An important name in sniping history: Who is Chuck Mawhinney?

Charles Benjamin "Chuck" Mawhinney is among the best-known snipers in the US Army. Born in the USA in 1949, the sniper is one of the symbolic names of the Vietnam War. It is stated that as a US Marine, Mawhinney destroyed 103 enemy soldiers according to official records, and 216 according to unofficial records in 16 months during the Vietnam War.

Charles Benjamin "Chuck" Mawhinney (born 1949) is a former United States Marine who holds the Corps' record for the most confirmed sniper kills, having recorded 103 confirmed kills and 216 probable kills in 16 months during the Vietnam War.

Mawhinney's success with the Marine Corps (USMC) sniper team; After the war, a friend of his found himself in popular culture with his book "Dear Mom: A Sniper's Vietnam" in 1991. Made famous by this book, Mawhinney worked as an instructor at several sniper schools. The name Mawhinney is so important in the history of sniping; Today, the sniper who finishes the US Marine Corps Sniper School in the first place is given a knife signed by Mawhinney.

Charles Benjamin Mawhinney was born in 1949 in Lakeview, Oregon, USA. His father is a World War II veteran, and for this reason, Mawhinney, who was very keen on hunting as a child, graduated from high school in 1967 and joined the US Marine Corps in the same year. Afterward, he entered the sniper school (Sniper School), graduated in 1968, and joined the unit in South Vietnam.

Working in the Observer Sniper Team, Mawhinney served as a sniper in different units. Staying in Vietnam for 16 months, Mawhinney engaged 103 enemy soldiers registered during this time. The number, known as 216 with unconfirmed records, describes its success in camouflage and shooting.

In an interview with Chuck Mawhinney for the Los Angeles Times on sniping: “What happened there was the ultimate hunt for me; One man is trying to hunt another man. Don't tell me about hunting lions or elephants, they don't have rifles and binoculars to respond to."

Mawhinney explained the rules of engagement in war with these words: “If the soldiers at my target had a gun in their hands, they would fall. Except for the enemy I shot from 900 meters, everyone I threw had a gun.”

Chuck Mawhinney left the Marine Corps in 1970, returned to Oregon, and married. He retired from the U.S. Forest Service after 20 years of service. A year later, Mawhinney became famous after his friend Joseph Ward, who had served in Vietnam with him, announced Mawhinney and his achievements to the reader in his 1991 book "Dear Mom: A Sniper's Vietnam". He trained new snipers by teaching at sniper schools and rendered great service to this profession.

What wars did Chuck Mawhinney participate in?

Chuck Mawhinney, who served from 1967 to 1970, participated in the Vietnam War.

What weapons did Chuck Mawhinney use?

Since Mawhinney was on the sniper team, which was very important to the US Army at the time, he worked with M40s specially produced at the Remington factory. Then, during the war, he used the M14 semi-automatic weapon system with the Starlight night vision scope attachment and was quite successful with this weapon.