In the annals of Marine history, there are few names that are held in higher esteem than Carlos Hathcock. Known as the “White Feather” for the distinctive feather he wore in his cap, Hathcock was not just a remarkable marksman, but a true hero in every sense of the word.

Hathcock’s story began during the Vietnam War, when he was assigned to the Marine Corp’s sniper division. He quickly made a name for himself with his incredible skills, using a 50 caliber machine gun mounted on a 130-pound tripod and fitted with a scope to take out enemy soldiers from incredible distances. In fact, he held the world record for the longest confirmed sniper kill for over 35 years, having taken out a target from 2,500 yards away.

But Hathcock’s heroism went far beyond just his marksmanship. When he was tasked with dispatching a Vietnamese general, he crawled his way into the enemy camp, going four days without sleep and using his incredible camouflage skills to blend in unnoticed. When the Viet Cong put a massive bounty on his head, platoons of enemy snipers tried to track him down by the white feather in his cap, but to no avail. Even when the enemy sent their deadliest sniper, code-named Cobra, to take him out, Hathcock was able to use his quick thinking and lightning-fast reflexes to take Cobra down with a shot straight through his scope.

Hathcock’s bravery and selflessness were never more on display than when his vehicle was hit by a mine. Despite suffering third-degree burns, he pulled seven of his fellow Marines to safety. He was awarded the Silver Star for his heroism.

By the time he retired, Hathcock had taken out over 300 enemy combatants, established a sniper school, and even trained Seal Team Six. He will forever be remembered as one of the greatest Marines in history, and his legacy continues to inspire soldiers and marksmen to this day.