Amory Waite

Authentic autographed vintage First Day Cover hand signed by Amory H. Waite, one of three to reach and rescue Richard Byrd at Advance Base when Byrd was overcome from improper ventilation August 10, 1934. For this heroic rescue, Bud received a special congressional medal. This is mentioned in Admiral Byrd's book titled "Alone." A giant of Antarctic exploration and science, Bud Waite was the chief radio man for Byrd's second expedition and participated in 22 polar expeditions thereafter. Waite also made many contributions to polar science including the first successful measurements of ice thickness using radio waves. During World War II, Waite was an electronic engineer at the U.S. Army Signal Corps Research and Development Laboratories at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, where hundreds of radio amateurs and others, all scientists, engineers and technicians, developed equipment for our armed services. During the Allied Forces invasion of Europe, Bud Waite, W2ZK, and Victor Colaguori, W2VC, of Oakhurst, New Jersey, as civilians on special assignment went with the invasion forces across the English Channel setting up a newly developed multichannel FM radio relay system that kept General Dwight Eisenhower in direct communications with his commanders on the battlefield. For their achievement as civilians in combat, President Harry Truman awarded Waite, W2ZK, the Bronze Star.