I got the first look at a ham radio station while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps (3rd Div) on the island of Okinawa in 1959. Still remember the MARS callsign, KR6DI. A full 1KW Collins AM station with a 3element tribander. The MARS op let me call CQ one day, and a W2 in Buffalo, NY answered the CQ. About fell out of the chair. Hooked for sure!

First licensed in 1967 as a Novice, WN6WQA, following year licensed as WB6WQA as General and Advanced class, and went the vanity callsign route by dropping the 'B' in the call. Am mostly active on the 10 meter band, and check in often on the 10-10 nets with a 10-X number of 6987 and a VP of 740.

Worked 23 years in law enforcement with an agency here in Southern California, which included 16 years investigating bunco/forgery cases. Interesting work, but the 7 years of patrol duty was the most satisfying for me. Retired in 1997.

Hobbies include home brewing antennas, and tinkering with a 1921 Ford Model T "pie truck". A full restoration is about to get underway.

Equipment: Yaesu FT-990 for HF, Alinco DX-70T (HF mobile), Kenwood TM-742A for VHF & UHF. Amps: Drake L-4B, Heathkit SB-200, Ameritron ALS-500M (HF mobile). Antennas: 3 el 20M hb Yagi, 4 el 10M hb Yagi, Inv V fed with 450 ohm ladder line for 10 thru 80 meters, hb 1/4 wave ground plane for 12M, Ringo Duo-Bander vertical for 2M and 440, and Hustler resonators for mobile.

I return all QSL'S 100%, and for those wanting to save postage, I use eQSL.

Hope to work you soon on one of the 10-X nets, or on 40 meters on 7.230 Mhz. Happy hamming!

73, Tim