Finally, at one o’clock that afternoon, across from the firing ranges that surrounded him through most of his career, Carlos Hathcock stood before the graduating snipers and their families, trembling—unsure of what to do or say. But despite his nervousness, fatigue, and muscular pain he was extremely happy. He paused and looked at each man’s face, and with an emotionally choked voice, he opened his mouth and spoke not from cards or a memorized speech, but from his heart.
After a short, but emotionally charged speech, Hathcock swallowed an enormous lump in his throat and through cloudy eyes he looked across the room filled with Marines and Army Rangers and Navy Seals who sat in awe of this great sniper, a sniper who until today had not seemed human but a legend used by their instructors as the example of what one man can do. And as Hathcock cleared his voice and fought back the knotted feelings that now welled forth, these men and their families and Marines who were friends of his and came to see the event all sat hushed and in awe.
“I love you all,” Hathcock said as his voice cracked with emotion.
The men and organization that he loved had not forgotten him. Today they honored him at the school that he helped create and where much of his soul still remained.
THE SMALL BOAT ROCKED WITH THE WAVES THAT BROKE ACROSS THE shallows offshore from Virginia Beach. Hathcock had helped scatter the “shark chum”—mackerel and tuna heads and chicken blood. Now he sat with a thick fishing rod staked in a steel fixture and waited for its gigantic reel to sing. He had become an old hand at this now, after making several trips out to hunt these great and dangerous fish.
His face no longer looked ashen and pale; it was dark and beading a light coat of sweat. He was after another big and deadly shark that he would tail-rope alongside the boat, like The Old Man and the Sea. Nearly like being a sniper again.
Hathcock had learned the sport quickly and demonstrated his rapidly improving skills by landing a 277-pound lemon shark on one of his first outings—a shark tournament. He won second place with that fish he caught in four feet of water.
“You look good,” Steve said as he and Carlos sat rocking and bobbing in the red and silver hunting boat they named “Shark Buster.”
“I feel good,” Carlos said, tilting his eyes upward.
“I told you. I would either kill you or make you well,” McCarver said.
“I am getting better,” Hathcock said as he sat in the rocking and bobbing craft, his bush hat tilted back, and a soft breeze rustling the white feather tucked in his hatband. As he gazed at the sea-filled horizon, listening for the line to spool off the reel and sing to him, a broad smile beamed across his suntanned face. He felt alive again. Again in the arena.
Bibliography
Books
Bartlett, Tom (editor). Ambassadors in Green. Washington, D.C.: Leatherneck Association Inc., 1971.
Lippard, Karl C. (Sergeant USMC). The Warriors: The United States Marines. Lancaster, Texas: Vietnam Marine Publications, 1983.
The Tactics Group. Platoon Commander’s Tactical Guide. The Basic School, Marine Corps Development and Education Command, Quantico, Virginia: U.S. Marine Corps. 1983.
U.S. Army. Scouting, Patrolling and Sniping [FM 21–75]. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Government Printing Office, 1944.
U.S. Marine Corps. Sniping [FMFM 1–3B]. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1969.
U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Marine Corps Essential Subjects. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Government Printing Office, 1983.
Von Schell, Adolf (Captain, German Army Staff Corps). Battle Leadership. Columbus, Georgia: U.S. Army, The Benning Herald, Fort Benning, Georgia, 1933.
Interviews
Hathcock, Carlos Norman II. Personal interview (5 hours taped), Aug. 2–3, 1984, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Hathcock, Carlos Norman II. Telephone interviews: Sept. 23, 1984; Oct. 7, 18, 20, 1984; Nov. 14, 28, 1984; Dec. 5, 7, 28, 1984; Feb. 18, 1985; April 22, 1985; May 1, 23, 1985, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Hathcock, Carlos Norman II. Personal interview (4.5 hours taped), Jan. 13, 1985, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Hathcock, Josephine Bryan. Personal interview (4 hours taped), Aug. 2–3, 1984, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Holden, David C. Taped statement (1 hour taped), Dec. 15, 1984, Chicago, Illinois.
Land, Edward James, Sr. Personal interview (3 hours taped), Nov. 27, 1984, Triangle, Virginia.
McAbee, Ronald H. (Master Gunnery Sergeant USMC). Personal interview (4 hours taped), July 12, 1985, Quantico, Virginia.
Wight, D.E. (Major USMC) and Hathcock, Carlos Norman II (Sergeant USMC). USMC Oral History Interview (1.5 hours taped), Feb. 15, 1967, Hill 55, Da Nang TAOR, Vietnam.
Willis, David J. (Lieutenant Colonel USMC). Personal interview (3 hours taped), July 19, 1984, Quantico, Virginia.
Willis, David J. (Lieutenant Colonel USMC). Personal interview (3 hours taped), May 10, 1985, Quantico, Virginia.
