Happy New Year and Happy Straight Key Night!

Rig: Yaesu FT-dx1200 with Ameco K-4 straight key to homebrew NVIS dipoles.

Most interesting QSO and best fist: Matt K1RAQ - Knoxville, TN. 

Matt is a military veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Note his clever vanity callsign: K1RAQ. (attached is a picture of Matt)

Matt was an experienced Green Beret completing five tours in Iraq. During his service, Matt suffered a hearing loss when a grenade exploded close by along with the blasts of mortar shells, firing weapons and loud aircraft. He enjoys CW on 40 meters as a good therapy as he is now in hospice. Quite a hero in many respects. I was so honored to work him.

Straight Key Night is quite special for me. 

My very first QSO was on January 1, 2000 when I worked Harold W1EES on 80 meters. It was quite a welcome to our hobby: A momentous day (the beginning of a century) and a callsign meant to be copied by a brand-new CW op: W1EES. 21 years later, I am an active Morse teacher and Morse evangelist and a ARRL volunteer examiner. Never stop CWing!

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