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Historian's Report - 1999
1. Compilation of photographs for the USAMU photo archives. A caption
was added to each donated photo if the people, place, event and date
were known. A list of photos can be found in paragraph four. Photos
are placed in document protectors and two-inch binders. Photo binders
are now stored in room 209 at the unit.
2. The inventory of the American Rifleman increased by 11 issues last
year. There were no other American Rifleman donations. Our biggest
void of missing magazines in my opinion is 1952. We have no copies of
the year 1952.
3. The AMUA Times editor is usually looking for filler information. I
have been compiling the Keeping in Touch column, A Little Humor,
Shooting Experiences, Taps and Present Arms and a Thank You area for
contributing donors. I then submit this on a disc for the editor's
use. I also edited Frank Conway's three-part story about the
provisional years and Pete Guichici's story about Joe Klues. I'll
continue to work on the life story of Coats Brown.
4. Donations have been sent to me or passed on through the unit. A
list of donors during the past year and their contributions follow:
a. Ron Menz of Sandusky, Ohio donated Army National Rifle
Trophy Group weekly bulletins from Fort Niagara, NY in 1964 and Fort
Benning in 1965, the July 1964 Regional Championship bulletin fired
at Fort Niagara indicating his 499-36V placed second in the
aggregate, the 1966-67 Eighth Army Rifle Match program, and several
film strips of the old days at Fort Niagara.
b. John L. Davis, Jr. of Maryland Heights, Missouri
donated USAAMU Amendatory, General, Special, TDY and Travel orders
ranging from 1957-60 and a 10 October 1960 USAAMU Roster. The orders
applied to marksmanship displays, pistol matches, M-1 rifle
familiarization, good conduct medals, rifle and pistol qualification scores.
c. Robert D. Whitacre of Sparta, Wisconsin donated
several great pistol team photographs ranging from the mid and late
1960s to the early 1970s. The accompanying shooter/coach
identification, location of the matches, and records attained are all
priceless information.
d. Claudius M. Easley, Jr. of Washington, D.C. donated to Mr.
Aylward and AMUA the old photographs of Army and Infantry
marksmanship teams from the late 1920's and 1930's. His father, BG
Claudius Easley had safeguarded these photos in a footlocker during
World War II. BG Easley was killed in combat on Okinawa. One 1939
photo showed SGT Coats Brown and CPL White after their shoot off.
They had tied for the 300 yard rapid fire Coast Guard Trophy. Mr.
Brown won the shoot off.
e. Phillip F. Cannella, Jr. of Columbus, GA donated a text
"The American Rifle by C.E. Hagie 1946" and a 1961 National
Matches, Small Arms Firing School packet prepared by the Infantry
School which included a coaches checklist, NRA literature, billeting
and entry confirmation, individual squadding, civilian team
certification, program of instruction, challenge procedures and
target disking procedure instructions.
f. Murvale O. Belson of Covington, TN donated several items.
Two Army shipping documents indicating his excellence in competition
and distinguished badges had been sent. Three DA letters indicating
National match trophies would be shipped and his 1952 leg badge was
won as a team member with a score of 243. A smallbore southeastern
regional program sponsored by Fort Benning RandP Club in July 1952. A
national midwinter tournament program from St. Petersburg, FL in
March 1954. Several smallbore match bulletins and a program from
EUCOM held at Nurnberg in April 1950 and March 1951. Several
newspaper articles and photos of various shooting competitions in
Atlanta, Florida, Germany, Fort Eustis, and Virginia. One article
pertaining to the 1952 National Highpower Rifle Championships held at
Fort Benning and won by CPT Murvale Belson's team was written by Lee
LaCombe. Lots of familiar names here- Kless Gyzen, John Kolb, James
Duke, Ben Smith, John Asbury, James Manning, Sam Hardy, Tony Miranda,
Warren Gandy, Herbert Koch, and Murvale Belson to name a few.
g. Francis B. Conway contributed very interesting notes about
the early days of USAMU, which appeared in three issues of the AMUA
Times, this past year.
h. Peter Giuchici contributed a very interesting story
about M/SGT Joseph Klues and the remarkable contributions he made to
Army marksmanship. The story about M/SGT Klues will appear in a later
issue of the AMUA Times.
i. Charles D. Davis of Columbus, GA donated several items:
Five USAMU manuals - Advanced Rifle Clinic; Profile of a Champion;
Basic Smallbore Rifle Guide; Service Rifle Guide; Marksmanship
Instructors and Coaches Guide. Several USAMU Lesson Outlines
pertaining to the Fundamentals of Firing One Round; Effects of
Weather; Aiming, Positions and Trigger Control; Mental and Physical
Conditioning; Team Selection; Lesson Outline Preparation; Care of
Equipment; Duties of Scorers and Pit Personnel. Eight very good
photos including one of LT Gary Anderson. A Concurso De Tiro, Panama
news release. Eight monthly rosters printed between 1971 and 1978.
j. David M. Emerson of Eagle Creek, Oregon donated
several great photographs pertaining to the Army Pistol Team 1964 -
1967. Ten 8" X 10" photos show the team at Cape Kennedy,
San Antonio, Fort Benning, the national trophy group, team officers,
showing their trophies, and the Blue and Gray teams which swept the
1966 team championships at the nationals. Three 5" X 7"
photos show COL Montgomery in Germany and Writer conducting a clinic
in Alaska. Three dozen 3" X 5" photos cover Jacksonville,
Charlotte, Midwinter's, Fort Benning and Camp Perry. All will be
safeguarded. The larger photos have been captioned, placed in
document protectors and the appropriate binder.
k. Ray Burton of Columbus, Georgia donated USAMTU
Special Orders 44 dated 4 May 1962 and SO 94 dated 27 Sep 1962. The
first SO appoints Ambler, Anderson, Campbell, Edwards, Fallin, Hardy,
McNally, Patrick, Sicinski, Skarpness, Tabor and Tubbs to SSG and
Burton to SP5. The second SO changes the MOS of Knight, Burton and
Robinson and appoints CPT Leon R. Mayer as pay officer. Major John R.
