[OKDXA] Surprize

[Coy Day]

The Lone Star DX Association is proud to announce a double barreled DX
luncheon program at noon Saturday during Ham Com 2003 and the ARRL National
Convention this coming weekend at the Arlington Convention Center in
Arlington TX.
In addition to world class DXer Bernie McClenny, W3UR, presenting his
program on the AH3D Johnston Island 2003 DXpedition, the LSDXA announces the
addition of Steve Norris, K5ZP/YI9A, of San Antonio, the first American
issued an Iraq license during the recent conflict, to the luncheon program,
LSDXA President Bill Priakos has announced.
Norris, who has also held the following calls HL8EN, GW/K5ZP, and M0K5ZP, is
an Air Force veteran and currently a civilian contract satellite
intelligence program manager to the U.S. Air Force.  He was first licensed
in 1972 as WN8NCL.  Norris is a third generation ham, his father is KB8LOV,
mother KB8QLM, a brother KB8MBC, and his grandfather is WA8HVM.
McClenny and the AH3D team made 28,804 QSOs from Johnston Island.  The base
is being cleaned up in preparation for its decommissioning as a U.S.
facility.
Norris' YI9A license was issued in a joint effort by U.S. military
authorities and lcoal Iraqi authorities.  His operation in early April from
one of former Iraq President "Saddam Hussein's officer's chow halls" was
short due to military restrains and job commitments and the fact that he
didn't want to become a target for the U.S. military who were attacking
suspicious radio broadcasts.  "Besides it was hard to hold a mike in one
hand and an M-16 in the other." he said.
Because of military restrictions Norris could not give his exact QTH in
Iraq, but he added "because every soldier carried a radio" the noise level
was 20 over 9 at his location.
Norris will return to Iraq in mid July, again because of military
restrictions he cannot give the exact date, but "I should be able to operate
for a lot longer<" he said, and from at least two different locations within
the country.
The limited number of tickets ($35 each) that remain for the luncheon will
be available at both Ham Com registration in the lobby of the Arlington
Convention Center and at the LSDXA booth.

...........
Coy Day, N5OK, ARRL West Gulf Division Director
RR 1 Box 254, Union City, OK 73090-9726
Home: (405) 483-5632, Cell: (405) 740-8990
n5ok@arrl.org   Web: http://home.att.net/~n5ok.ok/