 Guadalcanal diary with Richard J. Cole ladies and gentlemen your producer Mr. Cecil V. DeMille Greetings from Hollywood ladies and gentlemen 50 years from today an old man walks down Main Street All his life. He's been justly proud that he was one of the famous few and as he walks his neighbors point him out to the stranger in town That man was at Guadalcanal they say and perhaps they add I wonder what it was really like Right now that old man of the future is a youngster with a confidence set to his shoulders and a hint of a swagger in his walk and rightly so Because he is a United States Marine a Marine who helped to turn the great retreat in the Pacific into a great attack a Marine who made American history But behind the confidence shoulders and silent swagger lingers the memory of other Marines For rest forever in the green jungles of Guadalcanal The war correspondent Richard to gaskets wrote the story in Guadalcanal diary just as he saw it happen From that book 20th century Fox made one of the really great motion pictures of the war and tonight We bring it to you with the same stars you saw on the screen Preston Foster William Bendix and Lloyd Nolan. We borrowed Bill Bendix from his own radio show the life of Riley Most of us have seen pictures of Guadalcanal in the newspapers and magazines pictures of the wreckage of war in the midst of choking jungle and perhaps here and there a Lonely coconut palm still standing above the debris Strangely enough that lonely palm tree has a very direct connection with Lux Flakes You see before the war there were rather large coconut plantations on the island and from these and many others scattered over the globe Came raw materials that were used in the making of our product The next time you pour some Lux Flakes into the dish pan You might remember that a lot of people and places all around the world are helping to wash your dishes And turning now from dishes to drama We raise the curtain on the first act of Guadalcanal diary Starring Lloyd Nolan as hook William Bendix as taxi and Preston Foster as father Donnelly with Richard Jacob as chicken They were all in school a dozen or so years ago They were taught geography from books and maps And many forgot the lesson now they are Marines Again, they're learning geography But it is taught with fire and blood and steel and this time no one will ever forget Let's suppose it's February 1942 instead of 44 only two years ago And suppose someone asked the question. What is Guadalcanal? The answers would run something like this. Huh? Guadalcanal never heard of the place. How about you? Oh, sure. Guadalcanal. That's in South America. They send us bananas That man next to you. Do you know? Yeah, it's a canal like a Panama and a Suez canal I think it's in spain and you mr. DeMille in February 1942. How would you have answered the question? The chances are I'd have run blushing to the nearest in psychopedia Yes, few people knew much about Guadalcanal Among those few were these officers in the Marines Guadalcanal one of the Solomon Islands lying in the South Pacific about 6,000 miles from the United States 3,340 miles from Japan. It's adjacent to several other islands. Salvo, Buchenville, Tulaki Guadalcanal is 90 miles long 30 miles wide mountainous and heavily forested on it are a few copra or coconut plantations Guadalcanal recently has assumed tremendous strategic importance following its occupation by Japanese troops So we're now using it as a basis supplies in the site of an airfield This island must be taken from the enemy at any cost and at the earliest possible moment The earliest possible moment was six months in coming Then in August 1942 Three transports loaded with Marines plowed through the flooded waters of the South Pacific And one of the ships is a chaplain. His name is Donnelly, William Donnelly Yes, I'm a chaplain. I'm not a fighter to carry no weapons But there's a place for me in this war. I'll find it sooner or later and then do what I can They'll need help No one knows where these ships are going not even Colonel Grayson But it's very pleasant in the beautiful white sunshine of the port deck watching the blue sea slip by As usual, the favorite occupation of the enlisted man is shooting the breeze Exchanging scuttled but boy, I'd sure like to be back home right now sailing me a boat on Chesapeake Bay If I was home, I wouldn't be on no boat Ever see that's for me watching them beautiful buns Yeah, bums is right just leading the league sergeant Malone just leading the league Oh, sure that league you've got any dough to set the eggs will take the bumps in the series Look taxi the dodgers ain't even in the world series yet. What good is still going to do you where you're going? How do you know where we're going? I'll pipe down Besides, I don't care if I never see any more dough again in my life. Of course, you guys understand I'm talking about confederate dough. Hey, yeah chicken. Ain't that guy over there a war correspondent or something? Yeah, that's him Hey, you Hi 11x I was about putting my name in the paper the funny paper Sure son. What name is it Johnny Anderson? You can call him chicken and it kind of be just about in his pincers Boy, well a certain party. I know get a kick out of