Carlos Hathcock, a U.S. Marine Corps sniper, is widely regarded as one of the greatest snipers in history, ranking among the likes of Vasily Zaytsev, Lyudmila Pavlichenko, and Simo Häyhä. During the Vietnam War, Hathcock’s remarkable skill resulted in nearly 100 confirmed kills, though many more are suspected but remain unverified. His precision and reputation became so formidable that the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) took the extraordinary step of deploying their top sniper, nicknamed “Cobra,” specifically to eliminate him.
Carlos Hathcock served valiantly with the US Marine Corps
Carlos Hathcock was born in 1942 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Growing up, his family relied on hunting for food, which helped him become skilled with firearms at a young age. He had always dreamed of joining the U.S. Marine Corps, and he made that dream a reality at 17.
In 1966, Hathcock was sent to Vietnam as a military policeman. His exceptional shooting skills stood out to his commanders, and they soon transferred him to Capt. Edward James Land’s sniper platoon—a role he was excited to take on.
Taunting enemy soldiers with a white feather
Hathcock quickly gained a fearsome reputation, taking down numerous targets. He became known for wearing a white feather in his hat during missions, a bold taunt to enemy soldiers that earned him the infamous nickname “White Feather” among the North Vietnamese.
Due to his lethal effectiveness, the North Vietnamese Army placed a $30,000 bounty on his head, the highest of the war. Many snipers tried to claim the reward, but, as Marty Robbins’ song “Big Iron” says, “Many men had tried to take him and that many men were dead.”
Recounting his encounter with ‘the Apache woman’
Carlos Hathcock’s reputation is partly built on the vivid details he shared about his missions. One of his most harrowing stories involved “the Apache woman,” a female sniper who had been operating in the Vietnamese jungles long before Hathcock arrived, known for torturing captured Marines near their bases.
While on patrol, Hathcock came across a group of Viet Cong fighters. At first, everything seemed routine, but when one of them squatted to urinate, he recognized her as the Apache woman and swiftly took her down.
Carlos Hathcock vs. ‘Cobra’
One of Carlos Hathcock’s most famous stories from the Vietnam War revolves around a tense standoff with “Cobra,” a highly skilled North Vietnamese sniper tasked with killing him. Aware of the danger Cobra posed, Hathcock prepared for a life-or-death encounter, patiently waiting for the right moment to strike. While moving through the dense Vietnamese jungle, Hathcock tripped over a fallen tree—just as Cobra fired. The shot missed by mere inches, hitting Hathcock’s spotter’s canteen instead.
Following standard sniper tactics, Cobra quickly changed his position, and both snipers began to relocate. However, Cobra made a critical mistake—he set up with the sun behind him, exposing his location. Hathcock noticed the error, took careful aim, and shot Cobra before he had a chance to fire again.
How many enemy soldiers did Carlos Hathcock dispatch?
Carlos Hathcock concluded his Vietnam service with 93 confirmed kills, setting a world record for the longest sniper shot, which stood unbeaten for 35 years. Given the methods used to confirm kills during the war, his actual total is likely much higher, with Hathcock himself estimating that he had between 300 and 400 kills. His unmatched skill and precision made him a legend in sniper history.
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Carlos Hathcock is remembered as a heroic Marine Corps sniper who made a significant impact on the Vietnam War. He passed away on February 22, 1999, at the age of 56.