N0EFJ_Stories

LCpl 1967

I thought I was going to Saigon to AFRTS. Surprise!!! I just remember all the calls where the men found out their wives were divorcing them. I also remember 1 o'clock Charlie or that's what it seemed. Every morning around one o'clock we would be hit with mortars. Kept replacing the outhouse. One call I remember is a young Private telling his parents he wouldn't be home that he found a Vietnamese girl and was getting married and was staying in Nam. His mother wouldn't stop crying and his dad just screamed at him so he hung up.

For life. You can't hear all those stories and not let it effect you. Also being the target of mortars. I guess it was because we were such a morale builder. The constant pounding. Back to top

Art Nace

Cpl 1/68 - 3/68

I went to Vietnam with HMM-364 in October of 67 (avionics tech). While waiting in DaNang for transport to Phu Bai, I contacted the local MARS station and introduced myself to the CHOP. He took down my info and I thought nothing of it. Fast forward to Dec 67, I submitted for in-country R&R down in DaNang. NOTE: My Gunny at the helicopter squadron would not release me from the unit for MARS duty. Well, around 20 Dec, I got a call to get over to S1 for my orders. I assumed they were for in-country R&R. Well, they were for in-country R&R and a transfer to the MARS system, signed by General Krulak. So, I packed my seabag and went to DaNang, enjoyed my in-country R&R (New years 1968) and reported to 3rd MAF (N0EFY) for MARS duty.

While at Red Beach (N0EFL), I used to do the Commanding Generals phone patches. At the time, the band was in around noon and the power at the camp would sag to a point that the equipment wouldn't work. So, one day, I had the General on the line waiting for his patch. After about ten minutes, he asked me if anything was wrong. I told him about the power sag and that we would have to wait for the voltage to come up. He politely said to cancel his call. About 15 minutes late, some Marines came into the shack and asked me where I wanted it. "Wanted what?", I asked. "Why the 20KW portable power unit we have outside.", they said. Within 15 minutes the had the unit set up, connect to a rather large cross switch, instructed me how to start the unit, and operate the cross switch. I never had to get the fuel tank filled. The truck came by every day to "fill 'er up". It pays to be at a supply depot. The General, nor anyone else, missed an patch due to sagging power. By the way, the General NEVER asked for favors and always waited his turn. However, read below.

Smitty (ed.: Herman) Smith was the Chop at the time and had a policy of no favorites. In the hooch I was staying were some of the General's cooks. One in particular made patches quite often and I would slip him in at the top and would let the 3 minute call extend to 5 or 6. Well, wouldn't you know it, fresh doughnuts starting appearing at the shack on a daily basis. Smitty just couldn't understand it. Sorry, Smitty.

While in Phu Bai (N0EFJ), I talked with Barry Goldwater as an "/MM R7" and I still have his QSL card.

The "funniest?" phone patch was the usual "hi honey how are you?" "Doing fine" "How are the kids" "Oh ,their doing OK, but they do miss their Daddy" etc etc. Phone patch terminates and it was a MISTAKE. Wrong Marine with wrong wife. OOPS. That only happened once for me.

The saddest were the dear Johns. Marine in Vietnam and the wife is leaving him. The worst were the endless "DNAs". The Marine knows she is supposed to be home, but there is no answer.

Dale Skogman and I have some history while at N0EFJ. The Marines moved out and the Army moved in. We stayed to support the helicopter unit that I transferred out of. Wouldn't you know that the Army General's chief cook (a WO) made it a point to get to know us. Shall I say that Dale and I didn't miss any meals. More later.

Read the article that Dean Grinch wrote while at N0MJI (N0ENV). It's all true.

Absolutely the best. It was a tremendous learning experience. To this day, I attribute the fact that I made it out alive to the MARS system. Many of my fellow Marines in the helicopter squadron didn't.

Can we get a listing of where they are now and what they are doing? For example, how does a SSgt in the Marine Corps become a PhD? What road have we all traveled and in what way did our Marine Corps experience help us achieve these ends? I'd be willing to contribute to this. Back to top

Dale Skogman

Sgt 5/68 -6/69

My first duty assignment was 1st ANGLICO, Camp Smith, HI. While walking around the base I found the tower and radio station KH6AJF. I introduced myself to Cpl Gene Rich and said I was licensed and "can do this". I requested a transfer from 1st ANGLICO to Service Co Camp Smith which was granted. I was most impressed by the Collins S Line and the great antennas! I had heard about the great S Line but had never seen one before. For the next two years that "little house" was my home away from the barracks!! I remember being at the station day and night. In the early days it was phone patches on the amateur 20 meter band with Pendleton, 29 Palms and MCRD San Diego - with the great Bill Biggs.

I was proud to be part of the system and helping others. My year at Phu Bai was one of my greatest moments. I will always be grateful to GySgt Rick Kiter and GySgt Bob Rivera for assigning me, a corporal, to NCOIC of Phu Bai. After returning to MARS stateside, I felt let down because I couldn't make the contribution I made in Phu Bai. All of my 8 years of service were as an 8981. I never worked in my primary MOS. I extended my original enlistment 1 year to go to RVN. After returning from RVN I reenlisted for 3 years.

I felt that with all my time as an 8981 I had the pleasure of working with the greats and the near greats. I replaced Jim Kuhl as NCOIC of N0EFJ in Phu Bai -- Jim replaced me in 1972 at N0ETG Camp Foster Okinawa -- which was the end of my service. On a whim I called the MARS station at El Toro during the early 1980's -- GySgt Jim Kuhl answered the phone -- That was the last time I spoke with him. God Bless Jin Kuhl!!

So much happened at N0EFJ Phu Bai, May 68 thru June 69 I don't know where to start.

We worked 1 frequency to CONUS, 14480. Our only stateside contact was N0RSE El Toro. N0RSB gave us wonderful service. Rick Sima, who worked at N0EFJ was now one of the operators at El Toro. The skip came in around 8pm -- from then to about 2am it was solid phone patches 7 days a week.

I was so impressed with all the branches of the military contributing to the welfare and success of N0EFJ. Like the SeaBees at MCB5 who came over with new plywood and lined our entire station. Also, like the Army who provided messing facilities when the Marines left for DaNang in late 1968 -- or the cook from 5th Marines that went to jail for stealing food for the MARS station refrigerator!!! We were truly a hub at Phu Bai! I met so many people from all the services -- Capt James Webb, USMC who later became SECNAV under President Reagan. Maj Sullivan, USMC, CO of 3rd Force Recon Co.

We, the Marines from MARS, did a lot of good in Phu Bai -- at the same time had a lot of joyous times and established life long friendships. I left N0EFJ in June 1969 and was replaced by Sgt Charles "Chuck" Padgette.

James A Carter

LCpl 8/67 - 11/67

I was in a Marine Corps CAC unit just south of Phu Bai and wandered into the MARS station and asked if they needed any additional bodies. They did. I applied and was approved for transfer. My most interesting experience was once when we were digging a bunker outside and only had the hole dug. We had lingered a little to long in putting the sandbag roof on top of it when one night we experience some serious incoming. A couple of the fellows in our group used to tease me on Sunday mornings when I would get up to attend worship services while they slept in. They had even professed to be atheists. It so happened that I was the last Marine to drop into in the hole outside. Once inside I could hear everyone of them praying! The old saying that "There ain't no atheists in a foxhole" is TRUE! I was quite amused by their sudden change of behavior. Then there was the listening to fellows calling home to talk to loved ones and hearing "Dear Johns" from their wives and girlfriends. That was really difficult to do.

It was a relief from going out into the bush putting my stupid neck on the line every day. Back to top