Magazines
American Rifleman, The (National Rifle Association). “Snipers—Specialists in Warfare,” by Frank G. McGuire. Washington, D.C., July 1967.
Amphibious Warfare Review. “Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II Award,” Marine Corps League, Washington, D.C., November 1984.
Gun World. “One Course Open: Slay!” by Jack Lewis. San Juan Capistrano, California, June 1967.
Time magazine. “Vietnam: Ten Years Later,” New York, April 1985.
U.S. News and World Report. “Vietnam Letters: Echoes from a War Long Gone,” by five American servicemen. Vietnam, November 1984.
Newspapers
Bonnett, Alice. “Hathcock Will Have a Family Christmas.” San Antonio, Texas: San Antonio Express, November 13, 1969.
Childs, Jack (Gunnery Sergeant USMC). “VC Defector Unveils Elite Sniper Company.” Da Nang, Vietnam: Sea Tiger, July 19, 1966.
Dahl, Carolyn (Lance Corporal USMC). “Making Long Shots Count.” Quantico, Virginia: The Quantico Sentry, April 1, 1977.
“Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock Retires.” Quantico, Virginia: The Quantico Sentry, April 23, 1979.
Hardie, Jim. “They Learn Cong Way of Killing.” Miami, Florida: Miami News, December 6, 1965.
LaBell, Dan (Corporal USMC). “3D Mardiv Develops Counter-sniper Plan.” Vietnam: Sea Tiger, February 1, 1967.
Martin, Bruce A. (Sergeant USMC). “4th Marines Snipe at 1,000 Yard Range.” Hue/Phu Bai, Vietnam: Sea Tiger, July 26, 1966.
Martin, Bruce A. (Sergeant USMC). “Snipers Hit Targets 13 out of 28 Shots.” Phu Bai, Vietnam: Sea Tiger, September 21, 1966.
Martinez, David (Sergeant USMC). “Marine Snipers Prove Their Combat Value.” Phu Bai, Vietnam: Sea Tiger, May 31, 1968.
Richert, Dave (1st Lieutenant USMC). “Marine Snipers: Dedicated, Deadly.” Dong Ha, Vietnam: Sea Tiger, January 17, 1969.
Selby, G.F. (Staff Sergeant USMC). “Sniper Platoon Kills 117 in First Five Months.” Da Nang, Vietnam: Sea Tiger, July 28, 1967.
“Scout-Sniper.” Raleigh, North Carolina: Raleigh News and Observer, February 11, 1967.
Stokey, M. II (Lance Corporal USMC). “$8 Bounty Offered for Marine Sniper.” Vietnam: Sea Tiger, May 12, 1967.
Taylor, Ira L. (Sergeant USMC). “Snipers Kill 60 Since January: Task Force X-Ray.” Chu Lai, Vietnam: Sea Tiger, May 5, 1967.
Weigh, W.H. (Sergeant USMC). “Marine Snipers Pick Off VC.” Vietnam: The Observer, April 16, 1966.
Wilson, G.E. (Master Sergeant USMC). “1st Division Scout-Snipers Killing Two VC a Day.” Da Nang, Vietnam: Sea Tiger, February 1, 1967.
Official U.S. Marine Corps Records
MARINE COMMAND CHRONOLOGIES: Organizational data, narrative summary, sequential listing of significant events, supporting documents that include subordinate unit chronologies, messages, situation reports, after-action reports, frag orders, and operation orders.
May 25, 1966—1ST MARINE DIVISION COMMAND CHRONOLOGY, 1–30 APRIL 1966. Lewis J. Fields, Major General USMC, Commanding General. Chu Lai TAOR, Vietnam.
June 12, 196
6—1ST MARINE DIVISION COMMAND CHRONOLOGY, 1–31 May 1966. Lewis J. Fields, Major General USMC, Commanding General. Chu Lai TAOR, Vietnam.
July 10, 1966—1ST MARINE DIVISION COMMAND CHRONOLOGY, 1–30 JUNE 1966. Lewis J. Fields, Major General USMC, Commanding General. Chu Lai TAOR, Vietnam.
August 13, 1966—1ST MARINE DIVISION COMMAND CHRONOLOGY, 1–31 JULY 1966. Lewis J. Fields, Major General USMC, Commanding General. Chu Lai TAOR, Vietnam.
September 12, 1966—1ST MARINE DIVISION COMMAND CHRONOLOGY, 1–31 AUGUST 1966. Lewis J. Fields, Major General USMC, Commanding General. Chu Lai TAOR, Vietnam.
October 9, 1966—1ST MARINE DIVISION COMMAND CHRONOLOGY, 1–30 SEPTEMBER 1966. Herman Nickerson, Jr., Major General USMC, Commanding General. Chu Lai TAOR, Vietnam.
