European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 28, 1966, Darmstadt, Hesse                                March 1966 the stars and stripes Page 9 messages to Mars Are Down to Earth March 27 special Twentyfive words or less la the Only limit to the size of a Mes Sage to except that it can go no farther than anywhere on the military affiliate radio system Mars station at Cooke Barracks is operated by staff Howard rats from the 4th annd div head quarters military personnel and dependents can Send rapid Mes sages to families and friends located throughout the messages May be As essential As Mun Catlon in the event of a National disaster or As routine As a soldiers message to his most Are destined for the United but the Only geographical limitation is that messages must be sent to an area served by another Mars there staff Howard Ralston sends Oft a Mars Are such stations located around the there is no charge for sending a message and if the recipient wants to reply there is no charge for that i Ralston a person sending a message first contacts the which is located in the basement of the building occupied by co 144th signal the message is printed on a form and the rest is handled by Mars it is transmitted to a Central station in Heidelberg and relayed during the afternoon and evening to the Headquarters station at the that Sta which operates 24 hours a in turn relays the message to the Mars station near the recipients the final leg of the journey is by Telephone in the Case of great by a reply follows the same route messages Are sent on a priority with emergencies and official business going first service is with Good some Mes sages have been received As fast As three hours after they were not counting the time Ralston operators of Mars stations must hold regular Amateur and Are under the jurisdiction of the Federal communications there Are three types of class a operated by the army or air must be in operation 43 duty hours and May be used As an Amateur club station in off duty class b which must oper ate a minimum of three hours per month for Are operated on a club class c stations have the same but Are privately messages from class b and c stations Are routed through class a Ralston said he is willing to train anyone interested in Amateur he is i got the Bug in when i was assigned to signal at it our primary Mission there was the strategic Anny communications system stardom and Mars was Sec 1 also taught Amateur radio he Ralston was assigned to the 144th signal in in december and established the Mars station with equip ment that had been in storage since that it took four weeks to get it in oper Ralston the station joined the Mars network in february and Ralston Hopes to join the Mars teletype network operating on a frequency assigned by ae1us in Heidelberg on the 80 meter the 4th army Delvs Mars station uses 180 Watts of Peak while this can be boosted to Watts for disaster 180 is sufficient to reach anywhere in Germany with Rood atmospheric almost anywhere in the rals ton 6no notice exercises keep troops hopping March 27 special the cd was sipping Coffee from a paper his elbows propped on a empty his thoughts interrupted by a Cricket like he Swal Lowed putting Down his he picked up a special phone and answered with Al most a yell Charlie less than two hour Slater two combat patrols were climbing a Hock of chm Choctaw whirring Rotor Blades blasted Sand and torn Brush in All directions across Landing the Lead copter pulled pitch and in succession like a Bevy of the whirly bards lifted off into the face of a dim Copper coloured Charlie co 1st 509th had just been Given the no notice Mission of conducting a hell borne raid to destroy an aggressor surface air missile no notice tactical exercises like this one Are next to routine at 1st brigade Headquarters seeking to add the touch of real ism that is characteristic of in Stant the no notice exercises Are preplanned by head quarters and called at random to test the response of troops and the troop the morning following the Alert after two Craton meals and nearly 18 hours of simulated combat the two patrols re turned to Home station by hell Mission March 27 Spe Cial it is too often forgotten that it takes Many volunteers and a great Deal of adult work to keep the boy scout program but the old scouts Are going to have their on april the North Star boy scouts of will hold its annual meeting and recognition banquet at the Ter race club the program includes the commissioner staff Alnut Latia lot an prof Ron an ventral Burodean Timai monday american forces network Moo to Olich Ducady la Lonu iu4imoi show Arthur Worwa Toto Moo not mob pm Imu my Hwy Maiio ims to Moku Ury to 1100 wll Miramo 1801 Bruno 1m Wuhl Noui of nmn 1kb won i Hwy tool Jim Amo oho 1000 now Oerman Tattoo and into nution 010 ibo Oil Only boo Orrum m Mog Iuno Thor Dull ram5tein to now Iuo Jisoo worm Moo too Junul by tool gun show 1040 Loco Opoku boo 1do irom Oil our Suwon Homo Imo 0001 Point h us 1kb Milo in to 0010 Mlyn Lenl i air Enroe too now two of end proo rim an of Torillo 2100 no gel on Povlo by 1701 1730 my into a Poco pro drum Iago Wand today 1iw Socall Vocu Riby me Gnu 1mi Boverly Iii Mirin Iuo survival Mook Rod Simion 8101 2106 olm Ricl attorney scout t9 volunteers Wilt have their Day Merriam will also preside at the commissioner staff at which Kerwin will be the guest the District annual meeting corps arty there will be three separate groups with ses Sions on cub boy scout ing and explorer the reception or guests of to be held in the clubs will be chaired by Brig Filmore god and country awards bad March 27 and country awards and medals have been presented to three sons of 8lh int div soldiers at a ceremony in the Rose bar Racks Chapel Bill Hearold son of John while Paul 14yearold son of Carmen Compney and William son of two William received the awards from a Joseph 8th inf div cd and an Eagle this is the first time the award has been presented to scouts we Luln it normally takes a Scott six months of Bible theology and Church participation to be eligible for the award which is by the protestant Awn tee on scouting of the Matlo Aal Council of boy scouts of Glessen Mil 8133 1st John Hanau Mil the v corps representative and it chairman to Martin Massoglia at Frankfurt Mil general officers Are requested to obtain their tickets from it col Roderick Drake Mil Ger March 17 army commendation were presented to it col Ernst co of the 3rd 71st and 1st William Gard by 3rd missile 71st received the first Oak Leaf Cluster to the while Gardner received the medal when he re tired after 20 years of March 21 special key personnel for the 1966 red Cross fund Campaign met Here March 14 to discuss the monthlong local fund drive beginning March luncheon at the District an Nual meeting at a reception for guests of Honor at and the adult recognition ban Quet at principal speaker at the ban Quet will be Bruce hol Safe command Erin with Wheeler 3d army div Assis Tant cd and District commis Merriam and Walter Kerwin 3rd army div cd and District scout Are hosts for the Days Blue will Honor Holloway and scout leaders of the North Star because a capacity crowd is those planning to at tend the meeting should Pur Chase their tickets As soon As at r plate for the they May be obtained from neighbourhood scout com missioners or the following phone Frankfurt Mil or Mert mat Frankfurt Mil 7036 Joseph Wuerzburg Mil 8005 Roger March 27 special Judaism in present Day Israel will be the topic of the Frankfurt jewish adult fellow ship israeli night the event is scheduled for april 2 at at the Pierce Franz Ruecker Moshe Gerhard Hess will be the guest reservations May be obtained from the Pierce Frankfurt civilian 702124 Wiley see bad let bad Luck cause i Arius fatal Jay la army ton Cloo non army hmm co of Romma