Larry Slawson - Carlos Hathcock: A Brief History

Birth Name: Carlos Norman Hathcock II

Date of Birth: 20 May 1942

Place of Birth: Little Rock, Arkansas

Date of Death: 22 February 1999 (Fifty-Six Years of Age)

Place of Death: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Cause of Death: Complications from Multiple Sclerosis

Place of Burial: Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, Norfolk, Virginia

Spouse(s): Jo Winstead

Children: Carlos Norman Hathcock III (son)

Father: Carlos Hathcock

Mother: Agnes Hathcock

Occupation(s): Sniper in the United States Marine Corp

Military Service: 1959-1979 (First Marine Division)

Highest Rank Achieved: Gunnery Sergeant

Best Known For: Legendary Marine Sniper; 93 confirmed kills (although estimates show that he likely killed between 300 and 400 enemy troops/personnel)

Awards and Honors: Silver Star; Navy Commendation Medal, Purple Heart; Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Gallantry Cross; Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Nickname(s): White Feather

Quick Fact #1: Carlos Norman Hathcock II was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on 20 May 1942. After his parents separated (during the first twelve years of his life), Hathcock resided with his grandmother in Wynne, Arkansas for much of his childhood. Growing up in a poor family, Hathcock took to hunting at a very early age to help feed his family. Using a .22-caliber J.C. Higgins rifle, Hathcock would comb the woods around his home in search of food. This early exposure to guns helped young Hathcock tremendously for his future career in the Marines Corps. At the age of 17 (20 May 1959), young Hathcock enlisted at the Marine recruiting office; a decision that would have an enduring impact on the rest of his life.

Quick Fact #2: Before being deployed to South Vietnam, Hathcock met the love of his life, Jo Winstead. After receiving permission to marry her, the couple married on 10 November 1962 (Marine Corps official birthday). In his spare time, Hathcock also began to participate in shooting championships, including the famous Wimbledon Cup (which he won in 1965). In 1966, however, Hathcock found himself in route to South Vietnam, as hostilities between North and South Vietnam had begun to deteriorate rapidly. Upon arrival, Hathcock was first deployed as a military policeman, but was quickly recruited by Captain Edward James Land into a sniper platoon. Land, upon discovering that Hathcock had won the Wimbledon Cup only a year prior, was greatly impressed with the young marksmans abilities, and strongly felt that his talents were much better spent with sniping rather than police duty.

Quick Fact #3: At a time when snipers were seen as outcasts in the United States military, Captain Land was determined to change the role of snipers in warfare, as he believed that every platoon should possess at least one sharpshooter. Interested in this new concept, the Marine Corp allowed Captain Land to showcase and test the abilities of sniper units; providing Land and his new sniper platoon numerous opportunities to prove themselves along the way. In only a short amount of time, Hathcocks shooting skills were immediately put to the test against both the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army. In total, it is estimated that Hathcock killed between 300 to 400 enemy personnel during his tours in Vietnam, although only 93 were confirmed kills (confirmed by an acting third-party officer).

Quick Fact #4: For his actions, Hathcock quickly garnered a reputation amongst the Viet Cong and PAVN troops of the North, who referred to him as White Feather Sniper due to the white feather he kept inside the band of his hat. At one point, the North Vietnamese placed a $30,000 bounty on Hathcock, the highest of any bounty placed on American personnel during the war. As a result, many Marines in the area donned white feathers similar to Hathcock in order to confuse enemy snipers operating in the area.

Quick Fact #5: One of Hathcocks most famous kills involved the clash with an enemy sniper known as The Cobra. Near Hill 55 (just southwest of Da Nang), Hathcock and his spotter, John Roland Burke, stalked the Cobra for several days after it was learned that he had killed several Marines in an attempt to lure Hathcock out of hiding (sources point out that the Cobra was sent to specifically kill Hathcock). After countless hours in the jungle, Hathcock caught a quick glint (light reflection from the enemys sniper scope) nearby. Already in the Cobras crosshairs, Hathcock was forced to rapidly take a shot. The shot became one of the most famous sniper kills of all time, as Hathcocks bullet went straight into the Cobras scope, killing him instantaneously.

Quick Fact #6: Perhaps one of Hathcocks most important contributions to the Vietnam War effort can be seen with his top secret mission to kill a North Vietnamese General. After being covertly inserted into the area, Hathcock crawled a distance of 1,500 yards; a feat that took four days and three nights to complete as he could only move a few inches at a time. With no sleep and being constantly bit by bugs, Hathcock slowly eased into position. Hathcock even came face-to-face with a deadly bamboo viper at one point in his trek, barely avoiding its deadly bite. After getting into a good position, however, Hathcock spotted the general as he exited his living quarters. Without hesitation, Hathcock fired a single shot into the generals chest, killing him on impact. With enemy soldiers hot on his trail, Hathcock made a rapid escape to his extraction point without ever being spotted or wounded.

Quick Fact #7: After completing his tour of duty in 1967, Hathcock returned to Vietnam in 1969 and took command of another platoon of snipers. However, shortly into his tour, Hathcocks career with the Marine Corps came to an abrupt end alongside the famed Highway 1. On board an LVT-5, Hathcocks vehicle was struck by an anti-tank mine that engulfed the vehicle in fire. Suffering severe wounds and burns, Hathcock still managed to pull seven other Marines from the burning wreckage before passing out from his injuries. Hathcock and his fellow Marines were quickly evacuated to the hospital ship, USS Repose, then to a naval hospital in Tokyo. Hathcocks burns were so severe, however, that he was later transferred to the burn center at Brooke Army Medical Center (San Antonio, Texas). Although Hathcock remained in the Marines, he would never serve in combat again due to the extensive, lifelong injuries he sustained from the explosion.

Quick Fact #8: Following his rehabilitation, Hathcock helped to establish the Marine Corps Scout Sniper School at Quantico, Virginia. Here, Hathcock helped to train future Marine Corp snipers for combat, while continuing to suffer extensively from his prior injuries. In 1975, Hathcock suffered another setback, however, with the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. After his health continued to decline in the months and years that followed, Hathcock received a permanent disability separation from the Marine Corps, forcing him into an unwanted medical discharge.

Quick Fact #9: After suffering from deep depression (and having his wife nearly leave him), Hathcock was able to overcome his separation from the Marines by picking up hobbies to keep himself busy. Shark fishing, in particular, became a particular favorite of Hathcock as it offered him both a unique and difficult challenge each time he fished. In his spare time, Hathcock also aided numerous police departments and military units (most famously, SEAL Team Six) in their courses for sniping. Hathcock tragically died at the age of fifty-six after suffering from complications resulting from multiple sclerosis. He was buried at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia.