We...the Marines

Radio Station Eye Bank

By:SSgt R. Jarrell, Jr., ISO, MCS, Quantico, Va.

Copyright Marine Corps Association Dec 1965

A Special Services recreation facility at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Va., is providing an international service through its cooperation with the International Eye Bank.

The facility is the Schools' Amateur Radio Station, W4PFC.

Normally, the primary purpose of the station is to provide free message service for the personnel of Marine Corps Schools and to help individuals obtain amateur radio licenses. It operates as a member of the Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS). Because of its emergency communications capabilities, W4PFC is connected to a nationwide eye bank network.

Time is the most important factor in forwarding messages for eye banks, since eyes should be transplanted within 48 hours. Too much time lost during the transplanting process may mean continued loss of sight for the recipient.

Cpl Doug Rundel and LCpl John Palcer, station "hams," tune into the eye bank network each morning and if an eye, or eyes are needed, they call the Washington Eye Bank by telephone, or radio, to see if there are any available. If the Washington Bank needs eyes W4PFC is notified and the call is broadcast over the air on the morning network.

Whenever the contributing institution and the receiving institution get together, it's usually by telephone. But the groundwork is laid by amateur radio stations and ham operators such as the two at Marine Corps Schools.