Son of Bernie: The Very Best of Us

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

The Very Best of Us

Yesterday something extraordinary happened. Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta, US. Army, became the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. Sgt. Giunta received the Medal for his actions in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley in October 2007.

Sergeant Giunta's heroism has been well chronicled, and his actions and character represent the very best that this country - or any country - has to offer.

I found myself wondering yesterday how many Americans knew that their nation was honoring this extraordinary and genuine American hero as the Medal ceremony competed for media exposure with the news of Prince William's engagement - which actually received much more airtime than did the Medal ceremony.

ABOUT ME

I'm "Bumpa" to my eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, and W1WH to fellow ham radio operators around the world. I'm also the father of three, an adult revert to the Catholic faith of my youth and a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. My wife Jane (who's usually the smartest person in the room) and I are on and off again members of Mensa (but don't take it seriously). Our main mission in life is spoiling our grandchildren and rescuing them from the deprived lifestyle that their parents claim they themselves had endured while growing up.

Professionally, I've been a children's protective service social worker, right-of-way agent, commercial lender, police dispatcher, telecom site developer - and a few other things along the way. For the last 20 years or so, I developed hundreds of wireless and fiber optic amplification sites throughout the USA and eventually retired in 2016. It was a hell of a ride.

On the air, I enjoy a good ragchew, casual DXing, an occasional easy contest, and mobile HF. I frequently listen to The World Famous Toad Harbor Net guys on 1930 kHz, but I can't compete with them with antennas and power on 160 so I don't try. Sunday nights usually find me on the 20- and 40-meter Saint Max Net. At the bench, I let out my fair share of “magic smoke,” and I’ve grabbed the wrong end of my soldering iron more than once. (Old rule: "If it smells like chicken, you’re holding it wrong.")

In the air -- unfortunately, I lost my FAA medical certificate a while back. I'd rather be both IN the air and ON the air, but it is what it is.

I've also played bluegrass guitar in a number of gigs with bands you've never heard of and likely never will.

Oh yeah...I also love cats, dogs, planes and trains, guns, the Constitution, VDH, red meat, cigars, guitars, Stetsons and Tecovas, Tolkien, Rocky and Bullwinkle, the Magisterium, handlebar mustaches, the Corps, the USA, and my long suffering XYL Jane, who has inexplicaby tolerated my eccentricities for almost 50 years.

Bill Hanrahan, W1WH
Son of Bernie

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

The Very Best of Us

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