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John J. Culbertson
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13 Cent Killers: The 5th Marine Snipers in Vietnam. (The 5th Marine Snipers in Vietnam) Hardcover – January 1, 2003

by John J. Culbertson (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 557 ratings
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The 5th Marine Snipers in Vietnam
Previous page
  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Ballantine
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2003
  5. ISBN-10
    0739431579
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0739431573
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ballantine; First Edition (January 1, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0739431579
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0739431573
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 557 ratings

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John J. Culbertson

John J. Culbertson

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
557 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Ken
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Book If You Desire Tio Know More About OUr War History
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2013
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I joined the Marines in 1966 to become a Marine Sniper. I was very good in the woods with my guns and now wanted to serve my country as a Marine Sniper. I enjoy reading their stories. Americans lost 58'479 soldiers who never and it is estimated the 100.000 committed suicide after they returned from Vietnam back to America. I feel every American should read what many of the Vietnam
war Veterans went through and had to endure, Therefore, I recommend this book.
3 people found this helpful
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4.0 out of 5 stars Very good book
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2023
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An interesting book, alook into the Vietnam War marine snipers life. Some of the principals told in this book would still apply today's world especially about politician's.
One person found this helpful
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John J. Culbertson
5.0 out of 5 stars ... uninformed readers that believe Carlos Hathcock really performed the fantastic events lied about in Charles Henderson's book
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2015
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ATiger I am going to explain to the general uninformed readers that believe Carlos Hathcock really performed the fantastic events lied about in Charles Henderson's books for what they actually are: a series of made-up lies to make money off of readers who are foolish and totally ignorant about sniping in war and Vietnam combat truths.
First of all, I was in Vietnam serving a point-scout for the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines in Hotel Company in January 1967.Carlos Hathcock is reported by Charles Henderson (who wrote the book "White Feather" but never served in Vietnam) as having gone on patrol by himself and sneaking into an NVA camp and killing a VC General. If this had really happened this event would have made the news everywhery including the Vietnam "Sea Tiger" the US Navy newspaper. No one in Vietnam ever heard of such a ridiculous act and Hathcock's records do not mention any such mission nor was Hathcock

ever awarded a combat medal for this feat of daring. If it had really happened Hathcock would have won the Medal of Honor. However, Hathcock won no medal. Further, Hathcock won no mention or medal for supposedly killing the Cobra sniper with a single "circus" shot. There never was an Apache who tortured Marines. But the stupidest act reported by Henderson was the ridiculous claim that Hathcock and his spotter (?) were supposed to have pinned down and shot a company of NVA
regulars over a five (5) day period without getting wounded, hungry, thirsty, or tired. Once again nobody witnessed Hathcock performing this miracle. The incident never was reportred in the Vietnam news or Hathcock's records. Hathcock was not awarded any medals or wounded in action. This feat along with the others is not recorded and unprovable. I know it never happened because I was costantly on patrol in the same area of Vietnam and never heard the name of Carlos Hathcock mentioned. Never once!.
Finally, Charles Henderson failed to know that Happy Valley in Da Nang was the official site of the 1st Marine Division Sniper School taught by Gunnery Sergeant V D Mitchell and Sgt. Douglas DeHass. Mitchell was a two time National Rifle Champion and my personal friend and sniper coach. Hathcock never attended this school, although I list in "13 Cent Killers" the names of over forty snipers who attended 1st Marine Division Sniper School at Happy Valley under V.D. Mitchell. I don't hate Hathcock because I never met him, but Henderson is either stupid or a liar or both. His books are absolute fantasy and the readers who buy into this fraud are worse than fools.

