No shortage of WWII veteran influence being a kid growin' up back on the 60's. Nearly every guy over thirty-five years old had served in one unit of service or another. That meant practically every Dad, uncle, schoolteacher, shopkeeper, mailman, ball coach... you name it. Except amongst themselves (we assume) not one ever mentioned a word of the experience. On rare occasion (usually after over indulging a few too many Schlitz or Black Labels) one may sentiment over the friendship or bravery of a buddy who never made it back, but that was it. Nearly all shared an integrity nearly unknown in the current times.
SSgt Pop, US Army Air Corps, WWII
We're guessin' around 18 - 20 years old
Finally of age to acquire a PA hunting license. That meant acquiring a first shotgun. Received a new single shot, breach load, full choke .410 gauge H&R Topper model. Man - was expectin' at least a 16 gauge slide action. This was a toy compared to all the neighborhood buddies 12, 16 and 20 gauge side by side, over and under and pump actions. Was hesitant to show it to 'em, knowing that they'd scoff at such, which they did (except when in the presence of Pop). No big deal. They're all older guys, so got picked on a lot anyway - was used to the harassment. First year out, and for the time bein' was only allowed to hunt with Pop anyway until thoroughly having undergone his training. And there was method behind his selection of the .410.
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Harrington & Richardson Topper
Pop hunted a 1940's era Winchester Model (19)12. Internal hammer, 12 gauge. Think it was a six shot magazine. Same model as his preferred service arm. Keep the trigger depressed between rounds and you could "rack fire" almost like an automatic. Came to quickly realize that he was lightening fast and deadly with that thing. First day of small game and we're not long off into the field when two cottontails broke side by side then split reverse direction probably forty-five degrees. He rapid fired off two shots dropping both, all before I even shouldered the Topper (or even realized what was goin' on for that matter). Immediately impressed on my part. He followed up with two quick ringneck kills. All before our first pass the length of the small pasture - and I'd had yet to get a shot off.
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Early 'Winchester Model 12' magazine ad
He wound up shootin' more game that first morning than I did all that first season. And there was plenty of quarry back then. Eventually sensing a bit of frustration coming from my direction, he scheduled more squirrel hunting than usual, which was more forgiving to a slow on the draw kid. All throughout he never suggested another firearm on my part, despite my repeated motion to such, which always went ignored.
Inexplicably, after much "trial and tribulation", one day everything just gelled as if all happened overnight. Had finally become pretty proficient with that single shot. First time out with the buddies the scoffs shortly became silent. Was matchin' 'em each shot for shot.
Eventually pop got us a Beagle pup, which, through patience and a bit additional trial and tribulation, we trained into being a pretty good gun dog. Every third house on the block had a hound dog or a few penned up in the back yard. Got her from a neighbors litter, who was also a hunting buddy. Frequently being able to let her run with her seasoned rabbit hound mother quickened that learning curve.
Received Pop's '50's era Winchester .30-30 lever rifle as a pass along for PA deer. He stuck with the Model 12 chambering 12 gauge "pun'kin ball" slugs for the same. Mention pun'kin ball now'days and most will have no clue as to what you're talking about. Conversely, guys weren't runnin' around heavily store bought as well. Camouflage, scoped high-powered rifles and such were for the bad guys (Roy Rogers - 'Springtime in the Sierras' - must of seen it 50 times). Besides, the "krauts" frequently wore camouflage - so not wise to be runnin' around the woods decked as such should you shock one of the former European front boys to temporarily forget where they're at.
Somewhere in India - SSgt Pop out savin' the world
We're bettin' that frequently lookin' down the opposite end of an Axis gunsight improves your speed and aim as well
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