The Most Unforgettable Character I've Never Met...(Sorry Readers Digest)

I mentioned and quoted someone in my last post that I have been pondering and studying for a while now. As I learn more about this man, I am more and more impressed with his 86 orbits of the sun.

Lieutenant Colonel John Dean "Jeff" Cooper is this man. A battle tested marine of two wars, a hunter of African big game, trainer of kings and presidents from around the world, mentor to the common hand-gunner, historian, inventor, innovator, race car driver, pilot, author, and on and on. Renaissance Man? Well, I think he closely approaches that appellation's definition, and in many ways achieves its meaning and stature. Oh! and he loved John Moses Browning's M1911 pistol.

The legacy of Col. Cooper is varied and widespread. He left us with a universal approach to proper behavior with a firearm that is now, de rigueur globally. "A firearm is ALWAYS loaded." Sound familiar? "Never point a weapon at something you don't intend to destroy", "Do not put your finger on the trigger until your sights are on the target, AND you have identified the target, AND what is beyond." That's him.

His ideas about the "Combat Mindset", and preparing for the unexpected in everyday circumstances, is the basis for his curriculum concerning survival during a lethal encounter. Yes, having certain self-defense skills is important, but the ability to keep a cool head (the mind), is the difference between living and dying when the "Goblin" is dead-set on your demise. Turning fear into anger, if you have a defensive firearm, focusing on the front sight and threat/target, aiming "center mass", and squeezing the trigger for the "surprise" break. These things are meant to STOP the Goblin's threat, NOT to kill. When firearms are part of the encounter, death is most likely the final outcome to that deadly situation, but in Col. Cooper's mind, KILLING is the purview of the criminal felon, STOPPING threat is the primal reaction of the human being. Providing the skills, and more importantly, the trained mindset to STOP lethal threats is what his later life was dedicated to.

Over the years, from the late 1950's on, Col. Cooper developed his "Defensive Pistol Techniques" which are used worldwide. He developed the "Scout" type rifle from his extensive hunting experience in Rhodesia. He also was prominent in the development of competitive pistol design (the Bren Ten), and practical use pistol competitions.

Col. Jeff Cooper made a very good living getting paid for his knowledge, and using his experience and abilities to train men and women to protect their own lives, the lives of their loved ones, and or the lethally threatened. His training grounds, "Gunsite", and home "The Sconce", in Arizona, is used to this day to instill his ideas and practices into the minds and bodies of paying customers. I hope someday to pay a visit myself, and learn what I can in one week's time, from the devoted employees and followers of his way of training and preparation for the deadly situation we all hope will never come to pass.

I will close this entry with a quote that is engraved over the mantel of Col. Cooper's home, "The Sconce":

"Mind must be the stronger, heart the bolder, courage must be the greater, as our might lessens."

From the manuscript of Otho A.xii, The Battle of Maldon

If this entry peaked your interest, look him up...he's the real deal.

Happy New Year to One and All!

Gaff