December 7, 1966—1ST MARINE DIVISION COMMAND CHRONOLOGY, 1–30 OCTOBER 1966. Herman Nickerson, Jr., Major General USMC, Commanding General. Da Nang TAOR, Vietnam.
January 2, 1967—1ST MARINE DIVISION COMMAND CHRONOLOGY, 1–30 NOVEMBER 1966. Herman Nickerson, Jr., Major General USMC, Commanding General. Da Nang TAOR, Vietnam.
January 30, 1967—1ST MARINE DIVISION COMMAND CHRONOLOGY, 1–31 DECEMBER 1966. Herman Nickerson, Jr., Major General USMC, Commanding General. Da Nang TAOR, Vietnam.
February 16, 1967—1ST MARINE DIVISION COMMAND CHRONOLOGY, 1–31 JANUARY 1967. Herman Nickerson, Jr., Major General USMC, Commanding General. Da Nang TAOR, Vietnam.
April 4, 1967—1ST MARINE DIVISION COMMAND CHRONOLOGY, 1–28 FEBRUARY 1967. Herman Nickerson, Jr., Major General USMC, Commanding General. Da Nang TAOR, Vietnam.
May 7, 1967—1ST MARINE DIVISION COMMAND CHRONOLOGY, 1–31 MARCH 1967. Herman Nickerson, Jr., Major General USMC, Commanding General. Da Nang TAOR, Vietnam.
June 6, 1967—1ST MARINE DIVISION COMMAND CHRONOLOGY, 1–30 APRIL 1967. Herman Nickerson, Jr., Major General USMC, Commanding General. Da Nang TAOR, Vietnam.
May 25, 1969—7TH MARINE REGIMENT COMMAND CHRONOLOGY, 1–30 APRIL 1969. R.L. Nichols, Colonel USMC, Commanding Officer, Hill 55, Da Nang TAOR, Vietnam: includes Operation Order 1–69, “Operation Oklahoma Hills.”
June 23, 1969—7TH MARINE REGIMENT COMMAND CHRONOLOGY, 1–31 MAY 1969. R.L. Nichols, Colonel USMC, Commanding Officer, Hill 55, Da Nang TAOR, Vietnam.
July 18, 1969—7TH MARINE REGIMENT COMMAND CHRONOLOGY, 1–30 JUNE 1969. Gildo S. Codispoti, Colonel USMC, Commanding Officer, Hill 55, Da Nang TAOR, Vietnam.
August 17, 1969—7TH MARINE REGIMENT COMMAND CHRONOLOGY, 1–31 JULY 1969. Gildo S. Codispoti, Colonel USMC, Commanding Officer, Hill 55, Da Nang TAOR, Vietnam.
September 13, 1969—7TH MARINE REGIMENT COMMAND CHRONOLOGY, 1–31 AUGUST 1969. Gildo S. Codispoti, Colonel USMC, Commanding Officer, LZ Baldy, Da Nang TAOR, Vietnam. October 23, 1969—7TH MARINE REGIMENT COMMAND CHRONOLOGY, 1–30 SEPTEMBER 1969. Gildo S. Codispoti, Colonel USMC, Commanding Officer, LZ Baldy, Da Nang TAOR, Vietnam.
November 12, 1940—“Equipping the American Sniper,” George O. Van Orden and Calvin A. Lloyd. Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia: Detailed report recommending equipment for the Marine sniper prior to World War II (including Model 70 Winchester rifle, like that which Hathcock used in 1966–67 in Vietnam).
March 12, 1968—NAVY CROSS CITATION. Posthumous award of Navy Cross to Corporal John Roland Burke, USMC, Killed in Action June 6, 1967, at Khe Sanh, Vietnam, while a member of Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment. Presented by Mr. Paul R. Ignatuis, Secretary of the Navy.
April 17, 1979—CARLOS N. HATHCOCK II SERVICE RECORD BOOK: All of Carlos Hathcock’s official military records from May 20, 1959, through April 17, 1979.
April 17, 1979—CARLOS N. HATHCOCK II OFFICIAL MEDICAL RECORD: Complete history of Carlos Hathcock from May 20, 1959, through April 17, 1979 (includes all recommendations, findings, and data from all medical boards held).
June 21, 1985—NATIONAL POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY. Official U.S. Marine Corps Message from Commandant of the Marine Corps to ALMAR [All Marine Corps], Washington, D.C.: Contains all specific numbers of servicemen who served in Vietnam; numbers of those wounded, killed, or listed as Missing in Action; numbers of those taken prisoner; breakdown of statistics state by state; breakdown of all numbers year by year; and milestone dates and significant events through the span of the war.
July 20, 1985—INTERSERVICE RIFLE MATCH RECORDS. U.S. Marine Corps Marksmanship Training Unit, Quantico, Virginia: All-time record scores of all legs of the Interservice Rifle Matches.
