Biography
Elwood C. "Bud" Veregge (1922-2013), Capt. USMC, W6PBI, XU1YO
At an early age, Bud became very interested in electronics and radio equipment. When Bud was about 13 years old, started toying with amateur radio equipment and two years later, on 3 August 1937, just after his 15th birthday, he was issued his first Amateur Radio Operator's License from the Federal Communications Commission. He received the call sign letters "W6PBI", which he would use during his entire life, except during and just after World War II, when (due to security concerns) Amateur Radio transmissions were banned, and when he operated his Amateur Radio when he was stationed in Tsingtao, China (XU1YO). Bud was among a group of the first Amateur Radio opeerators to be allowed back on the air at the conclusion of World War II. He worked hard for several years to achieve his "Extra Class" License and achieved DXCC "Honor Roll" status early in his Amateur Radio work. Over the years, Bud worked many different communications frequencies (or "Bands"), and worked many different contries/contacts on several bands: (209 Countries on 160 meters, 373 Countries on Mixed Bands and 335 Contries on CW). During his military service with the Marines, in 1946 when Bud was stationed in San Diego, California, he was one of the original founding members of the San Diego DX Club, one of the oldest and best known DX clubs in the United States. At the time of Bud's passing on June 1, 2013, he was the last surviving original founding member of the club. Bud was a lifelong friend of Donald "Don" Greenwood (N7DG) (1922-2013), whom he graduated High School with in 1940 at Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, California. They kept in contact with each other throughout their lives and had a regular "schedule" where they talked to each other several days a week over Amateur Radio frequencies. Don passed away suddenly with family at his home in Bellingham, Washington the day after Bud on June 2, 2013.
Additional biography available at:
http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Elwood_Veregge_%281%29
[Reported by son Jim].