▁the ▁injured ▁Mar ines ▁in ▁exit ing ▁the ▁burning ▁vehicle ▁and ▁moving ▁to ▁a ▁place ▁of ▁relative ▁safety . ▁With ▁complete ▁dis reg ard ▁for ▁his ▁own ▁safety ▁and ▁while ▁suffering ▁exc ru ci ating ▁pain ▁from ▁his ▁burn s , ▁he ▁bra v ely ▁ran ▁back ▁through ▁the ▁fl ames ▁and ▁expl oding ▁am mun ition ▁to ▁ensure ▁that ▁no ▁Mar ines ▁had ▁been ▁left ▁behind ▁in ▁the ▁burning ▁vehicle . ▁His ▁hero ic ▁actions ▁were ▁instrument al ▁in ▁saving ▁the ▁lives ▁of ▁several ▁Mar ines . ▁By ▁his ▁courage , ▁ag gress ive ▁leadership , ▁and ▁total ▁dev otion ▁to ▁duty ▁in ▁the ▁face ▁of ▁extreme ▁personal ▁danger , ▁Staff ▁Serge ant ▁H ath cock ▁reflected ▁great ▁credit ▁upon ▁himself ▁and ▁the ▁Marine ▁Corps ▁and ▁u ph eld ▁the ▁highest ▁trad itions ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Naval ▁Service . ▁ ▁Leg acy ▁H ath cock ▁remains ▁a ▁legend ▁in ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Marine ▁Corps . ▁The ▁G unn ery ▁Serge ant ▁Carlos ▁H ath cock ▁Award ▁is ▁presented ▁ann ually ▁by ▁the ▁National ▁Def ense ▁Indust rial ▁Association ▁" to ▁recognize ▁an ▁individual ▁who ▁... ▁has ▁made ▁significant ▁contributions ▁in ▁oper ational ▁employ ment ▁and ▁tact ics ▁of ▁small ▁arms ▁weapons ▁systems ▁which ▁have ▁impact ed ▁the ▁read iness ▁and ▁capabilities ▁of ▁the ▁U . S . ▁military ▁or ▁law ▁enfor cement ." ▁The ▁Marine ▁Corps ▁League ▁( M CL ) ▁spons ors ▁an ▁annual ▁program ▁with ▁ 1 2 ▁award ▁categories , ▁which ▁includes ▁the ▁G unn ery