men, Steven J. Martin, from Bronxville, N. Y., remarked that the matches gave them more opportunity to fire than did their club's home ranges. "We have 13) members and only six firing points," he said. Charles A. Sanders, a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, probably has spent more time on the Camp Perry ranges than any other competitor. He has fired here since he was a 19-year-old member of the 11th Infantry's high-powered rifle team, in 1924. Presently a NRA director and curator of the Indiana War Memorials Military Museum, in Indianapolis, Sanders still shoots in the pistol phase, is an instructor in the pistol school and a referee during the high-powered rifle events. He said, "I'm shooting better than I ever did, Part of that's due to better weapons and ammunition, but every match I come to, I learn something. When you associate with good shooters and you're alive and awake you've got to leave here a good shooter. I don't guess I've been to a match where I haven't won something and I reckon I'll win something again this year." EXHIBIT No. 102 NEWS RELEASE CONCERNING A 140-MAN MARINE DETACHMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR "RUNNING 100 TARGETS ON THE ENORMOUS RANGE" AT THE NATIONAL MATCHES Informational Services Office, Marine Detachment, 1965 National Rifle and Pistol Matches, Camp Perry, Ohio Camp Perry, Ohio, July 30.-Three weeks of hard training by Marines of the 8th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, will be culminated here today when formal ceremonies will officially open the 1965 National Rifle and Pistol Matches The 140 Camp Lejeune, N.C. Marines compose the range detail section of the Marine Range Detachment. They have the responsibility of running 100 targets on the enormous range here. Personnel from the other three services also are here as range personnel in support of the National Matches. The Marine Detachment, commanded by Maj. Victor A. Salvo, began forming at Camp Lejeune on June 28, following a short breather after returning from the Dominican Republic on June 6, where they had participated in some of the bitterest fighting on the island. During the first three weeks, the Marine infantrymen had to learn such jobs as line NCO's, score keepers, target handlers and exactly how to control the firing line for the National Matches. They immediately launched into an intensive training program, including classroom study, lectures on proper range procedure, watching training films and concluded with a week of dry run practice at the Camp Lejeune rifle and pistol range. The competition is very keen during the National Matches with shooters from all branches of the service and the nation's finest civilian shooters competing for some of the most coveted prizes in the world of shooting. Therefore it is a must that score keeping and range control procedures be handled with the utmost skill and accuracy. Lt. Col. Edgar S. Burroughs, USA. Range Director, after watching a dress rehearsal, commented to Capt. Paul K. Dougherty, Chief Range Officer for the Marine Detachment, that the weeks of training had paid off and that the Marines had a "smooth running" range organization. The administrative half of the Detachment has the responsibility of keeping service record books, housing, feeding and supplying the 200 man detachment The support organization will be doing their part to help the Marine team make a clean sweep during this year's National Matches. EXHIBIT No. 103 NEWS RELEASE CONCERNING "CERTIFICATES OF GRADUATION" FOR 2,073 MARKSMEN AT THE NATIONAL MATCHES Public Information Office, 1965 National Rifle and Pistol Matches, Camp Perry, Ohio, August 2.-Certificates of graduation were presented to 2.073 marksmen from throughout the United States at the close of the Small Arms Firing School in a ceremony here, yesterday. The certificates were presented to the participants in a ceremony held yesterday afternoon by the Director of the Small Arms Firing School, Lieutenant Colonel J. M. McKenzie. The three day Pistol phase of the Small Arms Firing School covered fundamentals of shooting for inexperienced shooters and subjects designed to train experienced shooters how to become qualified marksmanship instructors. Lt. Colonel McKenzie introduced Inspector Harry Reeves, from Andrews. North Caroline, as a charter member of the 2,650 Club-a select group of expert marksmen who have fired the commendable score of 2,650 out of a possible 2,700 on the three gun (.22, .38 and .45 caliber) aggregate. Following the introduction of Mr. Reeves, other members of this "Magna Cum Laude" pistoleer Club were presented as follows: SSGT Emil Heugatter, Dalhart, Texas; MSGT Richard Stineman, Columbus, Georgia; GMGC Joseph L. Galvao, Mamaroneck, New York; HMC David E. Myrick, Atmore, Alabama; TSGT Herman