Gene Dorr
Combat Sniper 1965
A Member of the Original Sniper Platoon in Vietnam.
top photo.....taken at Edison range at Camp Pendleton where later Dorr was a rifle instructor.
middle and bottom right photo..........taken at Delta Co., compound.
bottom left.......taken at his fathers home in Walla Walla Washington just after finishing bootcamp.
Gene Dorr attended bootcamp at MCRD, platoon 204......class of 1965
'We departed aboard the USS Lenawee from Long Beach Harbor, 9 August 65. Arrived and disembarked at DaNang, Vietnam on 28 August 65, I was with 1stBn. 1st Marines 1st Marine Division and we became Delta Co., 1st. Bn. 1st Marines 3rd Marine Division. Capt. John Miller was our Commanding Officer.'
Gene Dorr
Capt. R.A. Russell who was a Mustanger from the Korean War created the first Sniper Platoon for the Marine Corps and was its original Commanding Officer in September of 1965.
Just outside of DaNang there were over 250 Marines shooting the Winchester/model 70 in competition for the 50 rifle positions open........Gene Dorr was one of the Marines who won the right to carry the Sniper rifle.
Dorr was injuried 3 times in Operation LongLance after which he was returned to duty as a Rifle Instructor at Edison Range.
The Sniper Rifle...
Dorr and his fellow Snipers used the Winchester/model 70 rifle with an 8power unertal-scope. The rifle had a floating barrel and shot 30/06, Salt Lake City match/ammunition.
'Gene Dorr was one of the pioneers of the Sniper Platoon in the Vietnam War. It is an Honor for me to have his photos and history presented here with Scout/Snipers. The original 50 Snipers laid the foundation of professionalism of which we all were to become a part of as future Snipers. I Salute Gene for his contribution as a Combat Sniper .'
Greg Kraljev
