The number 93 reflects his confirmed kills, but his actual total is believed to be well over 100. Hathcock describes his most famous engagementsincluding the heralded fiveday standoff with a company of vietcong. The insane vietnam war adventures of legendary sniper. Carlos hathcock biography facts, childhood, family life of. These marines were aware of the impact hathcock s death would have and took it upon themselves to make themselves targets in order to confuse the counter snipers.
The book details carlos hathcocks multiple tours of vietnam and his. Til about carlos hathcock, the exmarine sniper who. In addition to writing his own books and for various publications, he runs his familys cattle enterprise in peyton, colorado. Craig harrison famous snipers in history pictures cbs news. He was honest, tactful, considerate, courageous, quietly proud and determined in all things and all places from the range to the. The book white feather is written by brothers roy and norm chandler, who publish military shooting publications through iron brigade publishing, a jacksonville, north carolina based corporation. When carlos hathcock talks about sniping, its not theory, its experience. Fpses dont have snipers, they have designated marksmen. His parents separated so he grew up with his grandmother in geyer springs, pulaski county. Carlos hathcock the best marine sniper home facebook. Carlos hathcock polished his skills until he couldnt get it wrong. Recently we remembered the day that navy seal chris kyle, the american sniper, was killed. Even from an early age, he was interested in firearms.
Legendary sniper carlos norman hathcock ii shot an enemy. No marine sniper was more effective than hathcock at killing north vietnamese and viet cong forces. Jul, 2010 marine sniper by charles henderson narrates the spine tingling feats of carlos hathcock. Carlos hathcock set the bar for us marine snipers during the vietnam war with 93 confirmed kills.
A marines marine and basic founder of the marine sniper unit. This makes carlos hathcock, the most extraordinary sniper in the vietnam war, a legendary figure in his own right. The explosive true story of sergeant carlos hathcock, a legendary marine sniper in the vietnam war. Utilizing materials omitted from his original book on carlos hathcock, marine sniper, charles henderson fills in some very interesting gaps in this earlier book. Hathcock attempted to save him, but he was too late. The story of legendary sniper carlos hathcock modern. He taught himself to shoot as a boy, just like alvin york and audie murphy before him. He was a united states marine corps sniper with a record of 93 confirmed kills in vietnam. For those interested in long distance shooting and the shooting sports in general. Did carlos hathcock use a pre 1964 model 70 3006 sniper. According to the book marine sniper, written by retired marine chief warrant officer charles henderson, during hathcocks service as a sniper, he took down many targets with incredible precision and an unrelenting, cool calculation.
And each time, he emerged from the jungle having done his duty. He is quoted as saying he liked the hunt, but not the killing. Long before chris kyle penned american sniper, carlos hathcock was already a legend. Carlos hathcock was born on may 20 th, 1942, in the town of north little rock, located in arkansas. Anyway, it is amazing to think what hatchcock and the lads were able to. He is the most accomplished sniper of the vietnam war. He gets phone calls and letters from people he has never met, people who have read. Hathcocks record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the u. Carlos hathcock, the subject of the biography, was born in 1942 and died in 1999. The carlos hathcock award is presented annually to the marine who does the most to promote marksmanship.
The hathcock award national defense industrial association. Just in the middle of reading the biography of carlos hathcock by charles henderson marine sniper. Hathcock, ii, usmc, a career marine who dedicated his life to the service of this country in both the military and law enforcement communities. The hathcock award is named in honor of gunnery sergeant carlos n. Beyond combat, hathcock was a championship shooter and a respected instructor in marksmanship and sniper skills. After a platoon of trained vietnamese snipers was sent to hunt down white feather, many marines in the same area donned white feathers to deceive the enemy. He was the only child of carlos and agnes hathcock. With a record of 93 confirmed kills but an estimated body count of between 300 400 enemy soldiers, hathcock terrorized the. In this episode of the we are the mighty podcast we talk about his sniper duels, that time he crawled two miles to kill a vietnamese general, and more.