A. Crump, Connelly Springs, North Carolina; SSGT Johnney L. Mahar, Russellville, New York; SSGT Hershel L. Anderson, Tracy City, Tennessee; SGT Bonnie D. Harmon, Pilot Grove, Missouri; MSGT George Snavely, Columbus, Georgia; SSGT Arnold Vitarbo, New Brunswick, New Jersey; PO1 Donald L. Hamilton, Washington, D.C.; CWO William E. Eubank, Charlottesville, Virginia ; SGT F. A. Higginson, Placerville, California; SFC Ralph O. Thompson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; SSGT Frank A. Kwas, Tampa, Florida; SP5 Richard L. Jones, Camas, Washington; John H. Johnson, Lakewood, California; Ramon Slupsky, Garden Grove, California; SFC Robert D. Whitacre, Morrow, Ohio; SGT Merriweather Jones, Memphis, Tennessee; SFC William B. Blankenship, Columbus, Georgia; and Capt Thomas D. Smith, San Antonio, Texas. After the preliminary shooting events on August 2nd, the select members of the "Club" will join over 2,000 other pistoleers gunning for top honors in the National Matches August 3rd through August 7th. EXHIBIT No. 104 NEWS RELEASE CONCERNING THE PROFICIENCY AND THE VOLUME OF WORK PERFORMED BY AIR FORCE "GUNSMITHS" AT THE NATIONAL MATCHES Public Information Office, 1965 National Rifle and Pistol Matches, Camp Perry, Ohio, August 5.-Ask any Air Force pistol shooter at the 1965 National Rifle and Pistol Matches who the most important man is on his team here and he'll probably say "our gunsmith." Air Force Master sergeant Bob Hays, an ex-Marine, distinguished rifle and pistol shooter and head man of the five Air Force gunsmiths on hand for the shooting matches at Camp Perry calls his men "best gunsmiths in the world, bar none." If the flow of traffic through the USAF Marksmanship School's gunsmith trailer van is an indication, then the pistol repairmen are indeed nothing less than professionals. Every year during the matches the Marksmanship School at Lackland AFB, Texas, sends a handful of gunsmiths north to Camp Perry with the Air Force Pistol Squad. Putting aside their Air Training Command chores during the Matches, their primary role here is supporting Air Force pistol shooters. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or until the last marksman leaves the firing line the pistol-smiths help marksmen from all branches of the service along with many civilian shooters. If they enjoy a reputation as experts, it's because they are. Sergeant Hays has been appearing at the National Matches since 1953 as a competitor as well as a 82-646-67-51 craftsman. His "right hand gun" is TSgt Robert Day, also a marksman in addition to his being a gunsmith. Three other gunsmiths share the crowded trailer van where .22, .38 and 7 caliber pistols are inspected, adjusted, and repaired during the matches. They are TSgt Louis J. Willing, SSgt L. R. Dowless and SSgt David R. Breeding. Sg. Willing has the sole responsibility of repairing and inspecting only those pistos used by the USAF Pistol Squad from the Marksmanship School at Lackland. Most of the work done by the Lackland gunsmiths involves adjustments to trigger pull and aiming sights. Constant firing by contestants tends to loosen the operation of the weapons which are especially reconditioned to match grade for competition firing. Ordinary weapons will not do for competition firing. Trigger mechanisms, bolts, firing pins, barrels and aiming sights must be reworked or replaced by oversize parts which are first tooled to fit the demands of a competition weapon. Adjusting the trigger mechanism can change the amount of pressure required to discharge the firearm. Trigger pull can be measured by lifting, by the trigger, slotted layers of weights on a iron rod. Each competitor can have his weapon's trigger pull adjusted to his liking, within NRA specifications. The five Air Force gunsmiths also supply their skill at their regular job at the Marksmanship School. Sergeant Hays is NOCIC of the pistol shop at the Air Training Command Base which, every year, trains thousands of new aire the basic fundamentals of marksmanship. His 15 year old daughter is an up and coming marksman. She fired a perfet score last month on the smallbore galley range at Lackland. EXHIBIT NO. 105 NEWS RELEASE DESCRIBING THE PROFICIENCY OF THE "ARMORERS" ATTACHED TO THE MARINE CORPS PISTOL TEAM AT THE NATIONAL MATCHES Public Information Office, 1965 National Rifle and Pistol Matches, Camp Perry, Ohio, August 7.