Edward James Land Jr. or Jim Land (born 4 June 1935 in

Lincoln, Nebraska Lincoln is the capital city of the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Lancaster County. The city covers with a population of 292,657 in 2021. It is the second-most populous city in Nebraska and the 73rd-largest in the United Sta ...

), is a retired Marine Corps officer who was instrumental in starting the Marine

Scout Sniper United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper (MOS 0317, formerly 8541) is a secondary MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) designator of U.S. Marine Corps infantrymen and reconnaissance Marines that have graduated from a U.S. Marine Corps Scout Snip ...

program.

United States Marine Corps

Land was born in

, in 1935. He enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 17 in 1953. Land went on to become a

Staff Sergeant Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. History of title In origin, certain senior sergeants were assigned to administrative, supervi ...

and a

Drill Instructor A drill instructor is a non-commissioned officer in the armed forces, fire department, or police forces with specific duties that vary by country. Foot drill, military step, and marching are typically taught by drill instructors. Australia Austr ...

before attending

Officer Candidate School An officer candidate school (OCS) is a military school which trains civilians and Enlisted rank, enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a Commission (document), commission as Commissioned officer, officers in the armed forces of a country. ...

in 1959. Upon graduating OCS, Land was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 4th Marine Regiment. As an officer, Land demonstrated an aptitude for competitive shooting and was selected for the Marine Corps Rifle Team. In 1961, Land founded the first modern sniper course for the Marine Corps. In Vietnam, Land was the commanding officer of

Carlos Hathcock Carlos Norman Hathcock II (May 20, 1942 – February 22, 1999) was a United States Marine Corps (USMC) sniper with a service record of 93 confirmed kills. Hathcock's record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a l ...

, whom he had trained in one of his early Sniper Courses. Land was assigned as Commanding Officer of the

Marine Security Guard A Marine Security Guard (MSG), also known as a Marine Embassy Guard, is a member of the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group (formerly Marine Security Guard Battalion), a brigade-sized organization of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) whose de ...

detachment at the U.S. Embassy in Saigon, Vietnam in November 1971. Major Land was awarded the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...

for his service at the Embassy under Ambassador

Ellsworth Bunker Ellsworth F. Bunker (May 11, 1894 – September 27, 1984) was an American businessman and diplomat (including being the ambassador to Argentina, Italy, India, Nepal and South Vietnam). He is perhaps best known for being a hawk on the war in Vietn ...

. After the Vietnam War, Land along with Major Richard O. Culver Jr. established the first permanent Marine Corps Scout Sniper school in Quantico, Virginia. After Vietnam, Land served as the USMC Marksmanship coordinator.

Community life

Land was active in the community and from 1977 until 1980 held the position of scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 1183 in Triangle, Virginia. During his tenure he mentored many Scouts, several to the rank of Eagle. He was also instrumental in spearheading a newspaper recycling program years before such recycling practices were commonplace. Newspaper from the local community was collected once a month by the Scouts and sold to an insulation company to benefit the troop. From September 16 through the 29, 1978 funds from these efforts sent 12 Scouts and 3 leaders to Brownsea Island, England, the location of Lord Baden Powell's first Boy Scout camping trip in 1907.

After military service

Land retired from the Marine Corps as a major in 1977. Land was elected as Secretary of the

National Rifle Association The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is a gun rights advocacy group based in the United States. Founded in 1871 to advance rifle marksmanship, the modern NRA has become a prominent Gun politics in the United States, gun rights ...

in 1994. He retired from this position in April 2015.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Land, Edward James 1935 births Living people United States Marine Corps officers United States Marine Corps personnel of the Vietnam War Recipients of the Legion of Merit American military snipers Sniper warfare Guerrillas People from Lincoln, Nebraska

United States Marine Corps

Community life

After military service

See also

References

External links