U. S. Marine Corps
1971 All Marine Corps Rifle & Pistol Matches

Eastern Div. teams cop shooting titles

With the end of the 1971 All-Marine Rifle and Pistol Championships here Friday, the last major barrier separating the Corps' top shooters from the National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio in August has been penetrated.

Sixty-eight rifle shooters and 50 pistolmen fired in the Marine Corps matches here last week. Only 47 shooters from the East Coast and 24 from the West will travel to Quantico for the Camp Perry Finals.

The Eastern Division Gold Pistol Team was the Inter-Division Pistol Champion. The team consisting of CWO Robert Waltman, Jr., of MCRD, Parris Island, S.C.; GySgt. B. Thompson, Marine Corps Development and Education Command, Quantico; SSgt. Billy T. Savell, Marine Corps Supply Center, Albany, Ga.; SSGt. D. W. Robbins, MCAS, Beaufort, S.C.; and team coach, MSgt. Frank Almeida, MCB, Camp Lejeune, finished with 1103-23X's. The second place Pistol Team award went to the Eastern Division Blue Team with their 1102-20X's.

The Inter-Division Rifle Team Match winner was the Eastern Division Blue shooters who shot a score of 1765-125V's. The team was composed of CWO Gilmer R. Murdock, MCRD, Parris Island; 1stSgt. J. P. Schwartz, MCDEC, Quantico; SSgt. R. J. Lewis, MCB, Camp Lejeune; Sgt. L. L. Graham, MCRD, Parris Island; GySgt. W. Hornhurst, Parris Island; CWO F. J. Call, Parris Island; and team coach, MSgt. C. E. Laver, 2d Marine Division. The Western Division Gold Team took second place honors in the matches with a score of 1752-114V's.

In the individual rifle matches, CWO Murdock shot 594-50V's and was presented the McDougal Trophy as the highest scoring eligible competitor in the matches. SSgt. Lewis finished with the next high of 593-53V's. The first gold medal was presented to Sgt. Graham for his score of 591-55V's.

The individual pistol winner, LtCol. W. W. McMillan of the Marksmanship Training Unit, Quantico, was also winner of the Walsh Pistol Trophy. Second place went to El Toro's GySgt. G. E. Buck with a 563-17X's tally, while the first gold medal went to Sgt. J. J. Bonafede with his score of 558-18X's

LtCol. McMillan was also the winner of the Lauchheimer Trophy for his combined rifle and pistol high tally of 1166. The first silver medal was won by MGySgt. R. G. Miller, 2d Marine Division, with his total of 1149.

The Camp Lejeune Globe, June 10, 1971

Shoot King Still Tops

By LCpl. Robert F. Nash

A past Olympic and Pan Am Gold Medal winner in the pistol competition recently won the Walsh and Lauchheimer Trophys for his performance in the All-Marine Rifle and Pistol Championships this year at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

LtCol. William W. McMillan, CO, of Quantico's Weapons Training Battalion, took first place in the Individual Pistol Matches with a high score of 575-14X's. For this performance he was awarded the Walsh Pistol Trophy. Placing second was GySgt. G. E. Buck of MCAS, El Toro with a score of 568-17X's.

Placing fifth in the Individual Rifle Matches, LtCol. McMillan held a score of 591-52V's.

For his combined high score of 1166 in the Rifle and Pistol Championships he was the winner of the Lauchheimer Trophy: MGySgt. R. G. Miller of Camp Lejeune received the first Silver Medal for his second place score of 1149.

Additionally, for his accomplishments LtCol. McMillan received the Secretary of the Navy Award, a Remington Rifle.

Winning the Lauchheimer Trophy is no new thing for LtCol. McMillan. He won the trophy in 1955, 59, 61 and 62. He also won the Rifle Championships in 1955 and 1959. Setting quite a record for himself in 1959, LtCol. McMillan was the only Marine to ever win the Rifle and Pistol Championships in the same year.

