It was this competition that would later have him sought out in Vietnam to be a part of the newly established Sniper Program. Carlos accepted because he knew the importance of Sniper's and the role they would play. After completing his training Carlos was sent to Hill 55, where the Marine Sniper presence would be felt by the NVA. Carlos rapidly ran up the enemy body count which would then lead the bounty of $50,000 on his head. A considerably large amount considering the relatively poor people living in the country. As a result of his skill Sgt. Hathcock was twice recruited for covert operations. One of the assignments was to terminate a french man who was interrogating American airman. Upon sighting the French man a single shot from his rifle ended the life of the interrogator and most likely saved many captured soldiers. On his second covert mission Carlos was to terminate a North Vietnamese General, however the catch to this mission was that his odds for survival where very slim and in the field when a soldier is "short" like Carlos was you don't take unnecessary risks. Carlos knew though that if he didn't go they would send someone else who was less skilled than he was and that Sniper would surely lose his life. Carlos completed his mission with a kill from 800yrds, he escaped unharmed.

Carlos was a very lucky man, upon engaging an enemy Sniper Carlos played cat and mouse with the sniper for some time. The fatal round that killed the enemy Sniper fired at about 500yrds struck the enemy Sniper in the scope and directly into his eye. This could only be possible if one thing has happened, they where both looking directly at each other the only difference was Carlos was faster on the trigger. The war would surely be different by hill 55 if the enemy Sniper had been a split second faster.

One of Carlos' greatest accomplishments was the fact that he made a confirmed kill from a scope-mounted Browning M-2 .50 caliber machine gun at an unmatched 2500yrds. That record still stands today. One more of carlos' many accomplishment that he had during the war was the 93 confirmed kills, with an estimated 300 probable kills.

After completing one tour of duty Carlos re-uped for a second not knowing that this second tour would subsequently end his career as a Marine Sniper, when in 1969 the half track that Carlos was riding on struck a 500lbs land mine. Carlos after being thrown free from the half track and with no regard for his own safety ran back to the half track to save his fellow Marines. Carlos managed to pull seven Marines free, in doing this he suffered severe burns to most of his body this effectively ended his career as a Sniper.

After returning home Carlos was then later diagnosed with MS or Multiple Sclerosis a disease that Carlos knew was terminal. Despite knowing that he was eventually going to die Carlos made ever effort to make it to the rifle range as often as he could. Sadly though on February 28, 1999. Carlos lost the battle he had been fighting for so long. It wasn't the enemy that got him but a terrible disease to which there is currently no known cure. Please visit The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation to find as much info as you can on this, and PLEASE make a donation to the society in Carlos' name help us find a cure.