARINE SNIPERS PLAN OF
ATTACK -- THE BEST DEFENSE IS A
DEADLY OFFENSE.
>> YOU CAN'T JUST SIT THERE AND
RECEIVE IT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DO THAT.
THEY JUST ACCEPT WHAT THE
SITUATION HAS GIVEN THEM.
THEY DON'T INTERJECT WHAT THEY
CAN TO THE SITUATION.
YOU HAVE TO ENGAGE.
>> Narrator: LA SAGE RECEIVES
WORD THAT THE AMERICAN IRAQI
GOVERNMENT CENTER HAS BEEN
TARGETED BY INSURGENTS.
HE AND HIS TEAM ARE SENT INTO
THE BELLY OF THE BEAST TO REPEL
ANY ATTACKS.
THEY MOVE THEIR OPERATIONS TO
ANOTHER ABANDONED HOTEL ACROSS
THE STREET FROM THE GOVERNMENT
CENTER.
WE HAD CREEPED INTO A HOTEL,
WHICH WAS AN 8-STORY, BIG OLD
BUILDING, YOU KNOW.
NOBODY REALLY WANTED TO WORK OUT
OF IT.
YOU NEVER WANT TO BE THE OBVIOUS
SHOOTER FROM THE OBVIOUS HIGH
POINT.
BUT WE ENDED UP WORKING OUT OF
IT BECAUSE THERE'S 17-PLUS
PERSONNEL TRYING TO OVERRUN THE
GOVERNMENT CENTER.
WE HAD 8 TO 12 GUYS.
PRETTY LARGE FOOTPRINT IN SNIPER
TERMS BECAUSE OF THE HOTEL SIZE.
IT WAS A BIG PLACE.
ALL THE OTHER BUILDINGS AROUND
IT WERE REALLY 2, 3, MAYBE 4
STORIES AT BEST.
SO I DIDN'T PUT ANYBODY LOWER
THAN THE THIRD STORY IN CASE
SOMEBODY DID A WINDOW-TO-WINDOW
JUMP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> Narrator: A CRITICAL ELEMENT
OF THE MISSION IS SECURING THE
GROUND FLOOR.
MARINES STRING A METAL CHAIN
ACROSS THE MAIN ENTRY TO THE
BUILDING.
>> THEY COULD HAVE KICKED DOWN
THAT DOOR.
IT WAS JUST AN EARLY-WARNING
DEVICE FOR US TO HEAR AND THEN
TO REACT TO.
>> Narrator: ONCE INSIDE,
WOULD-BE ATTACKERS WILL FACE A
MORE FORMIDABLE LINE OF DEFENSE.
>> WE DEFINITELY DID CLAYMORES
AND SET UP BOOBY TRAPS
ON THE BOTTOM LEVEL.
>> Narrator: THE M18A1 CLAYMORE
MINE IS REMOTELY DETONATED,
FIRING METAL BALLS INTO A
60-DEGREE KILL ZONE.
EFFECTIVE RANGE -- 100 METERS.
BUT AN EXPLOSIVE-RIGGED ENTRY IS
ONLY THE FIRST LAYER OF
PROTECTION NEEDED TO SECURE THE
LOCATION.
>> I HAD TO HAVE SECURITY AS
WELL AS OFFENSE.
GUYS ON GLASS LOOKING OUT,
SHOOTING.
WE HAD A SECURITY TEAM WATCHING
THE LADDER WELL.
THEY WERE THE FIRST CONTACT IF
SOMEBODY CAME INTO THAT HOTEL
LOOKING FOR US.
THEN ON THE THIRD FLOOR, I HAD A
SHOOTER TEAM AIMED OUT IN ONE
DIRECTION.
AND THEN WE HAD ELEVATION
POSITIONS UP ON THE EIGHTH
FLOOR, WHICH IS WHERE I WAS.
I HAD A TEAM ON THE ROOF, WHERE
YOU COULD SEE PRETTY MUCH ACROSS
RAMADI.
>> Narrator: IF INSURGENTS
BREACH LA SAGE'S SECURITY TEAM
ON THE LOWER FLOORS, HE AND THE
SNIPERS ARE CAUGHT IN A DEATH
TRAP.
>> WORKING URBAN, YOU BETTER
MAKE SURE YOUR SECURITY PLAN IS
TOP-NOTCH, YOUR EVASIVE PLAN IS
TOP-NOTCH, AND YOUR CLAYMORES
ARE READY BELOW.
BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING.
>> Narrator: WITH SECURITY IN
PLACE, LA SAGE AND THE SNIPERS
SURVEY THE KILL ZONE.
>> IT IS A TARGET-RICH
ENVIRONMENT DAY.
I MEAN, THERE IS JUST RIDICULOUS
STUFF GOING ON IN PLAIN VIEW.
ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE HOLDING
RPGs, GUYS GETTING MACHINE GUNS
SET TO GO.
'CAUSE THEY THINK THEY CAN'T BE
SEEN FROM THE GOVERNMENT CENTER,
BUT THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT
WE'RE WATCHING THEM.
>> Narrator: WORKING IN TANDEM,
LA SAGE'S SNIPER TEAMS ELIMINATE
TARGET AFTER TARGET.
>> WE HAD PROBABLY GONE THROUGH
ABOUT A DOZEN GUYS ALREADY
TRYING TO DROP PACKAGES ON THE
ROAD -- TURNED OUT TO BE
I.E.D.s.
YOU HAD GUYS LOADING GUNS, AND
WE WOULD DO A SIM SHOT ON THEM,
WHERE YOU HAD MULTIPLE TEAMS
ENGAGING AT ONE TIME.
THE TEAM ON THE RIGHT ENGAGES
THEIR GUY AT THE SAME TIME AS
THE OTHER GUY.
NOBODY IN THE AREA CAN QUITE
FIGURE OUT WHERE IT'S COMING
FROM.