John J. Culbertson
21 people found this helpful
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Andy Newman
3.0 out of 5 stars Incredible exploits, but lacking in continuity and an ending
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2017
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Culbertson jumps around a considerable amount in this book, andbthe book just ends with out any sort of wrap-up. That being said these brave men put their lives on the line in a war, and then came back home to be chastised for fighting for our freedoms in battles they didn't create or choose. With a better editor this book could've been so much more, and could have shown a brighter light on a subject that doesn't get it's just due; and soldiers who deserve our utmost respect.
2 people found this helpful
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Gary L. Bain
5.0 out of 5 stars I was there-but as a pilot!!
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2004
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John Culbertson is in my opinion, a true patriot, and has an excellent way of presenting his stories. I have read his books and especially enjoyed this one as I, quite surprisingly, found my name mentioned as an F-4 pilot! Having always fantasized about how I would have performed as a grunt, rather than a pilot, I can, through the eyes of John, vicariously live the life I've always wondered about. His stories put me there as though I am living the part and appreciate his attention to detail. I sense his accounts are factual, not over dramatized, and leaves me with a real appreciation of not having had to experience the ordeals he and so many of his comrades had to endure. I highly recommend this as well as any other books or articles John has written. A job well done!!
6 people found this helpful
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L. Martin
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2021
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I liked this book and have the highest respect for the author and his fellow snipers. I just wish he would have left politics and personal opinions of how the war was waged out of it. I've read books about Peleilu and the American invasion of the Philippines during WW2 without the author's opinion about whether the military attacks were necessary. I'd rather the author just told us about the snipers.
2 people found this helpful
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diana Phillips Frost
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book about great men
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2022
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My Uncle Thomas Casey is included in this biography he was a great man!
One person found this helpful
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Alfie
2.0 out of 5 stars Well written but poor story line
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2020
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The author spent way too much time on historical data rather than the actual wok of the sniper for the Marines. I would not recommend this book.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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John M.
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in India on April 8, 2015
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interesting perspective by a group of brave men on how to survive combat.
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David W Sutcliffe
5.0 out of 5 stars Damn good read. Very interesting life stories of truly brave kids.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 21, 2014
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Excellent read. Well worth buying on Kindle. Shameful how these brave kids were treated when the lucky ones returned home. The politicians should hang their heads in shame.
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S.M.
3.0 out of 5 stars Un témoignage de sniper à prendre comme une source
Reviewed in France on February 28, 2011
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L'auteur, John J. Culbertson, lui-même ancien sniper du 5th Marines, dresse un portrait assez décapant de ces tueurs à 13 cents (le prix moyen d'une balle pendant la guerre du Viêtnam).

C'est une source primaire, et comme toujours avec ce genre de témoignages, il y a les bons et les mauvais côtés. Les bons, ce sont les descriptions de la création d'une véritable "école de snipers" au sein de l'USMC dans la zone du Ier corps tactique. L'incorporation d'équipes de snipers travaillant en binômes ne s'est, en effet, pas faite sans mal, les Marines ne voyant pas très bien au départ l'utilité des tireurs d'élite. Or ceux-ci se révèleront inestimables pour contrer les embuscades, éliminer les redoutables snipers vietcongs ou protéger les installations américaines, en particulier la nuit, contre les attaques des sapeurs, autre corps d'élite de l'ennemi. Le témoignage de Culbertson apporte un regard "de l'intérieur" sur l'histoire de ces snipers au sein de l'USMC plongé dans la guerre du Viêtnam.

Malheureusement, le récit de Culbertson est marqué par une espèce de "diatribe perpétuelle" du soldat moyen pendant la guerre du Viêtnam : pour résumer, les hommes politiques américains, et le président Johnson au premier chef, sont accusés de tous les malheurs qui peuvent arriver aux soldats sur le terrain, sans compter qu'en plus, ils se font de l'argent sur le dos des Marines, qui eux se font tuer au combat. Culbertson semble avoir développé une rancune particulière contre la compagnie d'hélicoptères Bell, que possédait en partie le président Johnson (!). Autre lourdeur du récit : une espèce d'autosatisfaction rampante qui remplit bien des lignes : les Marines sont les meilleurs, les snipers des Marines sont les meilleurs des meilleurs, et les snipers du 5th Marines sont les meilleurs des meilleurs des meilleurs... je caricature, mais ce n'est pas très éloigné de la vérité. Ce qui est dommage, ce que ce genre de discours prend la place de pages qui auraient pu être davantage consacrées à l'armement ou aux tactiques utilisées par l'unité.

Une fois que l'on a à l'esprit ces quelques mises en garde, l'ouvrage se présente comme une source, à lire en tant que telle. Elle ne remplace pas le travail de l'historien, mais elle en fournit le matériau, en l'occurrence autant sur les snipers de l'USMC que sur leurs représentations de soldats engagés au Viêtnam.
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Grahame Bourne
5.0 out of 5 stars Another excellent read with none of the usual "Gung Ho" that ...
Reviewed in Australia on November 7, 2014
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Another excellent read with none of the usual "Gung Ho" that some of the books written by Americans contain. A real down to earth story with a considerable amount of history on the selection and training of the snipers. Well worth the purchase. I could put my Kindle down.
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rebel4life
1.0 out of 5 stars Utter garbage
Reviewed in Germany on January 6, 2017
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Utter garbage. Completely incoherent, no story at all, basically just repeats one theme and some catchphrases over and over and over again.
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