Paul KM4MA
Article Publish in the Waterway Radio Scuttlebutt by Glenn K9TUT
I would like to take this opportunity as Commodore to get to know some of our long-time WRCC members. Being relatively new to the club, I am fascinated with the history of our organization, and the people who contribute to its operation on a daily basis.
One hundred twenty five years earlier, Greece was struggling for their independence from the Ottoman Empire, and a little town in Northwestern New York decided to name their town “Greece” after the ongoing struggle in Europe. Fast-forward to Chuck Yeager’s flight in 1947, and Paul Van Meurs was born on that day in Greece, New York.
In 1947, one of the best jobs in Greece, NY, was working for the Eastman Kodak Company in neighboring Rochester. During World War II, Kodak was a major contributor to military contracts, and was thriving. Paul’s father was among those employees serving the company as an electrician. When Paul’s dad was not working at Kodak, he could be found building Heath Kit radios and teaching Morse code to fellow Ham Radio operators in his area. Paul developed an interest in Ham Radio when he was 12 or 13 years of age, and learned CW from his father.
But the lure of fast cars and motorcycles took precedence over ham radios at that time for the teenaged Paul. The Harley-Davidson Company had produced a three-wheel vehicle, designed to be towed behind a car being delivered to its new owner. This vehicle could then be un-hitched from the car upon the car’s delivery, and the driver could return to the garage on what was called a Servi-Car. These vehicles became popular as utility vehicles and mobile vendors, and also popular for teenagers like Paul to ride around town.
You have all heard of the Beach Boys song “Fun Fun Fun….till daddy took the T-Bird away.” Well, Paul had fun fun fun till daddy took the Servi-Car away. Seems that Paul was spotted by the local Deputy Sheriff, hot-dogging on the Servi-Car, and ratted Paul out to his father who was the Volunteer Fire Chief. So that was the end of the three wheeled fun machine.
The British government had recently formed a company called Norton Villiers Triumph, to help their motorcycle industry, and in 1966, Paul was the proud owner of a Triumph Bonneville. But also in that year Uncle Sam came a knocking in the form of a letter from the Selective Service System entitled “Order To Report For Induction”.
Soon, Paul was off to Ft Dix, New Jersey, named after Major General John Adams Dix, a veteran of the War of 1812 and the Civil War. Paul went through Officer Candidate School (OCS), and was sent to Ft Benning, Georgia, home of the US Army Infantry School.
The warm weather in Georgia agreed with the 2nd Lieutenant, and when he was offered a transfer back up to Ft Dix he declined and volunteered for Viet Nam.
Paul was then sent to Ft. Sherman, Panama where he and 9000 other troops a year were taught jungle warfare at the Jungle Operations Training Center. Ft. Sherman was closed in 2000 per President Jimmy Carters’ order returning the Panama Canal and all U.S. military assets to the Panamanian government. Ft Sherman is how home to Shelter Bay Marina at the Caribbean entrance to the Panama Canal. The old military housing at Ft Sherman may be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53yGFJKuVpA
Having spent three years with our boat based at Shelter Bay Marina, it was very sad to see our military presence leave Panama, and the beautiful military instillations go into such a state of disrepair.
Paul served in a Mechanized Division in Vietnam where he lost a leg in combat. Among other medals, Paul was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, “which recognizes the inherent sacrifices of all infantrymen, and that, in comparison to all other military occupational specialties, infantrymen face the greatest risk of being wounded or killed in action.” Paul was also awarded the prestigious, Silver Star Medal, the third highest military decoration for valor awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces. Paul was promoted to the rank of Captain, and spent a year and one half convalescing in in the U.S. Army Hospital at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Following his discharge from the Army, Paul moved to Florida where he graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in what else…communications. During that time, Paul and his wife Cassie owned a 18’ cutty cabin Crestliner in which they enjoyed long weekends on the water. The nautical life was good, so they bought a John Hanna designed 38’ Alden Sloop named “Po” and lived aboard in the Titusville Marina. Paul was lured back into amateur radio in the mid 80’s after being impressed with a friend’s ability to stay in contact via ham radio with friends back in the States while cruising in the Bahamas. His first ham rig was a Yaesu FT-77, which he bought from past WRCC Commodore Lona Bell’s husband Al Bell.
Paul credits his enthusiasm in Amateur Radio to his mentors, many of who were past Commodores of the WRCC, with whom he would have lunch with at the old Mathers Bridge Restaurant in Melbourne, Florida. The restaurant closed in 1992 after 52 years of business. The locals say they can still hear faint tones of music coming from the old dock, and it’s listed in “Haunted Places” in Florida.
Paul (KM4MA) has maintained his love affair with Yaesu and now operates a FT 2000D with an Ameritron AL-572 Amplifier, and six-element beam antenna on a 40’ tower. Paul is active with the Maritime Mobile Service Network in addition to his faithful service to our club.
