MorseOperators

This video is an interview with two Merchant Marine Radio Officers, George H. Cave, and Donald M. Berger, who served during World War II. They discuss their enlistment in the Merchant Marine and some of their wartime experiences. After the War, both worked in Coastal Radio Stations. Both volunteer on the SS American Victory (which is still a functioning Victory ship docked in Tampa, FL) operating the ships station KKUI and the Amateur Radio station W4AVM.

[@robertmayer7678]

One of the biggest thrills I got was when I was working for the Illinois State Police Radio. Our Supervisor, an old Coast Guard Radio Operator, one morning fired up the old inter-system and contacted the Milwaukee PD Radio on CW to get some license plate information.

[@davezinetti666]

Lol cool I got a chuckle out of that

[@paulsmith6184]

These Guys were legends in their time! I only sailed as a Radio Officer in the British merchant navy well after WWII. All that has now gone with Satcoms. As I would have in my time, these gentlemen would have loved to have available the technology displayed behind them in this video. Even without it, they did a marvellous job in times of extreme danger. The world owes them, big time.

[@davidtunnicliffe4759]

Hi Paul. I was with IMRC serving on RMS Ivenia, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth and finally as Chief R/O on the MV Gets bay. Left he MN on 21 Dec 1964 before joining the FCO as an R/O and among others served in Saigon for 16 months during the war... Morse was everything back then. 73's Dave

[@PaulSmith-bb7lv]

@@davidtunnicliffe4759 Hi David. Wow! I only started my R/O's career in 1969 with BP Tankers. Stayed there for 5 years until I got homesick. Now living in New Zealand.

[@paulskidmore1803]

Having spent 40 years at sea, 30 of them as an R/O, in the British Merchant Navy and the rest as an Electrician on cruise ships, I would bet my pension that I have worked both these gentlemen on a commercial basis at some time. Their statement that R/O's could recognise an operators "hand " is correct. Although there were many operators at GKA, I got to recognise many of them. It is a little known fact that there were two people on board British ships that were essential to the safe sailing of a ship. Not the Master ,(the chief officer would hold a Masters ticket, and if not, was licenced to take a ship to sea), no the two people were the R/O and the cook. This post has bought many happy memories flooding back, it was a very happy period of my life, and I still have no problem reading the Morse.

[@TheArtofEngineering]

Yes I always gloated I was the ONLY officer signing articles....everybody else was a "Mate"..."Engineer" "Seaman" etc. Loved my very short time at sea (Cut short by GMDSS satellite technology). Yes the ship could not sail without the RO as nobody else could pound the key or understood the gear and insurance was null and void if we were not there! No matter what gutter I was drunk and unconscious in they ALWAYS found you (great to be so loved?)!!!

[@piccaninkaffir6073]

Paul your name is familiar?Did u come from Bristol/SW area?

[@paulskidmore1803]

@@piccaninkaffir6073 Yes you are correct. Took my ticket at Bristol Tec, worked for I.M.R.C, Kelvin Hughes., (a regular on Geest Banana Boats), Saf Marine, Freelance for a while, then joined Holland America after obtaining my E.T.O's ticket. Swallowed the Anchor in 2004. Live in happy retirement in Bradford on Avon. Who are you?

[@piccaninkaffir6073]

@@paulskidmore1803 I took BOT radar January 1970 at Bristol,knew a ......skidmore on the course,had a triumph herald?was that you?Oh proper name.Colin Watson.ex Salisbury Rhodesia

[@paulskidmore1803]

@@piccaninkaffir6073 Hello Colin, We have a bit of untangling to do here. I did indeed take my BOT Radar ticket in May 1970 at Bristol however this seems to be a term after you took yours just to muddy the waters, my Cousin Barry Skidmore was also there around this time. I went to sea in 1967 but returned to college in 1970 to take my radar ticket. I did have a Triumph then but it was a black and white Vitesse. If you can wait a few hours I will contact Barry and ask him. I am afraid I don't recognise your name but due to passage of time, that is not unexpected.

[@djringjr]

George, rest in peace, "Sparks" in Heaven, there's just beautiful Morse being sent. 73 BV OM SK. From David Ring, N1EA, USMM R/O Retired.

[@joezeke6107]

A fascinating glimpse of history. Many thanks for posting this, and to George and Don for their interview. Even 70+ years later their minds were still very sharp and full of great memories of their experiences. Many thanks, also, to both gentlemen for their service. RIP, George.

[@genekauffman8286]

I was an Army radio operator and was a CW operator. Later in life I worked at WAH a shore station at St Thomas Virgin Islands. Of course we didn’t use CW there with had a number of active channels mostly serving the huge charter boat community there. The station later closed after cell service came to the islands.

[@yourshootingbuddy]

My father was a radio operator in New Guinea during WWII. He never talked about that time at all. I always enjoy listening to radio operators as they give me a hint what his life was like before me. I love these too guys. Obviously I live my dad too. I'm more proud of him now that I'm almost 70 than I did while he was alive. He died while I was just 20 and he was 49.

