KH6GB/KH1 1979 Canton Island

Operator: Harvey Sandal

Harvey was a traveler at heart and always hungry for his next trip. He took his last trip on June 30th in Austin, Texas. Born in Wilmington, Delaware on December 18th, 1937, he joined the Air Force as soon as he could and began to travel the world. He spent time in Japan, the Philippines, Spain, and many Pacific islands that most of us have never heard of. He also lived in Florida, Georgia, California, Nebraska, Hawaii, New Mexico, Arizona, New Hampshire, Mississippi and Texas. Most of them, more than once.

He was a ham operator and loved to travel to these remote islands that were rare on the bands. He would have other hams from around the globe stacked up on the net to talk with him so they could say they talked with Enewetak or another one of these small islands. He was excited to talk with everyone from royal families to astronauts on the space shuttle. He would often talk with over 5000 people during his 1-2 week trips.

Harvey retired from the Air Force after 28 years of loyal service. Although he wasn't a military pilot, he loved planes and learned to fly when he was younger. He would come home with lots of video from these exotic islands he'd visited and most of the time they were filled with pictures of planes taking off and landing. Every once in a while, he'd film a beach or tree, but mostly planes.

His Dad, Sam was born in the Ukraine during the time of the Czar, and his Mom, Thelma was born in Philadelphia after her family came from Germany.

Harvey leaves behind his wife Pat and son David (both in Austin), his sister Helene and brother Al (both in Wilmington). He has two wonderful granddaughters, Samantha and Reese, and daughter-in-law Jill, who will all miss him very much. Harvey and Pat recently celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary.

Although he retired from the military, the military never left him. He continued to live his life like a troop movement with down to the minute precision for many activities especially if they involved transportation of any kind.

His favorite place to live was Hawaii and if he had his way, he'd be there now. Other loves were University of Nebraska Football (he got his masters in Lincoln), Classical music (he had his own baton), Adventure books (especially historical, fiction or non-fiction), and Turner Classic Movies.

While we're terribly sad that Harvey has left us and he'll be greatly missed, we're happy to know that he's continuing his travels.

QSL SM5LNE Collection
Info courtesy of W5KNE