Steve Hawley CTR2 1971-1975


How I became a Navy CTR:

Much credit goes to my lifelong Amateur Radio hobby.  Since about the age of 12, I was interested in all facets of HF radio.  At the age of 16, I earned my first Amateur Radio license and my love for "Ham Radio" has now extended 61 years as of this writing.  I learned ((self-taught)) Morse Code ((CW)) at age 13, experienced/learned HF propagation dynamics, learned electronics and antenna theory by experimenting/building and was very active operating on the air, primarily using the CW mode of communications.  I was also a very avid CW Contester pitting my skills against others who participated in such activities.

Fast forward to the Vietnam era draft birthday lottery.  Given a very low draft number, and after talking to my WW-II Army veteran Dad, I made the decision to join the Navy vice being drafted into the Army.  That decision was life-changing.  After boot camp in Great Lakes, I was very fortunate to find myself in Pensacola/Corry Field enrolled in CTR 'A' School.  Because I was a touch-typist and proficient in Morse Code at speeds of 35+ GPM, I easily aced out the rudimentary CW training 'computer' during my first week in training.  ((The 'computer' was only capable of sending up to 30GPM))  I was also the "Honor Graduate" in my early 1971 class.  The instructors informed me with that honor, I would be allowed to select a first duty station of my choice.  Therefore I was granted a request to be assigned to RAF Edzell.

I enjoyed a very successful tour at RAF Edzell, September 1971 to June 1973, where I earned CTR2 rank and spent many hours copying RS circuits.  In those days we used manual MILLS and R-390's, sometimes with headphones hanging off our shoulders to do our taskings.  The R-390's were connected to the most outstanding HF antenna system I've ever been privileged to use, the Wullenweber, aka Circular Disposed Antenna Array ((CDAA)).  In my off-duty time, the base provided a Ham Shack for our use equipped with a 2-element GEM Quad and an old Swan-350.  I later upgraded the receiver to a Drake 2B.  Myself and Dan Flanagan pretty much maintained the Shack and antennas.  I was licensed as GM5AXO and Dan was GM5ASI.  I also played many of the world-famous Scottish golf courses and fished in the North Sea during off-duty time.

After RAF Edzell, the Navy sent me to Galeta Island, Canal Zone, July 1973 to January 1975, when my four-year enlistment obligation was completed.  My duties pretty much consisted of HFDF operations using the CDAA antenna system.  What we accomplished there was very rewarding.  During my time, the base was downsized to 35 active duty personnel.  During my off-duty time, I was very blessed to have use of the base Ham Shack, KZ5NG.  As I recall, myself and Hans Glista/WA1LWS were primary users of KZ5NG.  My personal callsign was KZ5BP.  I ran many phone-patches for base personnel and also operated in most major worldwide CW DX Contests.  One highlight was being #1 world in the first annual ARRL 10 meter Contest in November 1973, operating as KZ5NG.

In January 1975, I was honorably discharged from the Navy and, thanks in part to being a Navy CTR, in 1976, began my 35-year civilian career with the Central Intelligence Agency.  Thank you USNAVSECGRU!!!!

73.....//Steve K4EU
Former CTR2
RAF Edzell
Galeta Island