I learned about his passing Via. the St.Helens Chronicle. His QRZ page says a great deal more about his interests in Ham Radio. https://www.thechronicleonline.com/...cle_0ed28be6-8334-11e9-b578-533af9e3f829.html
Melvin D. Amick, K0SEX SK Melvin (Dodd) Amick May 31, 1939 ~ March 24, 2019 Melvin (Dodd) Amick born May 31, 1939 passed away March 24, 2019 from a long battle of cancer. Melvin D. Amick, TSgt. USAF. RET. Born May 31, 1939 in Grand Junction, Co. He enlisted in the USAF in 1955 and began his 21 years of Air Force assignments. He flew numerous combat lightning missions over the Gulf of Tonkin in Vietnam, earning the Air Medal. He earned 20 other Air Force, Army and Foreign awards, including two Air Force Commendation Medals and two American Radio Relay League Public Service Awards. Dodd was also involved in aiding the communications support of the Apollo 8 mission. Assignments include Lackland AFB, TX; Keesler AFB, MS; Clark AFB, Philippines Station; Alaska (AACS); Glassgow AFB, MT; March AFB, CA; Udorn, Thailand; Tinker AFB, OK; Mendoza Argentina; Anderson AFB, Guam (AFCS); Offutt AFB, NE. While serving with the Air Force AACS unit on Adak, AK, he made a micro power broadcast transmitter, and with the volunteer help of others, broadcast music from his barracks room to military personnel within a two-block radius. Most memorable assignments were his last five plus years at SAC HQ where he worked as a NCO Communications Controller for one year in the SAC Underground Command Post. He then became an airborne command and control radio communications instructor on the SAC Airborne Command Post Looking Glass. He flew over 5,000 hours earning his wings, and as part of the battle staff, earned the SAC Missile Badge. During this assignment he participated in the actual launch of an ICBM from an airborne platform. Melvin retired Dec. 1, 1976 from the USAF and went on into civilian life to become communications director for the Columbia County 911 system. He also worked 10 years with the state of Oregon Employment Division and worked a couple of years for the Amalgamated Sugar Co. of Twin Falls, Idaho in their Research Department. In his retirement he was the Security Supervisor for Boise Cascade. Dodd enjoyed hot rods, car shows, and most of all amateur radio, which was his hobby. He was a member of the AACS Alumni and communicates with members via amateur radio. He left behind two children Tammy Amick and Tommy Amick; granddaughter Caylin Roderick; many nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; brother Clarence Amick; and sister June Amick (Dodd nick named both of us Buddy and Sissy). Dodd was preceded in death by his parents Clarence Amick Sr. and Ellen Frances Stiles; stepmother Helen J Amick; sisters Karen Powell and Diana Kirchner; brothers Mike Amick and Randy Hubbard. Dodd’s memorial will be held from 11a.m. – 3 p.m. on June 2, 2019 at St. Helens Elks Lodge, 350 Belton Road, St. Helens, OR 97051. https://www.thechronicleonline.com/...cle_0ed28be6-8334-11e9-b578-533af9e3f829.html
TSgt Mel Amick was my supervisor when we were both assigned to the 1958th Comm Squadron MARS/Amateur station located at the MARBO Annex, Andersen AFB Guam. His ham call at that time was WA5TYY. We ran thousands of phones patches back to the states from military folks and we had a lot of incredible help from stateside hams that made it all possible. I was saddened to hear of his passing and we had communicated briefly a few times prior to his death via email.
