N8KOB 1936 Smethport, PA
Operator: Ensign H.L. German, USNR. ex: W2GJA
The N prefix was used in the thirties for Naval reserve stations and personnel.
Capt. Harold Leedom German, USNR
(World War II), W3IMN and other calls: N8KOB, W8KOB, W2GJA,
WA3NGB and W4LFB; QCWA #1969.
Harold was the oldest son of Maude Thomas and Harry German. He
grew up in Smethport, PA, and graduated from high school there.
Harold attended Penn State and then the RCA Institute in New York
City, where he received certification as a radio engineer.
He was an amateur radio operator as well, and radio took him many
places he never anticipated.
As a young man, he joined the Naval Reserve as a Radioman 3rd
class, later an Ensign.
In 1939, following the discovery of Tyler Kent's espionage at the
London Embassy,
President Roosevelt directed the navy and army to train a small
number of men to be dispatched to major embassies around the
world.
They were to be communications and code personnel in lieu of
State Department civilians.
Harold was one of those selected and was stationed at the Court
of St. James, London, throughout the Blitz.
Reassigned to duty in Washington just 10 days before Pearl Harbor
was bombed, he spent the rest of WWII there as a CNO code and
watch officer on White House liaison.
Harold was a Captain in the Naval Reserve, and commanded the
Naval Reserve Centers in Harrisburg, PA, and in Roanoke, VA,
during his career.
He married Marguerite Howard in Washington, DC, on April 29,
1942. After WWII, they lived most of their lives in the
Harrisburg, PA, area. They had two children, a son and daughter.
After WWII, Harold worked as a manufacturers' sales
representative for over 20 years, returning to radio in 1967 as
Communications Officer for PA Civil Defense until retirement.
He was a member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Cathedral in
Harrisburg, and a former senior warden there. He was on the board
of Goodwill Industries of Harrisburg.
He was a member of the Harrisburg Radio Amateurs Club; his call
sign was W3IMN.
Silent Key (1912 - 1986)
QSL & N prefix info Patrick
Rigg Collection
Other info courtesy of W5KNE