[CW] Info from John W3KHG about N1EA

[D.J.J. Ring, Jr.]

W3KHG sent me this: unfortunately I can't extract the links.

David Ring was first licensed as a radio amateur in 1965, with the call
WA1DRS. He upgraded to Amateur Extra in 1967 and obtained N1EA in 1978.
Professionally, he held both an FCC First Class Radiotelegraph License and
First Class Radiotelephone License, as well as a U.S. Coast Guard Radio
Officer license. �
Eastern Massachusetts ARRL +1
He worked in broadcasting and at marine coast stations, including the
famous WSC coast station at West Creek, New Jersey. He went to sea as a
U.S. Merchant Marine radio officer from approximately 1980 through 1993. A
later posting identifies his last ship as the research vessel R/V Knorr
(KCEJ) of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, in 1994. �
Google Groups
The Prinsendam disaster
This is the episode for which Ring is particularly well known.
On October 4, 1980, Ring and fellow Radio Officer James N. Pfister, NS1L,
were aboard the American supertanker Williamsburgh, call sign WGOA, when
they received the Morse distress traffic from the burning Holland-America
passenger ship Prinsendam, call sign PJTA, in the Gulf of Alaska. �
Eastern Massachusetts ARRL +1
The remarkable part is that the Prinsendam's satellite communications
failed during the emergency, while traditional Morse radiotelegraphy
continued functioning. Ring's archive preserves recordings associated with
the emergency as well as the Williamsburgh's radio log. �
QSL.net
Ring and Pfister provided an important communications link—relaying
positions and estimated arrival times and helping keep the distress
frequency clear. Contemporary coverage in QST specifically recognized their
role. �
World Radio History
All of the passengers and crew were ultimately rescued. In 1988, Ring and
Pfister received the Veteran Wireless Operators Association's Marconi Gold
Medal for their work during the rescue. �
Eastern Massachusetts ARRL
He is still involved in maritime-radio history
This is particularly interesting: Ring wasn't merely a historical figure
whose activity ended decades ago. I found posts from 2025 and July 2026
under D.J.J. Ring, Jr./N1EA discussing commercial radiotelegraphy and
maritime communications. �
Google Groups +1
In August 2025, he was scheduled to give a presentation entitled
“Commercial Radiotelegraphy” at the Northeast HamXposition, discussing life
as a Merchant Marine radio officer and the Prinsendam SOS. �
HamXposition
He also appears to have put considerable effort into preserving the history
and operating practices of 500-kHz maritime CW, commercial Morse, ship
radio rooms, marine coast stations, and professional radiotelegraph
operators.
His Prinsendam archive is particularly worth looking at:
David Ring N1EA — Prinsendam SOS and maritime Morse archive⁠�
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