Flying Pigs go to the Vets

We started getting ready by contacting the commander of the local VFW post 4895 here in Clarksville. He gave us the OK to set up in front of the post and it was all about setting up the equipment and getting on the air.
This year we changed our antenna configuration. We decided to run our OCF dipole antenna in a North/South direction. We always are playing with our antennas to see what kind of results we can achieve.
Our weather outlook was a little dim for our event right up until we started setting up. Rain was in the forecast and it was suppose to be getting colder during the week. We agreed to meet at our local pig pen (Mc Donald's) and have some coffee and other delights to fortify us for the hard job of setting up the equipment and antenna. Once we reached our full mark, Terry-N5HOT, Doc-NV4T, Lewis-KF4WK, Jim-KT4FQ, and Jack-N3BQ were off in a convoy fashion to our operating location.
Terry and I started by rolling out the antenna and hanging it between a local tree and a 20 foot mast. This trip out, we conned the other guys into hauling out the equipment (keys,radio, battery..etc..)
By the time we had the antenna up it was time to get on the air. As a matter of tradition we let Doc (Boss Hog) make the first contact. In a moment of silence (which does not happen often on our outings, Doc raced up and down the 20 meter band looking for our first contact. Doc was using the straight key and after a short moment he pounced on W0CML-Jim in Parker Colorado calling CQ on 14060....
Doc jumped on him like a bird on a June bug..... and he was in the log. Real strong signal Jim....
About the time we signed off with Jim one of our soon to be Flying Pigs KK4EKK-Donnie King showed up. He was moving slow but he soon settled in and was making more QRM in the background with the guys....LOL
Next up was yours truly.... I set up and started scanning the band for our next contact. Ken in Freeland MI was calling CQ and I gave him a quick call. His signal from his FT2000 on a Mosley Pro 67B yagi using 5 watts was coming in great to Clarksville. Ken was sitting at his station in his SP/4 US Army uniform shirt celebrating Veteran's Day on the air.... Great job Ken.... and thanks for serving your country... By the way Ken is also a Flying Pig member and proudly identified himself with a "OO" during our QSO. What a guy....
Next we decided to give 10 meters a quick try..... in no time I heard EA3AR-Joe in Spain calling CQ..... I tuned in the K3 gave him a call and in a flash he came back to me. He was a strong 599 and he gave me the same. What fun.....
Now I passed the key to Terry. He moved over to 17 meters for a quick check and heard a signal coming in from Mexico.... XE1USG-Salvador was coming in quick and fading out fast.... Terry called him and he came back with a 599 and as fast as Terry was with our report we never heard Sal again. Our call was mixed with two different letters on the end. From WA4PIO to WA4PI?.... then WA4PIG....yea now that is what I am talking about... Good job Sal.....
After Sal we looked around 17 and 20 meters for any special event stations that might be on the air, with no luck so we wrapped it up and shut down for the day. What a great time and even some DX.... Great day for radio
Thanks for hanging around and reading our story. We hope to see you on the air. So long for now and God Bless America....
John and all the Flying Pig gang from Clarksville, TN....

 Oink Oink....