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I have two medals that are 14 k gold that belonged (won) to a father I never knew. One says "Distinguished" at the top of a shield with a ceramic paper target underneath and then it says "Pistol Shot". The other says the same but "Rifle Shot" I believe. The latter is stored around the house somewhere but I have the pistol one in front of me now. On the back his name is engraved, "George L. Jacobsen" 1939.

Anyone familar with this guy and/or know what it takes to be a 'Distinguished Shot' <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" /> I also have pictures taken back in the 50s of him holding 3' tall trophies he won in I think Pa. at, could it be Altoona ?? That word is written on the back of several photos.

I've been a hunter all my life and have his blood running in me but sad to say, I wasn't in his life.

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Not sure on exactly what it entailed at that time. But since I and my wife both have the rifle ones and I"m 2/3 of the way to the pistol one I"ll relate it for what it means today.

Pistol. 4 matches a year max. Takes 30 points to get the badge. Fired 50 yards one handed, iron sights. 10 rounds. No sighters. Then 25 yards 2 strings of 5 rounds each, 20 seconds timed fire. No sighters. Then 25 yards , same course of fire 10 seconds each, rapid fire. Folks that are already distinguished do not count, all that are in the "hunt" count and only the top 10% get awards. IE one medal given if 10 folks shoot. Points awarded vary from a low of 6 to a high of 10 if you win the match. Xring 3 inches, 10 ring 6 inches and so on.(Trust me it is not easy.)

Rifle no sighters, 10 rounds standing offhand, no sling 200 yards. 10 minutes. 10 ring is 6 inches. Same target for sitting rapid fire at 200 yards, no sighters, start standing, fall to position, fire 2, swap mags, fire 8 more in 60 seconds. Go to 300 yards repeat rapid drill but in 70 seconds. Go to 600 yards, 20 shots in 20 minutes, 10 ring is 12 inches.

All matches, Iron sights only.

Check out www.odcmp.com for more info on distinguished matches, commonly called leg matches.

Sounds like your dad was a good shot. Back then, probably shot with the 45 and the 1903 springfield rifle on a target called 5V with a bit larger "10 rings"

BTW these days it takes about a 270 out of 300 to make the "cut" or earn points with a pistol. And it takes about 475 out of 500 to do it with a rifle on average. I"ve never been a good pistol shot, but can shoot a rifle fair at least.

Also could have a badge number on the medals. My badge was circa 1200s and wifes 1300s and thats been 10 or more years back.

Jeff


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<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Thanks so much for your lengthy description. The top 10 % rang a bell with me and I have his 'accuratized' 45 still. Yes, I'm sure he shot a Springfield as he was a 'bolt rifle guy' until the M1 was around at Camp Perry. He worked at Frankford Arsenal as a super of some type. Again thanks.

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Good info, Jeff, and good shooting to you and your wife. Good luck in your quest to get "Double Distinguished".

I have bronze EIC (Excellence in Competition) badges in both rifle and pistol. As you earn more EIC points, you eventually earn the Silver EIC badge (when you reach 20 points) and ultimately the Distiguished Shooter Medal (when you reach 30 points). If I remember correctly, points get harder to earn as you progress. You can't just continue to be the top gun at local matches and earn your points. You must continue to attend higher and higher levels of competition to win more points.

I haven't shot a leg match in over a decade, but I sure enjoyed them. My last match was at Fort Benning, GA. The Army Marksmanship Unit was putting on a week-long "train the trainer" marksmanship class. My commander at the time knew I was heavy into shooting, so he sent me. Our week ended with a two-day EIC match. It was a nice feeling of accomplishment to place in the top 10% shooting beside former Olympic Team members, President's 100 tab awardees, and other high caliber folks. I made EIC points with the pistol, but missed them with the rifle. I missed the rifle cut-off score by one point.

idahochukar2, being double distinguished (Earning Distinguished Medals in both the rifle and pistol) is a heck of an accomplishment. When I got the paperwork that accompanied my awards, the stat sheet stated that there were fewer than 300 Double-Distinguished shooters since the inception of the program (late 1800's, if I remember correctly). I got my badges back in the middle 90's, so I am sure there are a few more more now, but being double distiguished is still a very rare thing. Hang onto those medals. There aren't many of them around.


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Dan

Great info. I"m honored to be in presence of a DD competitor. I"ve only shot 3 pistol matches netting 2 golds and an also ran.... I"m not a pistol shooter, but would like to snag the other 10 points just to do it. One of these years I"ll make another pistol match. Figuring shouldn't take more than 1-2 more to get 10 more points..... I stand strong on timed and slow fire. Rapid kills me.

