 Proudly we hail from New York City where the American stage begins here is another program with a cast of outstanding players public service time has been made available by this station for your army and your Air Force to bring you this story as proudly we hail the United States Army our story is entitled the tornado it is the story of M.A.R.S. military affiliate radio system and the dedicated man who proudly serve our first act curtain will rise in just a moment but first young man if you're interested in continuing your education here's important news for you the senior service of our armed forces your United States Army urgently needs qualified technicians to operate and maintain the many kinds of equipment that science has brought into being and right now men are being trained in wonderful fields like radio radar meteorology mechanics photography and others and this training is given by the finest technical training schools in the world yes here's an excellent opportunity for you young men with intelligence and ambition your opportunity to start a career for yourself not only for now but for when you get back into civilian life for full details visit your nearest recruiting office today and now your army and your Air Force present the proudly we hail production the tornado tuesday june 9th 1953 another day it is hot and humid but just another day five p.m. time to go home like any other day a long evening of relaxation to look forward to tomorrow will be cooler for sergeant Joe Murdock stationed at the Boston Army base it is the end of his duty hours time to jump into his car and drive to town for the evening out of long habit he tunes into his favorite radio station to keep him company as he rides leisurely along the highway and the United States Weather Bureau forecast clearing today with little change in temperature moving with mad fury and devastation trees have gone sailing Joe Murdock was equal to the emergency as a qualified ham radio operator he knew he would be needed he quickly turned his car around and headed for the radio shack back at his base it's murder Joe it's a steam rolling twister that's getting worse all the time it's gonna be rough swamped only 10 minutes since the tornado began we're getting messages maul over from relatives of people and Joe Joe your family lives in Worcester doesn't it wife and three kids see if I can get a message through well if I can help in any way thanks Steve we're on the emergency frequency right just switched it goes wish me luck number 14091710 from AL USA Mrs. Joseph Murdock 57B as a licensed M.A.R.S. operator Sergeant Joe Murdock tried to make contact with his wife in the stricken area of Worcester do you need help I can come M.A.R.S. stands for military affiliate radio system an organization of and for United States amateur radio operators interested in military radio communications activated in November 1948 to provide a complete radio network throughout the continental United States it is made available to military commanders of the armed forces in any local disaster or national emergency it is also available to the Red Cross or other agencies charged with emergency responsibilities in any area any luck Joe not yet well don't you worry nor will track them down if anybody can she's got her brother making phone calls all over the place trying to locate the people mentioned in the incoming messages well it's just too early to tell anything nor will be in their pitching for sure well I'm not the only fish in the sea lots of other people to think of beside myself for the next five hours Sergeant Joe Murdock and Corporal Steve Hamilton remain glued to their radios in the M.A.R.S. station bringing word from families in the tornado area to relatives all over the United States and inquiring about their welfare the tornado relentlessly takes its toll of life and property showing no distinction the M.A.R.S. operator serve unceasingly trying to break through the turmoil and lend their assistance wherever possible that gallon Seattle was plenty worried about a brother Joe just a minute Steve Casualty list is growing by the minute what about that parking lot 50 cars clobbered right down to the ground I knew this was coming power lines are down in most of the Worcester area they'll be depending on us more and more okay Steve I'll take it film march is handling the traffic up important all yours Joe I'll get hold of civil defense number seven seven zero nine two three three two Z from AL USA tornado area needs help of Red Cross and civil defense as soon as possible lines here in bad shape will you try relay stations to send messages by landline and radio the M.A.R.S. station was able to communicate with civil defense and Red Cross units to lend aid in the nightmare at Worcester communications were efficient and rapid organized to follow existing channels of command prescribed for the army and the Air Force your family Joe not yet I'm still hoping well it'll take a while before things get squared away look Joe why don't you get some shut eye huh you've been sitting at your radio for more than 10 hours now I'll stick around a little longer Steve all right but I'm going to hit the sack Luke and Harry will be here in a few minutes to relieve come on Joe come on you'll feel better look I'm groggy I feel fresh as a daisy oh you're kidding you're green with weariness Joe I know you're plenty worried so am I but believe me a little sleep will fix you up you'll feel better would you be able to sleep Steve yeah okay guess I see what you mean go ahead take off I'll do all right Roger see you later for the next seven hours Sergeant Joe Murdock kept relaying messages from people all over the nation to the hams on the air in Worcester most of the operators were forced off the air because of power failure now another urgent message came through requiring Joe to rely fully on his skill and experience as a ham operator Roger a to JJ why this is AL USA will go out still going strong Joe yeah you're just in time why what's up a 10 year old kid with infant or paralysis in bad shape they need an oxygen tent in a hurry I'll send out an urgent call to all stations you get the airport to have a plane stand by on the double Roger a number 117 priority 0100 852 from AL USA need oxygen tent for stricken boy in Worcester tornado area contact this station at once I say again need oxygen tent for stricken boy in Worcester tornado area contact this station at once over okay they're standing by with the plane that's it keep your fingers