MARS HF Net Participants Aid in Response to Fatal Maritime Disaster
07/29/2021
On July 6, an evening Army Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) HF practice net in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 2 (New York and New Jersey) was interrupted by several “mayday” distress calls on the channel, which is shared with the maritime service. Net control station Ron Tomo, KE2UK, immediately halted training and attempted (without success) to establish radio communication with the station in distress. Tomo then directed two other net members who heard the distress call — John Hoover, K2XU, and Wayne Gearing, K2WG — to attempt to establish communication and offer assistance.