You finished out some data on 10-20-30. IIRC they did away with some of the toughness regs. Used to be you had to earn a medal at Perry OR have a hard leg, IE a full 10 pointer win, IE could not shoot all 6 points legs. But that was done away with but my wife and I did it when it was a reg. Makes it easier these days but its still tough.

Got the P100 a few times rifle wise, never been to Perry for pistol but thinking...... manage the DD badge, then I should buy a pistol instead of borrowing one, and go to Perry a few times for P100 in pistol too.

Idaho: Take to heart what Dan has said. Those badges may not have monetary value to many(though as history CMP would be interested, especially that it attaches to DD status)
Those badges would very dear to my heart, even not intimately knowing my father. Family heirlooms for sure in my book. After reading my posts and Dan's you should rest assured the accomplishment was very major and from a fine shooter.
Altoona is a range I've heard mentioned before in PA if my memory is correct.
If you want to link more info, there is a website, nationalmatch.us where there are folks from the PA area that are this type of shooters and may eventually be able to lead you to more background info.
Also note there is a book held at Camp Perry in Ohio that lists more data of all distinguished shooters, I browse in it time to time when at Perry and killing time. May well show more info date wise on the medals.

Good luck and congrats, Jeff


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Jeff, I hope you do make the extra 10 points for your pistol badge. Becoming Double Distiguished is a heck of a goal to work towards, and once realized, you will certainly be a peer among greats. I wish you the best.

I wish I would have pursued competitive shooting a little more when I was in the Army. I only shot two rifle matches and one pistol match. I would have liked to work on upgrading my bronze badges to Distinguished Medals, but at the time I just didn't have a lot of extra time or money. Full-time job, full-time college student, new wife, etc. Maybe now is the time to get back into it?

I coach a junior rifle team, now, so I live vicariously through them. Twice I've taken the team to matches at the Olympic Training Center, in Colorado Springs, in the last three years. Even though I didn't compete as a shooter, I sure enjoyed sharing their excitement of the moment.


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Having coached a 3rd place Whistler Boy Jr team at Perry, I know what you mean. Almost better than placing yourself.

No better time than now to pick it up again.

I've stopped shooting and getting back into hunting. Which means no more 8-10K rounds of 223 each year. BUT it also means I could make time for a pistol match soon enough, and maybe practice a few weeks before to ensure getting more points.

Thanks for the good thoughts!! Best wishes to you! Merry Christmas!! Maybe our paths will cross when I'm in AK one year!

Jeff


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<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Old memories of Competition Shooting

The DD man represented Frankford Arsenal at Camp Perry back in the 50s. I remembered watching dad 'dry fire' a hundred rounds off hand at a target on the garage wall from the back porch every evening after work. That started months before going to Perry. Then at 'bout 14 years old I got my own shooting coat and joined him on the porch with another M1 he had. I was a big kid at the time in 7th grade and eventually got to hold an M1 to my shoulder with just the right arm for strengthing and toning the muscles like he did. With two hands we'd raise the rifle up into the air and when we lowered it to the target with a good hold, we'd take our left hand off the forearm completley and hold the rifle as long as we could.....I became an 'Expert Marksman' that summer at Perry.

One summer, must have been in 8th grade, <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> I attended the markmanship training program at Perry and I got to be a Qualified Instructor !!!! For a few years I entered the whole shooting match thing along with dad, even shooting the Wimbleton. Even beat him once during one of the rapid fire matches with the M1. Man, I was a proud kid.

Then he went away and just by chance in highschool I was at the Lyman Gunsight Range in Middleton, Conn. while the Conn. rifle team was practicing and I asked if I could possibly shoot in the next shooting round which happend to be a rapid fire....I don't recall the distance but it was in the sitting position and the nice range guy said, 'Sure, do you have a rifle to shoot "? I said "no, I was down there to sight in my deer rifle".
"Well, all we have here is a Springfield for you to shoot". Do you think you can use that"? I replied "Yes" as I'd fired a Springfield before and watched the lightening fast wrist action of my dad and thought I could do it. I put on a borrowed shooting coat and when the time came I fell to the sitting position as I'd learned in previous matches and in shooting school at Perry. I shot one round and the guy to my left was shooting an M1 and his first shot shell ejected just after I fired my first round. His shell landed between my neck and collar and I thought holy #@7%%.

I let it sit there and burn my skin and kept my concentration on working the bolt, keeping a good sight picture and squeezing the trigger. The range officer was standing right behind me the whole time, taking in everything, I would have imagined with a huge grin. My last round was fired just a second before time was called.

