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Lenore K. Jensen Sherman Oaks, CA QCWA # 04233 |
Lenore Kingston Jensen, 79, veteran radio, film and television actress and accomplished ham radio operator. A native of Los Angeles, Mrs. Jensen began her career as a child actress in vaudeville, moved on to such network radio dramas as "Don Winslow of the Navy" and "Against the Storm," and later acted on popular television series, including "Ironside," "Beverly Hillbillies," "Father Knows Best," "Love American Style" and "The Donna Reed Show." In the early 1960s, she had a continuing role as Mrs. Weeks on the daytime soap opera "General Hospital."
Mrs. Jensen was recognized in a "This Is Your Life" television episode for her ham radio work during World War II; she helped servicemen overseas communicate with friends and family at home. Known by her call sign W6NAZ, she continued to provide emergency communications throughout her life. Mrs. Jensen, known professionally as Lenore Kingston, was vice president of Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters. On Wednesday in Van Nuys of cancer.
(Source: http://articles.latimes.com/1993-05-08/news/mn-32645_1_ham-radio-operator)
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They go by funny names like WA6LAU and N6LGO. But, to the people of Mexico City and to many Mexican-Americans living in Southern California, they are practically saints.
Members of the San Fernando Valley Amateur Radio Club came to the rescue when long-distance communication with earthquake-ravaged Central Mexico was almost entirely lost for a few hectic weeks in September.
While worried relatives and friends in the Valley area frantically pursued all other avenues of contact in vain, people like Sherman Oaks resident Lenore Jensen, a.k.a. W6NAZ (her call sign), handled health and welfare inquiries for them in conjunction with the Mexican consulate in Los Angeles.
Jensen was hardly alone. She estimates there were 10,000 licensed ham radio operators crowding the airwaves that first day the temblor hit, most of them trying to hook up with the dozen or so ham operators in Mexico City who speak English.
Published November 21, 1985
(Source: http://articles.latimes.com/1985-11-21/news/vw-1913_1_ham-radio-operators)
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Studio Engineer Bob Jensen and his wife, actress Lenore Kingston, spend most of their spare time helping the servicemen in Vietnam . and they do it all from their home here in Sherman Oaks.
Bob and Lenore are licensed ham opÂerators and have been selected by our military as MARS operators. MARS stands for Military Affiliate Radio Sys-stem, the system which allows GIs to talk by radio and phone with their loved ones here at home.
"Lenore is one of the few people I know who can really be called a servant of their fellow man," says Bob. "She spends from five to seven hours a day on that radio, seven days a week."
If a serviceman in Vietnam wants to talk to a loved one at home he applies to MARS and is given a time and date. He reports to a spot in Vietnam (it could be a hospital, Saigon building, or jungle shack) and waits for a MARS operator here to check in.
When Lenore gives her call letters, A6NAZ, she'll hear that distant voice answer, "Okay, Lenore. Let's go."
The MARS man then gives her the name of the party to be contacted in America, and the phone number. Lenore then works with a phone operator to get in touch with the party. She explains what's going on, and how to talk on a MARS hook-up, and then gives the soldier and his family four minutes of talking time.
Lenore handles between 30 and 35 calls a day, and says that most of them give her a good feeling.
But there are some that hurt.
"It's awful when a boy is waiting over there and I have to report that the party here either doesn't answer, or the line is busy," says Lenore.
About a third of her calls come from hospitals, where wounded young soldiers want to reassure their family that they're okay. Some of the calls are to announce that a serviceman is coming home, and others are to arrange a meeting place in Hawaii when they get their six-day rest period.
She recently had to put through a MARS call from a wounded soldier who wanted to talk to his mother before surÂgery. The military operator explained to Lenore that the boy was only an hour away from surgery in which his arm would be amputated.
Before connecting the mother and son Lenore took time to explain to the mother that her son was about to lose his arm, and that he was going to need cheer and comfort . not tears.
"The call started just like all the rest," says Bob. "They made small talk and chatted about the weather. Then the boy paused and said, "Mom. They'e going to take my arm off in a few minutes." The remark was followed by about 10 seconds of dead air, and then the mother said, "You'll be fine, son. When do you think you'll be coming home?' The boy wasn't afraid after that."
(Source: http://marinecorpsmars.net/)
CREDITS
Photo #1: stevejensenconsultants.com; QST May 1940