THEY JUST KNOW TWO GUYS
INSTANTLY...
>> [ GRUNTS ]
>> ...SAID "GOOD NIGHT."
IT'S VERY SURGICAL IN ITS
PROCESS.
ARMED BALLET, AS WE LIKE TO CALL
IT.
THERE WAS JUST ALL DAY, YOU
KNOW, TARGETS.
AND CALLING INTO HIGHER, SAYING,
"HEY, THIS IS NOT STOPPING."
THEY'RE LIKE, "WELL, I SUGGEST
YOU DON'T EITHER."
"WE WON'T."
YOU KNOW?
>> Narrator: THE SNIPER TEAM'S
PRECISION FIRE HALTS THE
INSURGENT ATTACK ON THE
GOVERNMENT CENTER.
BUT SEVERAL HOURS INTO THE
MISSION, SIGNAL INTELLIGENCE
RADIOS LA SAGE.
>> ALL I HEAR IS, "HEY, IT'S
TIME FOR YOU TO EXTRACT."
AND I FOUGHT IT.
I WAS LIKE, "NO, WE'RE NOT
LEAVING."
PEOPLE ARE OUT.
IT'S STILL LIGHT OUT.
I'M NOT GONNA BE SHOOTING FROM A
HOUSE ALL DAY LONG AND THEN PUT
MY RIFLE ON MY BACK AND WALK OUT
OF THAT HOUSE.
IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN.
SIGNAL INTELLIGENCE CAME BACK
AND SAID THAT THERE WAS SOME
CELLPHONE TRAFFIC SAYING THAT
THEY WERE GONNA BLOW UP THE
WHOLE BUILDING, WHICH THEY'VE
DONE IN RAMADI BEFORE.
THEY'VE DROPPED A FOUR-STORY
BUILDING DOWN TO A TWO- OR
THREE-STORY BUILDING BECAUSE OF
PEOPLE SHOOTING FROM IT.
THEY TOLD US, "HEY, YOUR
BUILDING IS BEING TARGETED WITH
EXPLOSIVES, SO IT BEHOOVES YOU
TO GET OUT OF THE BUILDING."
I'M LIKE, "OH, NOW WE CAN WORK
WITH SOMETHING.
NOW I'LL ADHERE TO THAT."
>> Narrator: THE MISSION ENTERS
A CRITICAL NEW PHASE -- ESCAPE
AND EVASION.
AT THAT POINT, INSURGENTS LAUNCH
A COUNTERATTACK AGAINST THE
MARINES.
LA SAGE RECEIVES WORD THAT HIS
TWO ROOFTOP SNIPERS ARE PINNED
DOWN BY ENEMY FIRE.
MEANWHILE, INSURGENTS ATTEMPT TO
BUST DOWN THE DOOR ON THE GROUND
FLOOR, THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE
BUILDING.
>> YOU LOOKED DOWN, YOU COULD
HEAR THE "JHOO, JHOO, JHOO,
JHOO," YOU KNOW, THE SHAKING OF
THE DOORS.
YOU'RE LIKE, "OH, NO.
ALL RIGHT, IT'S GO TIME.
HOW ARE WE GONNA DO THIS?"
WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEM COMING
IN, AND THEN WE REALIZED THAT
THEY STOPPED TRYING TO GET IN,
SO THEY MUST HAVE SET UP IN THE
ALLEYWAY, WAITING FOR US.
AND WE'RE LIKE, ALL RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, LET'S PUT ALL THESE
PUZZLE PIECES TOGETHER.
I GOT MY TEAM ON THE ROOF.
GOT AN AMBUSH WAITING OUTSIDE
THE ONLY ACCESS AND ENTRY POINT
IN THIS BUILDING.
SO I GOT TO GO OUT THAT DOOR,
AND I GOT TO COME OUT FIGHTING.
SOUNDS GOOD.
SO WE'RE GONNA COORDINATE OUR
MOBILE EXTRACT.
WE HAVE A CAT TEAM -- HUMVEES
WITH MACHINE GUNS ON IT FOR A
VEHICLE EXTRACT.
AS THEY'RE ABOUT A MINUTE OUT,
WE'RE GONNA POP SMOKE ON THE
ROOF TO CONCEAL THOSE GUYS SO
THEY CAN QUICKLY SHIMMY OFF THE
ROOF.
WE'RE GONNA GET A QUICK HEAD
COUNT, GET DOWN TO THE THIRD
FLOOR.
WE'RE GONNA DROP OUR EXPLOSIVES,
DETONATE THOSE IN THE ALLEYWAY
RIGHT WHERE OUR HATCH IS AT.
WE'RE GONNA COME OUT HOT.
SO WE'RE GONNA DO ALL THAT
WITHIN A MINUTE.
AND WE'RE GONNA OWN IT.
SO WE'RE ALL STACKED UP, READY
TO KICK BUTT INTO THE ALLEYWAY,
AND...
WELL...
WE'RE LOCKED IN.
THEY LOCKED US IN.
MURPHY'S LAW.
ALL GREAT PLANS NEVER LIVE PAST
FIRST CONTACT.
>> Narrator: AS PRECIOUS SECONDS
SLIP AWAY, LA SAGE KNOWS
SOMEWHERE IN THE CITY, THERE'S A
SUICIDE BOMBER SPEEDING TOWARD
THEIR BUILDING IN A CAR FILLED
WITH EXPLOSIVES.
THE THREAT OF THEM TAKING THAT
BUILDING DOWN, KNOWING THAT IT'S
COMING, IT'S NOT IF IT'S COMING.
IT'S COMING.
THERE'S TWO BIG STEEL DOORS.
>> Narrator: THERE WAS NO CHANCE
OF SNEAKING OUT OF THE BUILDING
UNSEEN.
THE SNIPERS CONFRONT MURPHY'S
LAW WITH BRUTE FORCE -- 4 POUNDS
OF C-4 EXPLOSIVES.
>> WE RIGGED THAT THING TO BLOW.
THAT FEAR FACTOR IS -- IT'S
WE ALL COME RUNNING BACK OUT.
THERE WAS STEEL DOOR EVERYWHERE
IN THE ALLEY.
AND THE HUMVEES WERE SITTING
THERE WAITING.
SO ONCE WE WERE ON THE STREET,
YOU KNOW, IT WAS AS FAST AS FAST
CAN BE TO GET OUT OF THERE.
THAT DAY, EVERYTHING WORKED OUT
FOR THE BEST.
>> Narrator: FACED WITH A
TICKING CLOCK AND CERTAIN DEATH,
GUNNERY SERGEANT
TIMOTHY C. LA SAGE DEMONSTRATES
THE CRITICAL SKILLS NECESSARY
FOR ESCAPE AND EVASION, GIVING
HIS MARINES A CHANCE TO LIVE TO
FIGHT ANOTHER DAY.
>> THERE'S ZERO ROOM FOR ERROR.
WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE AND
WATCHING EACH OTHER'S BACK, THE
RESPONSIBILITY IS SO HUGE THAT
THE TRUST HAS TO BE 100%.
ALL ERRORS WILL BE PUNISHED BY
EITHER YOUR DEATH OR SOMEBODY
ELSE'S.
>> Narrator: UP NEXT...
A SUICIDE BOMBER SPEEDS TOWARDS
AN ARMY CONVOY.
MARINE SNIPER TIMOTHY C. LA SAGE
HAS A SINGLE SHOT TO PREVENT
>> Narrator: THE WORLD OF THE
SNIPER IS FILLED WITH DANGER.
>> WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE WAS
A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RADICAL
INDIVIDUALS WILLING TO FIGURE
OUT THE ABSOLUTE BEST WAY AND
MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO KILL US.
>> Narrator: THE ABILITY TO
ELIMINATE A THREAT WHILE
REMAINING INVISIBLE IS CRITICAL.
>> WE CAN SEE WHAT YOU DON'T
SEE, AND YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WE'RE
>> Narrator: RAMADI, IRAQ, 2004.
INSURGENTS DETONATE 90 TO 100
I.E.D.s A WEEK, POSING A GRAVE
THREAT TO GUNNERY SERGEANT
TIMOTHY C. LA SAGE AND HIS TEAM
OF MARINE SNIPERS.
TO REMAIN BULLETPROOF AND BRING
THE CITY UNDER U.S. CONTROL,
LA SAGE MUST CONFRONT THE
GROWING THREAT HEAD-ON.
>> I THINK EVERY UNIT I'VE BEEN
IN, WE'VE BEEN CALLED THE TIP OF
THE SPEAR.
BUT RAMADI WAS DEFINITELY THE
>> Narrator: SURROUNDED BY
THOUSANDS OF INSURGENTS,
LA SAGE WORKS OUT OF ABANDONED
HOMES AND BUILDINGS.
IF HE'S DISCOVERED, DEATH IS
SWIFT AND CERTAIN.
>> IF I GOT 20 GUYS TRYING TO
COME INTO A ROOM THAT I SET UP A
HIDE IN, AND WE'RE SHOOTING AT
EACH OTHER ALL DAY, I WANT AMMO.
I WANT A WEAPON THAT I CAN SHOOT
WITH.
>> Narrator: LA SAGE'S BEST
FRIEND IN RAMADI -- HIS SR-25
SNIPER RIFLE.
>> A 7.62 SNIPER RIFLE,
SEMIAUTOMATIC, 20-ROUND
MAGAZINE.
GREAT FOR URBAN AREAS WHERE YOU
CAN FIND YOURSELF EMPTYING OUT A
MAGAZINE IN RAPID SUCCESSION FOR
SELF-PRESERVATION.
THAT SR-25 HAD MORE PURPLE
HEARTS THAN I DO.
I'M AT TWO OR THREE NOW.
IT'S SUFFERED AT LEAST TWO
I.E.D.s THAT I KNOW OF.
>> Narrator: ONE OF THE HIDES
LA SAGE WORKS IS THE EIGHTH
FLOOR OF AN ABANDONED HOTEL IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY.
THE BUILDING AFFORDS HIM A
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF THE MAIN
ROADWAY TARGETED BY I.E.D. TEAMS
AND SUICIDE BOMBERS.
LA SAGE AND HIS SPOTTER HAVE
ALREADY RANGED THE DISTANCE TO
EVERY MAJOR LANDMARK IN THE
SECTOR, GIVING HIM DOPE
ADJUSTMENTS FOR ANY POTENTIAL
TARGETS.
FOR LA SAGE TO REMAIN UNSEEN AND
BULLETPROOF...
HE MUST CAMOUFLAGE HIS POSITION.
>> IF YOU SEE THE ENEMY, WELL,
GUESS WHAT.
THE ENEMY ALSO SEES YOU.
IS THERE A TIDBIT OF SHINE ON MY
RIFLE, YOU KNOW?
IS MY SCOPE GLASS GLEAMING?
HOW DO I COVER ALL THAT STUFF
UP?
YOU KNOW, HOW CAN I BLUR THE
IMAGE OF WHO'S LOOKING AT ME?
IT'S ALL ABOUT CASTING SHADOWS,
YOU KNOW.
IT'S ABOUT I HAVE A WINDOW OVER
HERE.
HOW DO I MAKE THAT LIGHT FADE
OFF WITH A SCREEN THIS WAY SO I
CAN SHOOT FROM OVER HERE?
AS FAR AS SHEETS GO, I'D PIN
THEM TO, LIKE, THE CEILINGS,
MAKE A LITTLE SLIT FOR THE TIP
OF MY RIFLE.
THE ONLY PROBLEM IS YOU HAVE TO
STAND UP AND USE A TRIPOD TO
LOOK DOWN AND GET THE ANGLE
EIGHT STORIES DOWN.
