[CW] He DID IT

[Gregory W. Moore]

I don't know who it was that said that one doesn't forget Morse, but I 
can assure you, it can happen, albeit temporarily (for me). In 1999, I 
was involved in an auto accident, and the shoulder harness inertia lock 
didn't work, thereby causing me to break the steering wheel with my head 
and sustaining a closed head injury.  OK...I still have short term 
memory loss, especially under stress,  but the worst part was losing the 
ability to copy behind. It took me almost a year to get up to speed 
again, and to this day, still write down what I want to say in a QSO 
prior to sending. It also, wrecked my fist on a straight key, which I am 
still working to get back. I have, happily, gained the speed back with 
either a bug  or  electronic key.
You can forget, but mine was due to a post-concussion syndrome, and took 
care of itself with work.  The best way to stay sharp is to work as many 
CW QSO's as you can, and always try to do some copying maybe 5-10 wpm 
faster than you feel comfortable with.  I didn't actually forget the 
code, just lost the ability to remember what was sent unless I copied 
every character as it was being sent. This went away with time and the 
desire to participate in CW.

73 es tnx de Greg WA3IVX /NNN0BVN


Ronald KA4INM Youvan wrote:

>   I have a friend, a 20 wpm Extra that NEVER worked one cw contact in his
> life, never wanted to, doesn't ever want to.
>   Someone fell down when it was time to teach how much fun it it.
> He took one class, one test, 5 times.
>
>>  I wonder how many 20 wpm Extras there are who don't even remember 
>
> > all the Morse alphabet.


-- 
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
                                                   --Edmund Burke

Greg Moore NNN0BVN PA
U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS)
Official Pennsylvania Area Website:
http://pages.prodigy.net/nnn0fbk/mars.htm
Official Northeast Area Website: 
http://www.navymars.org/northeast/index.htm
Navy-Marine Corps MARS: Proudly Serving Those Who Serve."
E-Mail (MARS) nnn0bvn@navymars.org
********************************************************************************************************