13 Cent Killers: The 5th Marine Snipers in Vietnam

Rating:
Summary: the truth will set you free
Review: Culbertsons book is a military club best seller because it shines the light of truth on much of the exaggerations and out right lies that have come out of the vietnam war. When Culbertson speaks of himself in combat action with the rest of his fifth marine buddys he is using a writing technique called a "flashback" . many combat veterans see past events like a movie where they view themselves merely as a participant. The reason many of the stories in the book seem disjointed is because each sniper team operated with different units in different places during the same time period. This is the most technically accurate portrayal of the Fifth marines in Vietnam that exists. This book also contains the names of operations , list of snipers, and battles that were led by specific officers . Check out the usmc history annals on these events and you too may learn the truth about Vietnam.

Rating:
Summary: 13 Cent Killers - A review by John Sibole
Review: I have just completed reading "13 Cent Killers". I have also read volumes of other so-called "true stories" of Marine snipers feats of virtually inconceivable exploits. "13 Cent Killers" is only one of the few humble books I have had the pleasure of reading. It is not a book written out of arrogance and conceit, but of his "Brothers in arms", of which this man truely loves.
After reading "13 Cent Killers", I had the great honor of speaking with John Culbertson personally. I found him to be a genuine "down to earth" Marine.This book was written to honor his Brother Marines who had fought at his side, and for the "True Heros" of the war, his fellow Marines that had made the "Ultimate Sacrifice", for God, Country, and Corps.
John Culbertson, Tom Casey with whom I have also spoken with personally, Vernon Mitchell, Billy May, and countless more Marines are truly "The Few The Proud". Putting their fellow Marines ahead of themselves in time of grave peril, to fight for, and protect what they loved so much.
As quoted by Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, "Uncommon valor was a common virtue", and is still today.
John Culbertson, Billy May, Vernon Mitchell, and all of my Brother Marines who would fill countless pages, I salute you, and welcome you home.
For my Brother Marines who have fallen throughout our great history and are with "God Almighty USMC (Retired)" I am forever in your debt. You are in my prayers always.
This is my humble opinion.Semper Fi. Job well done Marines.
John "Gus" Sibole
USMC/0351
1980-1983

Rating:
Summary: 13 cent killers
Review: In 13 cent killers by John J. Culbertson, the 5th Marine snipers in Vietnam get to tell their amazing stories from "the bush". The best part about 13 Cent Killers was the detail that the author provided. Culbertson was very descriptive and did not miss any details as he relived the time that Ron Willoughby and Tom Casey spent fighting in Vietnam. Culbertson describes everything in great detail from the snipers hide, down to exactly what the enemy was wearing as Casey watched them sneak around through his scope. Culbertson makes this book great by providing as much detail as he did.

There is one part about this book that could use improvement. I thought that Culbertson could have spent more of the book talking about the fighting and the time that the snipers spent out in the field. Most of this book was spent talking about the newly developed sniper school and how Gunnery Sergeant Vernon D. Mitchell, a veteran sniper who served in World War II and the Korean War. This makes the book a lot more boring than it should be.

The theme of this book was war. Even though war was the theme, the snipers still got an uneasy feeling every time that they got an enemy troop in their sights. I guess that the theme of this could also be that in war it is not easy to kill a human. This theme is shown throughout the book. Every time the snipers record a KIA (kill) they are happy but only because they survived. The theme of this book was war.

This was one of the best sniper books that I have read. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in war or snipers. The Culbertson makes this book so interesting by the way he describes Willoughby and Casey sneaking around the jungles of Vietnam to get the best shot that they could at the enemy. If you like stories about the Vietnam War this is a book that you should defiantly read.

Rating:
Summary: Yawn...
Review: While I am glad to see another book about the 5th Marines in Vietnam, the saying goes, if you don't grab a reader within the first few pages...well, they tend to quit reading or throw the dang thing against a wall. As painful as the ordeal was, I actually read it and my opinion remained unchanged to the bitter end. I mean no dishonor to the valiant Marine snipers the author writes about. Every single Marine Sniper who served in Vietnam is a hero to me--not just the infamous Carlos Hathcock. Sadly, the author's writing disability gets in the way of the stories he recounts. To me, 13-Cent Killers pales in comparison to earlier books by some of the Marine Corps finest--other true heroes, including the author himself.