[QCWA] Gordon West

[Joseph Fenn]

You Know you hit the nail right on the head Gordon.  I personally think
that my ham license and particularly my skill at CW as a sophomore
in High School days was the beginning and passport to the rest of my
life.   I mean those 2 events determined all that hapened from that
point on.  Worked in Panam, old CAA, ARINC (aeronautical radio inc),
all because ot the CW capability.  Also had choice spots in the
Signal Corps War Dept Radio system throughout WW2.   Never had to fire
a gun or even learn how to use one.   They discovered on my record
3 years later that I had not even gone thru basic training, as they
needed CW oprs so badly they skipped the whole process.   When they
finally discovered this discrepancy in my record, I was forced
to go out on a firing range in 1943 with the old Colt 45 with a
clip in it.  The sgt and I were the only ones around.  He told
me ok you can see the target, point and shoot.  I pointed and
pulled on the trigger.  Shots started rolling out and each one
after the other knocked my hand upwards till it was pointing almost
straight up at the sky.   At this point the Sgt screamed stop stop
take your finger off the trigger, but the clip was empty already.
I guess he thought I was about to shoot myself or him take your pick.
Once again later after being "crypto" certified I was actually
in charge of that room too but knew nothing about it.   I was
instructed by the OIC to spend time in the crypto room and find
out what they are doing.   I did and noted they had a Thompson
Sub machine gun hanging on brackets in there.   If someone broke
the door open I woul'nt have the slightest idea of how to use
it against intruders.  So a skill at CW was of no use in that
code room.   I never did get basic training during the war and
opted out after VJ day.    But as I said the ham thing carried
my thru the rest of my life and still serves me well at least
in my volunteer service with MARS even today at 84 years young.
                       Joe KH6JF/ABM6JF


**********************************************************
* Ham KH6JF AARS/MARS ABM6JF QCWA WW2 VET WD RADIO SYSTEM*
* Army MARS PRECEDED by AARS (Army Amateur Radio System) * 
*       Hi State ARMY MARS COORDINATOR                   *
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On Thu, 28 Jul 2005, Larry wrote:

> Thats interesting about Gordon West. Thats really taking it a liitle far imho.What he is saying is that a man is not worthy of a license if all he want to do is fly a rc plane.This of course is nonsense.The fcc makes provision for that. The idea that  a man has to do certain things to merit anothers approval in the hobby is nonsense.I know several people who have a tech license and could not tell you the difference between a capacitor and a resistor.These people are amateur radio ops and have earned the ticket that says so. All it takes to be a amateur radio op is a ticket. A ham on the other hand is someone who not only has a ticket but respects the culture and tradion of  ham radio and this is another thing all together.There are lots of people  with an amateur license but most are not "hams", there is a difference imho.The guys that fly rc planes with a tech lic are just as worthy as anyone to have a license.Atre they hams? Some are and some are not.
> w5wlb
> ootc
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