[Milsurplus] "Moity", SK

[Eric Jones]

de N4TGC Eric

Atlanta won't be as 'hot' without him ... I first met him about 10 years 
ago, after having read a few of his (usually bizarrely cryptic) postings on 
the lists, at a Gainesville GA 'fest.  He was lurking outside in the parking 
deck, I was walking back to my car carrying some olde mil-treasure, and he 
recognized it as something he needed for a rig or project (I think it was 
some headset/handset gear/cabling).  He waylaid me and asked what I was 
going to do with it.  I actually had no idea, since I usually just bought 
such stuff for 'stock', and replied accordingly.  He professed a need for 
it, and I was so impressed by his gall, I sold it to him for what I had in 
it, rather than my usual egregious markup ... I didn't figure out until 
later that it was him!

Such was the beginning of a too-short friendship ... to get even with him, 
when a Hotlanna local sold me an OS-10 o'scope, I prevailed on 'Moity' to 
secure and store it for me, until such time as I could come and retrieve it. 
His persistence in doing just that was inspiring ... altho he never let me 
forget it was there ...

During one visit (I have numerous relatives in the vicinity, so back when I 
actually had money, I'd go every year) I got to tour his 'digs' on Caroline 
drive (while my wife slept in the car - in a rainstorm.  Hamguys are such 
great husbands ...)  I think this was the 'pizza parlor' occasion too.  I 
dint ask the wife-type device what she thought of a bunch of grizzled old 
farts 'knocking back a few cold ones' in a dive ... but the pizza was good 
...

One time I clung white-knuckled to the armrest while he careened across town 
to the 'rent' house, where he kept a pile of olde radio junque.  He let me 
'cherry pick' thru the mil-stuff out in the garage.  Now I wonder if he 
didn't already know he was 'down for the count'.  I thought he was just 
being himself ...

The last time I saw him was a Lawrenceville 'fest a couple years ago, before 
we wuz Bushwhacked by the 'economy', and I stopped being able to travel so 
much.  (The 'fest was held in a Catholic church facility, and I discovered 
we were both Catholic.)  As usual, he had my 'want list' in mind, and made 
sure I scored a Gonset G-66 being offered.  He'd rigged up some military 
display radio dingus on a board, of which he seemed unduly proud (sorry to 
say, I can't recall what it was.)  He couldn't make it back to the vigil 
Mass that night, but he did take me and the wife out to some Italian 
restaurant he favored.  I managed to get him to let me buy the wine or tip 
the waitress or some pittance, but Marty could be overwhelmingly generous.

I'd recently noticed he was 'off the air' for longer periods, and his snide 
remarks (some to me, some to the list) were getting shorter, but he never 
let on (to me) how bad he'd gotten.

Marty - I will see to it that a Mass Intention is said for you.  God rest 
ye - if you ever figure out what the word 'rest' means: and it's not get the 
'rest' done ...
    e