Article Publish in the Waterway Radio Scuttlebutt by Glenn K9TUT
I would like to take this opportunity as Commodore to get to know some of our long-time WRCC members. Being relatively new to the club, I am fascinated with the history of our organization, and the people who contribute to its operation on a daily basis.
- On October 14th, 1947, World War II ace fighter pilot, Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier in the X-1 rocket plane built by Bell Aircraft. The X-1 was taken in a B-29 bomber to an altitude of 25,000 feet and released through the bomb bay doors to achieve this feat.
One hundred twenty five years earlier, Greece was struggling for their independence from the Ottoman Empire, and a little town in Northwestern New York decided to name their town “Greece” after the ongoing struggle in Europe. Fast-forward to Chuck Yeager’s flight in 1947, and Paul Van Meurs was born on that day in Greece, New York.
In 1947, one of the best jobs in Greece, NY, was working for the Eastman Kodak Company in neighboring Rochester. During World War II, Kodak was a major contributor to military contracts, and was thriving. Paul’s father was among those employees serving the company as an electrician. When Paul’s dad was not working at Kodak, he could be found building Heath Kit radios and teaching Morse code to fellow Ham Radio operators in his area. Paul developed an interest in Ham Radio when he was 12 or 13 years of age, and learned CW from his father.
But the lure of fast cars and motorcycles took precedence over ham radios at that time for the teenaged Paul. The Harley-Davidson Company had produced a three-wheel vehicle, designed to be towed behind a car being delivered to its new owner. This vehicle could then be un-hitched from the car upon the car’s delivery, and the driver could return to the garage on what was called a Servi-Car. These vehicles became popular as utility vehicles and mobile vendors, and also popular for teenagers like Paul to ride around town.
You have all heard of the Beach Boys song “Fun Fun Fun….till daddy took the T-Bird away.” Well, Paul had fun fun fun till daddy took the Servi-Car away. Seems that Paul was spotted by the local Deputy Sheriff, hot-dogging on the Servi-Car, and ratted Paul out to his father who was the Volunteer Fire Chief. So that was the end of the three wheeled fun machine.
The British government had recently formed a company called Norton Villiers Triumph, to help their motorcycle industry, and in 1966, Paul was the proud owner of a Triumph Bonneville. But also in that year Uncle Sam came a knocking in the form of a letter from the Selective Service System entitled “Order To Report For Induction”.
Soon, Paul was off to Ft Dix, New Jersey, named after Major General John Adams Dix, a veteran of the War of 1812 and the Civil War. Paul went through Officer Candidate School (OCS), and was sent to Ft Benning, Georgia, home of the US Army Infantry School.
The warm weather in Georgia agreed with the 2nd Lieutenant, and when he was offered a transfer back up to Ft Dix he declined and volunteered for Viet Nam.
Paul was then sent to Ft. Sherman, Panama where he and 9000 other troops a year were taught jungle warfare at the Jungle Operations Training Center. Ft. Sherman was closed in 2000 per President Jimmy Carters’ order returning the Panama Canal and all U.S. military assets to the Panamanian government. Ft Sherman is how home to Shelter Bay Marina at the Caribbean entrance to the Panama Canal. The old military housing at Ft Sherman may be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53yGFJKuVpA
Having spent three years with our boat based at Shelter Bay Marina, it was very sad to see our military presence leave Panama, and the beautiful military instillations go into such a state of disrepair.
Paul served in a Mechanized Division in Vietnam where he lost a leg in combat. Among other medals, Paul was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, “which recognizes the inherent sacrifices of all infantrymen, and that, in comparison to all other military occupational specialties, infantrymen face the greatest risk of being wounded or killed in action.” Paul was also awarded the prestigious, Silver Star Medal, the third highest military decoration for valor awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces. Paul was promoted to the rank of Captain, and spent a year and one half convalescing in in the U.S. Army Hospital at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Following his discharge from the Army, Paul moved to Florida where he graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in what else…communications. During that time, Paul and his wife Cassie owned a 18’ cutty cabin Crestliner in which they enjoyed long weekends on the water. The nautical life was good, so they bought a John Hanna designed 38’ Alden Sloop named “Po” and lived aboard in the Titusville Marina. Paul was lured back into amateur radio in the mid 80’s after being impressed with a friend’s ability to stay in contact via ham radio with friends back in the States while cruising in the Bahamas. His first ham rig was a Yaesu FT-77, which he bought from past WRCC Commodore Lona Bell’s husband Al Bell.
Paul credits his enthusiasm in Amateur Radio to his mentors, many of who were past Commodores of the WRCC, with whom he would have lunch with at the old Mathers Bridge Restaurant in Melbourne, Florida. The restaurant closed in 1992 after 52 years of business. The locals say they can still hear faint tones of music coming from the old dock, and it’s listed in “Haunted Places” in Florida.
Paul (KM4MA) has maintained his love affair with Yaesu and now operates a FT 2000D with an Ameritron AL-572 Amplifier, and six-element beam antenna on a 40’ tower. Paul is active with the Maritime Mobile Service Network in addition to his faithful service to our club.