Best Indonesian Sniper , Now He has Been Quiet in Peace
While in the military, Tatang spotlight from his superiors. Her experience of living in the village make military lessons be less difficult for him, both in terms of physical, swimming, and shooting.
By the year 1974-1975, together with seven colleagues Tatang elected mobile training program teams (MTT) led coach of the Green Berets United States, Captain Conway.
"That year, Indonesia does not have anti-terror and sniper. Came the idea of military officers to train whiz firing of four unity, namely Kopassus (Army), Marine (Navy), Paskhas (AU), and Brimob (Police). However, as a step early, eventually just followed the Army, "he added.
In practice, Kopassus were difficulties in meeting the existing quota. After the selection of physical and abilities, from the needs of 60 people, Kopassus is only able to meet 50 seats.
To meet the void 10 seats, Tatang and seven friends involved to participate. Tatang and 59 members of the Army trained Captain Conway about two years. They are trained sniper shooting at a distance of 300, 600, and 900 meters. Not only that, they are also trained to fight against intruders, sniper, camouflage, trace, and eliminate them.
Of two years of training, only 17 of the 60 people who graduated and got a model 70 Winchester guns.
As quoted by Space and Shooting Times magazine, Winchester 70 called "Bolt-action Rifle of the Century" is also used legendary US Marine sniper Carlos Hathcock, the Vietnam War. This weapon has a target accuracy of up to 900 meters.
Apparently the weapon and the knowledge obtained from the US elite forces have helped Tatang in battle. Therefore, after that, Tatang drawn Colonel Edi Sudrajat, Commander of Infantry Education Center (Pusdiktif) Cimahi, became bodyguard once sniper when went to war in East Timor (1977-1978).
There are two secret tasks are pinned on two sniper then (Tatang and Ginter). First, crippling four enemy forces, namely sniper, commander, radio holder, and automatic weapons carrier members. Second, becomes intelligence. The point into the heart of the defense, see the terrain, and report to superiors that the war strategy. In fact, there are times when a sniper assigned to disrupt the opponent's defense. It aims to reduce casualties.
While his story was never made into a Hollywood movie, there’s no denying that Tatang Koswara was the best Indonesian sniper there ever was, and one of the best in the world. Sadly, Tatang passed away last night after suffering a heart attack. He was 68-years-old.
Before he died, Tatang was invited to tell his story on a talk show at Trans7 TV yesterday. He made the trip from Bandung to Jakarta despite having a history of heart attacks.
After the live broadcast of the first two segments went by without a hitch, Tatang unfortunately succumbed to another heart attack.
“After the [commercial] break, during the third segment, as he was being asked questions I saw him rest his head [on the couch] and look up. And then he was touching his neck like he was gasping for air,” said Sahlan Rambe, news analysis officer at the Indonesian Military, who accompanied Tatang to the show, as quoted by Detik yesterday.
Sahlan tried to give Tatang a glass of water, but the legendary sniper couldn’t even take a sip of it. Tatang fainted and was then taken to the Medistra Hospital in South Jakarta.
There, doctors tried to revive Tatang’s heartbeat. Unfortunately, Tatang passed away at 8pm.
Tatang Koswara retired from the military in 1996. He was ranked the 14th best sniper in the world in the book Sniper Training, Techniques and Weapons (2000). He became well known after killing 41 FRETELIN (Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor) insurgents in the East Timor war between 1977-1978.
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