Chapters 12, 13, and 14 Summary and Analysis

With Hathcock still on restriction, a North Vietnamese sniper—the text refers to him only as Nguyan in the title chapter and Nguyen in the text—starts to inflict casualties on the Marine base. Hathcock, in fact, watches one wounded soldier die. After receiving Land's blessing, Hathcock starts observation duties near the camp. Land and Reinke team up and patrol the area, hoping to kill the enemy sniper. On one occasion, Land enters a nearby shrine, long thought deserted, only to discover an enemy scout hiding within. Fortunately, Land is an accomplished pistol shot and kills the enemy by snap shooting him with a .45 Colt. Meanwhile, Hathcock keeps a distant village under observation and sees two enemy soldiers—he believes they are snipers—conversing with a local woman. He takes a long-distance potshot and misses...