Georgette  Walsh

Sgt 1976 - 1978

When I enlisted in the Marines, I attended the electronics and ground radio repair schools at 29-Palms, CA. From there, I was assigned to the "tech shop" at MCRD, San Diego. Unbeknownst to me, the "Gunny" who ran the MAR station had submitted his papers for retirement and a few days after being promoted to sergeant, our lieutenant (Lt. Sealey) informed me that I would assume the duties as NCOIC of station. Other than being an E-5, I really did not have any background or experience for the station. Regardless, I reported on Monday morning and was fortunate to meet a PFC who, while awaiting discharge for a drug offense, made it his mission to see to it that "I got it" and assumed the culture and ways of amateur radio operating. He was a blessing and he trained me well. The station was small compared to other stations in the Marines yet operated 24-hours a day. To say the least, the success of the station depended on the Marines who worked there and keeping the "traffic" moving   was the one thing we all had in common. And, move the traffic we did. At that time, Pendleton was the assigned liaison for all traffic on or off the West coast. I knew the SSgt in charge there as we had both been at 29-Palms together (SSgt. Ira Jones), he on his second enlistment and me on my first (and only). Many nights the station at Pendleton could not be raised and we (MCRD) accepted the traffic. After a while, we had a system. If the station at Pendleton did not respond within 10 minutes or so, then we would volunteer to take the traffic at MCRD. Hands down, most station just wanted to send their messages on their way and gladly sent it to us. And, it was not just from other Marine bases that we accepted traffic. Somehow the "10 minute rule," which we "made up as we went along," applied to any military station trying to send traffic in or out of the country. The most memorable was the traffic we relayed from a Navy ship stationed off the coast of Greenland. Normally the messages were kept within a certain length. 

Being assigned to MARS was a blessing in disguise. I had quite few reservations about "being in charge" at the time and more than once wondered if I really was. Working at the station taught me a lot about teamwork. Not only the "team" at the station, but the "team" of civilian radio operators who dutifully met their assumed obligations without fail. The station ran well because of the Marines working there and also because of the lieutenant and MGySgt in charge of communications. If both of those had not been in place, the Marines who ranked above us and the Marines at the station, we could not have accomplished all that we did. The MARS experience for me was also my first "real" experience with "having a mission." I owe that in part to the PFC who spent his last 30-60 days seeing to it that "I got it." He was very dedicated to the work that he did and let me know that I would be too. Working at MARS was very rewarding. At the end of a shift or evening, there was no question that whether it was via phone patching or TTY messages, that we were helping others and at least to some degree, making a difference.     Back to top

Ira Jones

Cpl 1972 - 1973

Personal call sign is NNN0IRA and still active in Navy MARS in North Carolina, just received thirty year award 

Made me crazy??, Crazier?? Had some good times at SAROC at Las Vegas and to think that the US government actually paid me to do it??? 

Operated from Futema, Hanson, and seven ships... Built the station on the USS Saipan and served on the ship for four years.    Back to top

Paul Cavnar

LCpl 9/68 - 11/68

Worked in the MARS station as temp duty to fill in while comm school students learned Morse Code. I already knew the code from high school so I made a deal with the Co. Gunny to work there. 

It was great fun and good work.                       Back to top

Bob  Connelly

GySgt 1/67 - 1/68

I was pulled off the drill field in 1967 to work in the MARS station at MCRD San Diego CA as CHOP.  We were the first to send RTTY to Vietnam via NAV14 in Hawaii  we also ran phone patches.  From there I went back in-country  and eventually took over as CHOP N0EFB in DaNang.  After returning to the US, took over CHOP at N0MQU until I was transferred to MCAS CHERRY POINT as CHOP AT N0MCP.  When at San Diego 1967 I received a message via MARS that a company mascot had rabies and the Marine he bit had returned CONUS and we found out he was on a hunting trip in the mountains of Texas.  I notified the Texas State Police who located him to get his shots.  All turned out well.   There are more but can’t think of them right now. 

Made me realize how much we helped the troops who were able to call home. 

I spent four months as Vietnam coordinator after Rick Kiter.    Back to top

Jerome Mattson

Cpl 1960 - 1962

I only worked the ham bands. I ran phone patches and messages that the recruits got to MCRD safely will write soon, when at W6YDK. I will eliminate myself now. I did not run MARS at anytime while in the marines. For the boys in KH6, KR6, Japan and many other Islands, I ran patches for them into the states while at MCRD. (W6YDK). I have some pictures of W6YDK and some of KG4AM. Bud came in from KR6 land and took over when I left for Cuba. He is probably your man to contact because he had about 14 years in when he came to W6YDK in 1962. If you happen to know anything of Bud would like to know? Never went to Vietnam. Got out 6/64. I am very glad of that too.      Back to top

Joseph Contogenis

PFC 1962 - 1965

Having a ham radio license when I joined the corps got me the job at W6YDK.  I started with recruits arriving at MCRD.  They would fill out a form stating they were ok. Most of this message traffic was sent out on the ham bands. This was before the inception of Navy MARS.

I continued to handle written traffic and run phone patches after being discharged from USMC.      Back to top