I was fascinated by Amateur Radio while in High School, but never had the time or money to do anything but dream about it. Some years later near the end of a career in the Air Force the bug bit me again, and WA3VSX, a close friend and fellow member of the U.S. Air Force Band, became my Elmer.

I finally got my license in the Fall of 1974 as WN3YRU; for my original HF rig I built a Heathkit HW-16 and HG-10 VFO, and was completely spoiled by its QSK operation. Later that year I upgraded to Technician, becoming WA3YRU. That was when Technicians lost their Novice HF privileges, so I worked on my code speed until I passed the General code test in 1975 to get back on the HF bands. Later the same year I passed my Advanced exam, and in 1977 I finally got my Extra (as many old-timers will recall, you then had to be licensed for at least 2 years to be elegible to take the Extra exam).

In 1977 I became K3DC while living in the District of Columbia, and held the call until my license expired in 2007 while I was fighting cancer. I'm now in remission, and in August, 2011 I retook my exams and was licensed as AK4LO. I immediately reapplied for my old callsign; it was granted on September 2, 2011 and now I'm back to what I love most in Ham Radio- CW! About 95% of my operating is CW, usually with a hand key. I'm not a contester or paper-chaser, although I hold W.A.S., W.A.C., RCC and OTC and my "numbers" include 10-10 # 16809, FISTS # 1902, SKCC# 8598, Flying Pigs # 2799, 3905 CCN # 60 and Geratol # 250.

An old-timer to the core, I still believe "The final courtesy of a QSO is a QSL," and will QSL unless whoever I'm working indicates they don't want to (I'll check their info on QRZ). I can often be found in the Novice/ Technician segments of the bands, listening for the slow, hesitant signals of newcomers. I'll gladly slow down to whatever speed is comfortable and I've learned to be patient, so if you hear me, give me a call- it's a special thrill to be someone's first CW contact. If I am, PLEASE TELL ME.