Carlos Hathcock

[graygun]

Many here know of him. I watched this video yesterday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlhHBZDZMKY

 

[ptypegreen]

Read Charles Henderson's book Marine Sniper 3 times. Once you start it is nearly impossible to put down.

 

[bogus bill]

Looks like Sam Elliott.

 

[contender]

I have several books on Carlos. I HIGHLY recommend the one done by 2 of his friends called; "White Feather." More factual & very interesting.

 

[gramps]

I like him! A man who went out and did the job he was given, to the best of his ability. A good video.
gramps

 

[graygun]

I read an article many years ago (70s or 80s) in the WaPo.

 

[wwb]

Not at all to put him down, but the sniper with the most confirmed kills in Vietnam was an Army shooter.

Unconfirmed kills? Who knows.

https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/these-3-snipers-had-more-kills-than-carlos-hathcock-in-vietnam

 

[kmoore]

Carlos Hathcock AKA "White Feather" was an American hero, no doubt. Not really sure about his life after the war, but he did this. I read the letter.
About 1993 the dept. had it's 1st big SWAT call out where a sniper was needed. Story facts were something like this. BG traveled across US, killing some on the way. In Oregon he went to a RV park and killed again. He took over a couples MH which was a converted bus and held the woman hostage.
The sniper moved (crawled) in front of the bus, flipped over a table, using it as a gun rest and cover. Than when daylight came the BG walked up to the windshield looking though it and stood still for a minute. The shot was of course though the heavy windshield glass at only about 75 feet. The .308 win. with the 168 grain match bullet worked. Yeah the shot was not a wonder of long range precision, but the sniper did his job. Later it was found the BG had killed even more during his travel to Oregon.
Carlos sent that sniper a letter, not about a macho sniper pat on the back stuff. Just thanking him for doing his job type of letter.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

This is what HEROS DO

On September 16, 1969, Hathcock's career as a sniper came to a sudden end along Highway 1, north of LZ Baldy, when the LVT-5 he was riding on struck an anti-tank mine. Hathcock pulled seven Marines from the flame-engulfed vehicle, suffering severe burns (some third-degree) to his face, arms and legs, before someone pulled him away and got him in water because he did not realize he was burnt that badly. While recovering, Hathcock received the Purple Heart. Nearly 30 years later, he received a Silver Star for this action. All eight injured Marines were evacuated by helicopter to hospital ship USS Repose, then to a naval hospital in Tokyo, and ultimately to the burn center at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

I read the book, "White Feather" years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Quite a man.

 

[daveg.inkc]

The shot Carlos made on the sniper sent to take Carlos out. A .308 caliber thru enemy’s scope. Amazing read.

 

[GunnyGene]

His greatest accomplishment was not the # of kills, but convincing the USMC that dedicated sniper teams were a valuable tactical and strategic resource. The "Old Corps" leadership was dead set against it, largely because they couldn't figure out how to use such teams & individuals (in addition to the expense associated with training and non-standard equipment) and it went against Corps doctrine at the time. Carlos and a couple others changed all that.

 

[T.A. WORKMAN]

One of Chief AJ's Carlos Hathcock 10/22 rifles,,only about 1/3 have the White Feather painted on the receiver. The Chief certified the rifles which did and his wife is the one who painted them.
This one is #61.
Terry

 

[blackhawknj]

SSG Adelbert Waldron-Army is considered the Vietnam Conflict's highest scoring sniper, for a variety of reasons he is nowhere as well known.

 

[graygun]

No one knows his possibles and wounded.

 

[contender]

There are snipers with more confirmed kills. There are snipers (now) with longer distance kills. And, confirmed kills were often not easy to record.

But,, none of them have recorded factual events, combined, that can touch Carlos's record.

Mounting a scope on a MaDeuce 50 cal, and making a shot on a VC at 2500 yds,, not once but twice.
Shooting at a "glint," (Carlos's words) only to find he'd shot another sniper through their scope.
He & his spotter,, keeping a battalion of NVA soldiers pinned down, killing many over a few days,, until the weather allowed an artillery strike. No confirmed kills from that mission.

Crawling out in the open, to a home of an enemy general's house, shooting the general, then escaping, from a mission he figured he'd never make it back from. All this well behind "enemy lines."

And as Gunny pointed out,, his actions saving Marines from a burning track vehicle,, effectively ending his sniper career. And establishing the much needed sniper schools along with Col. Land.

To read the details,, get a copy of "White Feather."

