W7YBI

1954-55 & 1956-67, Oregon and Washington

I have had many personal calls, but this one was the first. The license was Conditional Class, which was the same as a General, except I took it by mail. The test was administered by two General or higher hams. In my case, my Elmers gave me the test. They were Vic Strohmeyer, W3ZCG, and Bill Hawes, W9ERG. Vic is not active, but is living in Arizona. Bill is still active as W9ERG and lives in Skokie, Illinois. Bill and I have kept in touch over the years, but have not met since we left Arabia in the 50s. Vic was a radio maintenance tech and Bill was the only Army draftee in Saudi Arabia. Bill was just short of his BSEE when he got drafted. (He will have to tell that story). I knew the CW, as I was a ground radio operator who had to pass 20 wpm receive before graduating from tech school. The theory was a mystery for along time, but for the test I barely got by. Over the years, I became more involved technically and learned more theory without memorizing it!

I now have an Extra Class license.

I did not have a station in Oregon for a few years, although I was mobile with a Elmac AF-67 and a Morrow HF converter. My bride to be was not too enthused about the radio taking precedence sometimes. We have learned to balance the hobby with family for over 40 years now.

We went to Japan for 3 years in 1957. I operated too much over there. Upon return, with the help of my father-in-law, Art Young, K7CIP, I got on the air with a Hallicrafters HT-37 and an SX-101. This was my station in Washington were I was stationed near Tacoma at McChord AFB. Art built me an amp with 4 811a's and we put up a TH3 beam on a 40-foot tower. I was back in the DX business again! Between Washington and Oregon, I had 129 countries credited by DXCC through 1968. It wasn't until I cam back from Saudi Arabia in 1986, that I put together a excellent station. Starting with that 129 countries in '86, I have ran my total to 309 by the end of 1995. I have 311 confirmed now (1997). What's the rush?

After getting out of the service in 1962, we moved to Portland and about a year later we bought our first home in Lake Grove. I put the station in the garage and the antenna went up 120-feet in the top of a Douglas fir tree! That was cool. My next door neighbor worked for a tree doctor firm that kept power line runs clear and he prepared the top of the tree for a TA-33 and the rotor. I really got out well with that set up. 2 years later it all came down and we moved to California!

I enjoyed being in Oregon. I got to meet alot of the local hams and stay in touch with some of them still. My in-laws lived nearby and it was fun working projects with Art.

Unfortunately, I always was a sucker for interesting jobs elsewhere. I wasn't making any career moves in Oregon, so south to W6 we went. More on that under W6HUQ, my next call. 73 for now!

Created: 22 November 1997 by Dave K7JJ
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