http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11398490%255E13762,00.html
Texas cop helps US snipers
By Terry Friel in Baghdad
November 16, 2004
LOOKING for a cause with a difference? Adopt a sniper. A Texas police
SWAT officer is running a charity for frontline snipers in Iraq and
Afghanistan, supplying everything from baby wipes to body armour.
The brainchild of Port Arthur detective and police sniper Brian Sain,
Adopt a Sniper (www.adoptasniper.org) has raised thousands of dollars
in cash and gear to supplement the kit of sharp shooters in up to 75
US combat platoons.
"Being aware that police snipers often face the same logistical
problems as their military counterparts, I assumed correctly that they
were doing without things they needed to get their jobs done," Mr Sain
said.
He contacted US military sniper schools and began sending supplies,
tailored to the needs of each sniper, in January.
"People from every walk of life are helping. Once the word got out
that a group of policemen was helping the military and inviting
civilian assistance, it really took off," he said.
Some US soldiers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan spend their own
money to supplement equipment issued by the military.
"Snipers need gear that is different than the average airman, marine,
sailor, or soldier," Mr Sain told Reuters via e-mail. "When the
snipers desperately need mission specific gear ... we just try and
fill that void."
From the frontlines, snipers are writing to say thanks.
"Your package arrived ... and was met with great fanfare," said a
Marine platoon commander from Afghanistan.
"The mini binos (binoculars) will help lighten our load as we continue
to spend most of the time chasing the Taliban between 7000-10,000 feet
(2100-3050m)."
He went on to ask for supplies of protein bars, Gatorade and dry
cleaning lubricants for guns.
Sergeant John, who has been in the army for four-and-a-half years,
wrote from Mosul, Iraq's third largest city, where rebels took over
some districts this week.
"I am always trying to improve my knowledge as a sniper and improve my
lethality," he said. "I am proud to be a sniper when I see fellow
snipers in the community are back home looking out for us snipers
overseas fighting this horrible war on terrorism."
Some write of having to spend their own money buying gear, and of the
lack of quality ammunition.
"I hate asking for stuff," said one anonymous soldier seeking small
binoculars and spotting scopes, "but if you have the means, we can
damn sure put them to good use.
"Miscellaneous gear and morale type stuff is of course always welcome.
My platoon has 16 guys from all over. Some eat kimchi (Korean national
dish), some chew Redman (tobacco).
"I can't tell you how much this means to all of us."
Adopt a Sniper fills a need for civilians who want to help soldiers in
combat but don't know how to, Mr Sain said.
"Unfortunately, due to the enormity of the commitment in Iraq and
Afghanistan, many American snipers are having to spend their own money
and have their families try and procure gear and get it to them," Mr
Sain said.
Supplies are sent directly to individual soldiers and Adopt a Sniper
spends as much on shipping as it does on supplies.
"We have been sending everything from baby wipes to body armour and
everything in between. Most of the items are sniper specific such as
laser rangefinders ... wind metres, rifle scopes, weapons maintenance
gear, you name it," Mr Sain said.
"www.adoptasniper.org has become a full time secondary job for us," he
said.
Reuters
This report appears on NEWS.com.au.
/end
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Contempt of Congress meter reading-offscale.
Hello, theocracy with a fundamentalist US Supreme
Court who will ensure church and state are joined
at the hip like clergy and altar boys.
America 1776-Jan 2001 RIP
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