Carlos Hathcock

Summary

Carlos Norman Hathcock II (May 20, 1942 – February 22, 1999) was a legendary United States Marine Corps sniper who served during the Vietnam War15. Known as "White Feather" due to the distinctive feather he wore in his cap, Hathcock achieved 93 confirmed kills during his service, though his actual total is estimated to be between 300 and 40014. Hathcock enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 17 and quickly established himself as an exceptional marksman3. He won several shooting championships, including the Wimbledon Cup in 1965, before deploying to Vietnam in 19666. During his tours in Vietnam, Hathcock accomplished several remarkable feats: He set a record for the longest confirmed sniper kill at 2,500 yards using a modified M2 .50-caliber Browning machine gun5. He famously shot an enemy sniper through the opponent's own scope, killing him instantly16. He crawled 1,500 yards over three days to successfully eliminate a high-value target5. Hathcock's skills made him a prime target for enemy forces, who placed a $30,000 bounty on his head3. Despite this, he continued to serve with distinction until September 16, 1969, when he was severely burned while rescuing seven fellow Marines from a burning vehicle that had struck a mine5. After recovering, Hathcock helped establish the Marine Corps Scout/Sniper School at Quantico, Virginia5. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1975, which led to his medical retirement in 19795. Hathcock passed away on February 22, 1999, after a long battle with the disease.