CAMP PERRY, OH – As soon as the smoke cleared from the firing of Bob Gillmor’s replica War of 1812 cannon, marking the close of the First Shot Ceremony, the doors to the 2013 CMP National Trophy Matches were thrown open.
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Allan Jaworski, of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, won the M9 EIC Pistol Match on the first day of competition at the 2013 National Matches. Jaworski also earned four introductory points toward his Distinguished Pistol Badge.
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LTG John Crosby, U.S. Army (ret.) fired the ceremonial first shot of the matches using a .30 caliber WWII M1 Carbine rifle after addressing a crowd of more than 400 as this year’s featured speaker. Upon Crosby’s shot, a sizable hole and smoke ring appeared on LTG Crosby’s target 600 yards away beyond the Rodriguez Range berm, compliments of Dave Rohrbacher and the Ohio National Guard.
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Robert Gillmor of Gillmor Ordnance, Old Fort, Ohio, fires a cannon salute in tribute to the bicentennial of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s victory over the British in the War of 1812 as part of the 2013 First Shot Ceremony
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The cannon firing capped this year’s First Shot Ceremony which featured multiple appearances by Georgie’s Gal, an award-winning, fully restored WWII B-25 Mitchell bomber from Port Clinton’s Liberty Aviation Museum; a color guard provided by the WWII Re-enactment Society of Port Clinton and four vintage military vehicles and personnel in uniform by the Firelands Military Vehicle Group of Sandusky. In addition to the cannon, Gillmor Ordnance of Old Fort, Ohio provided ground-based pyrotechnics.
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LTG John Crosby, featured speaker of the 2013 First Shot Ceremony and past CMP Board Member, makes a few remarks about growing up as an outdoorsman and lifelong supporter of the shooting sports.
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Judy Legerski, CMP Board Chairman, served as master of ceremonies for this year’s First Shot program which was attended by special guests Ohio Adjutant General, MG Deborah Ashenhurst, National Rifle Association President, James W. Porter, II, LTG Joe Inge, U.S. Army (ret.) and Ohio Lt. Governor, Mary Taylor. The audience also included distinguished guests including community and government leaders from Ottawa County and the State of Ohio.
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Members of the Firelands Military Vehicle Group of Sandusky, Ohio, escort the American Flag to the parade ground.
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The M9 Excellence-In-Competition Match is the final phase of the CMP- U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Small Arms Firing School (SAFS) for Pistol. The match follows a two-part instruction format that includes a morning classroom discussion of the safety, function and handling of the Army’s standard 9mm sidearm and an afternoon hands-on session on the firing line where students learn safety, position and proper aiming of the pistol at 25 and 50 yards.
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A color guard prepares to raise the American Flag which will fly over the Shooters Memorial Plaza for the entire five weeks of the National Matches at Camp Perry. CMP Board Chairman & CEO Judith Legerski looks on. The color guard was provided by the WWII Historical Re-enactment Society of Port Clinton.
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This year’s M9 EIC match winner was Allan Jaworski, Jr., 34, of Canonsburg, PA, who fired an aggregate score of 254-3X, edging Frank Sokolowski, Jr., 42, of Dundee, MI, in a tiebreaker. With both men tying with identical scores, including X-count, Jaworski earned the victory with a higher rapid fire score of 79-1X over Sokolowski’s 74.
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Pilot Paul Stojkov, of the Liberty Aviation Museum, of Port Clinton guides a B-25 Mitchell WWII bomber over the parade ground in one of four passes made during the First Shot Ceremony. “Georgie’s Gal” is an award-winning restored aircraft which can be seen in the museum hangar when not performing at air shows and special events.
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Jaworski, who earned his President’s 100 rifle ranking and Distinguished Rifle Badge in 2011, was successful in only his second EIC pistol match this year, having fired the match at the conclusion of last year’s SAFS Pistol class. By placing in the top 10 percent of non-Distinguished pistol marksmen, Jaworski earned four introductory points toward his Distinguished Pistol Badge. The SAFS EIC match is the only competition that awards four introductory “leg” points.
When asked if he is a pistol competitor, Jaworski replied “I guess NOW I am a pistol shooter.” Until now he has dedicated virtually all of his trigger time to long gun competition.
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LTG John Crosby prepares to fire the ceremonial first shot of the 2013 National Matches with a WWII M1 Carbine rifle. CMP Board Chairman Judith Legerski later presented the rifle to him as a token of appreciation for his First Shot participation and service to his country.
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After earning his rifleman’s badge and posting a disappointing finish in last year’s EIC pistol match, he said he “decided to get serious with it.” His practice paid off and he said he’s now looking forward to the upcoming CMP National Trophy Pistol Matches that mark the close of pistol week at Camp Perry.
Jaworski credited the calm yet knowledgeable demeanor of U.S. Army Reserve coach CPT Thomas Bourne during the firing line portion of the SAFS Pistol class.
“He’s a great coach, laid back but really helpful,” he said. Many National Match pistol competitors representing the military service branches lend their time and expertise to students on the firing line during SAFS.
Charles Augenstein, 52, of Eighty Four, PA, placed third in the M9 EIC Match with an aggregate score of 251-5X. A total of 308 competitors entered the 2013 SAFS M9 EIC Match, with 293 eligible for leg points. The top 29 competitors, based on a cut score of 218-1X, received introductory leg points. The record score in the M9 EIC Match is 283-7X, set by Nick Pappas in 2006.
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Under the watchful eye of a U.S. Navy marksmanship instructor, Small Arms Firing School participants fire M9 pistols at Camp Perry. Instructors from active and reserve duty, guardsmen and the CMP provide firing line guidance for all SAFS students.
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The U.S. Army Marksmanship pistol team dominated the leader board at the 2013 CMP Pistol Warm-Up Match, with SSG Patrick Franks, Jr. taking top honors with an aggregate score of 391-15X. AMU teammates SPC Greg Markowski and SFC James Henderson placed second and third with scores of 391-13X and 387-13X, respectively.
A total of 293 competitors fired the CMP Warm-Up Match, with the top 10 percent earning gold CMP achievement coins.
For complete results of the 2013 SAFS M9 EIC Pistol and CMP Warm-Up matches, log onto
http://ct.thecmp.org/app/v1/index.php?do=match&task=edit&tab=results&match=10086 . To view photos from the events, log onto
http://cmp1.zenfolio.com/.
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