[Boatanchors] W7BW SK

[mikea]

On Fri, May 20, 2011 at 10:34:09AM -0500, Mike Sanders wrote:

> It is with great regret that I have to let the list know of the
> passing of Phil Rand W7BW of Klamath Falls, OR. Phil was always a
> Collins and Boatanchors in general guy. I think he was still a CCA
> member at his passing. Phil was in Hospice care for about 6 months but
> still managed to make at least one CW and one PSK contact everyday.
> His voice was giving way so he used those modes at the end. Phil loved
> AM and operated that mode when ever he had the opportunity.

> Phil was an honest hero and National treasure. He flew combat in
> fighters during three wars. Born in 1923 he was just a kid when he
> entered the war. He became a fighter pilot and spent his time in the
> South Pacific where he was once shot down. He was found, picked up and
> went right back into combat.

> During Korea Phil flew combat in our first Jet fighters. Later in
> Vietnam he flew combat. His A4 was hit with a SAM during a ground
> support operation but he managed to eject. The ejection was not pretty
> and he suffered many injuries to his face and a compressed spine. He
> ended up on the wrong side and had to shoot his way out to an Evac
> chopper. He was patched up and went home for R&R to see his wife Alice
> in San Francisco. The first night there they went to a nice restaurant
> for dinner. He wore his dress uniform which his wife told him was
> probably not a good idea. On arrival he was spit on while waiting for
> a table.

> The person who did that may still be alive because Phil shrugged it
> off and went about his business of having dinner with his wife. Phil
> retired a Colonel in the Air Force. An unassuming guy who just did his
> job.

> Even after his passing he is still serving our country. His family
> is one of heroes. Most of his children and some grandchildren have
> served in the military including some more pilots. His youngest son
> is a three star general who on a previous assignment as commander of
> Ballad Air Base in Iraq flew over 100 combat missions.

> After Phil's wife passed he remarried later. Judy made his life
> wonderful in his late years. He said so many times how lucky he had
> been all his life. She is a hero too for taking great care of one of
> our finest.

> I was privileged and honored that this man called me friend.

> To say he will be missed is ridiculous. We will hurt. I will miss
> working him on 10 meter AM when the band favored us and our telephone
> conversations. 73 Phil

A fitting and proper tribute to my very distinguished elder
brother-in-arms. Thanks, Mike. I'll hoist one in his memory.

-- 
Mike Andrews, W5EGO
mikea at mikea.ath.cx
Tired old sysadmin