Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Norman Hathcock

Carlos "White Feather" Hathcock (1942-1999) was a USMC Gunnery Sergeant and the greatest sniper during the Vietnam War and 4th most American sniper overall. He was credited with 93 confirmed kills using both a Winchester Model 70 .30-06 caliber rifle and also a .50-caliber M2 Browning Machine Gun with Unertl scope. Among his confirmed kills was a North Vietnamese General at a range of 900 yards.


Carlos Hathcock

Born in Little Rock, he signed for the Corps at 17 and excelled at marksmanship during recruit training at Camp Pendleton. In Vietnam, he operated primarily from Hill 55 about 35 miles southwest of Da Nang. He was nicknamed Long Trang or White Feather by the Viet Cong for the feather he kept in the band of his boonie hat. The enemy placed a $30,000 bounty on his head.

His sniper career was abruptly ended in 1969, when the amphibious tractor in which he was riding was ambushed and hit a 500-pound box mine. Hathcock pulled seven Marines off the flame-engulfed vehicle before jumping to safety. He was burned over 40% of his body and evacuated stateside.

Hathcock helped to establish the Marine Corps scout and sniper school at Quantico, VA. In 1975, he received news that he was suffering from multiple sclerosis, a slow and debilitating disease. He was retired just short of completion of 20 years in the Corps. He finally succumbed to the effects of his disease in 1999.

Hathcock's awards included: the Silver Star, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy/USMC Achievement Medal, Marine Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, South Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and the South Vietnam Campaign Medal.


Silver Star, USN Commendation Medal, Achievement Medal, and USMC Good Conduct Medal

National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, SVN Gallantry Cross, and SVN Campaign Medal


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