WHAT WE DO IS GET, LIKE, A $90
TRIPOD, TAKE THE ACTUAL MOUNT
OFF, OR WE BUILD OFF OF THAT
MOUNT.
>> Narrator: LA SAGE SETS UP HIS
FIRING POSITION AWAY FROM THE
WINDOW.
THIS CONCEALS HIS SILHOUETTE
WHILE MASKING HIS MUZZLE FLASH
AND THE REPORT OF HIS RIFLE.
>> SO I BUILT MYSELF A PRETTY
LEGIT, YOU KNOW, HIDE.
>> Narrator: WITH HIS CAMO AND
SHOOTING PLATFORM IN PLACE, LA
SAGE SCANS THE STREETS BELOW FOR
TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY.
THE KILL ZONE RANGES FROM A TAXI
STAND 100 METERS AWAY OUT TO 700
METERS ACROSS THE CITY.
>> I'D STAND UP.
MY WEAPON WAS CLAMPED ON MY
TRIPOD.
YOU KNOW, I HAD A VARIABLE SCOPE
ON IT, AND I WAS ABLE TO DIAL
OUT AND REALLY SEE THE WHOLE
PICTURE.
VERY EASY TO TARGET A VEHICLE IN
THAT AREA.
>> Narrator: LA SAGE AND HIS
SPOTTER CREATE A SHORTHAND FOR
TARGET IDENTIFICATION.
>> WE LABELED EVERYBODY.
YOU PAINT HIM A PICTURE, YOU
KNOW, WHAT HE'S WEARING, WHAT HE
LOOKS LIKE.
YOU GOT IT.
NOW YOU LABEL THAT PERSON.
IF SOMEBODY'S GOT A BIG HAT, YOU
CALL HIM JOHN WAYNE.
WHEN THINGS GET HAIRY, IT'S EASY
TO SAY, "HEY, JOHN WAYNE MOVED
TO 3:00."
IT'S LIKE, "ROGER."
HE ALREADY KNOWS WHAT THAT
PERSON LOOKS LIKE, WHAT THAT
PERSON WALKS LIKE.
THAT'S VERY EASY, THEN, TO PICK
THAT PERSON OUT AND ENGAGE HIM.
>> Narrator: WHILE WATCHING THE
ROADWAY, LA SAGE NOTICES
SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY.
>> AND WE SAW A VEHICLE PULL UP.
HE WAS MONKEYING AROUND, DOING
STUFF.
THIS CAT, YOU KNOW, WE SAW HIM
WALK IN, AND MIND YOU, YOU GOT
PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, MILLING ABOUT,
EVEN MORE THAN THAT.
YOU KNOW, KEY PLAYERS, NOT JUST
THE LOCALS, YOU KNOW, JUST WEIRD
PEOPLE THAT SET OFF SOMETHING IN
YOUR HEAD.
I ALWAYS SAY THE HAIR ON THE
BACK OF YOUR NECK NEVER LIES.
NEVER LIES.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET THAT
FEELING, IT'S DEAD ON.
>> Narrator: LA SAGE SPOTS AN
APPROACHING ARMY CONVOY IN THE
DISTANCE HEADING DIRECTLY FOR
THE SUSPECTED INSURGENTS.
>> YOU CAN SEE ANY CONVOYS
COME, AND IT'S LIKE, "I GOT A
CONVOY COMING," YOU KNOW.
AND THIS GUY SEES A CONVOY AND
PREMATURELY DETONATES THE I.E.D.
IN FRONT OF THE LEAD HUMVEE.
THE I.E.D. PLUMES.
AND THE FIRST VEHICLE GOES
AROUND IT.
BY THIS TIME, I ALREADY LOST HIM
TO THE LEFT.
I SEE THE HOOD OF HIS VEHICLE,
AND HE GETS IN HIS VEHICLE.
HE DRIVES RIGHT IN THE CONVOY IN
BETWEEN, LIKE, THE THIRD AND
FOURTH VEHICLE OR SO.
AND THIS ALL HAPPENED WITHIN,
LIKE, THREE SECONDS.
>> Narrator: BOTH THE BOMBER AND
THE CONVOY ARE 670 YARDS AWAY
FROM LA SAGE'S POSITION, HEADING
DIRECTLY TOWARDS HIM.
>> THE THIRD HUMVEE AND HIM ARE
PRETTY MUCH NECK AND NECK, YOU
KNOW, AND RIGHT NEXT TO EACH
OTHER.
A GUNNER WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, DIAL IN
WITH HIS MACHINE GUN OFF THE
HUMVEE.
>> Narrator: LA SAGE'S SHOT IS
COMPLICATED BY THE ONCOMING
CONVOY.
IF HE MISSES THE INSURGENT, A
STRAY ROUND COULD WOUND OR KILL
A FRIENDLY.
>> IT HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY.
I HAD ABOUT FIVE SLOW SECONDS TO
REALLY DO PROCESSING, AIMING,
CALCULATING.
>> Narrator: LA SAGE MUST
COMPENSATE FOR THE VERTICAL
ANGLE OF HIS SHOT.
>> IF YOU'RE SHOOTING HIGH, YOU
HAVE GRAVITY FIGHTING AGAINST
YOU, WHICH IS GONNA PULL THE
BULLET, SO YOU FIND A LOT OF
PEOPLE SHOOTING HIGH, AND
THEY'RE HITTING GRASS, AND
THEY'RE HITTING LOW, AND, YOU
KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON?
IT'S LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU
GOT TO HOLD OFF YOUR TARGET.
>> Narrator: FOR A SNIPER
SHOOTING AT A TARGET BELOW HIM,
THE EFFECT OF GRAVITY IS
DIMINISHED.
>> DECIDED TO HOLD LOW ON HIM.
YOU'RE AIMING AT THE BASE OF THE
WINDSHIELD WIPER INSTEAD OF THE
CENTER MASS ON A GUY.
