Member Bio

Hello, my name is Jeff, been a licensed ham since 1976 but took a 30 year break from the hobby while working and raising children.  I spent 7 years as a U.S. Army aviator where I flew medevac in a UH-1 Huey , then 5 years as a local cop in New Mexico and 20 years as a Deputy U.S. Marshal at various locations across the country, retiring in 2016 from the Peoria, Illinois USMS office.  I had a great career and wouldn’t change a thing, but quite honestly I am glad to be retired and would not recommend law enforcement to anyone today.  I am driving a school bus in my retirement where my biggest decisions are left, right, stop and go. I get summers off to travel with my XYL (KD9YFH), who is a teacher at the same school.

I was originally licensed in 1976 as WD8KES and am a Michigander by birth, currently living in Illinois (EN50) with my XYL of 33 years and two 5 pound Chihuahuas…kids are all grown and gone. Most of my hamming is SSB or digital modes. I keep telling myself I’m going to get back into CW but it’s proving much more challenging to learn the second time around. I enjoy Parks on the Air (POTA) as both a hunter and an occasional activator with a Yaesu FT-891.

My home station consists of a Yaesu FTDX-101D, a Palstar tuner, an Acom 1010 amp and an off center fed dipole for 80-10 meters.

I log all my HF contacts to LOTW and QRZ

73, hope to see you on the air.

Jeff

FH#6794

jdale@duck.com

KB9JD@arrl.net

KB9JD@winlink.org

JD