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1999 SESSION

994106739
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 563
Offered February 25, 1999
On the death of Carlos Hathcock II.
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Patrons-- Stolle, Barry, Bolling, Chichester, Colgan, Couric, Edwards, Forbes, Gartlan, Hanger, Hawkins, Holland, Houck, Howell, Lambert, Lucas, Marsh, Martin, Marye, Maxwell, Miller, K.G., Miller, Y.B., Mims, Newman, Norment, Potts, Puckett, Quayle, Reynolds, Saslaw, Schrock, Stosch, Ticer, Trumbo, Walker, Wampler, Watkins, Whipple, Williams and Woods
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WHEREAS, Carlos Hathcock II, a resident of Virginia Beach and a legendary Marine Corps hero of the Vietnam War, died on February 22, 1999; and

WHEREAS, a staff sergeant with the Marine Corps, Carlos Hathcock is credited with saving the lives of dozens of his fellow Marines during the war in Southeast Asia; and

WHEREAS, in 1969, Carlos Hathcock was riding an assault vehicle when it struck a 500-pound mine near the South Vietnamese village of Que-son; and

WHEREAS, despite being sprayed with flaming gasoline that burned him almost beyond recognition, Carlos Hathcock returned to the burning half-track to rescue the other seven Marines from his squad; and

WHEREAS, in a belated recognition of his heroism, Carlos Hathcock was awarded the Silver Star by Navy Secretary John Dalton in 1996; and

WHEREAS, Carlos Hathcock’s Silver Star citation reads: “With complete disregard for his own safety and while suffering excruciating pain from his burns, he bravely ran back through the flames and exploding ammunition to ensure that no Marines had been left behind”; and

WHEREAS, in honor of Carlos Hathcock, the Carlos Hathcock Award is presented annually to the best marksman in the Marine Corps, and a Corps library in Washington bears his name; and

WHEREAS, since his retirement from the Marine Corps in 1979, Carlos Hathcock has acted as consultant and volunteer instructor for both the Virginia Beach Police Department and the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Department; and

WHEREAS, in April 1996, Carlos Hathcock was presented a Meritorious Service Award by the City of Virginia Beach for a decade of service as a volunteer instructor training police sharpshooters; and

WHEREAS, a true American hero, Carlos Hathcock never sought awards or publicity for his remarkable deeds, demurring usually with the words that “he was just doing his job”; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly note with great sadness the loss of an outstanding American, Carlos Hathcock II; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Marine Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock III in honor of his father’s lifetime of extraordinary service to the Marine Corps and the nation.