[K6NCG] HI Folks!

[Stewart]

I everyone! I joined a few months ago but have not posted yet.

In the mid to late 60's my family was stationed at TI. It was at this time
I started my entry into ham radio. I was a bot scout and earned my merit
badges for CW etc. We were housed at the base housing on the North West
part of the Island and had a constant view of the bay and skyline from my
bedroom window. I remember how often I would watch the "Tankers" come into
the Bay and anchor between the city and Alcatraz. There were many nights
that I would have qso's with a few of the ships operators by using my Boy
Scout flashlight from my bedroom window. A few of them would "make a call"
when they came back into port for the next few years.

One Christmas I was given a set of "walki-talkies"  that operated on 11
meters. I also got a GE general coverage receiver that Christmas and often
heard the folks down at the base Ham Shack in qso.

I attended the base elementary school and would walk home right past the
Sea Wall where on the weekends we would fish and then past the Ham Shack.
I would think as I walked by that someday I would have the same tower and
beam on my house and just how many places I would be able to talk to with
that antenna!

Many years later after my father retired and we had moved to the East
Coast I took my novice test and officially entered the world of Ham Radio.
My Elmer was a retired radio officer from the Royal Dutch Merchant Marine
Service of all things. Funny how things come full circle.

Ive been back out in the Bay area for the past 9 years and plan to visit
TI at the end of this Summer to get some shots of what is left of the
Island from that period before it's gone forever.

It was the Ham Shack and the members of the Club on base as well as being
able to listen in on the Qso's from there that got me started and I have
many of you to thank for that. I just wanted to say thanks for the start
in this wonderful world.

Thanks again fellas!
stew
Ka3wfe