Of all my work, Sniper took me the longest to write, just over ten years. I owe thanks to many people. To list a few: My late wife and soul mate, Connie; cancer took her before she could read the finished manuscript and, after seven years, I still miss her terribly. At the same time, Connie was my most devoted fan and also my most valuable critic—she was always willing to tell me what I needed to hear, not what I wanted to hear. On those occasions where I wanted to give up writing, she was the one person who gave me the strength of purpose to struggle onward.
To be successful, a new writer needs a strong critique group of writers who are willing to read the bad stuff and to be strong enough to give the writer constructive, honest criticism. I have been fortunate to be involved with two such groups. First is The Monday Murder Club group where I truly learned how to write. Thanks Paula, Steve, Andy, Margaret and Jim. Second, the Breathe group in Maine. Thanks are also due to Wendy, Heather, Vince and Larry for their invaluable feedback and input.
Thanks are also owed to Brian Thiem, formerly commander of the Oakland, California Police Department Special Operations and USA retired, for pointing out correct police procedure and updating this old jarhead on current military weaponry.
Thanks are owed to my agent and excellent editor, Paula Munier, who has had faith in this novel since its inception in 2002 and to Constance Renfrow and Jay Cassell of Skyhorse Publishing for their excellent editorial assistance.
This book is a work of fiction and any mistakes within are entirely the fault of the writer. That being said, I would like to cite the following works for aiding me in learning about the world of the sniper:
1. Shooter, The Autobiography of the Top-Ranked Marine Sniper by Gunnery Sergeant Jack Coughlin, USMC, Captain Casey Kuhlman, USMCR, with Donald Davis, St. Martin’s Press, 2005.
2. Marine Sniper by Charles Henderson, Berkeley Publishing Group, 1986.
3. Silent Warrior by Charles Henderson, Berkeley Publishing Group, 2000.
4. US Marine Corps Scout/Sniper Training Manual by Scout/Sniper Instructor School, Marksmanship Training Unit, Weapons Training Battalion, Marine Corps Development and Education Command, Quantico, Virginia 22134. Desert Publications, 1994.
I sincerely hope that this work of fiction is not construed as a condemnation of a group of honorable, skilled marines.
Hoo-rah!
Vaughn C. Hardacker
USMC 1966 to 1974