Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock

Know as “The White Feather” a Sniper with 400 kills

Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock was the most lethal Marine Corps Sniper in US history. While in Vietnam he chalked up over 400 kills and was known to the VietCong as the White Feather because he always wore a white feather in his hat. Known for killing enemy snipers, the North Vietnamese put a $30,000 bounty on his head to anyone who would kill him. They never collected as Hathcock eliminated them all. Known also for the longest sniper kill with a machine gun, Hathcock put a scope on a M2 Browning .50 cal machine gun and eliminated a ranking VietCong officer at 2500 yards (over 1 mile). Hathcock went on to establish the Sniper school for the Marine Corps and was instrumental in training Seal Team 6, the Seals who eliminated Osama Bin Laden. Hathcock eventually contracted Multiple Sclerosis and died at age 56 in 1999. His most impressive feat that earned him the Silver Star happened when he was badly burned over 40% of his body by evacuating fellow soldiers from a burning APC that struck a mine. Another accomplishment was stalking a target for over 5 days without sleep by crawling slowly towards him, with enemy soldiers stepping on him while doing so.

It takes Valor to put yourself in danger for your fellow man and risk your life to save others.