‘I Was Hooked’: Vietnam Veteran Competes in IDPA Match with Support from Vedder Holsters
Vedder Holsters is proud to announce its sponsorship of Navy Veteran Rick Junge as he competes in the 2025 Idaho State International Defensive Pistol (IDPA) Championship.
Although experienced with firearms, it wasn’t until after he retired that Junge first entered the world of pistol shooting competitions. While shooting opportunities were few and far between during his service in the U.S. Navy as a Supply Corps lieutenant and disbursing officer on a guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin, Junge was required to qualify with a .45-caliber 1911.
“The ship did its last deployment to Vietnam in 1972–73,” Junge said. “The war was over, and so was my obligation, so I returned home to Boise, Idaho. Born there, still there. Idaho is ideal for shooters, as it has very few restrictions on gun owners.”
It was a friend who initially encouraged Junge to enter his first IDPA match following his retirement in 2013, and helped him get equipped with a gun, holster, and safety resources.
“I was hooked,” Junge said. “Shooting became my primary hobby, since I was too old to water ski on the lake.”
One IDPA competition became two, and before he knew it, Junge was participating in up to three local matches a month, rain or shine, through both the IDPA and the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA). He soon became an IDPA safety officer as well.
Practicing and competing with his trusty Walther PDP Full Size Steel Frame, Junge trains with a few friends weekly in addition to participating in local matches. Using their own targets, props, walls, fault lines, and other equipment, they fire a few hundred rounds per training session to refine their techniques.
Junge approaches his sport with enthusiasm and focuses on having fun, improving his skills, and meeting new friends in the 2A community.
“The best part of shooting is the people,” he said. “I have developed wonderful friendships, a number of them. They make shooting fun. Lots of mutual assistance and friendly joking with each other makes for a fun day at the range, regardless of the results.”
Where to Watch The Competition
Sponsored by Vedder Holsters, Rick Junge will compete in the 2025 Idaho State International Defensive Pistol Championship hosted by the Nampa Rod & Gun Club in Nampa, Idaho.
The championship will be held on September 5–6, 2025. Staff will compete on September 5, while the main match will take place on September 6. Competitors will complete 12 stages in the competition and will fire a minimum of 198 rounds of ammunition.
Read more about the 2025 Idaho State International Defensive Pistol Championship here.
About IDPA
The International Defensive Pistol Association, or IDPA, was founded in 1996 to create a space for shooters around the world to train, test their skills, and gain support from a like-minded community.
IDPA was the first organization to host competitions in which you could use your personal duty or concealed carry holster and pistol, rather than investing in a specialized setup, making shooting sports accessible for a wider audience.
Today, matches are held in locations around the world and are categorized into two formats: self-defense and standard exercises. In the self-defense format, shooters go through a simulated defensive scenario, while the standard exercises involve performing basic target shooting with more complex movements like one-handed shooting.
“I would encourage anyone interested in competitive shooting to find a club near you that shoots pistol matches. They will welcome a new shooter and assist them with whatever they need,” Junge said. “Just have fun! If it isn't fun, just try golf!”
To learn more about IDPA or to become a member, visit their website at idpa.com.
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