++++ In Memoriam ++++

[Badger]

Update ...

Regards,
Badger (Doug)

[Badger]

Update ...

Regards,
Badger (Doug)

[jmoore]

If I might add a personal friend; grandfatherly figure to many in the local firearms/military collectors community and an all around fine man, "Chief" Jay Stongbow passed on April 4, 2012. He will be missed by many!

[Badger]

Michael Petrov (1946 - 2014) R.I.P.

Attachment 50017
Click PIC To Enlarge

Following a courageous fight with cancer, Michael Petrov died February 17th, 2014 at the Providence Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska.

Micheal was born in 1946 in Oregon and grew up in Colorado. In 1963 he joined the Army and was discharged in 1966 as a Sergeant E-5. He returned to Colorado and stayed long enough to earn some money to buy a pickup truck and head North. He ran out of road in Alaska and lived there ever since.

He spent his career working in a remote location with a schedule of one week at work then one week at home. With all the time off he started doing historical firearms research. His specific area of research, study and collecting was pre-1940 American custom rifles using the 1903 Springfield and Mauser actions.

At first he did research for other writers but then started writing himself. He had been retired for about ten years and wrote about three to four articles a year for Precision Shooting magazine. His first book was published by Precision Shooting and is titled Custom Gunmakers of the 20th Century (click here).

Michael was a highly valued member of our Milsurps Advisory Panel and his many contributions to 1903 Springfield research with be sorely missed by our community. Fortunately, his articles and books live on, creating an everlasting legacy for this wonderful man.

Regards,
Doug

[Badger]

Rob J. Cosgrove (Member Name: ordnancebob)
Sgt (Ret'd) CD, RCEME (Died February 14th, 2014) R.I.P.

Written by Sgt T. Beresford RCEME (Ret'd) Camp Borden ….

Rob joined the Canadian Army Reserve (Militia) at 23 (Hamilton) Service Battalion as a Weapon’s Technician (Land) in Maintenance Company of the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch on 16 Jan 1986. He progressed through the ranks and was promoted to the rank of Sgt on 1 Nov 1993.

He was extensively employed in training of both Recruits, Apprentices, Journeymen ans Trade Specialist Supervisors over the years. Rob had many employments at Borden, Meaford, Petawawa, Chilliwack, and Gagetown in positions of increasing importance and responsibility. He was awarded his First Clasp for his Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) on 16 Jan 2008 and retired from the Canadian Forces on 19 Apr 2013 with 25 years of accumulated pensionable service.

Rob was able to meld his love for history and culture with his passion for his chosen profession over the years and enjoyed a number of hobbies and activities including World War 2 Re-enacting, Black Powder and Cowboy style pistol range shooting, and not to forget his love of Star Trek conventions. A proud highpoint was his participation in the European battlefield tours.

His RCEME Period Dress participation in numerous commemorative events and acts of remembrance made him a recognizable and welcome feature within the Simcoe County veteran's community. He really opened up when talking to the older veterans after our events, taking special care of those former RCEME veterans residing in retirement homes. Words to the Last Post: Come home! Come home!

The Last Post is sounding for you to hear. All good soldiers know very well there is nothing to fear, While they do what is right, and forget All the worries they have met, In their duties through the year. A soldier cannot always be great. But he can be a gentleman, And he can be a right good friend, to his comrades in his squad. So all you soldiers listen to this – Deal fair by all and you’ll not be amiss. Be Brave! Be Just! Be Honest and True - Men!

Rob was a quiet, well read, gentle giant and a loyal friend and brother-in-arms and will be sadly and genuinely missed. Arte et Marte!

[Badger]

Dick Culver (April 9th, 1936 - February 24th, 2014) R.I.P.

On behalf of all of our site staff, moderators and members at milsurps.com, I wanted to extend our sincerest sympathies to Gloria and the entire Jouster community.

Doug

Silver Star Citation - Richard O. Culver, Jr.



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Condolences and cards of remembrance may be sent to:

Gloria Culver
2900 N. Government Way #12
Coeur d'Alene ID 83815

Info is about the local service in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho).

Funeral services with full military honors will be at 2:00 pm on Monday, March 10, 2014, at English Funeral Chapel, at 1133 N. 4th St., Coeur d’Alene, ID. After the service, there will be a reception at VFW Post 889 at 406 N. 4th St. in Coeur d’Alene, at 3:00 pm.

Viewing will be from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Sunday, March 9, and again on Monday, March, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.

••• Arlington Services for Major Dick Culver- Wednesday, May 28, at 3:00pm••••

A Warrior Passes

Major Richard O. Culver, Jr. USMC (Ret)
April 9th, 1936--February 24th, 2014

Major Richard O. Culver, Jr., USMC, (Ret) known to all as “Dick”, passed on to Sky Six on Monday evening, February 24th, in Cour d’Alene, Idaho. Dick was often known as “the Jouster” because he fearlessly addressed any topic, whether military or political, with gusto. He and his wife, Gloria, hosted the website “Culver’s Shooting Page--Gun Talk”, and served as the Sniping/Countersniping contributing editor to Soldier of Fortune.

Dick had the distinction of being the first child born on Alcatraz Island (4-9-1936). His father was a lieutenant in the guard section, and he and his wife lived in the family quarters on the island. His father, LtCol. Richard O. Culver, USMC (Ret), was also a Marine, and fought in the “Banana Wars” and served in China. Dick enlisted in the Marines at age 17 and after his enlistment attended college at Virginia Military Institute (1954-58) majoring in physics. After graduation he received a commission in the Marine Corps. A Force Recon Marine, his later combat experience occurred in Vietnam where he served as a company commander in an infantry battalion. While serving as skipper of H Co., 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines in Vietnam, Dick was awarded the Silver Star for actions that occurred on July 21st, 1967 during a firefight with a North Vietnamese Army company. Dick exposed himself to fire several times, rallied his Marines, coordinated fire and medevacs, called in artillery and air support, and forced the enemy to break contact after suffering numerous casualties.

After Vietnam, it was decided to form a permanent Scout/Sniper program in the Marine Corps instead of losing the skills as had happened after past wars when sniper programs were disbanded as soon as the war ended. Major Culver helped form, and commanded, the first USMC Scout-Sniper Instructor School, formed at Quantico. His senior NCO was famed Marine Corps sniper GySgt Carlos Hathcock. Also playing a key part in the organization and logistics of the school was Major E. James Land, who is now Executive Secretary of the NRA, and served as Hathcock’s commander in Vietnam when Land established the 1st Marine Division Sniper School near Da Nang.

Major Culver is survived by his wife, Gloria, of Cour d’Alene, and his son James R. Culver of Dothan, Alabama. Dick will be sorely missed by all.
Internment will be at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.

Craig Roberts
LTC, USA, Ret.
USMC, RVN 1965-66

Who the Hell is Dick Culver, and where did he come from anyway?
Complete Article - PDF File Download
PDF file size= 23k



(Click PIC to read and save Adobe PDF File)
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[Bob Womack]

Goodbye, Dick. Loved the stories.

Bob

[jimb16]

It is hard to see such men pass into history. Their contributions are legend.

[Bill Hollinger]

RIP Mr. Culver.

[Rick the Librarian]

Dick was a friend and a lot of what have today, we owe to him, as far as online firearms. May he rest in peace.