crossed Joe the plane will get there with the oxygen tent all right but will the kid be able to hold out we lose any time with everybody pulling in the same direction what about your wife Joe and the kids anything Nora keeps buzzing me every once in a while nothing yet isn't that the payoff helping out everybody but yourself well that's a consolation a guy who let his personal feelings get in the way of doing a job wouldn't be worth much well you're doing all right just wondering how I could stand up if I were in your boots more casualties no news is good news Joe what did you say Joe come on take a break you've been glued to that seat for nearly 24 hours man alive you've had it how you worry too much Steve I hope that kid comes out all right that oxygen tension just about be getting there you know Nora says he pitched on a little league baseball team had quite a fastball all right all right don't snow me all I'm asking is a favor take a couple of hours all right don't sleep if you don't want to as a favor to me as a favor to you Steve I'll stay the messages continued to pour in of every variety and description to remove an old lady in a wheelchair by helicopter to another town to contact the mother of a 14 year old boy who had gone on a trip for the day a soldier in Germany waited anxiously to hear news of his family more than 100 messages some official some semi-official some personal were sent and received doctors and off-duty nurses were summoned to hospitals off-duty police and firemen were called in for the M.A.R.S. operators there was no letter routine 0101344 Z from AL USA I'm still waiting honey we'll be there as soon as I can catch a plane lots of love don't worry sign Bob over how do you like that something hot yeah real hot guy in Milwaukee wants to know if his girl still loves him and does she well she was blown right to the top of a garage but she still loves him there's a girl is dependable guys probably told her he'd go through fire and water for her but never figured a tornado would be thrown in for good I'm glad the auto romance is still alive hey that is the first time you've cracked a smile since you got here I laugh once in a while never had anybody was me I'd probably be ready for the booby hatch by this time still looking I guess don't tell me that's all there was in that whole message the wife and kids got out of the apartment any reason why they shouldn't only apartments on the third floor last report say the building disintegrated they'll be okay I wish I had some definite work I'm sure they made it look I got 50 messages where the buildings collapse and the people just walked away without a scratch number seven seven I'll take it Joe have a smoke thanks Steve you are listening to the proudly we hail production the tornado will return in just a moment for the second act tired of the same old office routine okay gals now you can get away from it all join the women's Army Corps you can travel all over the world meet new friends see new places that's right in the women's Army Corps you can escape the humdrum routine of your present life visit exciting places in this country travel in Europe cross the blue Pacific cruise through the Caribbean make new friends among young men and women all over the world and you'll have plenty of leisure to enjoy those travels to you get a 30-day paid vacation each year plus many weekend passes why don't you join the whack yes visit your local United States Army recruiting station and talk it over with the friendly recruiting sergeant believe me you'll enjoy life more in the women's Army Corps you are listening to proudly we hail and now we present the second act of the tornado when an emergency arises all the military affiliate radio system operators are equal to the task of handling the flow of traffic smoothly and swiftly they are able to do so because M.A.R.S. is well organized into networks according to the requirements of appropriate military commanders long before a disaster is set in radio networks are established to provide scheduled drills and to allow the handling of live radio traffic correct radio operators procedure becomes second nature with practice it all adds up to learning the language of communications so that it is readily understandable to all the operators on the M.A.R.S. network through the merciless hours in the tornado rip town sergeant Joe Murdock never left his radio position in the gigantic effort to help frantic people searching out their loved ones the pace of the messages coming in from every corner of the globe never slacken out if Mr. and Mrs. John H. Harding of 425 Glendale Avenue they told me if I came here you might be able to help me my mother I try to locate her something might have happened I don't know I'll take it easy Corporal I'll do what I can for you I sit on relax thanks what's the story my mother she lives in Rutland it was hit bad I tried to get her by phone I was told you might be able to reach her by radio I'll take down a name Mrs. Jonathan Ferris she's in pretty good health except she had headaches every once in a while and I thought address 472 Clarence Avenue Rutland Steve huh see if you can contact the Corporal's mother in Rutland sure Joe hi Corporal is it all right if I wait here I'm kind of anxious well it shouldn't take too long here's the dope Steve all right a one ABC from ALUSA get an answer to your message well can't tell corporal maybe five minutes maybe 24 hours sergeant's been waiting here from his family for the last 27 hours gee that's rough yeah you're not kidding he hasn't left his radio and all that time how does he do it I don't know you tell me I can't figure it what am I kicking about I know my mother she'll take care of herself she's a pretty cool customer when there's trouble never loses her head shouldn't be too long now they've got the thing pretty well like I hope so this may be it now this is ALUSA Roger out your mother's okay Corporal you mean she's really all right that was a message she's fine oh thanks that's wonderful go on back to your barracks and wait there she probably phone you within the hour there's an emergency telephone lineup I don't know how I can thank you you too sergeant it's all part of the job glad to do it I hope you trace your family thanks Corporal so long he was really in a sweat wasn't that poor guy anything hot usual they got that oxygen turn over there in time the kid pulled through all great that's great no and Nora sent the message she took a personal interest in the kid she'd seen