Dead Center: A Marine Sniper's Two-Year Odyssey in the Vietnam War

Didn’t realize being a sniper was also being a lurp too, but that’s how u had to be all the time wherever u were. The incoming arty at must have had long term effects on the psyche too. Thanks so much for telling us what it was like being there. Mh

It was straightforward and no coddling. I was there at the same time and places in 3rd Recon bn. Everything he says is true.. I always wanted to write a book but couldn't get it started or do it as well. Thanks Kugler you were a good marine.

One of the best books I’ve read in a long time

Very engaging reading.

Some reviews complain about the language. Others say the story was disjointed. Still some complain about the veracity of the story versus how many beers the author and his compatriots downed between nights out. I cannot judge their reviews but Vietnam, the war and era, has been difficult to pin down, write about and absorb. Kug is clear about the duality of the war and his portion. How can any of us who have never 'walked point' understand the sensation, the fears of being in the DMV with little backup and lots of enemy about? Wouldn't that be hard to write about but Kugler does a very good job of "displaying" it in words. The tension of a boot hung up on a trip wire, the frenetic and frantic pace of patrols in the dead of night at a snails pace. Patience and incoming, the changes in Nam from '66 to '68 and the difference in Marine's outlooks and training (all since changed). A cussed war without cussing? Not likely. A steady paced, controlled 'by the book' war in the middle of a hot and wet jungle, not likely. This book, in my opinion, is one of the best 'descriptions' (in and of itself) of the Vietnam war, the Corp during the initial run up, the changes in men during conflict that seemed doomed from the beginning, the minds trying to cope, the bodies trying to live... it is a display of that 'place' and 'time' and done very well. Kug sees the 'mirrors' of life, the choices, you can feel in the writing how men struggled to maintain some kind of weird balance in a place so extremely out of whack! I would say to buy the book, read it and then read it to your grandchildren and pass it on because wars will continue and knowing how they are fought (perhaps in Vietnam, it was gravely mismanaged by politicians, etc, ... another discussion) and what NOT to do, well, this book will clearly display all those choices. The snipers written about were the first of a type and went at it with a will and skill that, given the newness of the science, was remarkable. They served a nation that was coldly dismissive of the war and wrongly directed by the media about our warriors. They returned and did, for the most part, a great job of 'getting back to the world' and making their way. Average? That is the question asked later. I'd say this book is not average in any way. It may not 'teach' you to be a sniper or call in arty or use a compass and map but you cannot, if you have a soul, read it and not "thank God" for the men who answered their country's call to battle. Those men who watched the days go by to 365 and then re-upped or extended in that messed up world and fought some more and died more. God Bless 'em all.

Okay, kind of slow in the beginning. Not bad not great. God bless America and your hero's always. The end.

While at times I found this book extremely interesting, there were other times I found it not so much. I have read dozens and dozens of WWII, WWI, Korean War and Vietnam War books. I can't quite explain it, but I found parts of it hard to believe. Maybe it was the way it was narrated. Can't quite put my finger on it as to why this book is not something I will read or listen to again.

Former active duty Marine, 62-66. Most, if not every book written about the Corps, always start with After graduation from Boot Camp and ITR. Not this one. This book was written by a Marine who is not afraid to admit he made some bad or stupid moves in the beginning of his life. How I remember the wonderful day, my second day at PI, when a naive 17 year old right out of High School, at the suggestion of an older recruit with prior military time told me to put on the post card home "Get me out of here, this place is hell".After what seemed like hours of the DI's yelling at me to do squat thrusts, jumping jacks, push ups and windmills then asking me if I wanted a Captains 'Mast', I thought they said "MASS" of which I said Yes. Possibly the best move I ever made since only 5 recruits out of the original platoon graduated. I was sent packing to the Motivation platoon clearing brush along the roads in the Ammo dumps. Then after I did graduate from a company where I was the Only regular Active duty Marine, the rest were reservist, I was assigned to "India company, 3rd Bn, 6th Marines. This was before the Cuban Missile crisis. I was already on Okinawa, Hq Co, 2nd Bn, 12th Marines, 3rd MarDiv, when I-3/6 went to the DR.Like I said, It's the little personal details in a book about time in the Marines that make it a read or no read. Dead Center is most definitely a MUST no BS READ!

The Vietnam conflict has spawned a host of memories, everything from the formal history of the entire struggle to that wide range of difficult experiences of the ordinary infantryman, pilot, medic or advisor to the Vietnamese people. Ed Kugler's own account as a Marine Sniper adds much of value to this library. As with other personal accounts this is especially noted for its honest and straightforward treatment of what could only have been a difficult business. It is heart-warming to be able to read that once he put this behind him he found a way to move forward and live a normal life, to this, much credit is offered to his wife. A very well worth while read for anyone interested in this time.

I've read a lot of true accounts of Vietnam and the author went out on a limb stating this was the best book you'll read on the conflict. Well its not. It is good and I enjoyed the read but the opening statement was a bold one... considering the authors I've already read. He does draw you in and to the and you can actually feel the combat and the tension but others have done it better. ChickenHawk is a better book as is Snake Pilot and coming up third is Eye Behind the Lines all I would put before this one.If you're looking for sniper action then look for another book this was disappointing, however i feel the author would have wanted it played different if he had his own way. But respect to him and any that has served.

An interesting account of sniper warfare in Vietnam but I would have preferred a bit more technical detail of how the shots were made and the field craft needed. Charles Henderson's "Marine Sniper", about Carlos Hathcock, is much better in this regard.The horrendous conditions in which the men lived and fought are very well conveyed and you can almost empathise with how some of the more outlandish habits, such as enemy 'trophies', developed.

Raw and savage tale of an unwinnable war and how an individual can be moulded into a deadly machine.Extremely well writen and ultimately and uplifting journey Leading to a surprising conclusion. This is a powerful extraordinary book.

A very interesting insight into the creation of Scout Snipers and how it took some time for those in charge to understand how they should best be used in combat. Well written and raw with a good catch up section at the end of the book.