Don McCoy, Chief Aviation Ordnanceman, USN, Retired

Bart B. · September 28, 2011, 07:31 AM

Mac passed away yesterday at his home in Santee, California. He was 92 years old.

Mac's first claim to fame was when he was recognized as a Pearl Harbor Survivor. He watched the planes come in bombing the ships that fateful morning.

He told me years ago one of his favorite moments was having a picture of him holding a match conditioned .45 ACP M1911 pistol put on the cover of American Rifleman. He was a very good pistol shot on the USN Pistol Team.

His Chief Petty Officer's uniform was adorned with both the USN Distinguished Pistol Shot and Distinguished Marksman (Rifle) solid gold badges when he retired from active duty.

He then worked at the US Navy Small Arms Match Conditioning Unit in San Diego, California rebuilding M1911 pistols for competition. Charlie Frasier (Chief Avaition Ordnanceman, USN, Retired) was the Unit manager and liked Mac's work on pistols. He asked Mac if he would like to work on M1 Garands, too. Don McCoy said, yes, he would.

This single change of jobs is the main reason the USN rebuilt Garands were more accurate than those of the US Army, US Marine Corps and the US Air Force. They never did quite catch up. Even after they began converting 30 caliber ones to 7.62 NATO, the M14NM's of the other services took a while to catch up with the Navy's M1's.

The rest is history.

"If you ain't shooting a Mac M1, you're just shootin' a rack grade gun."

Tim R · October 1, 2011, 06:38 PM

My thoughts and prayers tp the family.

As a shooter I know there were a number of people who hated to see someone show up on the line with one of McCoy's blond M-1's.

Doyle · October 2, 2011, 11:09 AM

Fair winds and following seas Chief.

Old Grump · October 2, 2011, 11:31 AM

I think I shot two of his rifles at White Sands as part of the rifle team 1970-73, made me look better than I was. Double distinguished put him on my list of most admired people because I know how hard that is to do and I only personally knew one other double distinguished shooter.

Waldog · October 11, 2011, 11:56 AM

I met Don at his home/shop. My friend was having his DCM Garand turned into a "Don McCoy" 308 Garand. Great guy! He will be missed.

September 28, 2011, 07:31 AM	#1
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	Don McCoy, Chief Aviation Ordnanceman, USN, Retired Mac passed away yesterday at his home in Santee, California. He was 92 years old. Mac's first claim to fame was when he was recognized as a Pearl Harbor Survivor. He watched the planes come in bombing the ships that fateful morning. He told me years ago one of his favorite moments was having a picture of him holding a match conditioned .45 ACP M1911 pistol put on the cover of American Rifleman. He was a very good pistol shot on the USN Pistol Team. His Chief Petty Officer's uniform was adorned with both the USN Distinguished Pistol Shot and Distinguished Marksman (Rifle) solid gold badges when he retired from active duty. He then worked at the US Navy Small Arms Match Conditioning Unit in San Diego, California rebuilding M1911 pistols for competition. Charlie Frasier (Chief Avaition Ordnanceman, USN, Retired) was the Unit manager and liked Mac's work on pistols. He asked Mac if he would like to work on M1 Garands, too. Don McCoy said, yes, he would. This single change of jobs is the main reason the USN rebuilt Garands were more accurate than those of the US Army, US Marine Corps and the US Air Force. They never did quite catch up. Even after they began converting 30 caliber ones to 7.62 NATO, the M14NM's of the other services took a while to catch up with the Navy's M1's. The rest is history. "If you ain't shooting a Mac M1, you're just shootin' a rack grade gun." Last edited by Bart B.; September 28, 2011 at 10:09 AM.

October 1, 2011, 06:38 PM	#2
Tim R Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2004 Location: God's side of Washington State Posts: 1,601	My thoughts and prayers tp the family. As a shooter I know there were a number of people who hated to see someone show up on the line with one of McCoy's blond M-1's. __________________ God Bless our Troops especially our Snipers.

October 2, 2011, 11:31 AM	#4
Old Grump Member in memoriam Join Date: April 9, 2009 Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in Posts: 3,144	I think I shot two of his rifles at White Sands as part of the rifle team 1970-73, made me look better than I was. Double distinguished put him on my list of most admired people because I know how hard that is to do and I only personally knew one other double distinguished shooter. __________________ Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. --Daniel Webster--

October 11, 2011, 11:56 AM	#5
Waldog Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2007 Location: SOCAL Posts: 359	I met Don at his home/shop. My friend was having his DCM Garand turned into a "Don McCoy" 308 Garand. Great guy! He will be missed. __________________ I am the Christian Conservative that CNN warned you about!! “Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy.” Winston Churchill

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October 2, 2011, 11:09 AM	#3
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	Fair winds and following seas Chief.