you and that's certain party again Look chicken, you know, your mother don't let you go out with dames yet. Yeah, well, listen here you guys Me and this certain party go on pipe down when you pipe down At night we're out on deck again the boys singing It's funny in a way You never hear them singing war songs or that fast jitterbug stuff Always the old familiar songs sentimental corny Then you remember how young they are Dear mom We are still somewhere on the pacific ocean And I do not know mom When I say baby yours again chicken. Oh, sure. Why not some doubt? Yeah, she's a real hunk of woman and she don't give me no arguments either. She does You know, I knew a dame like that once but so did a lot of other guys Let's see you later chicken. I'm going back. Yeah. See you talk Hey, Texas. Yeah Hot ain't it? Yeah It's like a nice tall glass of ice cold beer beers strictly a middle class beverage The last time I was home in Brooklyn. We was having cocktails my old lady brought them in I take one taste and boy what a kick Do you know what she did my old lady? No, I she took them out and put in another slug of gin What a sweet old lady. Yeah, well time to turn in guys Yeah, good night. Hook. Taxi. Okay boys. Come on. Come on. Better knock off the sky lock and hit the sack Lights up 10 minutes. Will you blow satch? Yeah, as soon as I get these kids to bed Good night. Hook. Say, uh, you know yet what we're up to? Oh, same old thing Seuss manoeuvres go on now turn him. Ah manoeuvres I'm getting pretty tired of this whole business. Oh, yeah Well, one of these days we're gonna bump up against the real thing as soon as the better. Good night. Hook. Good night partner Another lazy day has ended Sunny been full as all our days had been for more than a week now The only difference is that we're a few hundred miles closer to whatever we're heading for At dawn the next morning. We learned the answer Up on the bridge, I see Colonel Grayson, Captain Cork and Captain Davis They're looking through binoculars. It's something big beyond the mist. The men are on the deck below And what they see is something they have never seen before Look at it. Just look at it. Hey, what's going on here boys? Look, father. Look. There's a thousand of them Transport cruisers destroyers. Yeah, and over there. You see plane carriers? I knew something was up I knew it. So we're out of maneuvers, huh? No, we only knew where we were going. Well, wherever it is, chicken. It looks like we mean business. Boy, I never seen so many ships before. That is outside the Brooklyn Navy, I- Hey, something's heading this way. See that launch? Yes, with a civilian. And maybe he wants to enlist. How about me swapping places with him, Hook? Oh, I knew you wouldn't miss this for a year's pay and you'd know it. Well, gentlemen, at last I have the news we've been waiting for. We're going to attack the Japanese strongholds on Guadalcanal and Toulagi in the Solomon Islands Uh, you have a question already, Captain Cross? Uh, yes, sir. If I may, the question is when? Well, it may be tomorrow or the next day or the day after that. If we choose, we can site Guadalcanal within 18 hours. But whether we do or not depends upon the strength of the enemy's defenses. Captain Davis? I was wondering, sir, if this task force is going to remain with us. No, no, I doubt it. The Navy and Coast Guard were laid on a barrage and remain offshore until we've established a beachhead. The carriers will give us what reconnaissance they can. Uh, B Company, that's you, Captain Cross. We'll take the left half of the beachhead. A Company, Captain Davis, the right. Our chief objective is an airfield, which the enemy has almost completed. Now I know you're all wondering about this gentleman here, whom the Navy just brought aboard. And he's Mr. Weatherby. He supervised a copra plantation on Guadalcanal and he can give us an idea of what it's like. And Mr. Weatherby, please. Well, gentlemen, after crossing the beach here, you'll have to penetrate a field of grass, as you can see on this map. Well, grass sounds easier than pillboxes. Yes, but it's four to six feet high. No good stuff for the Japs to hide in. I'm not a soldier, Colonel, but my guess is that your toughest problem is crossing the beach and getting your men under cover of the palm trees as quickly as possible. There's a grove of these trees just beyond the grass. Yes, we're going to lose men, but remember this. Don't stop to help the wounded. The common will take care of them. You have to cover the men who'll be landing behind you. Is that clear, gentlemen? Yes, sir. Uh, while I'm on the subject, Captain Davis. Aye, aye, sir. Opposed to following order? Aye, sir. Annex E to general order number three, burial. Graves will be suitably marked. All bodies will wear identification tags. Now, Mr. Weatherby, about two hours later, Sergeant Hookam alone has a mimeographed paper in his hand. The ink is still wet. He holds it carefully as he reads it to the men of Company A. The common action marks the first offensive in a war against the enemy involving ground forces of the United States. The Marines have been selected to initiate this action. And it owes the way. Which will prove the forerunner of successive offensive actions