During the period following the Civil War the Army experienced a phenomenon that has since been repeated a number of times.  They found that the average recruit or conscript had been reared in an urban environment, and did not know how to shoot well.

In 1884 the U.S. Army instituted a competitive program designed to improve marksmanship in the ranks.  This was a competition with the current rifle, and the top soldiers were recognized with a badge, the

In 1891 the Army expanded this program introducing the

In 1995, when I finally became a Distinguished Pistol Shot, the Army had awarded 1460 of these badges since their inception.  As MG Gundermann said in presenting it to me "that is an awful lot of boots" for such a small number of medals!!!

My personal goal is to join Ed Hickman of the US Navy, and my friend Bruce Woodford and approximately 234 other US Army soldiers who are "Double Distinguished".

Shortly I expect to have some graphics with this page.
To become distinguished you will have to accumulate
30 or more "Excellence-in-Competition" points.

These may be earned in various competitions, but you may fire only four matches for points a year, and may earn up to ten points per match.  Many people have become distinguished in a single year.  But some less skilled or talented may take many years to achieve the badge.  It took me 11 years, for various reasons, to become distinguished.  Of all the awards I have earned in the military, this is the hardest thing I have achieved.