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Well, let me tell you of my recent sentimental trip to renew old
memories and acquaintances. Some of you may know of
my long-time hobby of Bulls-eye Pistol Shooting, for over sixty
years the acme of that sport has been found the first week of July
at The National Pistol Matches in Camp Perry, Ohio. Camp Perry is
on the shore of Lake Erie and is the home of the Ohio National
Guard and during World War II was used as a facility for German
Prisoners of War.
The National Matches are sponsored by the
National Rifle Association and what used to be called the Director
of Civilian Marksmanship, until the era of political correctness
of the fifties. It is now the CHP or something like that! At the
conclusion of these matches at Camp Perry the winner is hailed as
the National Pistol Champion!
I last was at the National matches in 1967, at
that time I was classified as an expert and if I may brag, I shot
well. I think perhaps Bunk Rowe and the late Lester Bennett, a
Distinguished Military Shooter and myself are the only Alderson
folks ever to shoot at Camp Perry. There may have been some who
have competed in the Small-bore or the High Powered Rifle Matches.
I
had volunteered to help at the matches, help always being needed.
I mentioned that to the wrong people and I was soon convinced to
make one more pilgrimage to actually shoot. A long-lost friend
from Camp Greenbrier, John Hash, (some of them were OK guys when
one got to know them), a retired attorney from Nashville and I
decided we would make the journey together for old times sake.
John had last attended in the 80’s and had only recently
started shooting again after a hiatus of 26 years, in my case it
was 37 years. At the last minute events prevented John and I from
going together but he got there a day or so after I did and we
shared a “Hut” with a very nice shooter from Huntington.
Now a word about the “huts.” They are huts from
the 40’s that were used by the POWs and they have had little in
the way of upgrades since then. Some have had new roofs and
electrical service upgrades in the last 15years or so, but
luxurious or comfortable they ain’t! Just barely adequate would
be a better description if one is charitable. But they are part of
the “Camp Perry Experience.”
Some folks make other arrangements but I would
not think of staying anywhere else. This year after the inevitable
“rainy day at Perry” many huts had water that came over the
foundations and into the hut and across the floor, one learned to
be cautious when getting up in the night to go to the latrine a
quarter block away! Somehow our hut was the only one in our
immediate area that stayed dry, although we had a small lake at
our doorway. When I was last there the huts were, as
I recall about $5.00 per night and meals in the Mess Hall were
included in ones Entry Fee! Now the Mess Hall is gone, one is on
their own for food and the huts are now $45.00 a
night! The cots are new in the last 25 years, but from the looks
and feel the mattresses are not. A sleeping pad, mattress cover
and two fitted bottom sheets, gave a slight hope of not getting a
dread disease or two or so.
We had
taken a window AC, a small refrigerator and a little Microwave and
so were much more comfortable than in many past years. I did not
do nearly as well as once I did, but I did not shoot anyone and I
did not get shot and more importantly, I did not shoot on anyone
else’s target and it was all in the sport, and I realized that
time does take it’s toll! But that’s all right.
Camp Perry shooting is composed of a number of matches over 5 full
days; The Harry Reeves Memorial Revolver Match named for a veteran
Detroit Policeman who was national champ in the 30-40’s. The
preliminary matches, sort of a warm-up for later. Then the actual
matches with the .22 caliber, the center-fire, and
lastly the biggie, the .45 matches. Shooting is Slow Fire at 50
yards, Timed and Rapid Fire in 20 and 10 seconds! At
the end of the week the Individual Hardball matches with the .45
and service ammunition separates the men from the boys. The old
shooter and the new and especially the sight of so many young men
shooting on the military teams and the few that compete with one
arm or one leg or other scars of battle brings tears. The panoply
of the multi-colored State Flags, and the excitement that fills
the air during the Team Matches on the last day is memorable and
the daily Opening Gun Ceremony that begins with a cannons roar and
the Honors to the Flag while the National Anthem is played is
truly inspiring.
I
doubt I will ever return, but then I did not think I would go this
year, so who knows. I cherish the sights and sounds and the
friends I made there. |
