Marshall D. Moran

Lore & Background

Moran was licensed in India in 1947 with the call sign VU2SX. After moving to Nepal in 1951 to establish the Godavari St. Xavier's School, he set up a ham radio station with the call sign 9N1MM, becoming the very first amateur radio operator in Nepal. He quickly made contact with operators worldwide. His rare location and demeanor on the air made him famous; many hams sought two-way communication with him, and his QSL cards were prized souvenirs. He was involved in emergency communications for earthquakes, floods, and rescues, including saving climbers on Everest and a young boy in a separate incident. It is likely that he operated without formal government permission for a time, and may have died before Nepal had a legal mechanism for ham licenses, but he received oral and eventually written permission from the King of Nepal in recognition of his Everest safety work.

Reader's Guide

Moran's significance in amateur radio stems from his pioneering role as the first ham operator in Nepal, a rare and sought-after location for decades. His call sign 9N1MM ('Nine En One Mickey Mouse') became iconic, and his on-air behavior was often cited as exemplary. He received the International Humanitarian Award of the American Radio Relay League and a decoration from King Birendra of Nepal for his emergency communications work, including rescues during earthquakes, floods, and mountaineering incidents. When traveling in the West, he was a sought-after guest speaker at ham operator meetings. His death in 1992 was noted in amateur radio magazines worldwide. His legacy endures as a model of service and operation within the global ham radio community, and his biography, 'Moran of Kathmandu: Priest, Educator and Ham Radio Voice of the Himalayas,' documents his life.

Did You Know?

• Moran was the first Jesuit to enter Nepal since 1721.
• His call sign 9N1MM was nicknamed 'Nine En One Mickey Mouse'.