Hogs in the Shadows: Combat Stories from Marine Snipers in Iraq

I served in 3rd Battalion 7th Marines Scout Sniper Plt. during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2-3 and knew many of the Scout Snipers included in the stories of this book. I could not put the book down, it was very accurately written, and portrays exactly what it takes to become and operate as a Scout Sniper in combat. It makes me even more proud to be a HOG and part of the very small community. I'd definately recommend this book to my fellow snipers and anyone else interested in the community.

A great read. This book really gets down to the no non-sense, nitty gritty reality of war told from the point of view of real Marine Snipers.

Books on snipers and sniping have been popular of late. This book by a former USMC sniper/scout introduces readers to the exploits of various gyrene 'hunters of gunmen' in Iraq. After a brief introductory chapter covering the training that transforms a Marine into a HOG, Afong presents a dozen accounts of USMC snipers practicing their deadly craft in Iraq between 2003 and 2005. As such, the book is a series of individual snapshots broadly tied together by the overall subject. What the book lacks in terms of a cohesive narrative it makes up with dramatic impact. The tales of endlessly scanning for and acquiring a target, getting in the zone and squeezing off a round and the shot's outcome are morbidly fascinating. I found the book especially valuable for the glimpses of the man behind the dispassionate, focused warrior stereotype. Several of the HOGS confess they were eagerly looking forward to their first kill, got caught up in running up a score once they notched up kill #1, deliberately left a wounded opponent alive so that his friends would try and rescue him therein supplying the HOG with additional targets, etc. HOGS IN THE SHADOWS certainly provides an unvarnished look at modern combat. There's no glory here; just trained professionals carrying out their duty. Recommended.

Loved the format of telling the individual stories of snipers in a misunderstood profession. Each story provided a nitty gritty view of the men that chose this profession and how they practice it. I especially liked the epilogue telling us what the individual is doing today.

The book is exactly as the title states, a collection of stories from Marine snipers in Iraq. No getting to know characters and locations. A quick intro and you are thrown into the action. A good book that gave me new insight on what snipers are doing in Iraq. A little lacking on the detail and description of locations. I found myself having to imagine too much on what places looked like, but that didn't hinder the book too much in my opinion. A good read as there aren't many books on Snipers in Iraq or A-stan yet. 5 stars for the entertainment coupled with the knowledge I was able to garner from the book.