White Feather: The Definitive History of Carlos Hathcock (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798264011238)

In the sweltering jungles of Vietnam, one man became a ghost in the machine of war-a Marine sniper whose precision and audacity struck terror into the hearts of the enemy. Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock, known as "White Feather" for the plume he wore in his bush hat, amassed 93 confirmed kills (with estimates reaching 300-400) through feats that defy belief: a record-shattering 2,500-yard shot with a modified .50-caliber machine gun, a grueling four-day crawl to assassinate a North Vietnamese general, and a legendary duel where he fired through an enemy's rifle scope to claim victory.

Born in 1942 in rural Arkansas, Hathcock's path to legend began with a boyhood rifle, hunting for survival and dreaming of combat. Enlisting in the Marines at 17, he shattered records in shooting competitions before deploying to Vietnam in 1966. There, he confronted horrors like the sadistic Viet Cong torturer "The Apache," dismantled entire enemy companies single-handedly, and earned a $30,000 bounty on his head-the highest for any American in the war.

But glory exacted a toll. In 1969, a mine explosion burned over 40% of his body, yet Hathcock dragged seven comrades to safety before collapsing. His recovery was miraculous, leading him to found the Marine Corps Scout Sniper School, where he taught the art of "getting into the bubble" of unbreakable focus. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1975, he faced retirement, depression, and personal battles, passing away in 1999 at age 56.

In White Feather: The Definitive History of Carlos Hathcock, author Andrew Wharton draws on years of research, interviews, and archives to deliver the ultimate portrait of this American icon. From his humble beginnings to his enduring legacy in military training and popular culture, this is the gripping story of a warrior whose courage redefined heroism-and the human cost behind the myth.