Just thought I'd share kinda funny story

[malmapus]

I have a neighbor who is a HAM radio operator (hard to find those these days with the internet and instant messaging it seems).

Well other day, out of nowhere I remembered this encounter I had with one when I was in the Army.

Pretty sure I can talk about it, was 1994 and my unit was at GITMO preparing to invade Haiti. WE had been there for about a month training for our mission. Pretty much got recalled from Leave to deploy for this as well. My unit was scheduled for NTC so before we were leaving for that I had put in for leave, didn't even get to spend that night with my girl when we got woken up at 0200 with a phone call that I needed to get my ass back to Bragg (my gf lived in NYC where she was going to school).

SO my family had no idea where I was or what the hell I was doing, not a word.

While at GITMO I was a radio guy, and we had a net setup but wasn't really operational. But us radio guys still had to take shifts and monitor the net. While on my shift, I took this one radio we had (wish I could remember what kind..know it wasn't SINGARS..because I remember the LED it had to change frequencies).

So yeah, all night on my shift I'd change the frequency ever so slightly and put out my call out of boredom, "This is Juliet One Niner Papa, is anyone out there over?"

Well after an hour or so of this, I get a freakin response. Lol had one of my team Sgts awake with me, and I looked at him like "what the hell do I do now," because I really wasn't expecting a response. Heh, my Sgt gave me the go ahead to talk to him.

Turns out this guy lived in Alabama and was a HAM operator, I was really surprised I got that far. The radio guys in my section always said communications was a theory. Plus we were told that the Cubans had some sort of jamming going on.

But yeah, I didn't tell the guy where I was. Just that I was in the military and on deployement. Had a nice little conversation, almost crystal clear from what I remember. Guy even offered to call my folks for me and let them know I was still alive heh.

Wonder where he is today...

[niyad]

1. you never know, it could even be someone here on DU

[pacalo]

2. Cute story.

I'm glad the guy who responded was helpful in getting info to your family. And thanks for your service. :patriot:

I have a short ham radio story of my own.

There was a ham radio in the office of the area hospital where I had a summer job back in the 70's. One night when a red-haired Lucy Ricardo-type co-worker & I were working & reached a point where there was a lull in the workload, "Lucy" picked up the mike & said, "Lady in distress...lady in distress...and you should see dis dress!"

After a moment, a man's voice responded, gently admonishing her for using the cb as a toy. I wish I could remember what he said, but we were surprised & giggling over the fact that there was a response at all.

[MADem]

3. Well, you surely remember the days when MARS was a big deal

http://www.netcom.army.mil/mars/

A MARSGRAM was a handy option when you were stationed out in East Jesus and needed to get ahold of someone in a hurry! Sometimes, you could even get a radio operator to make a local phone call (back when there was none of this USA-wide calling plan business) and pass on info to a friend or relative...

[democrank]

4. Thanks, malmapus.

I really enjoyed reading this.