On this date....

[David LaPell]

In 1915 my grandfather Walt Coon was born. At 15 he left home and rode the rails during the Great Depression looking for work. As a kid he used to shoot jackrabbits with a .22 laying over the fender of his father's car. Then he later became a championship boxer who many titles. During WWII he joined the 82nd Airborne and jumped behind enemy lines at Normandy. He came home, worked for a dairy and retired in 1973. A lifelong hunter, outdoorsman and trapper, he killed more deer than most people have probably seen. He passed away in 1999 at the age of 84. Here is a picture of one of his deer in 1936.

 

[Muddyboot]

Great old photograph of the greatest generation. Is that rifle still in the family.

 

[David LaPell]

Yes it belongs to one of my cousins now. I know he was still using it until the late 1980's that I can recall. He picked it up in 1929 (used I think) and it was of course in .30-30, was a saddle ring carbine and had a tang sight.

 

[MSgt G]

A great picture! You can tell by the smile on his face that he's proud of his buck. Thanks for sharing!