[Elecraft] O.T. Learning Morse Code

[Chuck Smallhouse]

A bit of "Believe It Or Not".

As a very young 17 year old, and couple of years after I was first 
licensed, I was approached by a LT in the local Naval Reserve and 
asked if I wouldn't like to join his unit.  After a hesitation on my 
part, he explained that he needed someone to each his Radiomen the 
Morse code and theory.  After more hesitation, he proposed that he 
could enlist me at an above the entry level rate, and as a 3rd Class 
Petty Officer.  I really was not familiar with Navy enlisted ranking, 
but it sounded better than as a Seaman.  So I accepted.

I was tasked teaching much older(>17) and lower ranked Radiomen, 
Morse code, via using a typewriter for copying.  It was a learning 
experience for me, as I found this method much easier to learn, than 
by writing down the words and messages by hand.  It seemed as if the 
code characters went directly from the ears to the typing fingers, 
totally bypassing any pondering in the brain.

Chuck,  W7CS