I HELD, LIKE, ABOUT 2 MIL SHY OF
CENTER ON HIM.
>> Narrator: AT 670 YARDS,
2 MILS EQUALS ROUGHLY
6 1/2 FEET.
WITH EACH PASSING SECOND, THE
SUICIDE BOMBER IS CLOSER TO
DETONATING HIS PAYLOAD AND
OBLITERATING THE CONVOY.
COMPLICATING THE MATTER FURTHER,
LA SAGE MUST FIRE THROUGH THE
WINDSHIELD FOR THE KILL SHOT.
>> SHOOTING THROUGH A
WINDSHIELD, HEAR OVER AND OVER
AND OVER AGAIN THERE'S NO
SCHEMATIC, NO WIDTH EQUALS RANGE
TIMES MILS.
THERE'S NO MATH PROBLEMS FOR
SHOOTING THROUGH GLASS.
IT'S UNKNOWN.
THE TRAJECTORY WILL CHANGE.
HOW THE FRAGMENTATION OF THE
GLASS, YOU KNOW, IS MORE
EFFECTIVE THAN THE SHOT, YOU
KNOW, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
REALLY GONNA HAPPEN.
>> Narrator: WITH THE SUICIDE
BOMBER READY TO DETONATE, LA
SAGE ZEROES IN ON HIS POINT OF
AIM.
>> I TOOK THE SHOT.
>> Narrator: THE 7.62 NATO ROUND
LEAVES LA SAGE'S RIFLE AT
2,800 FEET PER SECOND,
PROPELLING IT THROUGH THE
WINDSHIELD AT SUPERSONIC SPEED.
>> I COULD SEE HIM INSTANTLY.
HE WAS SHOT THROUGH THE
WINDSHIELD.
AND, YOU KNOW, HE SLUMPED BACK.
WEARING ALL WHITE, SO I GOT
SIGNATURE RIGHT OFF THE BAT OF
MY HIT.
AND THEN HIS VEHICLE ACTUALLY
CAREENED AND THEN KIND OF
CRASHED.
BUT HE WAS GOING PRETTY SLOW AT
THAT POINT.
>> Narrator: WITH ONLY SECONDS
TO REACT AND FRIENDLY TROOPS IN
THE LINE OF FIRE, LA SAGE PROVES
A SNIPER'S INVISIBILITY AND
DEADLY AIM ARE KEY TO KEEPING
BOTH HIM AND HIS FELLOW
TROOPS...
BULLETPROOF.
>> AT THE TIME, I'M LIKE,
"WHOA," YOU KNOW.
IT'S FIVE SECONDS, BUT IN MY
MIND, "IT WAS HOLD LOW.
YOUR DOPE'S ON YOUR RIFLE.
BREATHE. RELAX.
SHOOT."
>> Narrator: FROM THE
BATTLEFIELD TO THE
PRESSURE-PACKED WORLD OF THE
SWAT SNIPER, A POLICE
SHARPSHOOTER FACES OFF WITH A
GUN-WIELDING BANK ROBBER.
AN INCH IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN LIFE...
SET THE TEMPO ON THE
BATTLEFIELD FROM A DISTANCE.
BUT FOR SWAT TEAMS IN
SHORT-RANGE ENGAGEMENTS, STAYING
BULLETPROOF MEANS AN ABILITY TO
REACT IN A SPLIT SECOND.
HERE, ONE SURGICALLY PRECISE
SHOT CAN EITHER DEFUSE A DEADLY
SITUATION OR RESULT IN THE DEATH
OF A HOSTAGE.
>> LAW-ENFORCEMENT SNIPERING
GENERALLY NEED TO RESOLVE THEIR
ISSUE WITH ONE ROUND.
YOU KNOW, EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS
WHAT THEY CALL A RAMBO.
THERE'S SOMEBODY WHO'S A GUN
FREAK.
BUT I'M LOOKING FOR THE GUY WHO
CAN SEE STUFF, WHO WILL THINK
THE PROCESS THROUGH AND HAS TO
>> Narrator: A GUN-WIELDING
CRIMINAL.
A HOSTAGE.
A MATTER OF INCHES TO MAKE ONE
SHOT.
>> WITH A POLICE SNIPER, IF YOU
SHOW UP AND IT'S A COLLAPSING
SCENE, SOMEBODY'S EITHER BEING
HARMED OR ABOUT TO BE HARMED,
MAYBE THEY'LL PUT THE GUN DOWN.
IF THEY DON'T, THEN THERE'S A
STOP POINT WHERE I WILL THEN
POLICE RESPOND TO A BANK
ROBBERY IN PROGRESS.
>> AS THEY'RE COMING OUT OF THE
BANK, THE OFFICERS ARE GRABBING
THEM, LIKE, "COME WITH US.
COME WITH US."
BUT THE OFFICERS DIDN'T KNOW WHO
THE BAD GUY WAS.
WELL, THEN THIS ONE GUY COMES
OUT.
THE OFFICER SAYS, "COME TO ME.
COME TO ME."
AND THE GUY HESITATES.
AND THAT'S WHEN THE COP KNOWS,
"CRAP, THIS IS THE GUY."
THEY SAY, "POLICE! STOP!"
WELL, HE STARTS TO BACK UP, AND
SOMEBODY'S YELLING, "DON'T LET
HIM GO IN THE BANK."
WELL, HE GOES BACK IN THE DOOR,
GRABS A HOSTAGE.
>> Narrator: OFF-DUTY SWAT
SNIPER STEVE RODRIGUEZ IS CALLED
IN FROM HIS HOME.
DETECTIVE JOHN LOVATO BRIEFS
RODRIGUEZ AT THE SCENE.
>> HE WALKS OVER TO MY CAR, NICE
AND CALMLY.
I HAVE A TEE-SHIRT AND SWEAT
PANTS ON AND A BASEBALL CAP.
HE SAYS, "GET YOUR RIFLE.