Walker, Jr., signed both documents.
l. The family of Leslie Pappy Drake donated considerable
memorabilia to AMUA following the loss of their Dad. Included were 46
great 8" X 10" photos of Clinics, Camp Borden shooters, the
Army Team and winning teams at Sectional, Interservice and National
Championships over the years. There were shooting and unit shoulder
patches. There were several news releases and photos from Europe,
Stateside and Panama. There were letters of appreciation and
commendation. There were general and special orders awarding Pappy
the distinguished badge, presidents hundred tab and commendation
medal. There were Small Arms Firing School certificates, certificates
of achievement from the 82nd Airborne Div., the 8th Inf. Div.,
USAMTU, CONARC Four Star and a NRA Team Record.
m. W. Michael Griggs of Bremerton, Washington donated the
recruiting letter he received from Captain Jameson of USAAMU while a
student in 1959, a 1963 NRA Outdoor International Match Bulletin, a
1963 Interservice International Match Program, a USAMU brochure and
copies of photos of himself in June 1964 and Running Boar competitors
at the Ninth International Matches, Black Canyon Range, Phoenix, AZ
in October 1969.
n. Bruce Silvey of Saint Petersburg, Florida donated a
small photo of Don Harmon, himself, Miss Columbus, Gordon Rogers and
Vic Polansky; and 8" X 10" photo of CPT Brown, COL Heitman
and himself as winner of the Colorado State Matches; and a 8" X
10" jewel of a photo showing McCaskill, Crow, Miranda, Bassham,
Teleso, Schessler, Toloczko, Lang, Lohmann, Silvey, Hankins, Meeks,
Sharpe, Carr, Botts, Atwood, Coats Brown and three unidentified persons.
o. Walter J. Zdon of Churchville, MD donated 8" X 10"
photos and military orders. The 1961 Second Army Team photo at Camp
Perry includes several old timers including Zdon and LTC Joe Smith.
The October 1966 photo of First Army enroute to San Antonio includes
Tutan, Hardy, Harris, Rossman, Parker, Renschler, Zdon, Cooper,
Neumann, Nettles, Cook and Smith. SO 129 dated 131 Sep 65 awards Zdon
and two others the distinguished badge. It also awards nine others
including Norm Dauerer with points toward the badge. TDY orders dated
17 May 66 sends 26 shooters to Oak Ridge and Fort Benning including
Mason, Nettles, Parker, Stephens, and Zdon. USAMTU attachment orders
6-7 dated 14 Jun 66 attaches 89 shooters to the All Army Rifle Team
for 80 days including Menlove, Altizer, Green, Hamilton, Ragland,
Snipes, Whittaker, Willard, Ambler, Bailey, Ball, Barkman, Bootle,
Carrion, Causey, Carter, Cooper, Corioso, Domingues, Hakala, Meeks,
Menz, Mullis, Nettles, Norris, Panzer, Parker, Smith, Smock, Turner,
Zdon, Troyer, Werner, Chesek, Evers, Slinkard, Price, Thornton,
Varner, Harden, Hyder, Keeling, Neumann, Peterson, Jordan and Raby.
p. Charles D. Davis of Columbus, Georgia donated several
items. The 8" x 10" photo copies include the Argentina team
at the Concurso De Tiro, Panama, Charlie's two Wimbledon wins,
presentations to the Secretary of the Army at Fort Myer, receiving
the Daniel Boone Trophy at Camp Perry, the 1971 National Trophy Team
Champions, and running boar competitions. There are several text and
photo, newspaper and magazine news releases pertaining to high power
rifle wins, Sniping in Vietnam, Running Boar events, the 1972
Olympics and carrying the Olympic Torch in 1996. There are Running
Boar Results from Germany, Mexico, Korea and Phoenix, Arizona. There
are letters commending him for his performance in CISM Matches,
congratulations from Sports Illustrated, a proclamation identifying
17 December 1969 as Charles D. Davis day in Hazard, Kentucky, and a
letter from the Kentucky Governor naming Charlie a Kentucky Colonel.
q. Norman L. Skarpness of Columbus, Georgia donated copies of
photos and a news release. The newspaper article pertained to a team
record 999-134V fired by Carl Pritchett, Pat Boyle, Willis Powell,
Cecil Stevens, coached by Pappy Drake and Captained by Roy Combs. The
twenty one 8" X 10" photos depict Norman and the 36th
Infantry Rifle Team at Fort Riley and Germany including familiar
people like Baker, Fraker, Willis, Hilker, Gilbert, Dennis, and
Nesta; shooting as a member of USAMU; competing for the Army and the
United States as a member of the Running Boar team including old
hands Moeller, Crow, Bailey, Kingeter, Powell and a photo of the 1971
Rifle Team at the Nationals, Camp Perry, Ohio.
Ken Hamill
Association Historian and Chairman, History Committee
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