How a U.S. Sniper’s “Chewing Gum Trick” Killed 38 Japanese in 1 Day

Video Description

Discover the extraordinary true story of Corporal William “Billy” Hayes, the Brooklyn-born Marine sniper who achieved one of the most lethal single-day performances in U.S. Marine Corps history during the Battle of Tarawa on November 20, 1943—not through brute force or conventional doctrine, but through an unconventional rhythm synchronized to chewing gum. This meticulously researched documentary reveals how Hayes, mocked by fellow Marines for his constant chewing of Wrigley’s Spearmint gum, transformed a childhood condition of stress-induced teeth grinding into a biomechanical advantage that aligned his breathing, heartbeat, and trigger control with metronomic precision. Armed with a Springfield 1903 rifle and an eight-power Unertl scope, Hayes infiltrated Betio Island ahead of the main assault and, over fourteen hours of sustained combat, delivered thirty-eight confirmed Japanese casualties at ranges up to eight hundred seventy yards, a record-setting feat accomplished by timing every shot to a precise sixty chews per minute. Drawing on battlefield logs, spotter accounts, post-battle analysis, and later medical studies, this video explores how rhythmic entrainment enhanced Hayes’s fine motor control, reduced muscle tension, and created a repeatable timing window for flawless marksmanship under extreme stress. From the initial ridicule of his “candy habit” to the stunned recognition of officers who verified his results, Hayes’s story challenges long-held assumptions about professionalism, tradition, and innovation in warfare. Learn how his technique was later studied by Marine Corps medical staff, why it worked for some shooters and not others, and how a simple pack of gum became as critical as a rifle in redefining elite performance. More than a sniper tale, this is a powerful account of how unconventional thinking, proven under fire, can shatter doctrine—and how one Marine’s rhythm changed the way warriors understood the connection between mind, body, and weapon during World War II.