13 Cent Killers

Abridged
Author: John J. Culbertson
Narrator: L.J. Ganser
Genres: History, Military
Publisher: Random House (Audio)
Date: November 2008
Length: 2 hours
Ratings:
  • Book Rating: 3.5/5
Formats:
  • CD

Overview

“It’s not easy to stay alive with a $1,000 bounty on your head.”

In 1967, a bullet cost thirteen cents, and no one gave Uncle Sam a bigger bang for his buck than the 5th Marine Regiment Sniper Platoon. So feared were these lethal marksmen that the Viet Cong offered huge rewards for killing them. Now noted Vietnam author John J. Culbertson, a former 5th Marine sniper himself, presents the riveting true stories of young Americans who fought with bolt rifles and bounties on their heads during the fiercest combat of the war, from 1967 through the desperate Tet battle for Hue in early ’68.

In spotter/shooter pairs, sniper teams accompanied battle-hardened Marine rifle companies like the 2/5 on patrols and combat missions. Whether fighting their way out of a Viet Cong “kill zone” or battling superior numbers of NVA crack troops, the sniper teams were at the cutting edge in the art of jungle warfare, showing the patience, stealth, combat marksmanship, and raw courage that made the unit the most decorated regimental sniper platoon in the Vietnam War. Harrowing and unforgettable, these accounts pay tribute to the heroes who made the greatest sacrifice of all–and leave no doubt that among 5th Marine snipers uncommon valor was truly a common virtue.

Reviews (7)

13 Cent Killers

Written by Anonymous on September 23rd, 2006

  • Book Rating: 4/5

An interesting account about snipers. If you are interested in the military or history it's a book you will enjoy.

Not What I thought

Written by Shane Nixon on May 18th, 2006

  • Book Rating: 2/5

At a time of great patriotism in our country, and a time where war is dividing us, I think I put unfair expectations on this book. It is my earnst belief that Culbertson was a GREAT sniper. But he isn't the greatest story teller. The narrator didn't help for me, but his hands were tied by a story that lacks drama in places where drama ought to be easy. Just plain not great for me.

13 cent killers

Written by Anonymous on March 2nd, 2006

  • Book Rating: 3/5

The CD was a collection of recollections. It was down to earth and factual. Scenarios were a little difficult to imagine and contained uninteresting /not required information or filler if you may. For an abridged version filler is definetly a no no. Other then that it was well read and written and interesting.

13 Cent Killers

Written by Jeff Johnson from Brownwood, TX on February 15th, 2006

  • Book Rating: 5/5

Good book. Held my attention. Wish it would have been longer.

Snipers are a rare breed

Written by Deena Hopkins on June 17th, 2005

  • Book Rating: 3/5

This is a decent book about what it took to be a sniper and how the stuff you see in the movies today is not how it was when Snipers first came into use for Vietnam. The guns were bulky, the conditions were hard but they still made an impact. Culbertson does a good job of putting you in the middle of it, but there are somethings areas I wish he may have explored more.

Good Book

Written by LPM on December 27th, 2004

  • Book Rating: 2/5

This book is mildly interesting and slightly informative, but after you get to the end you wonder where the substance was to justify a book rather than published as a short story in a periodical.

13 Cent Killers

Written by Long Distant Driver on November 11th, 2004

  • Book Rating: 2/5

This isnt a bad book on snipers but will leave you wanting to find out more. This is more of a general story about how the snipers played a role in the early stages of Vietnam but not near as much of what it takes to be a sniper and what they had to go through.