K3ATW (Robert E. Fornal)

Licensed 1957: KN3ATW, Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania. K3ATW since 1958. Hamming from age 13 to age 81. As a novice, I built a Heathkit DX-35, before moving up to a DX-100.

I graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1965; while at USNA operated phone patches home through club W3ADO for deployed USN crew members underway. Served 6 years in SSBN (USS Tecumseh)/ SSN (USS Shark) Submarines; Pacific and Atlantic. Home ports were Holy Loch, Scotland, Pearl Harbor (boat was in Guam), and Norfolk, VA. I functioned as Reactor Controls Officer and as Communications Officer. I operated /KH6 from Hawaii when in the Pacific. I found being in the middle of even a moderate pile-up is strenuous.

Graduated U of Virginia 1972; ME, Nuclear Engineering. I was introduced to 2m repeaters in Charlottesville.

Graduated U of Virginia, School of Medicine 1976; MD. Entered USAF Medical Corps.

White House Physician; 1981- 1985. I operated CW and SSB on 40 and 10m from a Kenwood TS-130 while driving a 4-speed VW convertible each morning from home, Owings, MD to 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue. (Distracted Driving to the maximum. Contacting Vladivostok USSR (then) on CW while shifting gears from Pennsylvania AVE, DC, USA was quite memorable.)

I had the chance to work as a physician caring for a travel entourage in England, Ireland, Scotland, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Soviet Union, Yugolslavia (then), Pakistan, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Namibia, Equatorial Guinea, Iceland, The Azores, Madeira, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Falkland/Malvinas, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Japan, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. (The BOLD countries listed above are the ones that have been confirmed.)

I retired from USAF MC, in 1989. Somehow I retired in the state of Ohio. (For county hunters, I am in Franklin County.) I hibernated from Ham Radio until 2023. I became active again April of 2023 after retirement from medical practice.

RIG: Kenwood TS-590sg to EFHW dipole, FT8, FT4 and CW for the most part. I rotate between 3 Vibroplex Bugs (1943, 1957, 1973) on CW. I am dabbling with FT8 QRP at presernt (QMX+). I have refurbished a vintage Heath SB220 on the side, preparing for the sun spot cycle decrease. I admit to missing the amber glow of vacuum tubes, but not the arcing and sparking inside the box.

I attended Hamvention over the weekend of May 17 and passed the Amateur Extra Exam. Hamming is surely different. But, it's still a great deal of fun and nice to be back.