Scholarly Papers and Other Documents
Technical Intelligence Bulletin. “The Soviet M1891/30 7.62 × 54MM Mosin-Nagant Sniper Rifle.” 11th Military Intelligence Battalion, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland: Detailed technical description of the Mosin-Nagant Sniper Rifle. February 17, 1977.
Joiner, Charles A. “Vietnam.” A cultural, historical, and economic account of Vietnam from ancient times through the various conflicts, including the Vietnam War that involved the United States between 1964 and 1973, and into the current communist system of government. New York: McMillan Educational Corporation, 1976.
Sharkey, John. “Vietnam War.” A scholarly record of the Vietnam War from the beginnings during the Viet Minh rebellion of the early 1950s through the ouster of Diem and on through until the end of the war in 1975. New York: McMillan Educational Corporation, 1976.
*A sniper’s partner. He is the half of the sniper team who seeks out targets by use of a spotting telescope or powerful binoculars. Once locating a target he will direct the sniper’s fire to it, and call his shots as well as recommend sight adjustments. The spotter also provides cover and security fire for the sniper, and takes turns manning the sniper rifle to allow one team member to rest while the other stands watch.
*North Vietnamese Army pack. It had a large cargo compartment and many pouches and pockets, ideal for snipers.
*A slang word describing lower ranked enlisted Marines. Derived from “Snuffie Smiths,” meaning little guys.
*A pogey is slang for a Marine, such as an administrative clerk or typist, who works in an office. Marines would convince pogeys to do special administrative chores by offering them candy and soda pop, which is appropriately called, “pogey bait.”
*A fire support base is a bivouac established to support operations in extended or remote locations, usually away from the main body of the regiment.
*A march that is followed without cadence—usually out of step. Used for movement on long treks through rough terrain.
*High-velocity explosive
*An antipersonnel mine shaped in a curved rectangle filled with heavy explosive and ball bearings (grape shot). Each ball is approximately 1/4-inch in diameter. It can be set off by trip wire or by a remote control on command. The curved shape enables the user to direct the blast (and thousands of shot) in a specific direction or killing zone. It is ideal for ambush or perimeter defense.
*A small, flatbed motor-driven, four-wheel-drive vehicle with a driver-seat and steering control suspended over the forward edge of the cart. It is a light-duty utility vehicle, but also served as a mobile platform for the 106mm recoilless rifle, which was mounted on the rear of the vehicle when used in that capacity.
*Brigadier General W.A. Stiles, USMC, Commanding General, Task Force X Ray.
*Landing Zone. A cleared area where a helicopter can land. Smaller than a Landing Site, which is large enough for several helicopters to land.
*The M-60 machine gun is an air-cooled, belt-fed, gas-operated automatic weapon. It fires the 7.62mm (.30-caliber) ball, tracer, armor piercing, and armor piercing incendiary cartridges (standard service ammunition for field use consists of ball and tracer cartridges in a 4 to 1 ratio). It is able to provide a heavy, controlled volume of accurate, long-range fire that is beyond the capabilities of standard individual small arms. The weapon fires from the open-bolt position and is fed by a disintegrating belt of metal links. The gas from firing one round provides the energy for firing the next; thus, the gun functions automatic
ally, as long as it is supplied with ammunition and the trigger is held to the rear. The weapon is 43.5 inches long and weighs 23.2 pounds. It has a maximum range of 3,725 meters and a maximum effective range of 1,100 meters. It effectively extends grazing fire (knee high) up to 700 meters. The machine gun has a 100-round-per-minute sustained rate of fire (6–8 round bursts), a 200-rounds-per-minute rapid rate of fire (10–12 round bursts) and a cyclic rate of fire of from 550 to 600 rounds per minute.
*Sea Tiger was a weekly newspaper published by the Informational Services Office of the III Marine Amphibious Force, Vietnam.
*An acronym formed from Marine Logistics, used to describe daily resupply/administrative support flights.
*The Soviet-built, 3.5-power PU and 4-power PE scopes commonly used on the M1891/30 Mosin-Nagant sniper rifle used a pointed aiming post rather than a crosshair reticle.
*The highest point on a hill that allows maximum visibility and fire coverage while at the same time offering maximum cover and concealment from the enemy. Usually below the topographical crest.
*A metal letter V worn on the medal’s ribbon. It is awarded with some medals to denote that they were awarded for valor in combat rather than for meritorious action or service.
*Slang term used to describe Marine officers who were commissioned from the enlisted ranks.
*Marine jargon meaning to go or to leave. Until early 1970s, Marines were required to sign out on liberty in the duty NCOs log book as they picked up their liberty cards. From that came the term “Book Out,” which was shortened to “Book.”
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