Sanford Beebe Hunt

Colonel

USMC Retired

18 Oct 1915 - 17 Dec 2003

Legion of Merit-Combat V  u Bronze Star-Combat V u  Navy Commendation Medal

Combat Action Ribbon (2)  u  Presidential Unit Citation (4) u  China Service Medal

American Defense Service (2) u  American Campaign  u Asiatic-Pacific Campaign (2)

WWII Victory Medal   u  National Defense Medal (3) u Korean Service Medal

Vietnam Service Medal (4) u Marine Corps Reserve Medal u RVN Gallantry Cross/Palm

RVN Honor Medal 1Class  u  RVN GC Unit Citation  u RVN Civic Action Unit Citation

UN Service Medal Korea u RVN Campaign Medal  u   ROK Defense Service Medal

W4NTR KA3MD

W6FBF, W6YG, K4DVX, K4EMZ

Colonel Sanford B Hunt played a long history in Marine Corps Amateur Radio.  An avid ham since boyhood, he served first in the Navy Reserve as a radioman (RM3) in the 1930’s, then transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve in 1940.  He received a field commission while serving with the 1^st Marine Division just prior to the invasion of Guadalcanal.

While a Captain serving as Communication Officer at Headquarters Marine Corps in 1948 he obtained the first license for station W4NTR known as the "Granddaddy of USMC Stations" and it remained under his name before being turned over to Headquarters Battalion, HQMC.

As a Major and Commanding Officer of Communication Company 3rd Marine Division in Gifu, Japan he was in charge of station KA3MD.  He also helped MSgt Fenton Martin operate the station before being transferred to Korea in 1954.

Col. Hunt said "We had a rhombic antenna on two acres of land on tall telephone poles, aimed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA north of San Diego.  Every time we came on the air we received loud complaints from MARS* Okinawa because our signal blanked them out. They were in a direct line between GIFU and Camp Pendleton.  It was a normal daily routine - nice to help people out and to talk to my wife now and then."

*Marine Amateur Radio Stations