Carlos hathcock, usmc scout sniper first printing by roy f. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Carlos hathcock is a marine corps legend and one of the most lethal snipers in history. Scout sniper more than marine rifleman marine corps. Carlos hathcock famous snipers in history pictures cbs news. Marine his whole life and enlisted in 1959 at just 17 years old. Marine corps sniper quotes famous quotes by carlos hathcock abraham lincoln quotes albert einstein quotes bill gates quotes bob marley quotes bruce lee quotes buddha quotes confucius quotes john f. Hathcock is the subject of a number of books including.
When it was loaned to me, i read it from cover to cover without stopping. He was the only child of agnes and carlos hathcock. Hathcock was an excellent sharpshooter by then, winning the wimbledon cup shooting championship in 1965, the year before he would deploy to vietnam and change the face of american warfare forever. Carlos hathcock was born on may 20, 1942, in north little rock, arkansas. His example paved the path and shown the light for an endless number of fellow snipers which continue to follow in his path to this day. Based on the life and times of sergeant carlos hathcock an american soldier who apparently eventually became the posterboy of the marine sniper program the book seemed an interesting prospect at first. Usmc archives carlos hathcock with his brother and grandmothers. He stalked the viet cong behind enemy lineson their own ground. There is also a sniper range named for hathcock at camp lejeune, north carolina. In the book, ward credited mawhinney with 101 confirmed kills. The book covers hathcocks legendary career as a sniper.
This is a discussion on gunny carlos hathcock within the marines forums, part of the armed services category. He was a united states marine corps sniper with a service record of 93 confirmed kills and hundreds of probable kills during the vietnam war. A marine sniper in vietnam who crawled over 1500 yards to kill a highranking nva officer. A vietnam war sniper crawled for 3 days across 2000m of. He set out to kill apache before she could kill any more marines. This is a fabulous companion book that gives the backstory of the famous sniper sniper instructor, who stood proudly among the best of fine tigers, these war heroes called snipers. You cant get into this sniper unit if you havent read it, said sergeant barrett, who has been a marine sniper for six years. According to marine sniper, hathcock made such a shot, dispatching a viet cong sniper sent to target him specifically. He also said that he was almost stepped on while camouflaged in a meadow. Carlos hathcock, the marine sniper whose exploits can. As far as carlos hathcock an amazing man with challenges off the battlefield that rivaled those on it.
At 700 yards in, one of them stepped off the trail and hathcock took what he calls the best shot he ever made. The book certainly has me drawn in, am up to the chapter about the apache, the man hating female sniper very frightening. May 04, 2018 usmc archives carlos hathcock with his brother and grandmothers. Also according to that book, he ambushed a female enemy interrogator, a north vietnamese general and a vc platoon that he took down, a man at a time, over a 24hour engagement. But i did get to hear a lot about him in carlos hathcocks books marine sniper and silent warrior.
Kennedy quotes john lennon quotes mahatma gandhi quotes. Gysgt carlos hathcock the american sniper of the vietnam. Carlos hathcock, the marine sniper whose exploits can hardly. Craig harrison used the l115a3 long range rifle, seen here, in november 2009 to strike two taliban machine gunners in helmand province, afghanistan. Land said both rifles, when used by marine corps snipers, were glassbedded and given additional tuning by armorers. Charles hendersons marine sniper is a dramatized account of the life of a vietnam war sniper. He is the author of the critically acclaimed military classics marine sniper and silent warrior, which first chronicled the exploits of usmc sniper carlos hathcock. In chris own words, carlos hathcock was the greatest american sniper. The book white feather is written by brothers roy and norm chandler, who publish military shooting publications through iron brigade publishing, a jacksonville. See more ideas about usmc, vietnam war and marine corps. A vietnam war sniper crawled for 3 days across 2000m of open. Carlos hathcock famous snipers in history pictures. Carlos hathcock was a genuine vietnam war hero and an undisputed legend in the u.
