Fusion Maia Da Nang

Da Nang, Vietnam

by al_mary

"The Da Nang Airbase"

My Vietnam vacation was all expenses paid, courtesy of the U.S. Government
in the late 60's, when I served in the U. S. Marine Corps fighting along side
the Vietnamese ARVN soldiers of the Republic of South Vietnam.

The Da Nang Airbase was my entry point into Vietnam where I served my
time with the 26th Marine Combat Regiment in Khe Sanh ......

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"Phone Patches Home"

Alpha was born at 3rd Marine Division
Headquarters in Da Nang.

3rd Mar Div FWD (Forward) HQ was
created in Phu Bai and N0EFJuliet was
activated there.

During the Vietnam War a small number
of Marines, all licensed ham radio operators
in civilian life, were given civilian amateur radio
equipment and told to use their ham radio skills
to run phone patches, or telephone calls home
for their fellow Marines.

The operation was officially given the name:
Military Affiliate Radio System.

Most of the operators lived in their radio
stations, which were known by their callsigns.
November zero echo foxtrot alpha (N0EFA)
was the first operating station.

Eventually there were stations Alpha through
Zebra (N0EFZ) in Vietnam and on hospital
ships off the coast.

They had their own chain of command, as
no other Marine Corps unit wanted any thing
to do with them, they seldom wore rank insignia,
went by only first names, and answered only to
other MARS personnel.

Their counterparts in the United States placed
collect telephone calls to the families and friends
of the Marines in the field and patched the calls
through on frequencies near the ham bands ....

Click On Photo To Enlarge


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"In Harms Way"

In early 1967, 3rd Mar Div moved it's
HQ north to Phu Bai and Alpha was
moved north with 3rd Mar Div FWD
to Dong Ha, within range of the big
NVA guns in North Vietnam, and the
station down in Da Nang got a new
call sign.

By early 1968, the old Alpha in Dong Ha
was badly damaged , more holes than
walls and roof, wounded operators and
destroyed equipment were taking their
toll on the phone patch count.

The guys convinced the Seabees using
phone calls home and other bribes to build
a new station on the other side of the combat
base, but still in harms way ....

Click On Photo To Enlarge


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