LAST TC CLASS - Coast Guard CW Operators Assn. ZUT

NMC Building Entrance

Quite a few stations QSL'd the NMC message. The following service message is the reply sent by KPH, located down the road from NMC (now closed, but operating as an "on the air" museum):

the members of the maritime radio historical society, as the keepers of San Francisco Radio KPH, would like to take this opportunity to thank the hundreds of U.S. Coast Guard men and women who over the years, tirelessly stood watch on the international distress and calling frequency listening for distress signals with the intent of protecting life and property at sea. we regret that the sparks insignia will never again be worn on the responsible shoulders of radiomen, who dedicated their lives to the safety of others. in the tradition of the maritime community, let us wish you all fair winds and following seas.

zut/88/73 da stoops

Earlier, the following message was sent by KPH, over the sine of "DA" who is also a former Coast Guard operator stationed at the old NMC:

for the old chiefs and ex radiomen who might be listening today, i would like to fire up some memories of what it was like to be an HF amver operator at NMC. these pictures have been swirling through my memory all week as I prepared to write this message.

the comraderie and competition to be the best CW operator, was underscored only by the enthusiasm to be radiomen. operators anxiously awaited OBS Skeds, fighting over duty assignments, during which we competitively performed our craft.

Learning how to copy cut numbers from incredibly fast Russian operators, and how to copy behind in order to type faster, were part of the job. i remember the first time i saw an operator sitting at a typewriter and copying a press broadcast from KPH using one finger on one hand, smoothly moving from one key to the next in a even rhythm. i had no idea how i was ever going to get to that level of ability, being somewhat stuck on 22 words per minute as a radioman school graduate, but i was certainly mesmerized by the skill of the young man copying the press. Press broadcasts typically went out at around 25 wpm, sometimes faster. Compared to a normal weather broadcast that was sent at 18 wpm, 25 wpm press was commonly copied by the staff at NMC for code practice.

the first time i saw someone use a speedkey, i knew i had to have one. there was only one catch, i would have to prove my proficiency and be tested to obtain a speedkey certificate in order to use one on the air. with a little practice i did earn that certificate, and eventually went on to own my own speedkey, which is a chrome plated original deluxe vibroplex, that i still use today.

beginning as a radioman in the u.s. coast guard prepared me for my career as a commercial radio operator, and it gives me great pleasure to be here today to see the sparks insignia that i once wore, being commemorated and remembered with the respect and reverence it deserves. from the sinking of the titanic, to the dawn of the satellite communications age, the radioman has stood his watch and listened to the music of morse with dedication and expertise known only by his fellow operators. whether at sea or ashore, their job was the same, to protect life and property at sea with reliable communications.

i am proud to have worn the sparks insignia, and it is with a sad heart that we retire that emblem of proficiency today. NMC and KPH , besides being physical neighbors, have worked well together through the years, and the members of the MRHS thank NMC for including us in the ceremony today. in the tradition of the maritime communinty, we wish the communications specialists of today and tomorrow, fair winds and following seas.

Master Chief, et al,
     Sadly, I wasn't able to copy 8574 kHz from Maine today.  I had both my
Kenwood transceiver with vertical antenna and my Drake R8 receiver with
dipole antenna doing double duty scouring the airwaves for signals.  I had a
very faint copy on 17314 kHz with the voice broadcast.  I certainly was able
to hear both KPH and KFS on 17 MHz sending out their call tapes.
Additionally, I actually managed to hear a watery "NRV" SITOR marker on 16
MHz.  That was very unexpected, but timely considering the circumstances.
     So with a tear in my eye, I have to shed my "Chief Sparks" insignia.
The "Sparks" were always a source of pride with me.  Before the Coast Guard,
my only exposure to radio was playing with a neighbor's CB radio set back in
the mid-70's, as well as kiddie walkie-talkies.  It wasn't until I received
orders to Radioman "A" School (while striking Boswainsmate as a Seaman) that
I found that I really enjoyed radio.  It was also at "A" school that I
picked up my Novice ham license (thanks Perry Angiono).  I haven't looked
back since.  In 1993 I sent the final 500 kHz broadcast from NMC.  I have
attached a copy of that final log.  Some people listed in this e-mail
already have a copy.  Once the CW was gone the job changed.
     For those that don't know, Master Chief O'Banion was my "Chief" aboard
the USCGC Chase/NLPM/NNN0NXY when I was a TC2.  He can certainly attest to
my efforts providing MARS phone patches, digital MARSGrams text messages and
Winlink HF E-mail that I provided to the crew.  I knew that ham radio
license would come in handy one day.  This was before the days that underway
e-mail was commonplace aboard MEC and HEC cutters.  It certainly kept me
busy between watches down in radio.  It was also Chief O'Banion that perked
my current interest in computers.  He could make Unisys "Green Screens" and
PC's sing.  I was certainly impressed.
     Anyway, best wishes and a big thanks to all that were involved in this
event.  It was certainly memorable.

73 de Eric, KB6YNO/1

To view a full sized image of the radio logs reference in Eric's Email, above, just click on either of the thumbnail images to access the PDF file. Use your browsers back button to return to this page.