-The pistol shooters on the Marine Corps Pistol Team place a lot of credit for their good showing in the 1965 National Rifle and Pistol Matches here on the four armorers attached to the team. The armorer team, headed by SSgt. Thomas O. Smith of Houston, Tex., is from the Marksmanship Training Unit, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Va. Repsonsibility for keeping the hand-guns of all team members in competition trim rest with these four specialists. The armorers travel with the pistol team to every match and their van is a familiar sight behind the firing line any time Marines are participating. The van is modified to contain a complete gunsmith shop equipped with a drill press, bench grinder, belt sander and welding unit. The gunsmiths not only service the team weapons, but are often called upon to repair weapons of many civilian pistol shooters. During the pistol phase of the National Matches this year, the Marine armorers serviced approximately 500 various makes and models of revolvers and acto matic pistols. The work ranges from replacing firing pins to adjusting trigger puil and fitting a new barrel. The armorers also convert factory issue pistols and revolvers into match conditioned weapons for the team. To make a match conditioned hand-gun requires the patience of a diamond cutter. Each piece is replaced with oversized parts which must be hand fi'd and sanded to fit with extremely close tolerance. Each armorer is a skilled craftsman, having received extensive schooling and years of practical gunsmith experience. Several of the armorers are distinguished pistol and rifle shots. Szt Robert E. Snodgrass of Livonia, Mich., first fired at the matches here in 1959 with the Marine Corps Rifle Team. Sgt. Bobby F. Sherrill of Houston, Tex., is distingu-boxå with the pistol and is a member of the exclusive 2,600 pistol shooter club. Me bership in this club is reserved for pistol shooters who have fired a score of at least 2,600 out of a possible 2,700 with the pistol. Sgt. Paul E. Taylor of Mirche i. Ind., is the fourth member of the armorer crew. Capt. Edward J. Land, pistol team officer in charge, in praising the gnus. crew said, "Without the fine skills these men possess, we couldn't have a te shooting team." EXHIBIT No. 106 NEWS RELEASE ANNOUNCING THE ARRIVAL OF 785 OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE Camp Perry, Ohio, August 13.-Seven hundred and eighty-five officers and enlisted men of the 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized), arrived here this week to continue support of the 1965 National Rifle and Pistol Matches which commenced on July 30th. These men from Fort Carson, Colorado, supplemented 527 other 5th Division "Red Devils," who had been the main support body of the pistol and smallbore phase which terminated on August 13th. All the men assigned temporary duty to the 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry, which is designated the United States Army Range Battalion (Professional) and under the command of Lieutenant Colonel J. T. Mathews, are distributed among a Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Range Company and 3d Pistol Company. The primary mission of the Army Range Battalion is the operation of the pits and firing line for the highpower rifle ranges; and, a myriad of jobs such is line officers, score keepers, target handlers, target pullers, tower-talkers, immo men and first aid men. The "Red Devils" also operate five 300 man, troop-type messes within the battalion area and assist in other National Match activities as required. The Parent units represented within the U.S. Army Range Battalion are: 1st Battalion, 10th Infantry; 1st Battalion, 11th Infantry; 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry; 5th Signal Battalion; 267th Signal Battalion; 529th Signal Battalion; ith Supply and Transportation Battalion; 705 Maintenance Battalion; 10th Chemical Platoon; 4th Squadron, 12th Cavalry; 19th Artillery; 67th Evacuation Hospital; 7th Engineer Battalion; 5th Administration Company and Headmarters Company, Garrison. EXHIBIT No. 107 NEWS RELEASE DESCRIBING THE EFFICIENCY OF ARMY PERSONNEL IN OPERATING Public Information Office, 1965 National Rifle and Pistol Matches, Camp Perry, Ohio, August 19.-The 1965 National Rifle and Pistol Matches are nearing a climax here this week. During the fourth and final week of competitive shooting, the best American Marksmen will be decided in the spectacular highpower rifle phase of the Matches. Since the 30th of July, the 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry of the 5th Infantry Division (Mech), Fort Carson, Colorado, termed the U.S. Army Range Battalion [Provisional), under the command of Lieutenant Colonel H. T. Mathews, has een busy operating the pistol, smallbore and highpower ranges. The high-power ide phase of the Matches commenced August 15th. The mammoth task of preparing the ranges prior to the matches can not comare with the demanding and responsible work required for the operation of 4 firing points on the highpower rifle ranges, where in some matches, the pits ire located 1,000 yards from the firing line. The high-power ranges operate from 200-1,000 yard firing lines. Each time the line