him play ball she said he has the makings of a big lead I can't kidding funny imagine Joe if he ever gets to play in the big leagues we can say we were responsible in a way it's a nice feeling Lexi Stoddard, Carl Dana, Laurence Harley over Casually list is thinned down to a whisper and they got every man woman and child pitching in to help out yeah makes you kind of think the human race is okay number two seven nine zero zero two three two nine C from ALJOT Mrs. Joseph Murdoch and children all okay in Armory children slept right through it all then love I say again Mrs. Joseph Murdoch and children all okay that night in you hear that did you yeah yeah Joe I'm as happy about it as you are they're okay it's a miracle Steve and that's all I can think of it's a miracle nice going Joe you know what I'm going to do in my next lead I'm going to pack the wife and kids in the car and go on a trip anywhere just so we're all together all together where I can reach out and touch them anytime I want won't that be something go to Yellowstone Grand Canyon drive right through the desert talking like a crazy kid go ahead Joe sound off it'll do you good you know Steve an awful feeling to be sitting here hour after hour your family's in trouble there's nothing you can do about it what do you mean nothing it's like having your neck in a noose the more you struggle the tighter it becomes I just stopped struggling Joe I still don't see how you did it I would have cracked up long ago I don't see how I did it either now listen you just kissed that little gadget you've been sitting in front of and take off your sack is waiting what kind of double talk you're giving me explain your radio savvy a radio 30 straight hours a full working day in any man's league so scrammy fool are you kidding my family's okay but how about other families kids far away from the relatives I'm sticking it out man is mad stark raving mad I'll take it what time is it oh 400 for the morning you know how corporal what are you doing here did did you get hold of your mother yeah she's fine I'm gonna see her tomorrow but I didn't come here to talk about my mother I'd like to ask a question Sergeant at four in the morning I was on guard duty just been relieved no fire away couple watching you fellas sweating it out here helping people out like you have been and enjoying what you've been doing I got the idea maybe I could become a member of ma RS looks interesting I can't think of a good reason why not can anybody join anybody in the armed forces are in the reserve and who has an amateur radio operators license how do you get one are there issued by the Federal Communications Commission I got a friend who's a ham operator I used to fool with his set a little but he's a civilian can he join ma RS to well sure of his over 16 and has an amateur radio operators license and a radio station that's a going concern I know he operates the station all the time but I never asked him if he's got a license well that's not all he's got to agree to operate according to the rules laid down by ma RS and he can't go forth he's got to meet scheduled drills and if he doesn't he can lose his membership if I become an ma RS member I'll be able to send messages to him and keep in touch all the time that'll be fun it's fun it's work to and something else you can't even describe once the bug gets you like me and Steve here you'll wonder how you ever existed without being a ham operator what you follow as a compass today is enough for me I'm going to put in for radio school first thing in the morning good luck corporate thanks Sergeant thanks a million how you doing Steve slow business they're already starting to rebuild the town fast work they got a job cut out for themselves here did I detect an M.A. RS recruit in the couple he's a goner can't wait to get started from A.L. J.O.T. I have a message for all stations I have a message for all stations for 36 consecutive hours Sergeant Joe Murdock stated his radio sending and receiving more than 300 messages as the mayor of Worcester so ably expressed it in my lifetime I've seen many disasters and hideous things but I've never seen an emergency better managed than here in Worcester there's been a minimum of panic the utmost efficiency and speed in an orderly way and much of the efficiency and speed in handling the large volume of radio traffic was due to the high degree of cooperation and maximum effort of the radio operators in the M.A. RS network in the very near future the Department of Defense plans expansion of M.A. RS to make it a more flexible radio communication service for use in local and national emergency M.A. RS gives information and technical advice in the fields of radio and electronics it plans to organize and operate emergency communications activities in connection with the civil defense program and finally M.A. RS will provide training facilities and inducements for individuals interested in radio communications and other electronic fields to ally themselves with the military affiliate radio system program you know in the last year and a half that I've been announcing radio and TV shows for the Army recruiting service I've had an awful lot of guys come up to me after a broadcast and say something like what a deal you've got for yourself in the army how did you ever swing a job like that well I can only tell them that in civilian life I was a radio and TV announcer and when I enlisted in the army they put me to work immediately in the same kind of work which sort of helps me to put over the point that when you volunteer for service in the United States Army today you can be sure that your best talents and natural skills will be considered in giving you an assignment to your liking yes today's modern army fits the right man to the right job now more than ever before men with above average ability are finding better jobs more important assignments in the United States Army so man if you've been wondering what the army has to offer you you the trained technician or specialist take a tip from me and visit your nearest U.S. Army recruiting station and get all the facts believe me you'll be glad you did this has been another program on proudly we hail presented transcribed in cooperation with this station proudly we hail is produced by the recruiting publicity center for the United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting service this is Mark Hamilton speaking inviting you to tune in this same station next week for another interesting story on proudly we hail