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November 7, 2015
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Attended a visitation for a Marine who served his country in parts of SE Asia quite possibly before many of his countrymen knew we were involved in that conflict. He was a prolific Marine sniper before it was trendy or cool. In 1963 he joined the Denton, TX police department and served their early tactical team as a sniper. He was also an early PPC pistol team member. When the tactical team was re-formed in the 1980’s he was again a sniper. His spotter was a cocky youngster named Benny Parkey, Benny was later elected Denton County Sheriff. A few years before that Jim talked me into meeting him for breakfast very early one rainy Saturday morning in March and later I shot my first PPC match with him at the Dallas PD range. Several years later I finally made my first Governor’s Twenty, also in the rain. Yes, I was thinking of my first match when I finally pulled it off!
Today we met at a funeral home to honor Jim Bush’s memory. Denton PD sent their Honor Guard, Uncle Sam sent three of his Misguided Children to serve as an additional Honor Guard. Jim’s son Cody followed in his father’s footsteps, he spent three tours in Fallujah, IIRC. Jim was one of the toughest, and at the same time, kindest men I have ever known. He was also quite a good shot with a rife and pistol. He was wounded and nearly killed early in his career. He went on to train dozens of great officers and served as a firearms instructor for much of his career. I’d like to say that he used a Winchester but his later issue rifle was not. His USMC issued weapon was probably not a Winchester, either.
He was an exceptional firearms instructor, friend, training officer and best backup an officer could have. He was what cops used to be. A handful of us old school cops found ourselves in a back hallway of the funeral home getting re-acquainted. Some of the toughest men I’ve had the pleasure to work with. I looked around and suggested we could take over a small country. We briefly considered including the USMC honor guard In our plans but decided they were too young. 😉
Semper Fi, indeed.
Mike
November 7, 2015
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Was feeling a bit nostalgic today. Jim carried a rather non-descript Colt 1911 Government Model much of his career but I shot a bullseye match or two with him, I knew it was no ordinary Colt. My old warhorse is a bit fancier as it was built like many of the earlier IPSC 45’s of the day. I retained the original Series 70 barrel so it held me back a bit at the BE matches. It made a great duty gun, on days like today it feels good in an old El Paso Saddlery holster.
Mike
Very sorry to hear of the loss of your friend.As we get older, this seems to happen more and more,I am sad to say.
Mike – a very powerful and compelling story and history. Thank you for sharing. The loss of your friend is a large one. They don’t make them like him anymore. I’d be pleased to be proved wrong on this point.
Mike very nice eulogy for Your friend, I would say He was a person Who undoubtedly earned the respect He has been given by His friends. My condolences and thanks for sharing.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
November 7, 2015
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Thanks, Harry. Jim was indeed a good and respected friend to many people.
And Steve, you’re right about not making them like Jim any more. Old school cops are dinosaurs and don’t do well under today’s constraints. At least the job pays pretty good these days.
Mike
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