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One of the most recognized names in military sniping during the Vietnam conflict was Marine Corps marksman Carlos Hathcock. During his two tours, he was credited with 93 confirmed kills. The rifle he relied on for very precise long range shot placement was a Model 70 Winchester, of .30-06 caliber, topped with an 8x Unertl scope. The accompanying USMC photo shows Hathcock in Vietnam, sighting in on a distant target.
IMO, it seems to be a posed PR pic, probably mandated by the brass - I'm pretty sure he didn't like the limelight very much.
He was long out of 'Nam when I met him casually/locally (my FFL was a friend of his) - but he certainly made a personal impression on me. (we were about the same age)
I had first heard of him a few years after I separated from the service in the mid-60's, but the reporting then was sketchy/biased, since the Vietnam War wasn't poplar at the time (to say the least).
War coverage & "imbeding" of reporters was nothing like it is today.
He was a very humble man. When I was on the east coast navy shooting team, he graciously was our guest of honor at the matches multiple times. A nicer man I have never met. He was a great fisherman offshore also. We shared some time shark fishing off Va Beach before he moved on Nice picture. Definitely posed.
Mike Johnson,
"Only those who will risk going too far, can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot
both have rucks on so not at base and steel pots they bees on regular grunt patrol could be some one snapped a pic on a smoke break while he was scoping, or asked him to poise he did many many more than 93. He was in a hot bed of VC activity. May he Rest In Peace. danny
I've seen that pic hundreds of times, never attributed to Hathcock. I am certain that's not him.
John
"Pistols do not win wars, but they save the lives of the men who do. The noble 1911 is a mechanical marvel, whose ruggedness, dependability & ferocious power have comforted four issues of GIs and which, unlike any other instrument you can name, is as much superior to its rivals today as it was in 1917."
-Col. Jeff Cooper, 1968
If he didn't do anything else I think he was responsable for making a place for snipers in today's order. He did a lot of work with the Law Enforcement Community after he retired from the Corps.
Long Trang, may he rest in peace. Well done
If you're gonna be stupid ya gotta be tough-
Isiah 55:8&9
It's easier to fool people than it is to convince them they have been fooled.
If you compare this guy's forehead height/shape to that of Carlos, I think you won't see
much resemblance. Photo attributions err all the time. Doesn't look like CH to me... FWIW.
John
Last edited by John in MS on Thu May 16, 2013 9:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Pistols do not win wars, but they save the lives of the men who do. The noble 1911 is a mechanical marvel, whose ruggedness, dependability & ferocious power have comforted four issues of GIs and which, unlike any other instrument you can name, is as much superior to its rivals today as it was in 1917."
-Col. Jeff Cooper, 1968