N0EFB_Stories

Sgt 1966 -1967

I was always interested in technical subjects and amateur radio was a great outlet for this.

I walked into the HQ in DaNang and someone noticed in my service record that I was a ham so asked me if I would like to help run the MARS station!

I ran a lot of phone patches and developed a 'special' relationship with Norval and Connie (Bowen) in Omaha which served as our gateway. On my way back from Vietnam I stopped to see them and thank them personally for all the hard work they did to boost the moral of the fighting forces in Vietnam. They were very special people and we had a great time of sharing. I also remember running a phone patch for the Duke (John Wayne) when he visited the troops. The other great memory was the trip to Manila with the chaplain to get Christmas presents for the orphans.

I will also remember the hard times when loved ones would disappoint the men. There were some real tear-jerkers when men faced some very tough situations back home. I also remember the great ones when specials events happened back home and we were able to share the joy with them.

Tom Cagan

Cpl 1966 - 1968

I started out as a "user" when the station was just a couple of comm boxes, a tarp, and a few picnic tables. I began repairing some of the gear (Drake TR-4 for in country nets) and the Collins S Line for CONUS. The more that I hung out at the station, the more time I got to operate. I was able to call my folks, grandparents, and of course, my Girlfriend, now my XYL (KF6KQA). I found that even though some of the copy was poor, I was able to talk with my folks. My father (KC6UHR SK) and I are civilian pilots and have had much experience making sense out of the hash, so when everyone else was "down" I still was able to make calls. Norvel and Connie (Bowen) used to call me the Tired Ol' Man, since most of our QSOs were very early in the morning Hotel Time, and we got pretty punchy that late in the morning. I remember that one of the operators had an affinity for Celery Phosphate (Dr. Brown's, I believe). We drank copious quantities of the stuff. When the "New" station was built with a real air conditioned waiting room it made my two years in Viet Nam more tolerable.

We used to trade airtime with the USAF Mars Station AI8AM on top of Monkey Mountain (Tien Sha). When they couldn't get out on their frequencies and we could and vice versa. We would be able to make calls to our families via landlines and phone patches within DaNang. We also got to know the drivers from NSA Taxi, and whenever we needed something from elsewhere in DaNang, they were able to find it for us by driving through the dark streets of the city at breakneck speeds.

Jerry Zoll

LCpl 8/67 - 8/68

My orders out of Schools Battalion stated that I was assigned to MARS. No one had the slightest idea what are where that was. I was surprised when it turned out to be a radio station. Before that the only training I had was as a Teletype Operator. My biggest fear was talking on the microphone. I don't recall any special experiences. All the GI's that came in where just happy to call home and talk with their families. That was always gave me a a sense of gratification.

I have been in the Mortgage Industry for 34 years. However the experience has afforded me the opportunity to use my voice in some advertising spots over the years and I am no longer afraid of the microphone. Back to top

John Childress

LCpl 9/67 - 10/68

My orders were for 9th MAB, pull out of line-up at DaNang and sent to N0EFB ( MOS2532).

I'm still crazy- and going tactical.

Talked to a lot of guys on the net, tried to forget a lot and since it has be a few years, well don't really remember a lot. Time to time will look at a few pics and let the mind slide. But really bad with names. Back to top

Stan Thurston

Sgt 3/70 - 8/70

While attending avionics school at NAS Memphis a friend and I found that the MARS station was a great place to hang out in the evenings. As we all know, with little resources a LCpl has few options for recreation after hours. I received my conditional license and learned the MARS system. It was a good way to attract WAVES offering to call home at no cost. My wife of over 34 years was one of the WAVES that spent time at the MARS station with us "guys." Stationed at MCAS El Toro I was trained at the intermediate level to maintain the fire control radar system for the F4-J aircraft (MOS 6238). Without notice I received orders to Nam as a MARS operator. Somehow CMC learned that I possessed an amateur license. My first duty station was in the middle of an Army compound (8th R&R) near Phu Bai serving MAG-36 down the road near Quang Tri. A GySgt Maxwell was the CHOP and was a wheeler dealer from the old days. He traded a 3 phase generator for an Army Personnel Carrier (3/4 ton pick-up) and had the III MAF ????

Stan you got chopped off - can you complete this in an email?

Jim Neigh

SSgt 6/70 - 6/71

I was an air winger assigned at Beaufort MCAS and was lucky enough to have Major Caslin who was a ham and he got me into H & HS to operate W4BHU and I ran phone patches for squadrons who deployed from Beaufort. I came back to Beaufort again in 1969 and did a little back door work through Headquarters and got my official MARS MOS. When I got to DaNang in 1970 Jack Rush Williams got me assigned to N0EFB and I became the NCOIC of N0EFB when Jack returned stateside. I also am trying to locate Edward Craig WB4PTP and Len Adrianne who were both at N0EFB. I would love to get in touch with them. If anyone know how to contact them please let me know. I also try to keep in touch with former MARS hams on Saturdays on 40 meters 7.228 at 0800 eastern time.

I think that MARS is a great benefit for our service people who are deployed around the world and hope that the military will always have hams that will help keep it going. It made me feel good to know that I was giving our troops a morale boost to talk home to loved ones.

I want to thank all the dedicated people that I personally met in the Marine Corps and keep up the good work. Daniel do you know if there is a book about the Marine Corps MARS operators that I can purchase? I would love to get a book if there is one. Thank you and good luck. Jim Neigh 1989990 S/SGT K4HHN 73's Back to top