John Boyd

RM3 4/68 4 4/69

My older brother was stationed on the USN Icebreaker, USS Glacier in 1960, touring Antarctica and our family received a phone patch call through W8JYJ, Cy Jinks in Ypsilanti, MI.  My father and I were fascinated with the technology and became involved with amateur radio with Cy and the rest is history.  Cy was one of the original ham radio operators dating back to the early 1900s and he was an amazing story teller of early telegraphy and amateur radio.  Well into his 70s or 80s when we met him in 1960, he was like a living encyclopedia.  Once my father, WA8BYA and I, WA8DTI received our general tickets we also spent many long hours phone patching military personnel around the world back home to their families, continuing the legacy of Cy Jinks W8JYJ.    

When I enlisted in the USNR program in 1966 I was immediately awarded E-3 as a Radioman striker because of my amateur radio license and experience.  This was great because from boot camp on, it seemed that I was always a step ahead of the others that enlisted at the same time.  When it came time for my active duty I was initially stationed aboard the WWII era aircraft carrier, USS Bon Homme Richard, CVA31, I quickly found out that my elite status was no longer and RM3 only meant that I could get behind the other JR POs loading 500lb bombs at Yankee Station in the Tonkin Gulf.  The Bonnie Dick may have been a great warrior in her time but this sailor needed something else, I quickly volunteered for duty in Vietnam.  During my crash courses in North Island and Camp Pendleton, my orders went from River Boat to Coastal Boat to the USNAVCOM Station Cam Rahn Bay, which ended up a perfect fit for my limited experience.  Upon arriving in country I immediately tracked down the MARS operator anticipating volunteering during my off hour.  Fortunately for me he was rotating back to the US and with my limited RM experience and extensive amateur radio experience, the CO tapped me as the next permanent operator of NOEFN. So, from April 1969 through April 1970 I was the operator of MARS N0EFN, US Naval Communication Center, Cam Rahn Bay, Viet Nam, joined sometime in mid term by RM2 Jack Crabtree, I believe from Phoenix, AZ.  Together we spent the better part of our tour 24/7 at the MARS station.  Jack and I may have been the original odd couple, he being regular navy all nicely spit shined and I being a reservist just doing my time.  In retrospect I respected Jack who I admit was more technically qualified, I just hope that I got him to lighten up every once in awhile.  I think we both can be proud of what we did and how we served even if we were not from the same mold.  The twelve months that I served MARS N0EFN were the fastest and most rewarding time of my life.     

I have many fond memories of the time we served with so many outstanding individuals that I am ashamed that it is difficult to remember their names, their faces however will always be embedded in my memory.  We had such wonderful gateway support from Capt. Les Hill, USNR Ret, Seattle, WA.  Doc, I believe in Boise, ID and one other in Idaho that I believe was named Bob.  I do recall that he had a large peppermint ranch in southern ID that I always intended to visit and hunt pheasant, but never managed to keep the long and frequent promise once I returned to the US.  We shared these gateways with N0EFP on the USS Benewah and I can’t tell you how much pleasure and satisfaction we all received after connecting some sailor, soldier, airman or Marine with their families back home.  Long before email and or satellite telephones, we were the only available communications other than the US Postal Service, which sometimes took weeks between deliveries. There was countless 12 hour sessions that Les, Doc or Bob would stay with us until either the connection faded away or the last call was completed.  Even though more than 36 years have passed I guess it is possible that these men are still with us, the world should know the sacrifices they made for so many and that they were truly great patriots of their time. 

I have maintained close contact with Lt. (DR.) Joel Liezer, DDS and trade annual holiday greeting greetings also, it was one my greatest pleasures reuniting in 1988 with my best friend the late RM2 Bobby Webb, who up until his passing last year, continued to my friend and confidant.  Bobby was a unique character with the kindest heart and it was an honor to have served with him and then to continue to call him my friend.  It would be great to hear from anyone that may have served with us, I originally was from Warren, MI but now reside in Dallas, TX.  

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