He may be 85 years old, but when Army sniper veteran Ted Gundy was given the chance to show off the skills he used in World War Two, he proved he could still keep up with the very best.
That’s because he was invited to try out the Army’s latest technology in a challenge to hit a target a whopping 1,000 yards away.
But the former member of the Missouri honour guard, stepped up to the challenge with an extremely level head.
After all, he had fought in the Battle of the Bulge – considered one of the most defining clashes of U.S. Army history and remains the largest battle ever fought by United States troops.
Before he could get his hands on the modern day equipment, the Army presented him with a 1903 A4 replica sniper – the same he used in the war and had not seen since 1944.
Despite a 66-year gap without using the gun, he had no trouble picking off a target at 300 yards, with all three shots hitting the target.
It was then that the officers taught him how the Army’s custom made Remington 700 works and explained how a 1,000 yard shot can be achieved.
It involves a second sniper, called a spotter, judging the wind direction and any other conditions that could affect the bullet’s trajectory.
Mr Gundy, who lives in Memphis, Missouri, said before the shot: ‘I couldn’t even dream in a thousand years how you would even see the target, yet alone hit it.
He tried the modern equivalent and manages three head shots less than five inches apart
Mr Gundy is presented with the 1903 A4 replica as a souvenir of his day which he said was 'the nicest thing to ever happen in my life'
‘I hope that I can hit the target but if I was betting money I’d bet nine to one that I don’t. That’s a long, long way.’
But his modesty was greater than his skills and he managed with ease to pick off the target, with three impressive head shots all within five inches of each other.
He said afterwards: ‘I couldn’t believe I could have hit anything that far away.’
SFC Robby Johnson, who taught Mr Gundy how to use the new equipment said: ‘To meet someone that was actually there and was a sniper back then, it’s just a great honour.’
Mr Gundy, holding back the tears, said the experience was ‘one of the nicest things to ever happen in my life.’
2 comments:
That was cool
definition of a champion
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