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First Medal of Honor Recipient to earn an Amateur Radio License

Discussion in 'Amateur Radio News' started by W5EAK, Oct 19, 2025.

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  1. W5EAK

    W5EAK Platinum Subscriber Platinum Subscriber QRZ Page

    Press Release
    HamCation 2026
    Orlando Florida
    February 13-15


    Since 1863 only 3,511 men and 1 woman have been awarded The Medal of Honor. Today there are only 60 living Medal of Honor Recipients. The average American has a 0.000018% chance of meeting a Medal of Honor Recipient in person.
    Everyone who attends HamCation 2026 will have the honor to meet a living Medal of Honor recipient!
    FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER
    A LIVING MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT
    WILL BE ATTENDING HAMCATION AND HE
    HAS PASSED THE EXAM TO BECOME
    A LICENSED AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR AND
    WILL MAKE HIS FIRST HAM RADIO
    CONTACT AT HAMCATION 2026!
    Donna W5SML - Don “Doc” Ballard MoH
    COL Don “Doc” Ballard MoH USA RET (HM2 USN in Vietnam where he earned The MoH) and his “Elmer” (Instructor) Sam McGlynn NM5N Lt COL USAF RET along with Donna Snow King W5SML, Former Star of the Hit TV Show “Texas Flip N Move” and author of 3 books. The latest, a Novel about Texas Rodeo Kids solving a mystery with the help of their Ham Radios. Along with her OM (Old Man) Rex W5EAK Lt Cmdr USN RET will be together in their booth. A portion of proceeds from sales go to COL Ballard’s Foundations providing funerals and burials at no cost to indigent Veterans and First Responders.
    Donna W5SML - Rex W5EAK

    Sam NM5N - Rex W5EAK and Ronan the wonder dog

    For further information, I can be reached at: 940-808-8665

    Semper Fortis and God Bless Texas,
    Rex
    E.A. "Rex" King, III
    Snow-King Ranch
    Non Sibi Sed Patriae
    Rex's Page: http://www.qrz.com/db/W5EAK
    Donna’s Page: http://www.qrz.com/db/W5SML

    Founding Advisory Board Member Hershel W. “Woody” Williams MoH USMC RET Foundation: http://www.WoodyWilliams.org

    Ambassador Airpower Foundation http://www.AirPowerFoundation.org

    Member Fort Worth Airpower Council http://www.fwapc.org
     
    YD5NVH, W3KW, VK4CMR and 25 others like this.
  2. KL7KN

    KL7KN Ham Member QRZ Page

    YD5NVH, K3ABZ, N4FZ and 6 others like this.
  3. W5EAK

    W5EAK Platinum Subscriber Platinum Subscriber QRZ Page

    Correct, Doc was a Navy Hospital Corpsman assigned to the Marines when his heroic actions earned the MoH. After Vietnam he transferred to the National Guard where he retired as a Colonel. de W5EAK
     
    K8NY, WA3JR, K7BOA and 4 others like this.
  4. KC1WOX

    KC1WOX Ham Member QRZ Page

    3,511 men... and 1 woman. o_O

    Impressive nonetheless! Thank you W5SML for whatever it was that you did!
     
    VE7KPM and W5EAK like this.
  5. KW0U

    KW0U Ham Member QRZ Page

  6. W5KGM

    W5KGM Platinum Subscriber Platinum Subscriber QRZ Page

    Congratulations on passing your test! Welcome to Ham Radio & THANK YOU for your Service most of all!
     
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2025
    W5EAK, KA5RAN, AG7UW and 1 other person like this.
  7. W1YW

    W1YW Ham Member QRZ Page

    Wishing Doc the best DX!
     
    KD9TED, W5KGM, W5EAK and 2 others like this.
  8. KB3IFH

    KB3IFH Platinum Subscriber Platinum Subscriber QRZ Page

    Look forward to seeing you and meeting Doc at HamCation

    73 Randy
    KB3IFH
     
    W5EAK likes this.
  9. KB6YNO

    KB6YNO Ham Member QRZ Page

    Exactly. He was a Navy Corpsman, but attached to the Marines as they have none of their own. He was what is considered "Greenside" or a "Green Corpsman". https://navycrow.com/us-navy-corpsmen-roles-and-history/. They can even wear certain types of Marine uniforms as well.
     
    W5EAK, WA3JR, KD3BZM and 1 other person like this.
  10. KC8VWM

    KC8VWM Ham Member QRZ Page

    Just to be clear, "Doc" is the traditional nickname used for all Navy Hospital Corpsman who served in the Marines.
     
    AC0GT, W5SML, AE8EM and 8 others like this.
  11. KC0YSH

    KC0YSH Ham Member QRZ Page

    W5SML, W5EAK and KC8VWM like this.
  12. WB3X

    WB3X Ham Member QRZ Page

    Bravo Zulu, Col. Ballard!
     
    W5SML, N6JSX, W5EAK and 2 others like this.
  13. W2CQ

    W2CQ Platinum Subscriber Platinum Subscriber QRZ Page

    Why wait 8 or 9 months for a contact?
     
    AC0GT, W5SML, KD4PBS and 4 others like this.
  14. KI4KEA

    KI4KEA Premium Subscriber QRZ Page

    And by God they are something special.
     
    W5SML, W5EAK, WA3JR and 1 other person like this.
  15. KI4KEA

    KI4KEA Premium Subscriber QRZ Page

    We lost the last, I think, of our WWII code talkers.

    But someone could have a code talker or two and a MOH in their log book.

    How cool would that be?
     
    W5SML and W5EAK like this.

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