that will end in ultimate victory for our cause. Yeah. We are meeting a tough and wily opponent. But he is not sufficiently tough or wily to overcome us because we are Marines. Now you're talking. Each of us has an assigned task. Let each vow to perform it to the utmost of his ability with added effort for good measure. Good luck, and God bless you. Walter E. Grayson Colonel. Very well done, Hook. Very academic. But when do we do it? Okay, boys. Inspection in ten minutes. On the double! I'm a girl just like the girl of Mary. I'll check. Looks like it won't be long now, eh? Looks that way, Taxi. Hey, what time is it back home, anyway? Let me see. How many hours difference is there? Well, there's 19 between here and San Francisco. Then there's three more between there and Holmberg. I can never tell which way it is. I can never tell whether today is yesterday or tomorrow. I'll take it easy, kid. See you later. Yeah, go on, Taxi. I'll love you. I want a girl. Small talk, scuttlebutton. There's not a privilege of the enlisted men only. The officers shoot the breeze, too. But Captain Davis and Captain Cross have been doing that for years. Are you looking in the mirror for a while, Walter? Getting bald? Oh, it sure looks like it. Are you supposed to eat it when the kids are doing right now? Sleeping, I hope. How do you feel? Scared? Sure, but I try to look at it as just another job, like selling a big order when there's a lot of sales resistance. Funny that we should end up like this. Of course, two companies in. Three to one says my outfit, Lance, but... I'll take that. One coconut says you don't. I want a girl with heart so true. All right, now wait a minute, you guys. Wait a minute. Fight down. Let a guy talk, will you? Now, most of you have never had any experience in the jungle before, but the Japs have. Plenty. Now, let me give you some advice. Keep your mouth shut. Stop yelling your heads off. We can beat them at their own game of silence if we try, but... Well, you know how marines are, some dope will yell, Hey, Mac, is that tea company over there? Yeah, that ain't funny. Keep on a knife of snipers all the time. See a bunch of bananas and a coconut tree. Shoot them down. That makes sense, don't it? You're a very profound guy, hood. Oh, yeah? Well, I... Hey, wait a minute. What's that you got? Blackjack? That thing ain't no government issue. No, that's flat-push issue. I just made it. If it'll make the Japs happy to die for the effort, I'm going to try to make them happy. Well, you're going to take the island all by yourself, I suppose. Well, that would cause no surprise in certain circles in Brooklyn. Ha. And there's one thing more, guys. Now, don't go around picking up any helmets or anything else that Japs leave laying around. Yeah, but supposing you promise a certain party is souvenir. You'll just forget it, chicken. Sure, you'll have to find it's been rigged up with wiring and it'll blow right up in your kitchen. Oh, hiya, Father. Hello, Father. Say, Padre, any natives on that island? Mr. Weatherby said several thousand. Are they catamels? No, I believe they're strict vegetarians, chicken. But then, of course, they've never tasted marine meat. Well, don't worry. We may land tomorrow. Tomorrow is Friday. Yeah, that's right. Friday. Friday, the 7th of August. It's here. The day of landing. Now on the decks, there is a smell of oil and steel. Every weapon has been cleaned and checked a dozen times. Bolo knives and bannets. So sharp that they sing when your thumb touches the blade. The torque and the laughter are gone now. Parts of pounding, nerves jumping. Here and there, a man with his lips. Please, a little harder. Eye strain. Waiting for a sight of that high, irregular mass lying beyond the sheen of water. Grotto canals. Well, there she is. We must have passed these jet batteries by now, panel. Either it's a trick or they're awful dumb. Well, anyhow, Colonel, if it works out, it'll make a swell story for me to write about. Let's not think of it any other way. It's got to work out. Well, the Lorna landing, Sergeant. Looks like this is it, huh? Yeah. Well, you better unbuckle your chin straps and your cartridge belt, man. Bring on him, Japs, brother. This ain't no turkey shoot, Tex. Make them all count. Don't worry, Sergeant, I will. Sorry, we're not going in the same boat, Walter. There's no just putting all of our aids in one basket. Funny how we can stand here, preparing to force a landing on the Japs and connect the zippered with the most normal thing in the world. Yeah, it is, brother. Hey, look, you see the turrets on that cruiser? They're getting ready to lay it down. You know, Judge, times like these kind of make me wish I was back in Brooklyn, driving my cab with the fast meter and keeping an eye on them bums. Oh, what are you talking about? When they ain't yet another crack in them, they'll take them apart. Oh, I should live so long. Hey, what am I saying? Here we go! Good luck, man. Maybe you. OK, boys, over we go. And now, before Mr. DeMille presents Lloyd Nolan, Preston Foster, William Bendix and Richard Jekyll in act two of Guadalcanal Diary, here's our fashion reporter, Libby Collins, to tell us about a style show that has a Treasury Department agent as its star. She's