BTW; Carlos was submitted for the Congressional Medal Of Honor. Paperwork got lost in a shuffle for years. His friends found out,, and went on a mission, trying to get him the award. Bill Clinton had it downgraded to the Silver Star. Story & pics in the same book.

 

[graygun]

There are snipers with more confirmed kills. There are snipers (now) with longer distance kills. And, confirmed kills were often not easy to record.

But,, none of them have recorded factual events, combined, that can touch Carlos's record.

Mounting a scope on a MaDeuce 50 cal, and making a shot on a VC at 2500 yds,, not once but twice.
Shooting at a "glint," (Carlos's words) only to find he'd shot another sniper through their scope.
He & his spotter,, keeping a battalion of NVA soldiers pinned down, killing many over a few days,, until the weather allowed an artillery strike. No confirmed kills from that mission.

Crawling out in the open, to a home of an enemy general's house, shooting the general, then escaping, from a mission he figured he'd never make it back from. All this well behind "enemy lines."

And as Gunny pointed out,, his actions saving Marines from a burning track vehicle,, effectively ending his sniper career. And establishing the much needed sniper schools along with Col. Land.

To read the details,, get a copy of "White Feather."

BTW; Carlos was submitted for the Congressional Medal Of Honor. Paperwork got lost in a shuffle for years. His friends found out,, and went on a mission, trying to get him the award. Bill Clinton had it downgraded to the Silver Star. Story & pics in the same book.

What he said...so many more elements.

So Mr. "I loathe the military" downgraded it! :roll: :evil:

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

Ty, I don't remember if I read this or Carlos talked about it himself in an interview: didn't he grow tramping thru the woods in your general neighborhood? Hunting a lot with his Dad if memory serves.

Rick C

 

[ptypegreen]

Read this in a short biography of Carlos Hathcock where he summed up his experience in Vietnam, I cannot find the primary source, it might have been Silent Warrior.
Hathcock once said that he survived in his work because of an ability to "get in the bubble", to put himself into a state of "utter, complete, absolute concentration", first with his equipment, then his environment, in which every breeze and every leaf meant something, and finally on his quarry. After the war, a friend showed Hathcock a passage written by Ernest Hemingway: "Certainly there is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and like it, never really care for anything else thereafter." He copied Hemingway's words on a piece of paper. "He got that right," Hathcock said, "It was the hunt, not the killing.”

 

[contender]

My faded memory of Carlos's youth seems to think it was in Virginia. But I do know that after he left the Corps, he did live in eastern NC. And yes,, his skills did come from tramping around in the woods.
ptypegreen,,, you are right. Carlos often spoke of his "bubble" and how he immersed himself in it.

 

[Mike J]

Unless I am mistaken in the linked interview they spoke of him growing up in Arkansas.

Graygun thanks for the link.

 

[contender]

Arkansas does sound more like it's correct. I DID say my memory was faded about that.

 

[bobski]

he use to come to our navy rifle matches at dam neck. knew him well. I use to have a gun show table next to him too.

 

[blackhawknj]

Charles Mawhinney is officially credited as the highest scoring Marine sniper, Adelbert Waldron as the highest overall.

 

[ptypegreen]

Charles Mawhinney is officially credited as the highest scoring Marine sniper, Adelbert Waldron as the highest overall.

Chuck Mawhinney was credited with 103 confirmed, Adelbert Waldron with 109 confirmed, and Chris Kyle with around 160, though the USN will not officially confirm that. It is worth noting that the criteria for "confirmed" has varied over time, country, and / or service. The Soviets have numerous WW2 snipers with hundreds of kills, but they wove propaganda in with history so often it is difficult to know the truth. A Finn, Simo Hayha, is credited with 505 to 542 in about 100 days during the Winter War with the USSR. He preferred iron sights over a scope, he thought that presented a lower profile if / when shot back at. His career ended when he was hit in the face with an explosive Soviet bullet. He died in 2002 at age 96.
None of this detracts from Carlos Hathcock.

 

[gunzo]

Yes, 93 confirmed. But all, any involved knew that number was much higher, 3 - 4 times higher. Hathcocks confirmed vs. his possibles were offset more than most of the others due to him going out alone so many times. No witnesses, while the others went out with spotters etc. & got more confirmations.
This, plus so many other things that have been mentioned is what got him put in the spotlight.

He was born & raised in Arkansas & was living in Virginia Beach, Va. at the time of his death.

 

[Acorn]

Pretty interesting article on Simo on Wiki
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simo_Häyhä

 

[Tensaw]

I have several books on Carlos. I HIGHLY recommend the one done by 2 of his friends called; "White Feather." More factual & very interesting.

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