I earned the Novice license WN2VYD in 1966 as a requirement for a Radio Shop class in high school. I spent 21 years in the USAF and unfortunately never had any serious connections with amateur radio during that time. I did however have the honor of making a MARS phone patch call home through Barry Goldwater during the Vietnam Era. After moving to Florida in 2002, a friend reignited the flame and I obtained the Technician Plus license, KG4WOO. I subsequently upgraded to General and then Extra with the vanity call N4WBJ. In Nov 2009 I applied for and was granted WB4J, as you can see both recent calls have my initials. I have two "Elmers" to thank, the first being Steve W3DDC for getting me interested in Emergency Communications and also Dan W2NDP (SK) for infecting me with the HF DX Bug. I have earned DXCC with over 160 confirmed using only a barefoot IC-706MKIIG and a "hamstick" dipole/ octopus (on 75, 40, 20,& 15) up only 8 meters. I love operating portable. I enjoy and prefer exchanging QSL cards and will pay postage when receiving a SAE with your DX card. I also participate in SKYWARN as a storm spotter. Currently, I am an Offical Emergency Station and an Assistant Emergency Coordinator and Club Liaison for the Hillsborough County AREAS/RACES. I'm a firm believer that DX Chasing is the "ultimate contact sport" and amateur radio is "A Hobby With A Purpose". 73 Budd