In article t, "KØHB"
writes:

"Len Over 21" wrote

Has the ARRL been telling the truth all those years
about amateur involvement in "real emergency situations?"

Yes, I think that their reporting has been honest (with an
understandable tendency to "patting amateur radio on the back").

Gosh, after all these years, it would seem like something if a
big national news organization picked up on all that!

When did they?

Gosh, from all I see in here, radio amateurs are akin to "minutemen
of the air" ready at a moment's notice to come to the aid of their
country in time of need!

Many amateurs feel exactly that way, and keep their stations ready to do
exactly that.

Riiiiiight. :-)

[I'll bet you would be interested in some beach-front property in the
Mojave here...real bargain! :-) ]

Apparently the USG and other non-amateur organizations feel that way
also, given the monetary grants made to enhance emergency communications
training in the amateur community.

Riiiiiight. Like the "USG" awards money based "solely" on technical
and experience basis. Uh huh. Of course.

[can anyone say "pork barrel?" Or "political ploys?" :-) ]

Remember, when real emergencies happen all the commercial
infrastructure fails!

Is Leonard Anderson telling the truth about "all the commercial
infrastrure fails" or is he "exaggerating somewhat"?

I'm just repeating what I've been told. :-)

Never seen it yet...but this country is big and I haven't seen all of it.

Field Day is supposed to be the "emergency training" isn't it?

Yes, that is one of the reasons for that operating event.

So...what IS Field Day de facto? Drop this alleged de jure bit.

It is a CONTEST. A day out in the park or someplace nice, all
playing "competitive radiosport" with some buddies.

With warmest personal regards,

Warm? :-) Like your favorite ice hole... :-)