Carlos hathcock biography facts, childhood, family life. The hathcock award is presented to recognize an individual who, in the opinion of the small arms committee executive board, has made significant contributions in operational employment and tactics of small arms weapons systems which have impacted the readiness and capabilities of the u. The insane vietnam war adventures of legendary sniper carlos. I believe the authors purpose on why he wrote this book is because he wanted to tell the story of one of the best marine snipers to ever live and to let. Read them and then you will know more about him, he is my true idol. The book is well written and outlines hathcocks shooting career and then his subsequent deployment to vietnam where he carries out the most audacious sniper missions to become not only a legendary sniper but a legendary marine. The story apparently got its start in a 1994 book titled kill zone by a conspiracy theorist named craig roberts, who claimed to be a marine sniper and a buddy of hathcocks.
The only book snipers all seem familiar with other than the bible is marine sniper. He deployed in 1966 as a military policeman, but immediately volunteered for combat and was soon transferred to the 1st marine division sniper platoon, stationed at hill 55, south of da nang. It took 4 days to complete because he could move only inches. With a record of 93 confirmed kills but an estimated body count of between 300 400 enemy soldiers, hathcock terrorized the north vietnamese army nva and the viet cong. His incredible truelife war stories are the stuff hollywood movies are made of. Charles henderson is a veteran of more than twentythree years in the united states marine corps, with a distinguished career spanning from vietnam to the gulf war, after which he retired as a chief warrant officer. Gysgt carlos hathcock the american sniper of the vietnam war.
But there was another sniper that was also legendary, one from the marine corps. See more ideas about usmc, vietnam war and vietnam. The cover art is just as well done as the book and the detailing is extraordinary. As marine sniper, a best seller for nine years relayed his heroism in vietnam, white feather covers carlos entire career and the other details not. Hathcock was an excellent sharpshooter by then, winning the wimbledon cup shooting championship in 1965, the year. Marine sniper by charles henderson narrates the spine tingling feats of carlos hathcock. Mar 07, 2006 the carlos hathcock award is presented annually to the marine who does the most to promote marksmanship. Snipers have been the focus of envy and the personification of legends in the marine corps since men like carlos hathcock and chuck mawhinney looked down their scopes in the jungles of vietnam. Carlos hathcock was born on may 20, 1942 and died of complications of multiple sclerosis on february 23, 1999.
These 3 snipers had more kills than carlos hathcock in. Virginia beachs legendary sniper carlos hathcock the virginian. But there has only been one sergeant carlos hathcock. At about the same time, the marine corps sent land to vietnam to organize and train snipers.
Carlos hathcock ii had 93 confirmed kills during the vietnam war. 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. In the book, the story of carlos hathcock, he states he was hunting a vietnam sniper who was hunting him. The book is well written and outlines hathcocks shooting career and then his subsequent deployment to vietnam where he carries out the most audacious sniper. Official kills had to be witnessed by an accompanying officer as well as the spotter. The recent exploits of chris kyle, the retired navy seal who now has the most confirmed sniper kills in u. Gunnery sergeant carlos hathcock was a famous us marine sniper, who claimed to have killed over 300 enemy personnel during the vietnam war, of which 93 kills have been officially confirmed. One day during a forward observation mission, hathcock and his spotter encountered a newly. Josephine joe hathcock carlos hathcocks wife requested that. Til about carlos hathcock, the exmarine sniper who shot an enemy sniper through the enemys own scope, hitting him in the eye and killing him. In the book marine sniper 93 confirmed kills by charles henderson the author of silent warrior is an explosive true story on how staff sergeant hathcock became americas deadliest sniper. His parents were separated, so he was raised by his grandmother on geyer springs.
A book about hathcock titled marine sniper was published in september. His first book was critically acclaimed military classic marine sniper, which first chronicled the exploits of u. Hathcock is a legend and his discipline, dedication, strength and integrity is a rare thing today. In 1967, hathcock set a record for the longest combat kill with an browning m2. Carlos hathcock was the deadliest sniper in usmc history. I can trace down no other sources for it, no other details and while the shots taken at dealey plaza might have been troublesome for oswald, i find it very hard to. Snipers are controversial figures and the vietnam war is a controversial war.