3Y0Z The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

[IK0ZCW]

The August 2021 CADXA program was "3Y0Z – The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly" by Glenn Johnson, W0GJ. Glenn grew up near Marshalltown, Iowa. After getting a degree in Forestry at Iowa State University, he then received his M.D. degree from the University of Iowa. After an internship in Seattle and residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, he spent five years in the US Air Force in Anchorage, Alaska. He then returned to practice orthopedic surgery in Minnesota and after 30 some years has returned full circle back to Iowa. For the last 10 years Glenn has been working part-time for the Mayo Clinic Health System. In 2012, he and Vivien, KL7YL, made the move permanent to a "perfect" retirement QTH between Decorah and Calmar on top of the highest hill in Winneshiek County, in the very northeast corner of Iowa.

Glenn's interest in amateur radio started as a youngster listening to his grandfather's short-wave radio. He was licensed at the age of 15 and within 3 months had worked all 50 states with a homemade crystal transmitter...with 3 crystals, one for 80 meters, two for 40 meters, one of which also worked on 15 meters. He has always been interested in contesting and working DX. He has achieved #1 Honor Roll, 5BDXCC, and 5BWAZ awards.

Glenn has 8 First Place World scores in the QRP category in the ARRL 160 Meter Contest. He has co-led 4 major DXpeditions to #2 Most Wanted areas: Bhutan (2020), Lakshadweep (2007), Desecheo (2009), and Navassa (2015). His first DXpedition was to Heard Island (1997). He was on the 2004 Andaman Island VU4AN DXpedition, the 2012 Palmyra Island DXpedition, and the 2018 Bouvet Island attempt. All of these DXpeditions (except Bouvet) were awarded DXpedition of the Year. His most recent DXpedition was in 2019 to VP6R Pitcairn Island.

In 2003, Glenn was inducted into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame. In 2012 he was inducted into the CQ DX Hall of Fame. He has been a Director of the Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF) for the past 12 years. He is currently the Secretary of NCDXF.