Hello to everyone who stopped by to read this page. The picture above is from my Air Force days. I ran the Communications Section and was the radio operator on the EC-130 Airborne Battlefield Command Center (7th ACCS, Keesler AFB) in Biloxi, MS; The EC-135 Airborne Command Post (4th ACCS, Ellsworth AFB) in Rapid City, SD and (9th ACCS, Hickam AFB) in Honolulu, HI; The E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) Airborne Radar Platform (960th AWACS, NAS Keflavik) in Keflavik, Iceland and (964th and 966th AWACS, Tinker AFB) in Oklahoma City, OK. I also worked Ground Comm Systems (46th Comm Sq) at Barksdale AFB in Shreveport, LA and (1979th Comm Sq) at RAF Lakenheath in Lakenheath, England. I was in the Air Force for almost 23 years and retired as a Master Sergeant (MSgt - E7).

During all my travels, I have visited 49 of the 50 states, 31 countries, and now make the Mississippi Gulf Coast my home. OK, I know your asking, "What state did he miss?" I have not been to the state of Idaho -- Yet! Since retiring from the Air Force, I have worked for Casino Magic in Biloxi, MS as a Dealer and Table Games Supervisor. I am a reservist with FEMA and have recently worked in New York and Vermont to help the people hurt by Hurricane Irene and Lee. I also worked with FEMA when Hurricane Katrina tried to destroy our nice Gulf Coast.

Ocean Springs is located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, just to the east of Biloxi, MS. We are about 40 miles (64 km) west of Mobile, Alabama and about 80 miles (128 km) east of New Orleans, Louisiana.

I grew up in Huntington, West Virginia and received my Novice ticket in 1965, as WN8REA. I then proceeded to Technician, General, Advanced, and then Extra. Some of the other calls I have held were; WA8REA, WB0QGO, KD8RP, WA5DM, KH6JHC and TF/KD8RP. I have also operated Aeronautical Mobile from all over the world. (See the photos below.)

If you are ever driving on I-64 and pass through Huntington, WV - check out the Museum of Radio and Technology.

I am using a one-element, non-rotatable wire Yagi - or in other words - a 160 meter Inverted V at 35 feet (10.7 Meters) for HF. I also have a 3 Element Beam for 6 meters at 15 feet (4.5 Meters). -- 6 Meter antenna is down now, hope to have it back up soon.

I like to work 10, 12, and 15 meters, so I am enjoying the openings of the new sunspot cycle. I completed my LoTW Triple Play Award ( #266 ) in May 2009 and I still get on the K3UK Sked Page to help others with Mississippi. If you need Mississippi on any band or mode, stop by the K3UK Sked page or just drop me a note. I like to work SSB, JT65, CW, and the rest of the digital modes. If you are on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, look for me on the 146.79 or 145.11 machines.

I am a member of Air Force MARS ( AFA4IB ) and belong to the Mississippi Gulf Coast ARA (W5SGL), Keesler AFB Club (K5TYP), and the Jackson County ARA (W5WA). I am also a certified Skywarn storm spotter and work with the Jackson County and Harrison County Emergency Management Agencies.

We prefer to QSL via LoTW, but will also do e-QSL, Direct, and the Bureau.

73 de Don, W8DM

LoTW Triple Play # 266 | SMIRK # 6861 | 10-10 # 15376 | OMISS # 6307 | FH # 1102 | 30MDG # 2673 | EPC # 8369 | SKCC # 6294

Here are a few of my Aeronautical Mobile homes. The EC-130 (ABCCC), the EC-135 (Airborne Command Post), the E-3 (AWACS), and a Cessna O-2 from my days in South East Asia.

Counters were reset on 8 October 2010.