[Boatanchors] W7BW SK

[David Bonetti]

Mike,
 
Thank you for sharing a bit about Phil's life, especially his military service to our country.
 
No apologies necessary for content length; he as others who have served this great county are deserving 
 
of acknowledgement, ever so humble as they are. I am honored and humbled to know his story.


Regards,
 
David Bonetti





 

> From: k0az at centurytel.net
> To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> Date: Fri, 20 May 2011 10:34:09 -0500
> Subject: [Boatanchors] W7BW SK
> 
> 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
> 
> Sorry to be so long.
> 
> K0AZ Mike Sanders
> President Ozark Amateur Radio Society.
> Member A1 OP Club, MVDXCC Hogs, Fists,
> Coast Guard CW OP Assn, AM Intl, SMIRK.
> Life Member American Radio Relay League.
> QRP ARCI. "A" Sorter W0 QSL Bureau.
> 
> 
> 
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