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.

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