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

Small Town Boy in a Soldiers Shoes

This is a book following a young man by the name of Ed Kugler. He joined the Marines in the mid 1960s to get out of his boring little town. His parents didn¿t support him about going into the military. After training he was involved in the Dominican crisis and eventually Vietnam. He volunteered to go to Vietnam and when he got to Vietnam he volunteered to become a Marine scout sniper. The entire time he was in Vietnam every letter he got from his parents had something in it saying that he made a mistake going to Vietnam. He trained in Vietnam for a while to become a scout sniper. When he was finished him and his partner joined a recon team. Read the book and experience the adventures, and tragedies that Kug experiences in Vietnam. There were a lot of good things and just a few bad things in the book Dead center Just a few of the good things were he described his situations very well, and he explained his feelings about tragedies and very good things that happened to him. He also described the men in his unit so good d that you could picture them and hear how they talked. Of the few problems in this book the only one that bothered me was one page he¿d be talking about one day the next page he¿d be talking about a day three days later. He only did this a few times, and I understand he has to do it because he cant talk about every day eh was in Vietnam it would be too big of a book. Dead center is not part and a series and has no sequels, and is a book that reminds me of the movie We Were Soldiers. A lot of kind of people would like this book, because there are sad, funny, and historical parts in this book. The people that would enjoy this most though would be someone who just likes a great adventure.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A must NOT read.....

I've read countless books on Vietnam and wars in general. I served almost 15 years in the military myself and I find this book to a total let down. He stated that this would be the best nam book I would ever read, not even close. If you want to read a good book about snipers, real snipers that went out by themselves or with a spotter then read 'Marine Sniper, 93 Comfirmed Kills'. That book is a page turner about a man with some serious shooting and concelment skill.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Semper Fi all the way

This book tells the way a sniper can get a jod done with his rifle and the Rogues.

In your face reality

Nothing but reality will bring you closer to life in a Marine Scout/Sniper Platoon. This is for anyone who is a wanna be sniper, has been a sniper or is just wondering what its all about.

A Different View

The author's use of nick-names, i.e. 'Jaw Bone', de-personalized the story. I think that even using fictitious names would have made the story more enjoyable.

Introduction to Sniping

The reader very quickly becomes sucked into a strange world, defying understanding. Certainly a frightening and terrible time for these young men, the book fails to really capture what must have been real terror at times. The author has a propensity for describing his level of fear by how tight his bowels become and this gets really tedious after the third time. A sense of adventure came through and their clear sense of pride in doing a job well drove these single minded men to great lengths for their country. The book is quite enjoyable as an introduction to the dark world of the military sniper.

Outstandind Book

Ed Kugler does a great job at describing what it was like to be a sniper in vietnam. It is very interesting to see vietnam from a real soldiers perspective. He describes the art of sniping and the book is also filled with thrilling action and suspense. As ugler says 'the best damn nam book you'll ever read.

Message Lost Filling Pages

I read this book after reading 93 Confirmed Kills. Thought to much of the book centered around the weather, drinking, using profanity, and worrying family by re-enlisting. More tactical information and less 'fluff' would be better. Mr. Kugler is a true hero and deserves respect for serving his country. Most Marines I've met speak proudly of their service in the Marine Corp. I think the book does a disservice to the Marines.

Vietnam

Ed Kugler's book Dead Center taught you the truth about the Vietnam War and the style he writes in is very intense and makes the book hard to put down. It tells the story of a marine sniper in his 2-year odyssey in the Vietnam War. Kugler's writing makes the reader feel as though he is in the jungle with him as he tells his sometimes-gruesome story. In the book some of the writing is very graphic and visual and some readers might be offended by some of the language he uses but in reading his book that is the way that it actual happened and how other marines and him responded to each other in battle. Kugler lets you know how it really is in war and all that can happen to people on both sides of a war in a foreign country. Every page of Kugler's book Dead Center is so descriptive and intense that you can visualize what is happened as you turn each page. As a high school freshman this is the best book I have ever read. Once again I recommend reading this book.

A great read- Highly recommended!!

A compelling book about an ordinary 18-year old kid from middle America faced with extraordinary situations. The circumstances that led up to his Marine sniper job are interesting. It's straightforward, easy to read and hard to put down. Kugler doesn't play himself as a hero, just as a kid making a transformation to a good soldier.

Sight Through the Scope with the Shooter

Excellent book. Found only one technical error. Have read several books on snipers and this one really put you on site with the shooter. Enjoyed the personal feelings concerning all aspects of the writer's tours in Vietnam. As one who was on Ft. Hood, Texas' rifle team prior to going to Vietnam, I was able to visit with snipers who had returned from Vietnam. But being an officer, I was told I was needed in another place in Vietnam as an officer rather than a sniper. I enjoyed the writers personal concern for his team members. Book would really put one in the situation almost as if you were there with him when it happened. A book that I had to finish the mission he was on before putting the book down and finish reading the book another time.

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