[@noblast1967]

Excellent video of almost forgotten history. Thank you, AD8DU

[@maxx21147]

"BRAVO ZULU" - Thank you for a very interesting/informative video. - From: Steve Morris / W5BIB - ex USN CTR1(AC) 02/64-09/72 - ex WLO 'Mobile Marine Radio' 04/1200z Morse operator (1988-1995 - BV Fair winds & following Sea - 77(Long live CW) / 73 see u - dit dit

[@tomwaller6893]

I was one of the last batches of Marine Radio Officers to qualify for my UK Department of Trade Maritime Radio Communication General Certificate or MRGC from the Aberdeen College of Further Education Marine Radio School on top of the Gallowgate. That was in 1980. The full-time course was 2 years will an optional Marine Radar Maintenance 6 month Extention. I sailed all the Oceans of the World, including the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean, and over 163 of the World's Seas. My last run was from Primorsk, Russia, in the Gulf of Finland, to Malta, with heavy fuel oil for the Marsa Power station in Valletta back then. Before starting the course, I had to obtain my Class A radio Amateur Licence (GM4 HIG), and I learned how to type in the Royal Corps of Signals as a Special Radio Operator.

[@stampdealer]

Thank you very much for this outstanding and interesting video. I just passed my Technician and General class license exams a few days ago, and I am very interested, primarily interested, in fact, in learning CW for use on the air.

[@svmojo5146]

Marvelous video. BZ

[@jjgr661]

CW FOREVER

[@billdecker2013]

This is outstanding.

[@karlschulte9231]

While listening to ships and shore stations and Navy NSS i got a decent fist. Then in USAF radio/ radar/ tropo scatter microwave school went next door to the CW class and spelled instructors by sending for them. Dad was old Army SC instructor in radio and Morse plus field op in Pacific. Was top speed Op. In later years i watched him listen to two radios on a shore / ship freq pair for a whole shift. Typed all on teletype machine. Sent copy in to Houston shore station with his resume and got hired. Just before it all ended. He cruised at 45 peak in contest at 55 words per minute. W5EWF was his call plus W2OUB at Ft. Monmouth NJ Signal School. He had 2nd Telegraph and 1st phone FCC license. When i tried the Telegraph i was prevented as it was about to end. Got 1st phone and Amateur Extra when the 21 wpm was still required. Got 2 years time on a 10kw AM broadcast station and 1 one as ship aux operator on research boat but voice only. We both had the dream of being one of these Sparks. Ham radio still uses CW daily at least.

[@eogg25]

I was a Army OP. and enjoyed both of the men's stories.

[@usernamemykel]

GREAT!! THANKS!!

[@khalidjaved8565]

Super

[@bill-2018]

A few more being interviewed would have been good.

[@WA8QFE]

I think the worst part of the FCC test was the drawing of the 5 diagrams and the examiners couldn't evaluate them there and they were sent back for evaluation to the FCC engineers. ( in my case to Detroit) Lee, WA8QFE

[@joebidet2050]

Telegraph license Got 3rd in detroit 84 Ele 1 2 5 2nd in tampa Ele 6 Had 10 diagrams Test was from 50s Got 73 on multiple test and had to have engineer grade rest I knew I passed since I did 7 diagrams and at least 2 would be OK to put me at 75 I got 1st in miami 91 Used an old manual mill and a bug for test Still sailing to this day 1986 to present Now it Says telegraph operator And it valid for life but serial number Still shows T1 And 6 month service endorsement

[@robertmacombo8767]

'73 by IK3QNF.

[@radioguy3193]

👍🙏🏻☺️

[@johnjones8802]

DText you copy will automatically show here huh

[@mikefromflorida8357]

Damn it, lose the loud music.

[@RicktheRecorder]

Great, but it's "foundering" not "floundering".

[@bassdowg]

I LOVE AND PREFER CW BAR NONE OVER SSB AND I PREFER HF.... I AM NOT A BIG FAN OF VHF, UHF AND HIGHER AND I HAVE TRIED THE DIGITAL MODES BUT I ALWAYS WILL PREFER HF AND CW OVER SSB OR FM

[@davezinetti666]

Yeah me too. I have a dmr radio and you can talk world wide, nation wide and local.most of the stuff is local. I tried to chat nation and world wide but nothing. Seems like no one cares about vhf uhf so I'm now hf cw as well. Just getting back into cw. Have a qrp sdr 5 watt radio. All bands.

[@mikemalloy1681]

Wasn't WPD owned by a family??? I remember them. I have copied their TFC before but never worked them. WLO was the big boy with those Mr. Henry 4Kw transmitters. As a comment to George: Morse is dead. Hardly anyone on CW any more even on ham frequencies. WD5GYG.

[@joebidet2050]

Yes Don who is in video was manager