DO NOT DRESS OUT.
I NEED YOU TO SHOOT THIS GUY
RIGHT AWAY.
>> Narrator: RODRIGUEZ READIES
HIS WEAPON, A MODIFIED
WINCHESTER MODEL 70, AND LOOKS
FOR A PLACE TO SET UP.
>> WE DO WHAT WAS CALLED
SELF-DEPLOYING.
I LOOKED FOR AVAILABLE
POSITIONS.
CONCEALMENT IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE,
'CAUSE IF SOMEONE SEES YOU,
THEN THEY'RE GONNA TAKE SOME
TYPE OF COUNTERMEASURE.
SO I LOOK FOR A SECONDARY
POSITION.
>> Narrator: IF THE ROBBER SPOTS
RODRIGUEZ, HE COULD PANIC AND
KILL THE HOSTAGE OR SHOOT A
POLICE OFFICER.
RODRIGUEZ IMPROVISES A HIDE
ACROSS THE STREET.
HE'S PARTIALLY CONCEALED BY A
LOW WALL AND A TREE.
>> AND BECAUSE OF THE SPEED OF
EVENTS, GOT VERY LIMITED
OPTIONS.
IT'S NOT A VERY GOOD POSITION.
I HAVE THREE FINGERS OF MY LEFT
HAND HOLDING ON TO A TREE, TWO
FINGERS HOLDING ON TO THE RIFLE.
WOULDN'T WANT THE OFFENDER TO
SEE ME BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID HE'D
GO BACK INSIDE THE BANK.
AS I GOT INTO POSITION, I COULD
SEE A SIX POWER FROM THE
INDIVIDUAL'S WAISTLINE TO
APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET ABOVE HIS
HEAD.
THE HOSTAGE WAS DIRECTLY IN
FRONT OF HIM FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE.
SO SHE WAS COVERING MOST OF HIS
BODY AND A THIRD OF HIS HEAD
REGION.
>> Narrator: THE TARGET AREA IS
A MERE 3 INCHES.
IF RODRIGUEZ MISSES, HE HITS THE
HOSTAGE, KILLING HER INSTANTLY.
HIS SHOT IS COMPLICATED BY AN
AGITATED SUSPECT AND HOSTAGE IN
CONSTANT MOTION.
>> BOTH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS
WERE SHIFTING THEIR FEET.
EVERY TIME HE WANTED TO TALK TO
A LIEUTENANT, HE WOULD MOVE HIS
HEAD.
THE HOSTAGE WAS LOOKING AROUND
LEFT AND RIGHT.
>> Narrator: SECONDS INTO THE
STANDOFF, THE LACK OF A CLEARLY
VISIBLE GUN REMAINING IN THE
SUSPECT'S HAND GIVES RODRIGUEZ A
MOMENT'S PAUSE.
>> I TELL JOHN, "I DO NOT SEE A
WEAPON."
JOHN LOVATO STANDING NEXT TO ME,
HE SAYS, "HE HAS ONE.
SHOOT HIM."
I SAID, "OKAY."
>> Narrator: BRACED PRECARIOUSLY
AGAINST THE TREE, RODRIGUEZ
FIRES.
BUT HIS ROUND MYSTERIOUSLY
DISAPPEARS.
>> THE ONLY THING I CAN FIGURE,
BECAUSE THERE'S GLASS ON EITHER
SIDE OF HIM, IS THE ROUND MUST
HAVE GONE OVER HIS HEAD.
>> Narrator: THE SHOT CATCHES
THE ROBBER'S ATTENTION.
TIME IS RUNNING OUT.
>> I GET BACK INTO POSITION,
HANGING ON TO THE TREE, AND I
PRESS THE SECOND ROUND, HOLDING
SLIGHTLY LOWER THIS TIME.
>> Narrator: HIS SECOND SHOT
ALSO DISAPPEARS.
>> I'M THINKING, "ALL RIGHT,
THIS STILL HASN'T GONE RIGHT.
I KNOW THE INFORMATION ON MY
SCOPE IS CORRECT.
JOHN STANDING NEXT TO ME SAYS,
"YOU HIT THE WALL."
I SAID, "WHERE?"
HE SAID, "DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF
US."
>> Narrator: WITH THE WALL JUST
FEET AWAY, RODRIGUEZ'S SCOPE
AIMS OVER IT.
BUT HIS GUN BARREL DOES NOT.
CAN A QUARTERBACK THROW AN
INTERCEPTION?
CAN A WIDE RECEIVER DROP A PASS?
THINGS ARE GONNA GO WRONG IN
LIFE.
BUT TRAINING GIVES YOU THE
ABILITY TO RECOVER FASTER.
>> Narrator: RODRIGUEZ MUST MAKE
THE CRUCIAL CORRECTION
INSTANTLY.
HE ADJUSTS HIS SHOOTING POSITION
TO CLEAR THE WALL AND FIRES.
>> A GOOD PRESS OF THE TRIGGER
AT THE MOMENT THE PROJECTILE WAS
RELEASED.
I KNEW IT WAS AN OBVIOUS HIT.
I COULD SEE AT THAT POINT PARTS
OF HIM SPREAD ACROSS SOME OF THE
GLASS AROUND HIM.
SO I KNEW HE WAS DOWN.
>> Narrator: THE HOSTAGE ESCAPES
UNHARMED.
BUT THERE IS NO JOY FOR
RODRIGUEZ.
>> WHAT UPSET ME THEN, WHAT
UPSETS ME TO THIS DAY AND TILL I
DIE -- I LET THAT LADY BE IN
DANGER AN EXTRA 14 SECONDS.
>> Narrator: OVERCOMING SETBACKS
AND FACING A RAZOR-THIN MARGIN
OF ERROR, STEVE RODRIGUEZ
NEUTRALIZES A DEADLY ARMED
ROBBER AND SAVES THE LIFE OF A
HOSTAGE, PROVING TRAINING AND
SPLIT-SECOND JUDGMENT ARE A
SNIPER'S MOST LETHAL ASSET.
>> PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK US HOW MANY
PEOPLE WE KILLED.
THEY NEVER ASK US HOW MANY
PEOPLE WE SAVED.
>> Narrator: THUNDER RANCH,
LAKEVIEW, OREGON.
STEVE RODRIGUEZ TEAMS UP WITH
SWAT TRAINING DIRECTOR
CLINT SMITH TO SIMULATE THE
HOSTAGE FACE-OFF RODRIGUEZ
ENCOUNTERED IN 1993.
MOVING TARGETS AT 50 YARDS
REPRESENT SUSPECT AND HOSTAGE.
THE TARGET AREA IS 3 INCHES
WIDE.
BOTH SUSPECT AND HOSTAGE ARE
RIGGED WITH COLOR-CODED PAINT
CANS.
ANY MISTAKE WILL BE OBVIOUS.
>> IF I MAKE THE SHOT AND HIT
THE OFFENDER...
THEN YOU'RE GONNA SEE RED SPRAY
PAINT COME OFF THE BACK.
IF I MISS THE SHOT AND HIT THE
HOSTAGE, YOU'RE GONNA SEE PINK
SPRAY PAINT COME OFF THE BACK.
>> Narrator: FIRST,
SNIPER-IN-TRAINING JOHN BOONE
WILL ATTEMPT THE SHOT.
>> READY TO GO HOT?
>> Narrator: BOONE TAKES AIM...
AND FIRES.
MISS.
BOONE MISSES BY MERE INCHES,
KILLING THE HOSTAGE AND PROVING
THE SHOT'S DIFFICULTY.
NEXT, IT'S STEVE'S TURN TO TRY
TO RE-CREATE THE LIFE-SAVING
SHOT FROM 1993.
>> I'LL BE USING THE SAME EXACT
RIFLE THAT I HAD AT THAT TIME.
IT WAS GIVEN TO ME BY THE
OFFICERS WHEN I RETIRED FROM THE
DEPARTMENT.
IT FIRES THE APPROXIMATE SAME
DISTANCE, SAME REPRESENTATION OF
THE SHOOT, NO-SHOOT TARGET.
>> Narrator: RODRIGUEZ WILL NOT
SEE THE TARGET BEFORE THE SHOT.
>> LOAD AND MAKE READY FOR LIVE
FIRE.
>> Narrator: THEY BEGIN.
HE TAKES AIM...
AND FIRES.
HIT.
>> OKAY, GENTLEMEN, LET'S GATHER
AROUND THE TARGET.
WITH A HIT LIKE THIS, THE
OFFENDER IS DOWN AND
INCAPACITATED.
IN THIS CASE, HE DIED.
AND THE HOSTAGE IS PHYSICALLY
UNHARMED.
ONE OF THE HARD THINGS TO GET
ACROSS TO PEOPLE YOU'RE TRAINING
IS WHAT THE MARGIN OF ERROR IS
ON THESE TYPES OF THINGS.
>> Narrator: IN LESS THAN
10 SECONDS, RODRIGUEZ ACQUIRES
HIS TARGET AND PUTS HIM DOWN
WITH PINPOINT PRECISION.
16 YEARS LATER, IT'S MILES, NOT
INCHES, THAT STAND BETWEEN A
BRITISH SNIPER AND HIS AMBUSHED
PLATOON.
TO SAVE THEIR LIVES, HE MUST
EXECUTE THE LONGEST SHOT IN
TO ENGAGE THE ENEMY FROM EXTREME
DISTANCES IS ONE OF THE MOST
CRITICAL FACTORS IN REMAINING
BULLETPROOF.
ON BATTLEFIELDS LIKE
AFGHANISTAN, IT MEANS THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE...
AND DEATH.
EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS THE
SNIPER TO REMAIN BULLETPROOF AS
HE PURSUES THE ENEMY AT GREATER
DISTANCES IN AN ENDLESS QUEST
FOR THE LONGEST SHOT.
1967 -- MARINE CORPS LEGEND
CARLOS HATHCOCK PULLS THE
TRIGGER FROM 2,500 YARDS, TAKING
OUT AN NVA SOLDIER, SETTING THE
RECORD FOR THE LONGEST CONFIRMED
KILL -- 1.42 MILES.
25 YEARS LATER, CANADIAN SNIPER
ROB FURLONG SHATTERS HATHCOCK'S
RECORD, TAKING OUT A TALIBAN
FIGHTER AT 2,657 YARDS --
1.5 MILES.
2009 -- A BRITISH SNIPER
OPERATING IN AFGHANISTAN TAKES
ANOTHER SHOT FOR THE RECORD
THE MISSION -- ELIMINATE
INSURGENT MACHINE-GUN TEAM.
WHILE ON PATROL, A DETACHMENT
FROM HARRISON'S UNIT IS
AMBUSHED BY TALIBAN FORCES.
[ GUNFIRE ]
THE BRITISH SOLDIERS ARE PINNED
DOWN BY WITHERING MACHINE-GUN
FIRE.
HARRISON AND HIS SPOTTER WITNESS
THE AMBUSH FROM A RIDGE 2,700
YARDS AWAY.
THEIR ONLY CHANCE TO DEFEND
THEIR FELLOW SOLDIERS?
THE RIFLE...
AN EXTREME LONG SHOT AT BEST.
>> THE STRESS LEVEL THAT YOU'RE
GOING OVER, TRYING TO GET THE
GUYS THAT ARE CALLING FIRE ON
YOUR FRIENDS IS JUST
UNBELIEVABLY HIGH.
>> YOUR WHOLE FOCUS IN LIFE IS
TO PROTECT HIM.
YOU'LL BE AMAZED HOW FAST YOU'LL
SHOOT SOMEBODY WHO'S TRYING TO
CAUSE HARM TO THAT PERSON.
