We lost an American hero early this month, long before his time. David Harrington earned his Super Dave nickname back when he was in Army Special Forces. It came partly from his physique – he always looked as if he had stepped off the cover of a bodybuilding magazine — but also for his martial prowess. Brain cancer did what the warfighters of our country’s enemies could not. He passed peacefully in hospice in Baton Rouge, surrounded by his loved ones.
Back when he and I were both sponsored shooters on Team EoTac and later the Panteao Gun Team, he was always one of the men to beat. I was always impressed by the fact that in games where many competitors used tricked-out “race guns” Dave often competed with the guns he had carried for real, a stock Beretta 92 or a stock Glock 19.
When our team occasionally taught classes as a side event at major matches, I found Dave to be an outstanding instructor. Plain-spoken, clear, and patient with students, Dave Harrington lived up to the “Super” prefix others had given him in that respect too. He also had a self-effacing sense of humor: when our mutual friend Fernando Coelho gave him a Superman cape with “SD” emblazoned on the back, Dave wore it to a match. He didn’t take himself seriously.
The shooting world, and the nation, have both lost one of their champions.
Mas,
The one thing that I am the saddest about, now that I am 65 years of age, is that I now face losing the heroes of my youth.
Not only these shooting giants, and the many military members whose bravery was such that we still hear about it these many years later, but those people like musicians from the past who entertained myself and my high school classmates in the late 70’s.
Of course some of those same music heroes had feet that were definitely made of clay, but we all have both good and bad in ourselves.
Had the pleasure and honor of taking a class with him. Great instructor, real gentleman. Be at peace, Brother😢🙏🏻
RIP Dave.
Dad used to say: “the longer we live, the fewer family and friends we have because they keep dying”, Attrition is a fack of life
Only the good guys die young they say. Makes us old farts wonder what we’ve done wrong to still be here. Am 81.
Dave and I took a skill builder class together with Ben DeWalt this past January. It was wonderful to see him again after so many years. I had trained with Dave early in my pistol career, learning to shoot from a running Trailblazer. That helped me to not shoot your passenger side mirror during the MAG 120 ride in your Trailblazer. Dave will be sorely missed by all, some more than others. Quite the super squad is filling up in heaven.