HARRY COOPER (1-LIFE-1983)
Founder and President of Sharkhunters International
![]() | He was happy that his first duty assignment was at Chanute AFB, only 100 miles from his home. It turned out that this was a training base and there was no need for a weapons and demolition specialist – so he ended up as life guard at the base swimming pool. It was nice duty – one day on and one day off, but when winter set in and the pool closed for the season, he insisted on a proper assignment. He was sent to a Strategic Air Command base in the Midwest and commanded a six-man team loading ‘special weapons‘ (hydrogen bombs) onto B-47 bombers during the ‘cold war‘. Just prior to his 21st birthday, he sat for the very difficult two days of tests to qualify for Officer Candidate School. He was the only one of the thirty men tested to pass, and his scores were perfect in some phases and nearly perfect in others. He had an OCS class assigned. In the meantime, he had a pilot’s physical done at the base hospital – everything was perfect. He was on his way to his lifelong dream of being a fighter pilot. But it was not to be! As he was about to re-enlist for the required six more years, his career counselor told him that the Air Force had so many pilots left over from the Second World War and Korea that Air Cadets was shut down. He could be an officer, but he would never be a pilot. Sadly, he put down his pen, did not re-enlist, and when his hitch was finished, he left the AF |
And CLICK HERE for a very special Memorial Day Memory.
After college,
For a short time, he was a newscaster on a Chicago television show called ‘Motorsports International‘ where he did the news from the various Chicago area stock car tracks. He also published a book entitled ‘Sponsorship‘ which showed aspiring racers how to approach their potential sponsors for the money necessary to race.
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At the 5th Annual Rod and Custom Car Show in Chicago. | At the racetrack with his son Harry Junior, known as ‘Scooter‘. Sadly, his son was killed 18 years later when he was just 20. | |
![]() | 1966 was Below left – his first win that year. We see by the bent fenders that they played rough at O’Hare Stadium. Below right – the car has been straightened out but they didn’t have the time to paint the sponsor’s name on it or put on their decals. | |
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After several successful years on the short tracks, | it was time to move up to the big leagues | |
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Look at those Velcro sideburns! | This car had previously been Gary Bettenhausen’s. | |
![]() | In #17, |
HARRY is a
After “Hanging Up His Helmet”
![]() (Above) Brand new in late 1979 and ready to go. (Right) Sailing peacefully in the Bahamas. It was during his years living in the Bahamas that | ![]() |
In February 1987, Sharkhunters organized the first of what was to become fantastic annual “Patrols“.
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(l) (r) HARRY COOPER and the Today Show film crew | owned by Captain |
In 1995 HARRY joined another branch:
United States Coast Guard (Aux.)After a year or so, | ![]() |
CLICK ON THESE SCENES TO WATCH COOPER ON FILM
SCENE #1 SCENE #2 SCENE #3
![]() | At the Sharkhunters 2000 “Patrol in Paradise“, |
Some of
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Commissar of the Soviet Union for the | ||
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Honorary Submarine Officer, Russian Navy | – St. Petersburg Flotilla. |
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More of
![]() | groß ![]() the Grand Ulrichsberg Badge in Silver | |
![]() | Landesehrenzeichen in Gold – Salzberg Landesehrenzeichen in Gold – Kärnten These two awards are awarded very rarely – even more rarely to people other than Germans or Austrians and to the best of our knowledge, In addition, | |
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groß
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![]() | ![]() | In the sleepy little town of Redipuglia, Italy we visited the battlefield where young Erwin Rommel earned his Pour l’Merit (the Blue Max). Our group was formally received by the Mayor and he presented this beautiful medal to Ten more were made in silver and the first of those was presented to the Pope. |
![]() He was ‘knighted‘ as Knight of Landskron Castle where he swore to protect the castle ‘with sword and mace‘. Let’s hope it never comes to that… | ![]() |
…and from Ulrichsberg on 4 January 2018
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The presentation document that came with these two magnificent silver medallions reads:
“I take this opportunity to send you these very rare, and the last ones in captivity. It is a great
The very limited medallions were issued at the 25th Anniversary of the ‘Ulrichsberg Memorial’ depicting Blasius
The second medallion Prof. Zimmer (below) Prof. Zimmer, the leader including Ludwig Smolak, of the small delegation to obtain permission from the British Occupation Forces in 1948 to establish the first and only returned soldiers league, the K IV in Carinthia after WW Two. The commander, Colonel Saunders, commented – ‘You are from the Waffen SS; you were the best soldiers in the world’; the permission is granted.
Dear Harry,
I congratulate you
The document is signed by Ernst J. Pruegl, the Special Advisor of the Ulrichsberg Gemeinschaft Committee and also Sharkhunters Member #7684-LIFE.
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This was totally unexpected and quite humbling. Many, many thanks to our friends at the Ulrichsberg Gemeinschaft for this incredible honor. I will continue to seek out and publish the true and honest history of the Wehrmacht, free from lies, politics and propaganda. I give my word on this! Harry Cooper, Präsident, Sharkhunters International.
In addition,
In addition, HARRY served on the Veteran’s Advisory Board of the 5th Congressional District.
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“Who’s Who of World Business Leaders” | …..and he is also listed in the famous “Who’s Who in America” |
Awards conferred in 2012 include:
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This beautiful award, handsomely matted and framed, confirms the | This 2nd award, just as beautifully matted and framed, commemorates the presentation by |
Man of the Year 2011 |
The American Biographical Institute has nominated “I am delighted to announce your nomination for the American Biographical Institute’s prestigious honor, Man of the Year 2011, for distinguished accomplishments in your field. The Institute’s International Board of Research decided on your nomination after a careful global evaluation of individuals who have excelled in their professions. The nomination conclusions were not only selected from our biographical archives, but also through correspondence with prominent businesses, media resources, universities and organizations around the world. It was a difficult decision to determine who would be among our men of the year for 2011. You are our choice for this honor after reviewing hundreds of achievements. My congratulations to you on your selection. It will be my distinct privilege to recognize your effectiveness within your profession.” It is signed by C. A. Mitchell; Governing Board of Editors |
Covington’s Who’s Who
On 8 August 2012, Covington’s “Who’s Who” accepted HARRY COOPER to their ranks with the following statement:
“You were recently chosen as a potential candidate to represent your professional community in the 2012 edition of Covington’s “Who’s Who”. We are pleased to inform you that your candidacy has been formally approved. Congratulations! On behalf of our Committee, I salute your achievement and look forward to welcoming you to our association. To much success!”