QAN - AUGUST 2000
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - AE4VT:
Our member spotlight this
month is on Garland Jordan
of Louisville, Ky. Garland has been checking
into KYN since April, 1998, and has become one of our most faithfull net
members. I remember recruiting Garland, when I happened across him
on CW on 40 meters one day, and gave him a call, but just missed him.
I noticed he was in Louisville and a FIST member, and was moving along
at a pretty good clip with the CW.
It just so happened that he
was checking into KTN soon after when I was NCS, and I mentioned
hearing him on CW and invited him to join in on KYN. Except for some
time off during a recent illness, he has been with us ever since.
Garland has had some trouble
writing since his illness, but is doing better, and send the following
to go along with the pictures from the KYN Roving Camera:
" John, it's been a long time since
I had that stroke about two years ago, and I am feeling better now and
can write better. I was in radio school at Fort Knox where I learned
the code during World War II, and I became a radio operator during
the war. I was a Tech Sgt. at first, and then was a W.O. Officer
in 144th. Signal Co. There were 360 men in that Signal Co., all working
in radio and telephone. I spent two years time in the service during
the war.
After the war, I came to live
here in Louisville, and worked 35 years with the Kroger Company, and retired
from that company. During this time, I forgot about radio.
Then when my wife died, I was feeling lost when she was gone and
it was a very bad time.
My son-in-law gave me a radio,
a Grundig Yacht Boy 400, with AM, CW, Sideband, etc. In three months
in 1996, I was up to 20 wpm and became AE4VT, Extra Class operator, and
was very happy with ham radio. I worked the world on CW, got hundreds
of QSL cards and had a good time hamming.
Then the stroke stopped me, it was
a while before I got well enought to get back on the air, doing the best
I can with ham radio.".... Garland.
You certainly are, Garland.
I know that your CW sending hasn't suffered from the stroke, as it is as
good as ever. We appreciate your faithfulness on the net. It
is an honor to have such a fine man who is one of the "Great Generation"
of World War II veterans on our nets. My KYN records show Garland
as having his illness in October 1998. He was back on the air around
March-April of 1999. I believe he now lives with his sister in Louisville,
and is somewhat limited in the size
antenna he can use. As you can see from the report he is on the
net most every night.
Garland at his station and at Louisville
hamfest.
Back to QAN
Written August 15, 2000.