I have many, many Reflections and memories about Ham Radio. When I was 9 yrs old my Grandfather tried to get me interested in building radios--and I would not have anything to do with radio. At that time (1929) he was trying to find a way to connect radio to the telephone!!!!!!

Years later (1968), I had a skiing accident in Switzerland and fractured my right hip. I had surgery 4 times and was off work for 2 yrs. I was going crazy with the "House Rams" and my friend and neighbor, Dr. Richard Cribbs (also my dentist) had his cousin, W3ZDF, John Orange, stop in to see me and talk about Amateur Radio. My son became really interested so he and I studied and got our Novice Licenses. (By the way he outscored me on the exam and has never let me forget it)!!

Soon after I got back to work--I had to establish a medical practice all over again--I met Ed Briner, WA3TVG. Ed and I became close friends until he became a Silent Key two years ago. Ed got me into the Foothills Radio Club (W3LWW) and I have many, many fond memories of that organization, as well as lots of great Ham friends. My wife could not stand me spending all my time at the radio--so she started to study. She got her license and was assigned a call that most people would give anything to have------KA3CEO!! (I do not use the usual phonetics:   Chief Executive Officer.   I use "Can't Eat Onions!")

Ed Briner got me interested in the Medical Amateur Radio Council (MARCO) and I shortly became a net control. MARCO has some 600 members world-wide. I later became President of MARCO (1984 to 1986). I have many memories about MARCO.

In 1985 I retired and Jeanne and I moved to the Eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay so we could do some boating. Jeanne and I joined the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and, because of my Ham experience, I was appointed Communication Officer for Flotilla 19-04 in Chestertown, MD.

Shortly after coming to Chestertown we joined the Kent Amateur Radio Club and for years participated in their many activities. In 1987 I was appointed Communication Officer for Division 19, 5th District, Southern, USCGA and have served in that capacity since.

My sister Nancy moved to the Bay after her husband died and built a very nice log house about 4 houses from ours. Jeanne and I were the only Hams here in this community. We began to talk about the benefits of Amateur Radio. Before long we had 8 Hams in this community including my sister, Nancy, KA3VKJ. Nancy eventually moved back to Avon Lake, Ohio because she missed seeing her grandchildren growing up. We keep in contact with her via Ham Radio (she is always on 7157.5 MHz about 10:30 AM every day). Our son, Rich, N8JYW lives in Akron, Ohio and it is nice to communicate while driving out there or when he and his family come to the Bay.

I still keep in touch with the MARCO net and I have a net at 6:30 AM on 3838 MHz every morning. So, you can see that Amateur Radio has been a big part of our lives and we can't tell you how many wonderful people we have met and appreciate since becoming Hams.

73, Dick Doncaster, WB3AJC