[Elecraft] CW Keying

[Chuck Smallhouse]

To John and all the "Old Timers" with their great historical stories.

My three high school buddies and I were studying the code and theory 
for our Ham licenses under a great mentor, our AZ SCM.  Tucson was in 
the never, never land that only got visited no more than twice a year 
by the FCC examiner (RI).  We all ended up taking the CW test three 
times before passing.  He just turned down the McElroy tape machine 
speed from the 1st Class Commercial test, which totally messed up the 
rhythm (that we were used to).  The 2nd time I had copied120 straight 
letters/characters (65 required), but one in the middle was 
incorrect.  He required also that you be perfect in the straight key 
sending test !  So finally I passed in '47, and at that time I was 
the youngest ham in AZ at 15. A year later, we all with ease, passed 
the Class "A" test.

A couple of years later, a family friend who was a Lt. in the local 
Naval Reserve, inquired if I might like to join his reserve unit.  He 
said that he needed some one to teach his sailor radiomen the code 
and some theory.  Because I had a ham license and was experienced in 
CW use, he could offer me a higher than entry level rate.  So I 
accepted the 3rd Class Petty Officer rank, and at a very young 17, 
began teaching classes of much older seamen.  I found that copying 
with a "mill" was much easier than with a pencil.  My high school 
touch typing class helped me to easily adapt.

The rest of the story :  After a ROTC commission (to basically draft 
dodge Korea), I spent a few years on active duty and many, many in 
the active ("on call") Reserve for a total of 43 (I always was gung 
ho) and full military retirement.

73,  Chuck,  W7CS