Jim Lindsay's The Sniper unveils the story of Chuck Mawhinney, the deadliest sniper in Marine Corps history, who served in Vietnam at just 18. With his full cooperation, the narrative explores Mawhinney's record of 103 confirmed kills over 16 months, making him the youngest sniper in the Corps. Joining the Marines in 1967, he rose from recruit to a lethal marksman in one of Vietnam's most perilous war zones, where his character and charisma helped him navigate the horrors of combat alongside other young men far from home. After the war, Mawhinney married, built a family, and preferred to keep his military achievements private. However, in 1991, his anonymity was shattered when fellow Marine sniper Joseph Ward revealed his kill count in the book Dear Mom. This exposure brought unexpected fame, initially troubling Mawhinney, but he eventually embraced it, using his notoriety to train military personnel and law enforcement in long-distance shooting. The book finally shares Chuck's complete story, detailing his heroic actions in battle and the profound emotional impact of taking lives.
