Adelbert Waldron (1933 – 1995) was a US Army sniper who served in the 9th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War. Collected and self-possessed in an extremely dangerous environment, he was the most effective sniper in the war, holding the record of 109 confirmed kills, which is the highest number for any American sniper in history. The legendary Carlos Hathcock had 93 confirmed kills, Eric R. England had 98 and Chuck Mawhinney had 103 —all were members of the US Marine Corps. However, despite Hathcock and Mawhinney being fairly well known, Waldron and England are all but unheard of. Waldron was decorated with a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, Two Distinguished Service Crosses, and a Presidential Unit Citation.
Adelbert F. Waldron was born on March 14, 1933, in Syracuse, New York. Before being an Army Sergeant, he served first 12 years in the US Navy from 1953 to 1965. Then, Waldron enlisted in the US Army in May 1968 as a Sergeant, which was the equivalent rank he held in the Navy. When he was transferred to South Vietnam that year, Waldron found himself attached to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. As an expert marksman with a rifle, Waldran had been chosen to attend the 9th Infantry’s sniper school, which was run by members of the Army Marksmanship Unit and formed with the blessing of the division commander Lt Gen Julian J. Ewell.
The 9th Infantry was the only major U.S. Army combat unit to conduct operations in the Mekong Delta where it was part of the Mobile Riverine Force (MRF). Riding shotgun on US Navy brown water ‘Tango Boats” and PBRs the MRF attempted to clean out the multitude of insurgent units operating in that lawless area. In this high tempo hazardous environment Waldron was placed as a sniper. In the first half of 1969, 36-year old Sgt Waldron was credited with 109 confirmed kills, which made him the highest scoring US sniper in history.
When Adelbert F Waldron finished his tour in Vietnam, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant. Before leaving army service in 1970, he taught at the US Army Marksmanship Unit as a senior instructor. Then he worked for noted mercenary, firearms engineer and former CIA operative Mitchel WerBell III. Waldron was WerBell’s resident firearms instructor in his private training schools at the “Farm” in Powder Springs GA. It was in that school the Waldron’s name became linked to such groups as Lyndon LaRouche’s NCLC. Adelbert F. Waldron died in quiet obscurity on October 18, 1995, in California. He was 62 years old. He was buried in Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California, Columbarium A (shelter F), Court B, Row B, Site 37.
From the beginning, Marines have been masters of self-promotion in all they do. They will toot their horns that they are the best at everytinhg. They will never pass up an opportunity for press coverage and photos. In the end, though, it was Sgt. Waldron, U.S. Army, who was the best sniper in Viet Nam, though he never sought notoriety like the Marine grandstanders.
Well said, Masterson. With some exceptions, marines have believed their own publicity. Bravado and self-aggrandizement have been drilled into their psyche. They ARE great soldiers, don’t misread me, and I would fight alongside them in any circumstances. The facts seem to indicate, however, that Rangers, and special operators from other branches are better, when it comes to solitary skills.
Just my opinion.
jim