moves, towers, scoreboards, and Communications must be moved also. Competitors who have been participating in the matches for years have been beard to comment. "This is the best organized group ever, running the ranges at Camp Perry." Others say the men know what is expected of them, know what they're doing, do it fast, and accurate. Little do they know that credit is due argely to the "Red Devils"-as they are affectionately called-the 1st Battalion, 1st Infantry. The number of men operating the ranges and the various jobs are uncountable the civilian marksman and spectator. There are commo men keeping the conrol personnel and scores on the firing line in communication with the men in the its; the use of 19 telephone lines with 15 operators; two public address systems, with one in the pits and the other on the firing line, and a myriad of maintenance laties, are all just a portion of the work done by the range support battalion. On each range, there is a tower talker on the firing line, who gives the go aber on the firing or hold. He tells the pit talker that all is ready on the firing litwho in turn, relays the orders, "Targets up!" or "Targets down!" (over another public address system to the men in the pits who actually pull the targets for the world's best marksmen.) The target pullers do a lot more than just pull targets. They score them, pestpatches on the bullet holes after each round in slow fire matches and raise larz colored discs to let the shooter know what score he has made. If the firer miss the target, which is seldom done, the man in the pit will raise and wave a larg red flag. The range regulations state that the targets will be in the down position fr scoring and patching for no more than 18 seconds; but, the pit men are averagi almost less than half that time. This illustrates the efficiency and work mor of the "Red Devils." Second Lieutenant Doug Doolittle, a pit block officer from the 5th Rifle Co pany, 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry, proudly states that, “During the 22 minutes which the competitor fires 20 shots, the men are doing a tremendous job e pulling the targets. The targets are scored after each shot and I time them with a stop watch." The average time it takes to pull the targets down, paste, score and push the target back up is 9.56 seconds, with the fastest time being 5.2 seconds. The morale and interest of the troops from Fort Carson who are doing bork breaking work from dawn to dusk, in support of the matches is unbelieva From the time the first target is pushed up, until the last target is pulled do and scored at the end of the days shooting, the men seem keenly aware of the " jobs. Up and down the targets go, hour after hour, day after day, seven days week, but the "Red Devils," are as interested in the matches as the compet tors themselves are. The men have no idea who is firing on their targets; however, when 20 sh...... are in the "V-ring" signifying a perfect score, each man in the pit knows als it. The excitment is quickly transmitted down the pit line. If a firer is d badly, the target puller is as depressed as the firer. These are the men behind the scenes at the 1965 National Rifle and I Matches-the men from Fort Carson. Chairman DODD. I have one other question that I would like to a This Arthur D. Little report has been the subject of a lot of d:cussion in these hearings. I have not read it all. I have read some par of the summary. But on pages 46 and 47, the Arthur D. Little rep? says the NRA magazine, the American Rifleman, is an excellent org. performing, stimulating, communicating with individuals intereste n various aspects of shooting. Therefore, it says, it is not only appo priate and essential that the NRA and the National Board aches effective liaison, work closely together, but they endorse the arrang ment through which the NRA provides three members to the Nation Board. Now, I would like to know, does the Army support or endorse »? claim the credit for the statement made by the Little report, for ti following reasons. The NRA, and I say this with great respect to organization, has been the most effective and voluble opponent of : legislation, and it has devoted a great deal of its space in the A can Rifleman to the legislative situation we have been confronted w now for about 4 years. In other words, there seems to be a sor dilemma. Arthur D. Little says the NRA and the Army ought to working closely together, and the NRA is opposing, and has opp vast numbers of efforts to get Federal gun control in States and the Federal level. How do you work this out? I know what your testimony has been know that has been the testimony of others in the Defense Departner You think we need gun control. How are you going to work close with an organization that does not think so? |