I just learned this morning of the passing of the legendary shooting legend Walter Walsh in late April. He was 106. Col. Walsh had been an F.B.I. agent in the 1930's,surviving numerous gunfights with gangsters of the era, killing 11 of them in the process, and arresting scores. He enlisted in the Marines in WW II, teaching marksmanship skills to recruits, and later fighting on Okinawa. He once used his handgun to kill a sniper at 80 yards. He later became a champion Olympic shooter, and won the Outstanding American Handgunner Award in 1997. Obviously, living to 106, with all his accomplishments, implies living a full life (I understand he didn't need glasses), but his loss really saddens me.
I just learned this morning of the passing of the legendary shooting legend Walter Walsh in late April. He was 106. Col. Walsh had been an F.B.I. agent in the 1930's,surviving numerous gunfights with gangsters of the era, killing 11 of them in the process, and arresting scores. He enlisted in the Marines in WW II, teaching marksmanship skills to recruits, and later fighting on Okinawa. He once used his handgun to kill a sniper at 80 yards. He later became a champion Olympic shooter, and won the Outstanding American Handgunner Award in 1997. Obviously, living to 106, with all his accomplishments, implies living a full life (I understand he didn't need glasses), but his loss really saddens me.
I saw him last November, Ken. He passed just shy of his 107th birthday. I consider the time I have managed to spend with him (and his son and grandson last year) to be an absolute honor. He was a great man who had a great run. End of an era.........
Nice write up Ken. Would have been quite a treat to listen to some of his stories back in the day. Anyone know what his favored handguns were, I'm sure there were many.
Nice write up Ken. Would have been quite a treat to listen to some of his stories back in the day. Anyone know what his favored handguns were, I'm sure there were many.
Nice write up Ken. Would have been quite a treat to listen to some of his stories back in the day. Anyone know what his favored handguns were, I'm sure there were many.
Dick
I don't know Dick. I know he used 1911's and a S&W pre-27 .357 Magnum, as well as a 1903 Springfield. I don't know what he shot in his Free Pistol shooting career. His first gun was a Mossberg .22 rifle, given to him when he was about 12. Late in life he was shooting a shotgun when it became difficult to manage a handgun. Perhaps Whitworth or JT or curmudgeon may have insights on what his favorites were.
During his FBI days, he favored the 1911 and a S&W Registared Magnum (he had a pair of these). He was one of several agents recruited for their 'pistol' skills. Three more of the same breed came from the Oklahoma City PD about the same time, C. G. 'Jerry' Campbell, Clarence Hurt, and D. A. 'Jelly' Bryce.
Post by Stump Buster on May 8, 2014 18:59:08 GMT -5
The "Greatest Generation" slowly slips away. I hope and pray some of their wisdom and experience has been passed on to some of us and will stay with us for a little bit longer!!!
We are indebted to many of them for what we have today.