>> Narrator: HARRISON'S
WEAPON -- THE ARCTIC WARFARE
MAGNUM L115A3, A LIGHTWEIGHT
SNIPER RIFLE...
...WITH HEAVYWEIGHT STOPPING
POWER.
THE .338 ROUND IS SMALLER THAN
THE .50-CALIBER BULLET USED IN
ROB FURLONG'S RECORD-BREAKING
SHOT...
BUT STILL PACKS A POWERFUL
PUNCH.
>> THE .338 LAPUA MAGNUM ROUND
CREATES A VERY, VERY LARGE
TEMPORARY WOUND CAVITY.
IF YOU GET HIT WITH A .338,
YOU'RE DONE.
>> Narrator: HARRISON PINPOINTS
THE MACHINE-GUN TEAM.
BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM...
DISTANCE.
THE INSURGENTS ARE MORE THAN 27
FOOTBALL FIELDS AWAY, THE
EQUIVALENT OF A MILE AND A HALF,
3,000 FEET BEYOND THE MAXIMUM
EFFECTIVE RANGE OF HARRISON'S
RIFLE.
BEFORE HARRISON CAN TAKE A SHOT,
HE MUST FIRST FIRST BATTLE THE
FORCES OF MOTHER NATURE.
>> WHEN YOU SHOOT A
LONG-DISTANCE SHOT, YOU KNOW, A
MILE-PLUS, THERE'S A LOT OF
THINGS THAT GO INTO THAT --
THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE,
BAROMETRIC PRESSURE, SPIN DRIFT.
>> Narrator: HARRISON TAKES AIM
AND FIRES.
>> WIND AT THE MUZZLE MIGHT BE
GOING ONE DIRECTION.
THE WIND 500 METERS DOWNRANGE
COULD BE GOING IN A DIFFERENT
DIRECTION.
AND THE WIND 2,000 YARDS COULD
BE COMPLETELY 180.
>> Narrator: MISS.
BRITISH FORCES ON THE GROUND
CONTINUE TAKING HEAVY FIRE FROM
THE TALIBAN.
HARRISON MUST GET BACK ON
TARGET.
>> ANY TIME IT'S NOT A CLEAN
ONE-ROUND ENGAGEMENT, THERE
BECOMES FOLLOW-UP SHOTS.
THE INFORMATION FLOW IS COMING
FROM THE TARGET, THROUGH THE
SPOTTER, FROM THE SPOTTER TO THE
GUN, REEVALUATING EACH ROUND.
>> Narrator: HARRISON'S SPOTTER
FEEDS HIM CORRECTIONS.
HE ADJUSTS HIS POINT OF AIM AND
FIRES.
BUT THE BULLET'S TIME OF FLIGHT
IS NEARLY FOUR SECONDS, LONG
ENOUGH FOR THE EARTH'S ROTATION
TO AFFECT ITS TRAJECTORY, A
PHENOMENON KNOWN AS THE
CORIOLIS EFFECT.
>> THE EARTH IS SPINNING IN A
CONSTANT MOTION, SO IF YOU'RE
FIRING OVER EXTREME DISTANCE,
THE BULLET IS TRAVELING, THE
EARTH IS STILL SPINNING
UNDERNEATH IT.
>> Narrator: HARRISON'S SECOND
SHOT MISSES.
PRECIOUS SECONDS TICK AWAY.
>> YOU'RE WAITING FOR YOUR
SPOTTER TO GIVE YOU THE
CORRECTION THAT YOU NEED SO YOU
CAN GET BACK ON TARGET,
REENGAGE.
>> Narrator: EACH SHOT BRINGS
HARRISON CLOSER TO TARGET.
BUT HIS UNIT ON THE GROUND IS IN
DANGER OF BEING OVERRUN.
>> THERE HAS TO BE A HUGE
EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER.
SOME POINT, YOU START WONDERING,
"JUST HOW LONG IS THIS TARGET
GONNA STAY THERE, AND WHAT IS
THE DAMAGE THAT HE'S GOING TO
ACCOMPLISH BEFORE I CAN
ACCOMPLISH MY TASK?"
TO TAKE A MULTIPLE-SHOT
ENGAGEMENT AND TO STAY FOCUSED
TAKES AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF
COURAGE AND SELF-DISCIPLINE.
>> Narrator: WITH TIME RUNNING
OUT, HARRISON MAKES ANOTHER
ROUND OF ADJUSTMENTS.
HE RESTS HIS POINT OF AIM 6 FEET
HIGH AND 20 INCHES LEFT.
MORE THAN A MILE AND A HALF
STAND BETWEEN HARRISON AND HIS
TARGET.
HARRISON TAKES A BREATH,
A HIT.
ONE TALIBAN MACHINE GUNNER DEAD.
HARRISON GETS BACK ON THE SCOPE
AND TAKES AIM AT THE SECOND
TALIBAN MACHINE GUNNER.
HE FIRES.
ANOTHER HIT.
BACK-TO-BACK RECORD-BREAKING
SHOTS FROM MORE THAN A MILE AND
A HALF AWAY.
HARRISON SAVES THE LIVES OF HIS
FELLOW SOLDIERS AND REWRITES THE
BOOKS FOR THE LONGEST KILL SHOT
IN HISTORY.
>> DO IT! GO!
>> Narrator: GIVEN HARSH
REALITIES OF WAR, NO SNIPER IS
EVER TRULY BULLETPROOF.
NEW MISSIONS, NEW THREATS, EACH
ONE PUSHING HIM CLOSER TO THE
EDGE.
>> WHEN IT GETS DOWN TO IT, AS A
SNIPER, YOU REALLY HAVE
YOURSELF, YOUR THOUGHTS, YOUR
MIND, YOUR DISCIPLINE, AND YOUR
CRAFT.
I DON'T FIX REFRIGERATORS.
I DON'T WORK ON
AIR-CONDITIONING.
I ENGAGE TARGETS.