U. S. Marine Corps
1962 Western Division Rifle & Pistol Matches

Pietroforte Wins Western Match With 595X39V's Score

CAMP PICO - Experience was the deciding factor of the Western Division Rifle Matches held at Camp Pendleton's Chappo Flats Range 103, May 9.

The top three riflemen, all from Marksmanship Training Unit, San Diego, and their scores were: first place: GySgt. M. Pietroforte with a blazing aggregate score of 595X39V's; second, Capt. W. W. McMillan with 593X45V's; and third GySgt. B.L. Harshman with 591X45V's. The three high shooters are all distinguished marksmen.

Sgt. Pietroforte and Capt. McMillan placed first and second in Tuesday's first firing phase also, while GySgt. Harshman with 296X23V's was third. L.Cpl. D. Sanchez, 1st Marine Division, with 296X17V's was dropped from the third position Tuesday after scoring in the first phase was corrected to include the tie breaking V's.

GySgt. Pietroforte led the competition all of the way but it was no run away contest as Capt. McMillan and GySgt. Harshman kept the pressure on until the final round was fired on the 600 yard line. The competition was close and keen for two days between al of the rifleman with the average score ranging in the 580 plus area.

The Western Division Pistol Matches will be held May 10, at the Chappo Flats Range 102.

Firing competition for the San Diego and Warton team trophies will be conducted this morning and team pistol competition will be fired this afternoon.

Tomorrow an awards ceremony will be held for the winning competitors at Bldg. 1481.

The "world series" of Marine Corps shooting competition, the Marine Corps Matches, will also be held at Chappo Flats beginning May 21. Top shooters from Marine Corps installations in the Far East and from the eastern United States will participate.

The Camp Pendleton Scout, May 11, 1962

Pietroforte Captures Marine Rifle Event

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Firing was intensive at this Marine Base's Chappo Flats Range 103 but experience was the deciding factor in the Western Division Rifle Matches.

Marksmanship Training Unit, San Diego, placed the first three riflemen. GySgt. M. Pietroforte, with 595-39v, was first; Capt. W. W. McMillan, 593-45v, second, and GySgt. B. L. Harshman, 591-43v, third.

Pietroforte, 299-25v, and McMillan 298-22v, placed first and second in the first firing phase also, while Harshman, 296-23v, placed third. LCpl. D. Sanchez, Camp Pendleton's 1st MarDiv, was dropped from third after scoring in the first phase was corrected to include tie-breaking v's.

Pistol match results will be carried in next week's NAVY TIMES.

The "world series" of Marine Corps shooting is schedule here beginning May 21 when top shooters from the Far East bases and the East Coast will participate in the All-Marine competition.

Navy Times, May 19, 1962

McMillan Tops Field In WestDiv Pistol

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Capt. W. W. McMillan, Marksmanship Training Unit, San Diego, with 577x20v's, captured the individual prize in the pistol competition of the Western Division Rifle and Pistol matches here.

Marine Corps Supply Center, Barstow, won the San Diego Trophy with 1172x34v's. The team was composed of Capt. John T. Webb Jr., team captain; MSgt. Fred W. Filkins, GySgt. Joe J. Jordan and SSgt. Ed. S. Sarver.

The trophy, also known as the Bear Trophy, is presented to the Corps by civic organizations of San Diego and it is awarded to the best Western Division rifle team representing units in the West Coast area of 600 or more personnel.

The Wharton Trophy, awarded to units of the Pac area with less than 600 personnel, was won by 29 Palms rifle team with 1144x65v's. Team captain was SSgt. W. K. Jones and members were Capt. L. E. Johnson and Cpls. A. R. Larson and D. J. Harris.

Mrs. Sara Wharton Howard, great granddaughter of Lt. Col. Franklin Wharton, an early Marine Corps Commandant, in 1918, made the trophy presentation.

Marine Corps Recruit Depot's Blue Team took first place in the Holcomb Trophy pistol firing with an aggregate score of 1106x24v's. The team included Capt. W. G. Ficere, team captain; GySgts. L. O. Pfaultz, J. A. Poloski and Sgt. W. B. Dobbie.

Named in honor of the 17th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Thomas Holcomb, the trophy is donated by the citizens of San Clemente.

Behind McMillan in the individual pistol firing was CWO M. G. Flipfel, Marine Corps Reserve, with 575x19v's GySgt. M. W. Findsen, Marksmanship Training Unit, San Diego, was third with 567x17v's.

McMillan earlier had finished second to teammate GySgt. M. Pietroforte in the rifle competition. Pietroforte had won with 595-39v's to McMillan's 593-45v's.

Navy Times, May 26, 1962