[R-390] security classification

[JBurgwynjr at aol.com]

As a member of the ASA team in the Taiwan facility, I thought the mission  
was security as well as the equipment but then I guess they both were  not 
discussed off base nor were the radios taken off base to my  knowledge. That 
was back in the early 60's. We used 390, 390A,  388, SP-600,  etc. Anyone 
could have seen that huge antenna  farm which would be a tipoff to radio 
devices being used. Back at Ft Devens,  Mass they were all over the place. Can't 
remember the old man that lived on top  of the hill in Ayer or Harvard, 
Mass. Went to see him one time for a tube  for my ham rig at home off base. 
Never have seen such a home ham/military store.  Think his name was Herb Gordon. 
What a home and he must have had 4 or 5 of  whatever radio and part you 
wanted. But I don't think he was much of a seller. I  got to see him because I 
rented an apartment from the US Postmistress who knew  him. He had a huge 
home on a hill overlooking the beautiful country  side and his operating 
position looked out toward the East from his third  story op room.   I did some 
operating for the MARS Station at Devens  AA1KBO when I was reassigned to 
Devens from Taipei. We used a BC610 with a  couple of R-390 .  We were not net 
control, I think a fellow named Jack ?  was a civilian net controller and 
may have lived in New York. All of that was a  long time ago....Year or so ago 
I was going to a hamfest in New England and  decided to go by Ayer to see 
Ft Devens and it was gone !!!  Kinda sad I  had grown to like it all but the 
cold winters. And listening to the carry  over on some of the cheap barrack 
radios from the code of BED from the Bedford,  Mass beacon at their airport. 
It took me a while to catch on that the Army  wasn't trying to lull me to 
sleep in the bunk. John Burgwyn   W4WAW