Violent But True Bed Time Stories: Episode 9

Ask anyone about snipers in the United States Marine Corps and the name Carlos Hathcock will surely come up. Carlos is synonymous with the Marine Corps scout/sniper program. The famed sniper has some pretty crazy accomplishments to his name which is why he stands as one of the greatest ever.

During Vietnam, Carlos Hathcock liked killing the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong so much that a thirty-thousand dollar bounty was put on his head. Carlos was in the business of taking lives like the grim reaper himself, except instead of wearing all black, he wore a white feather in his bush hat. Thus earning himself the nickname "White Feather." Scores of enemy soldiers were dispatched to kill Carlos, but none of them succeeded. One time an entire platoon of enemy snipers was sent to dispatch Carlos. Because Marines love each other and look out for one another, they all put white feathers in their bush hats as well. This confused the enemy and they were unsuccessful in claiming the famed "White Feather." There is also the tale of Carlos shooting an enemy through his own optic. Performing that shot is insanely unlikely, so you know Carlos was the man.

Carlos Hathcock was also famous for how patient he was. One time Carlos was on a mission to kill an NVA general. It took him four days and three nights to crawl almost one mile on his stomach. He had to keep perfectly still else the enemy would spot him and end his day. There was even an incident on this trek where Carlos was almost bitten by a bamboo viper (that doesn't sound like fun). However, Carlos made it to his position and waited for the right time. When the time came, he unleashed one single bullet that blew the officer's heart out through his spine.

A short time later, Carlos was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, which forced him out of the Marine Corps just 55 days short of retirement (big green weenie strikes again). That's ok though, to combat his depression he took up shark fishing. Semper Fidelis Carlos Hathcock.