I know a man who was a marine sniper in Vietnam from 1965 to 1969 or so. He is a good friend and a good man. Before the USMC he had not followed the path of most snipers (as I understand it), though he had shot small game with a shotgun. After Vietnam he had a few issues getting settled into GI Bill & college and so forth but eventually settled into a productive pretty normal life. He was able to separate his duty as a marine from his later life.

Over the many years I've known him I have heard very few tales of his experiences. Some are extremely bizarre, yet bizarrely believable. He received two Bronze Stars, a Silver Star and a Purple Heart.