(Recent) News about Navy Marksmanship
The Garand Collectors Association featured CDR (Ret) Jim Adell in their Summer 2023 journal. Lots of great photos of the USNMT in the ’70s and 80’s; see excerpt here. (8/2023)
Former Navy Reserve Seabee becomes the first recipient of the CMP’s new Distinguished Marksman Badge. Read about Mr. Walsh’s accomplishments here. For more information about how disabled athletes can earn the CMP Distinguished Marksman Badge, see here. (8/2022)
NIWC Sailors compete at 60th annual Fleet Forces and All Navy (East) Rifle and Pistol Championships. See article here. Not mentioned in the article is that Admiral Small, Commander, NIWC conducted the First Shot Ceremony for the Fleet Forces Pacific Rifle and Pistol Championship held at Camp Pendleton in May. (8/2022)
Ten Points (2/2020)
Navy Distinguished Pistol Badge awarded
Rest In Peace Rufas Moore (1944-2019) U.S. Navy Team and member of 1973 U.S. Palma Team.
Navy Admiral Willis A. Lee inducted into the USA Shooting Hall of Fame on 4 December 2015 in Colorado Springs.
USA Shooting Press Release, excerpt:
“In 1907, Admiral Lee became the only American to ever win both the open U.S. National Rifle and Pistol Championships in the same year. A 1920 Olympian, Lee was a member of the Rifle and Running Target team competing in 14 events and finished as the high medal winner for the Games, taking home seven team medals overall including five gold, one silver and one bronze. “Shooting everything from army rifle to miniature (smallbore) and running target, Lee was an ever-present fixture on the Antwerp medal stand,” said Col. Jim Crossman in his book, Olympic Shooting. Lee and his teammate Lloyd Spooner held the record for the most medals won at a single Olympics for 60 years.
Admiral Lee, who passed away in 1945 at the age of 57, also enjoyed a distinguished naval career. He commanded the U. S. Naval Battleship Division Six during the Battle of Guadalcanal that turned back a Japanese invasion force headed for the island. The victory ended Japanese attempts to reinforce their troops on Guadalcanal and marked a turning point in World War II. Lee was later awarded the Navy Cross for his courageous leadership during that particular battle.”
Note that Wikipedia describes (as of 9/30/17) Carl Osburn, CAPT, USNR, Ret., as the American having won the most Olympic medals (individual and team) until American swimmers Jennifer Thompson and Michael Phelps broke the record. Wikipedia does not have a page for Admiral Lee (as of 9/30/17). Carl Osburn was inducted into the USA Shooting Hall of Fame in 1994.
A short history of Navy Vice Admiral Lee.
1981 US Puget Sound Pistol Team