Winner of the Inter-Division Pistol Matches was the Eastern Division Gold Pistol Team. The team members with a high 1103-23X's were: Team Coach MSgt. Frank Almeida, Camp Lejeune; CWO Robert Waltman Jr., Parris Island; GySgt. Billy Thompson of Quantico; SSgt. Billy T. Savell, MCAS Albany, Ga. and SSgt. D. W. Robbins, MCAS, Beaufort, S.C. Second place honors went to the Eastern Division Blue Team with their score of 1120-20X.

The high score of 1765-125V's took first place for the Eastern Division Blue shooters in the Inter-Division Rifle Team competition. Team members were: Team Coach MSgt. C. E. Larver, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune; CWO Gilmer R. Murdock, MCRD, Parris Island; SgtMaj. J. P. Schwarts of Quantico; SSgt. R. J. Lewis, Camp Lejeune; Sgt. L. L. Graham, MCRD Parris Island and CWO F. J. Call, also of Parris Island. The score of 1752-114V's took second place for the Western Division Team.

Shooting a score of 594-50V's. CWO Gilmer Murdock from MCRD, Parris Island won the Individual Rifle Matches. He received the McDougal Trophy. Finishing in second place was SSgt. R. J. Lewis from Camp Lejeune with a 593-53V's. Receiving the first Gold Medal for his score of 591-55V's was Sgt. L. L. Graham of Parris Island.

Out of the Marines competing in the Marine Corps Matches at Camp Lejeune 47 from the East Coast and 24 from the West Coast will travel to Quantico to get ready for the National Matches, to be held at Camp Perry, Ohio in August.

Quantico Sentry, Friday, June 18, 1971

McMILLAN AND MURDOCK INDIVIDUAL WINNERS

Eastern Division Tops Marine Shooting

By SGT. RON BREWINGTON

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — With the end of the 1971 All-Marine Rifle and Pistol championships here, the major barrier separating the Corps' top shooters from the Camp Perry matches in August has been penetrated.

The Eastern Division Gold Pistol Team was the inter-division champion. The team, consisting of CWO Robert Waltman Jr., of Parris Island; GySgt. B. Thompson of Quantico; SSgt. Billy T. Savell of MCSC, Albany, Ga; SSgt. D. W. Robbins of MCAS, Beaufort, S.C., and team coach, MSgt. Frank Almeida, Camp Lejeune, finished with 1103 points, with 23 "x's" (mark within bulls-eye).

Second place in pistol went to the Eastern Division Blue Team with 1102 and 20 x's.

The rifle winner was the Eastern Division Blues who shot 1765 with 125 v's. The team was made up of CWO Gilmer R. Murdock, Parris Island; 1st Sgt. J. Schwartz, Quantico; SSgt. R. J. Lewis, Camp Lejeune; Sgt. L. L. Graham, Parris Island; Sgt. W. Hornhurst, Parris Island; CWO F. J. Call, Parris Island, and team coach MSgt. C. E. Laver, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune.

Western Division's Gold team was second with 1752-114v.

In the individual rifle matches, CWO Gilmer Murdock shot 594-50v and won the McDougal Trophy. SSgt. R. J. Lewis was runner-up with 593-53v. Sgt. L. L. Graham posted 591-55v.

Lt. Col. W. W. McMillan, Marksmanship Training Unit, Quantico, was the individual pistol winner with 575-14x and was awarded the Walsh Trophy. El Toro's GySgt. G. E. Buck was second with 568-17x, followed by Sgt J. J. Bonafede with 558-18x.

McMillan also won the Lauchheimer Trophy for his combined rifle and pistol high score of 1166. Second was GySgt. R. G. Miller, 2d Marine Division, with 1149.

Sixty-eight riflemen and 50 pistol shooters competed. Forty-seven from the East Coast and 24 from the West Coast will train at Quantico for the Interservice Matches, which will be held there. After that, it is on to Camp Perry.

Navy Times, June 23, 1971

“For LtCol W. McMillan USMC a great Marine whose accomplishments have brought glory to our Corps. Warmest personal regards
Sincerely Rathvon Thompkins Maj Gen USMC.”

“To a great shooter Lt. Col. McMillan Sincerely
L B Robertshaw Lt Gen USMC Dep C/S Manpower.”

“To Colonel Bill McMillan with my warmest Congratulations for a
truely outstanding Accomplishment Lt General William G. Thrash”