C. Sumpin
Custom
Right up front it is Carlos Hathcock.
While each military conflict has its greats, “White Feather” of Vietnam fame is/was in a class to himself and likely never to be
surpassed in the sniping skills. As every sport or trade has its talent with natural ability, Hathcock had a singular superior spot with focus, courage, determination, self discipline, physical, psychological and emotional surplus. He was a dangerous man.
Oh! but he can’t be the GOAT you say; he has been surpassed with confirmed kills! If that is the only criteria then yes. But so many other aspects of sniper warfare/achievement must be considered.
Terrain: In later conflicts the wide open spaces where you could view into forever, maximizing optics and with few obstacles (easier accounting of confirmed kills) and in a (relatively) comfortable sniper hide (with amenities) after which you could have a fair meal and rest for the next duty is a world away from worming on ones belly for up to four days and nights (eating, drinking, sleeping (if possible), and if unable to refuse natures call then doing the deed and taking it with you in your trousers until the shot was taken. And often enough without a spotter (few could sustain the rigors and discipline to complete a mission with the Feather), all the while enduring heat, blistering sun, cold nights, drenching rain, snakes, tigers and such, insects/leeches that could not be trifled with until mission complete, generally requiring a close in shot due to foliage (which also raised the risks of being discovered, and possibly missing a confirmed kill ), then after the score (sometimes not, high level targets were often only a prediction from intel as to when/where they might show) the hike back to the firebase.
And we have yet to mention the eclipse/advances in equipment; firearms, ammo/ballistics, optics, night/heat vision, clothing and transportation, and yes, communication support in real time from other units/intelligence sources, which taken altogether, increased the odds of sniper success.
There are other elements in the mix not mentioned but as you can see the case is clearly made that Marine GySgt Carlos Norman Hathcock II is and forever will be the GOAT SNIPER.
Copyright C. Sumpin
While each military conflict has its greats, “White Feather” of Vietnam fame is/was in a class to himself and likely never to be
surpassed in the sniping skills. As every sport or trade has its talent with natural ability, Hathcock had a singular superior spot with focus, courage, determination, self discipline, physical, psychological and emotional surplus. He was a dangerous man.
Oh! but he can’t be the GOAT you say; he has been surpassed with confirmed kills! If that is the only criteria then yes. But so many other aspects of sniper warfare/achievement must be considered.
Terrain: In later conflicts the wide open spaces where you could view into forever, maximizing optics and with few obstacles (easier accounting of confirmed kills) and in a (relatively) comfortable sniper hide (with amenities) after which you could have a fair meal and rest for the next duty is a world away from worming on ones belly for up to four days and nights (eating, drinking, sleeping (if possible), and if unable to refuse natures call then doing the deed and taking it with you in your trousers until the shot was taken. And often enough without a spotter (few could sustain the rigors and discipline to complete a mission with the Feather), all the while enduring heat, blistering sun, cold nights, drenching rain, snakes, tigers and such, insects/leeches that could not be trifled with until mission complete, generally requiring a close in shot due to foliage (which also raised the risks of being discovered, and possibly missing a confirmed kill ), then after the score (sometimes not, high level targets were often only a prediction from intel as to when/where they might show) the hike back to the firebase.
And we have yet to mention the eclipse/advances in equipment; firearms, ammo/ballistics, optics, night/heat vision, clothing and transportation, and yes, communication support in real time from other units/intelligence sources, which taken altogether, increased the odds of sniper success.
There are other elements in the mix not mentioned but as you can see the case is clearly made that Marine GySgt Carlos Norman Hathcock II is and forever will be the GOAT SNIPER.
Copyright C. Sumpin
