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Sniper in Iraq

Aug-29-2008 » Filed Under: 2/25 SBCT

Here's a nice profile of a 2-25 SBCT soldier written by Nathan Webster when he was embedded with the 1-14 INF. Excerpt:

Unlike most junior soldiers who take orders from team leaders who take orders from squad leaders, Coppeler works almost directly for the company commander himself, as part of Loftis' personal security detachment. One of three snipers with Loftis' group, Coppeler, 31, from Port Clinton, makes sure he pays close attention to the far fringes of their perimeter, so Loftis can do what he needs to do without watching his back.

That job is what he would have been doing following the Aug. 10 attack.

"We're perfectly capable of engaging anyone at 300 to 500 meters," Coppeler said. "At 300 meters, I'm 100 percent confident I wouldn't miss."

Most of a sniper's duties are watching everything, he said, often for would-be enemy snipers. In open country like this, there's not much activity. But once in the city, there are always windows, alleys and straight roadways to pay attention to.


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