Biography

I am a retired Pharmacist from the Walgreens Pharmacy chain. I first became licensed in 1977 as WD4MOS, and passed my General and Advanced test the same day and applied for a new license and received KB4EZ. I kept this call until I passed my Extra in 2004 and applied for and received vanity call sign AK4RL for an initial call. I now have the call of AA4EZ. I became interested in Ham radio as a teenager listening to shortwave broadcast from around the world and collecting their QSL cards. I built a Knight shortwave radio for my listening. I joined the United States Marine Corps in 1966 and became a jet pilot flying A-4E Skyhawks and served for one year in VietNam in squadron VMA-311 Marine Attack Squadron providing close air support for US and Allied troops. I also served for 4 months on the ground with the 2nd Bat/7th Marines as their ground Forward Air Controller requesting and directing Close Air Support, Medivacs and resupply. After release from active duty I went back to being a pharmacist and got my Amateur Radio License. I am a member of the ARRL. I have a QCWA number, an OOT number, OMISS number, 10-10 number and both a Geratol number and directors number. I am a VE with the SCARS Team which is ARRL affiliated. I enjoy SSB,FT-8, JT-65, PSK-31, SSTV and RTTY contacts. Due to hearing problems from flying jet aircraft, I now have a problem copying CW.

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

I currently have as my main transceiver, an Icom IC-7610 and consider it the best rig I have ever used. I also have an Icom IC-7300 that I use for digital modes and as my back up. I have an Icom IC-9700 all mode dual band set up as my base station for VHF and UHF. I am using a Maxcom 80/6 OCF dipole for my main HF antenna up about 30 feet (10 meters) on on a NNE/SSW orientation. I also have a 10 through 80 meter vertical. I am using a Comet GP-95 Tri-Band vertical antenna for VHF/UHF work.