When the scores came up I'd beaten the whole team with firing 10 rounds in 60 seconds, IIRC. With a bull horn the range officer said, "Well fellas, you're not going to believe this but a kid just beat all of you with a Springfield". A whole bunch of men came around and shook my hand. Made me feel pretty good when I was asked if I was interested in joining the team as a Junior Member and going to Perry !!!!!!!!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

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idahochukar2,
The CMP maintains a list of past Distinguished Rifle and Pistol shots. I found your dad's name on the Pistol list, but not the Rifle list. He was also absent from the "Multiple" badge listing. Their list by their own admission is far from complete, and I'd bet they'd appreciate your updating them with the addition of your dad to the Rifle and "Multiple" listing.

Here's list to the CMP Distinguished listing;
http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/report_distinguished.cgi

Other's have touched on this already, but I'll add my two cents worth. A few things such as the current service rifles and other gear have changed since your dad shot, but core elements remain and a Distinguished award of any flavor remains very highly thought of in Competitive shooting circles. To add some luster to your Dad's award...he achieved his awards when shooting was much larger than it is today. Matches were much larger and military support for competitive shooting was much greater back then...thus it was significantly more difficult to earn these awards. Jeff mentions badge numbers. I'd bet your dad's were awarded at a time before they started numbering civilian badges (there was no service affiliation noted on the CMP Pistol listing).
For more reading on the history and significance of your Dad's awards, read the linked articles;
http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/Distinguished_History.pdf
http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/In_Distinguished_Company_Culver_2000.pdf

Here are some pics of older medals from the 1920's and one from the 2000 time frame to compare.
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
Note the engraving style on the back along with the pins to attach the enameled "target" to the badge.

Here's the plated medals they're issuing these days;
[Linked Image]

Hopefully we can impart enough information about the significance of these medals that you'll be motivated to hang onto them as a piece of something your father enjoyed and achieved in. Better yet, may they inspire you to pursue the same challenges that he did.

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I think the others have done alot to share how significant the Distinguished awards are in the competitive shooting world. I'll try to add to that.

Your dad earned his awards during a time when competitive shooting was much bigger than it is now, and the military was involved to a much larger degree than they are today. As a result, it was significantly more difficult to earn a distinguished badge back then than it is today. The CMP Database indicates that he did it as a civilian which adds a further degree of difficulty to his awards.
Here's the link to the CMP Database. Interestingly, I found him in the Pistol list, but not the Rifle list and not the "Multiples" listing. The CMP databse is by no means complete and I'm sure they would love for you to fill in their blanks on your father's awards.
http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/report_distinguished.cgi

Here are links to some articles about the history and significance of the Distinguished Awards;
http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/Distinguished_History.pdf
http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/In_Distinguished_Company_Culver_2000.pdf

Here are some pics of badges from the 1920's and one from the current era for comparison (plated, not solid gold!). Notice the engraving style on the back of the old one (similar to your dad's?), and the pins that affix the enameled target to the badge. (Jeff, I don't think they numbered badges until much later. idahochukar2, I also believe the "rifle" badges were labeled "Distinguished Marksman" on the front until a few decades later).
[Linked Image][Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

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Dam, you guys are knocking me off my rocker. How nice it is of you to take pictures and add the additional web sights to visit and read 'bout the CMP history.

If only I had a scanner I'd send a picture of my mom wearing a medal on her blazer holding my sister who was just several weeks old in 1941. Come to think of it maybe the other medal is in the same chest where the old family 'stuff' is. I'm 100 % positive both medals are solid gold and exactly like the photos put here.

As a side note: George Jacobsen retired to Africa and lived a grand life as a WH for several outfits, even going out with the Zambezian Game Dept. (he was a buddy to the major domo of the dept.) to do game control work and take care of 'problem lions', which were his favorite game to hunt. He was known among the natives as knocking down game with a rifle as the game was running, that's how good a shot he was !

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Chris F is among the finest highpower shooters you'll ever have the pleasure of meeting!! He goes out of his way to help. Much more so than myself.

Jeff


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<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I was born in the morning but not yesterday morning. Thanks, I know I'm in good company <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

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While I'm not sure I'm worthy of the kind words, I am grateful. I think anyone that has spent any time at a Highpower Match will agree that it's just typical of the breed. Jeff has certainly bestowed similar and even greater kindness to myself and countless others.

idahochukar2, your father sounds like he lived quite a life. I will hope that those medals will keep what memories you have of him close at hand.

Merry Christmas to all...

Last edited by ChrisF; 12/24/06.

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