Peterson Airman wins silver at U.S. National Shotgun Championships

Published July 2, 2007
By Master Sgt. Jeffrey J. Julig
Air Force International Trap Team

KERRVILLE, Texas -- Airman recently competed here against our nation's best international shotgun shooters to determine the U.S. National Champion for Olympic shooting sports.

The four-day competition concluded with Airmen wearing gold and silver medals and taking home three team awards in international trap. Maj. Michael W. Herman, 21st Services Squadron, placed second behind teammate Lt. Col. Dominic Grazioli (Randolph Air Force, Texas) who dominated the four-day competition and broke a near perfect 99 out of 100 targets on the first day of the match.

After the 300-target qualification round, Colonel Grazioli led all competitors and held an eight-target lead over his teammate Major Herman, who posted the second highest score. Colonel Grazioli held the lead at the end of the final round despite an aggressive charge by Major Herman who narrowed the lead to only five targets.

As the nation's top international trap marksman, Colonel Grazioli also won the General Curtis E. LeMay trophy. General LeMay, commander in chief, Strategic Air Command, from October 1948 to July 1957 and Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force, from July 1961 to January 1965, was an avid shooter and championed marksmanship within the Air Force. The LeMay trophy resides in the U.S. Olympic Training Center here in Colorado Springs. "As Airmen, we were all proud to see our teammate receive the LeMay trophy" Major Herman said.

Airmen also took home top prizes in the team events. Colonel Grazioli, Major Herman, and Staff Sgt. James M. Agee Jr., also assigned to the 21st Services Squadron, won the three-man team event. In the two-man team event, Colonel Grazioli and Major Herman placed first and Master Sgt. Jeffrey J. Julig (Bolling Air Force Base, D.C.) and Sergeant Agee finished third.

"We are ready for the Olympic Trials" Major Herman said after the final event, referring to the match set to begin this fall to select the 2008 Olympic Team. Major Herman and Sergeant Agee train at the Olympic Training Center's International Shooting Park located on Fort Carson and are assigned to the 21st Services Squadron as part the Air Force World Class Athlete Program. Major Herman was an alternate for the 2004 Olympic team.

Major Herman will travel to Brazil this summer to compete in the Pan-American Games and then to Cyprus in the fall for the World Championships. He is an accomplished international shooter and earned his latest World Cup medal in 2006 when brought home a bronze medal from World Cup Qingyuan City, China.

The presence of Air Force shooters in international and national-level events carries forward the proud tradition of marksmanship within the U.S. Air Force. "Marksmanship is a critical expeditionary skill; the discipline, commitment, and concentration needed to win at this level exemplify qualities demonstrated by America's Airmen everyday" officials said. With the 2008 Olympic trials only months away, Airmen will continue to train to earn a place on the U.S. Olympic Team. Despite program budget cuts, shooting team Airmen continue to compete and win as representatives of the Air Force and their country.

Sharp shooters