[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 6] [Senate] [Pages 8978-8979] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]COMMEMORATING CARLOS HATHCOCK II Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a man of extraordinary courage. A fellow Arkansan. A soldier and a hero. His name was Carlos N. Hathcock II. Carlos was born on May 20, 1942, in Little Rock, Arkansas, the son of a welder. At the age of eight, Carlos saw his first Marine in full uniform. The sight left an indelible impression--a mark that would lead him to commit his life to the military. But in the meantime, he had some growing up to do. Carlos spent a great deal of time in the woods of North Little Rock, hunting squirrels and rabbits and bringing them home to eat. He had no problem filling the table. It seemed as if he was anticipating his future career. Carlos could hardly wait to start his career in the military. In May 1959, at the age of seventeen, he signed up with the Marines with the permission of his father. The moment he turned eighteen, Carlos went into the Corps. He quickly realized his talent as an effective rifleman and began to carve out his niche in the Marines as a sniper. The intramurals of the Marine Shooting Team was his first official match, a match that he won handily. This victory would certainly not be the last. Carlos won many more shooting competitions and rose steadily through the ranks, with a only a few minor bumps along the way. Indeed, the months and years could be counted by championships and promotions, and marked by his marriage to his wife Jo and the birth of his son, ``Sonny'' Hathcock. But soon enough, the skills of Sergeant Carlos Hathcock II were put to use and put to the test. In 1966, the Marines sent him to Vietnam. His tour of duty was no doubt difficult, but Carlos' amazing rifle skill made him a valuable asset to the Marines and an opponent to be dreaded by the North Vietnamese. For his great service, Carlos was presented with the Navy Commendation Medal with combat ``V.'' Carlos proved himself again on his fateful second tour of duty in Vietnam in 1969. By this time, Carlos knew the sweltering jungles of Vietnam. He could become one with his surroundings. With painstaking patience, he crawled and lay in wait--his hands controlled, resisting the urge to scratch or stretch, his body still as death--until that moment when he struck. Carlos was an expert. He even gained a reputation among the Viet Cong who dubbed him ``Long Tra'ng,'' or white feather, for the single white feather in his hat. But as precise and deadly as he was, Carlos did not enjoy killing people. In fact, he saved the lives of his comrades in the 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. On September 16, 1969, the amphibious assault vehicle Carlos was riding ran over a landmine and exploded. Carlos, sprayed with burning gasoline and [[Page 8979]] his flesh melting away, focused only on helping his comrades. Carlos went back to the vehicle and dragged his companions away to safety. He was burned almost beyond recognition. Fortunately, Carlos was able to recover. For his heroism in Vietnam, Carlos was awarded a Purple Heart and Gold Star. And with swift dedication, Carlos went back to the Marines, serving almost ten more years, retiring on March 1, 1975, after nineteen years, ten months, and five days of service. He had entered the Marines as a callow youth and left a Gunnery Sergeant, a veteran, and a hero. He carried on his patriotism and service to America, speaking at military gatherings and teaching his sniper skills to the Virginia Beach Police Department. And in 1996, he was again awarded for his heroism in Vietnam, this time with a Silver Star. Carlos Hathcock II passed away on February 23, 1999. But he lives on in the minds of many. His son, Carlos Hathcock III, is also a gunnery sergeant in the Marines. The Marines have a library in Carlos' name and an annual award presented to the best marksman in the Marine Corps. Marksmanship of legendary proportions will remain synonymous with the name Hathcock. ____________________