HF rig saves the day from Grenada

Did you know that your circulatory system provides oxygen to every living cell in your

body – except for one portion? Do you know which bit that is?

Mark Barettella, N2MD, is today a successful cardiologist in Florida who was a medical

student in the early 1980’s at St. George’s Medical School in Grenada. His call in those

days was KA2ORK and he, no doubt, was studying the human circulatory system when,

in October, 1983 a violent coup erupted in Grenada. He and other medical students,

including American students, were caught in the crossfire, and their lives were at risk.

Mark, from under his desk which he hoped would give him cover, got on his hf rig

seeking a contact in or near Washington, DC.

I’m told he was successful in contacting a ham just outside of DC who in turn looked up

the US State Department phone number in the phone book and made the call which

went something like this, “Hello? I am a ham radio operator and I’m in contact with an

American ham in Grenada who is reporting that there is a violent coup occurring right

now. American medical students are at risk due to the violence.”

Within hours, the US military was gearing up and within days, the US invaded Grenada.

Mark, and his fellow American hams in Grenada, served as the journalists of the

invasion with their world-wide transmissions of their “up close and personal”

descriptions of events as they happened.

The rest, as they say, is history. After all, when all else fails…

By the way, do you know body part is not oxygenated by blood vessels? That would be

your corneas. In order for light to enter your eyes, your corneas must be clear of any

obstruction – like blood vessels. Your corneas sip oxygen from the air instead.