Linwood Relange's clad and made of cotton for 1944, and she's selling war bonds in over 40 cities and in her spare time, modeling her all cotton-luxible wardrobe. The clothes are all ones you can make yourself from easy-to-follow McCall patterns, and all the fabrics are luxible cotton. So you can put what you save on cost and on upkeep into war bonds. An excellent idea, Libby. Won't you tell us more about Mrs. Clare? Well, she's a tall, dark, Louisiana co-ed, and she was selected made of cotton from contestants representing all the Southern cotton-growing states. She's touring the country, showing women how practical and pretty an all-cotton wardrobe can be. So watch your local newspapers to see when she'll be in your town. Is everything she wears made of cotton? Mm-hmm. Dresses, darkings, undies, even shoes. There are slacks, play clothes, suits, lovely family afternoon socks, evening dresses, too. All made of cotton and all luxible. The fabrics were all tested by the Lux Laboratories and will still be bright and new-looking months later if you always wash them with gentle, luxe flakes. Yes, Libby, nice cottons are really fine fabrics. They deserve the same gentle luxe care you give rayons to keep them lovely longer. Harsh soaps, too hot water, and cake soap rubbing can make them look drab and old before their time. Always use lukewarm water and mild, luxe flakes. Then you can be sure your pretty cottons will lead a long, long life. Listen while we sum it up for you in both words and music. Cottons lead a long life when they lead a luxe life. Now our producer, Mr. DeMille. Act two of Guadalcanal Diaries. starring William Bendix as Taxi, Lloyd Nolan as Hook, Preston Foster as Father Donnelly, and Richard Jekyll as Chicken. They know the Japs are full of tricks, but we have encountered a surprise awaiting us as we land on Guadalcanal. Everything points toward a bloody battle on the beach. But nothing happens. Not a shot. Japanese or American is fired. The Japs have vanished. Either the Navy and Coast Guard have blown them all to bits, or... or what? We don't know. Boy, I gotta sit down. I'm all wore out landed against a stubborn resistance. Don't worry, Taxi. We'll hear from him yet. Yes, me. It's too good to be true. It's a trap. We'll know soon enough. The old man says the Japs are hiding in the hills. We're to stay here and hold this village. Wait, sir. Let's fill up the left here. Yeah, very wasteful. They didn't even stop the minor runway. I'd say they're very considerate little sons of heaven. Hey, look. There's somebody in there. Where? In that hut. Look. Look out, guys. I'm going in. You cover Taxi from here. I'll go around back. Right, sir. Watch out, kid. Here I go. All right, you little yellow. Well, what do you know? They were like picking up the pigs. Pigs, the pigs. Yeah, look at them go. I'm sorry I called you a nasty name, pigs. Hey, give me a cigarette, will you? Yeah, here. Say, since when did you start smoking cigarettes? I'm starting right now. Hey, hey, fellas. Putz says they got a warehouse full of Jeff beer and caviar. Yeah, fish eggs. I was eating some. They taste pretty good. Maybe the Japs poisoned it. If nothing happens to you, Putz, let me know. Gangway, gangway. Hey, Padre, where'd you get the bicycle? Don't call me, boys. They're plenty more with this thing. Boy, that's their honey. There must be a couple of hundred Japs trucks over there. Radios, guns, everything. Well, Padre, I guess we really caught them with their come-oners, don't it? Well, if you want to be elegant, Taxi, that's one way of putting it. But from the reports, we're getting from two loggies. Get behind those three guys. On the double. Where's my helmet? Where's my helmet? Hey, Taxi, yeah, this is it, huh? Yeah, maybe. Sergeant Hook. Sergeant. All right, sir. What's going on there? Oh, he can't tell, sir. The shots came from the edge of the jungle. Hey, Sergeant, get a Audrey Mucky done a rope. Hey, sir, looks like Private Steinhouse got three prisoners. Bring them in here. Hey, Taxi, pretty small guy. Yeah, they don't smoke so good either. Hey, Snow White, where's the rest of the 7th Ward? There ain't no use, guys. They don't speak English. That's Hart, that's Schaffner, that's Mark. Ah, good work, Steinhouse. Where'd you pick them up? Found them sitting under a bush, sir. Sir, these are the Muckys we're fighting. Oh, no, these are laborers. They keep pointing up toward the hill, sir. I guess that's where the rest of them went to. Hey, what are they doing? Praying? No, they think we're going to shoot them. Sergeant. All right, sir. Get them something to eat, and then turn them over to the MPs. All right, sir. Get moving, Coach O. We ain't got no avocado. We ain't got no avocados. We don't have to wait long to learn what tropical weather is like. The sky suddenly blackened and we're drenched in a steaming cloudburst. The rain comes down in tarnes, and through it clouds the steady plop, plop, plop for the century's feet. And then it comes. A solitary shot in one of the century's sighs and crumples silently into the black mud. He is dead. Paulman! Paulman! Forget it. Too late. Is he dead? Yeah, chicken. He's dead. He begot to have mercy on his soul. NXE is a general order number three. