XW8CAL 1968 Laos

I remember XW8CAL well (bug fist) .. had some QSOs, but never went after a QSL at the time. In 1979 I got a letter from Doug Wooley (just found it) and he told me that XW8CAL was a club call, but the CW operator was most likely W3DBT, who later had a 2 letter call in Potomac MD. Doug Wooley is of course ZP6CW now, but also pumped the key from CN8FW, EP2VW, XW8CR, and some other places. K8MFO

XW8CAL was probably Dick Price, W3DBT later K3RS. I operated from his XW8CS station along with Don Riebhoff and others in the 1969 CQWW Phone contest, and Dick later operated with me from my HS5ABD station in the 1970 CQ WPX SSB Contest. I believe the XW8CAL was a club station of the Embassy's which was obtained before the Lao Gov't agreed to issue calls to individuals. Dick was a prominent member of PVRC and NCDXA. Dick is now a SK. K3ZO

I was in Laos during the time mentioned. I also operated as XW8CAL. I was there between November 1968 through February 1970. I made several 20M contacts on CW. The card I used was a postcard with Dymo Labels. Pretty tacky for sure. I have long misplaced my paper log. Sure wish I could relocate it. Interesting times. I was using my HW100 into a “Collins” inverted Vee on the back fence. By the way, XW8CAL is/was a Club Amateur du Lao call sign, thus the letters. KB7GP

QSL from the estate of W8JIN
Info courtesy of K8MFO, K3ZO, KB7GP