Press Release
HamCation 2026
Orlando, Fl.
Feb. 13-15

Since 1863, only 3,511 men and one woman have been awarded the Medal of Honor. Today there are only 60 living Medal of Honor recipients. The average American has a 0.000018% chance of meeting one in person.

But everyone who attends HamCation 2026 will have the honor to!

For the first time ever, a living Medal of Honor recipient will be attending HamCation. He has passed the exam to become a licensed amateur radio operator and will make his first ham radio contact there!

Col. Don “Doc” Ballard (MoH, USA, retired) and his “Elmer” (instructor) Sam McGlynn NM5N (Lt. Col., USAF, retired), along with Donna Snow King W5SML, former star of the hit TV show “Texas Flip N Move” and author of three books - the latest is a novel about Texas rodeo kids solving a mystery with the help of their ham radios - along with her OM Rex W5EAK (Lt. Cmdr. USN, retired) will be together in their booth. A portion of proceeds from sales go to Ballard’s foundations providing funerals and burials at no cost to indigent veterans and first responders.

Sam McGlynn & E.A. “Rex” King are members of Post 655 in Haltom City, Texas, along with Rex’s wife, Donna Snow King, who is a member of the Auxiliary.