TWO WEEKS LATER

                                            THE “APACHE” (cont.)

Two weeks had gone by since a captured Marine had suffered a grizzly death at the hands of the notorious female Viet Cong sniper and interrogator “the Apache” (see story 28 NOV).  Marine sniper SGT Carlos N. Hathcock and his CO, CPT Edward J. “Jim” Land, had spent fruitless days hidden in the underbrush.  Such is the lot of the sniper, endless days of lying motionless in wait, unable to swat the swarming mosquitoes or the biting ants that crawled inside their pantlegs.  Often their sufferings were in vain.  This morning, they lay before a bomb-cratered hill three miles from their base camp.  Before them was a spot thought to be a transit point for the “Apache’s” movements.  When a lone figure stepped from the trees at 200 yards, their intelligence seemed to be confirmed.  At the moment Land was attempting to wrest the sniper rifle from Hathcock in exchange for the spotting scope.  His eyes were tired after hours of squinting.  Hathcock resisted at the sight of the enemy.  The argument continued uncharacteristically as the enemy stepped into view, even becoming a bit of a physical tussle.  Alerted, the enemy scout slipped back into cover and disappeared over the crest of the hill.  “He’ll be back, with help” thought both Americans.

The snipers waited through the rest of that hot and particularly buggy day.  Having re-established a new hide within view of their previous position, just as sunset was about to call the day’s efforts, an armed figure re-appeared on the crest of the hill.  Six additional figures showed themselves and cautiously began descending the hill toward the American’s previous position.  From her command movements, one of the figures was definitely “Apache.”  The close grouping of the figures presented a good target, and when “Apache” squatted to relieve herself, Land called an artillery strike.  The round came screaming in with pinpoint accuracy, before the enemy had time to react.  Three of the VC were thrown through the air to their deaths.  The round panicked “Apache,” who bolted down the hill exactly in the direction of the waiting Americans.  One of her operatives chased after her shouting, probably trying to warn of the possible American presence, but it was too late.  Hathcock’s first round struck her shoulder as she turned toward her follower, cutting her spine and exiting from her other shoulder.  Hathcock chambered another round, this one impacting her squarely in the chest.  She lay motionless while her frustrated salvor turned to flee.  A third shot from Hathcock laid him flat.

“Apache” and four of her six comrades died in this short minute.  Hathcock and Land made it safely back to their base camp at Hill 55 later that night to the celebrations of many!

Watch for more “Today in Naval History”  16 DEC 24

CAPT James Bloom, Ret.

Henderson, Charles.  Marine Sniper:  93 Confirmed Kills.  Briarcliff Manor, NY: Stein and Day, 1986, pp. 91-96.

Podlaski, John.  “Who Was Known as Apache?”  Operation Triumphus website, AT: https://operationtriumphus.org/story/who-was-known-as-apache/, retrieved 19 November 2024.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:  Carlos Hathcock went on to amass an enviable record of 93 confirmed kills as a US Marine sniper.

The post The “Apache” (cont.) appeared first on Today in Naval History.

                                                 THE “APACHE”

The cruelty experienced by American servicemen at the hands of the North Vietnamese confounds verbal description.  Such was the case in “Indian Territory” in the northwest corner of South Vietnam in 1966, nicknamed for its rampant Viet Cong (VC) activity.  Hill 55, in the midst of the area was a forward operating base for the 5^th Marines, 1^st MARDIV.  From here on a November morning in 1966 a rifle squad headed out on a routine patrol.  They were to proceed along rice paddy dikes to a crossroads below the hill and there check the identity papers of passers-by, hoping to nab a few VC for intelligence.  But a sudden burst of rifle fire and anti-personnel mines cut into the patrol still within sight of HQ.  Four Marines fell dead while the rest scurried back to camp.  A reinforced platoon descended the hill to reclaim the bodies of the Marines.  But, in fact, the fourth was not dead.  He had been knocked unconscious when an enemy bullet slammed into his helmet and grazed his skull.

It was a notorious female VC operative who led a sniper squad against the Americans.  Worse, she had become hated for butchering captive Marines, slicing their legs and arms with knives and torturing them to death in what was usually a drawn-out, all-night affair.  So heinous were her machinations that the Marines had nicknamed her, the “Apache.”  The fourth Marine from the ambush this day had fallen into her hands!

Not long after sunset the tortured screams of a Marine could be heard just beyond Hill 55’s perimeter wire.  After a merciless beating he had been stripped to only his boots and socks and bound to a tree.  “Apache” then sliced away his eyelids, causing intense pain every time he blinked.  Blood streamed down his face as she proceeded next to rip out his fingernails one by one. Then, starting with his little fingers, she bent each finger backwards in sequence until it fractured.  Her assaults were timed at perfect 20-minute intervals to maximize the Marine’s pain.  All the while, she taunted him and spat betel nut juice in his face.  Then in a final act of depravity, she amputated his genitals with a single swipe of her knife and cut him loose.  She sent him running for the perimeter wire, clots of blood dropping down his legs.  He reached the perimeter but sliced himself to shreds in the concertina wire as he breathed his last.

The camp at Hill 55 was home at the time to a Marine sniper school, an early attempt to give scout snipers first-hand experience in combat, under the guidance of seasoned snipers.  One such experienced marksman was SGT Carlos N. Hathcock, stationed there as a combat sniper and instructor.  Hathcock listened impotently to the screaming and torture being inflicted just beyond the perimeter wire.  The hair on his neck bristled with hatred and frustration.  He and his CO, CPT Edward J. “Jim” Land, vowed to put “the Apache” in their sights as soon as possible!

Continued 12 December…

Henderson, Charles.  Marine Sniper:  93 Confirmed Kills.  Briarcliff Manor, NY: Stein and Day, 1986, pp. 79-83.

Podlaski, John.  “Who Was Known as Apache?”  Operation Triumphus website.  AT: https://operationtriumphus.org/story/who-was-known-as-apache/

ADDITIONAL NOTES:  Geographic features in Vietnam were named for their elevation above sea level.  The crest of “Hill 55” was 55 feet above sea level.  As such there were likely multiple “Hill 55s” during the course of the Vietnam war.

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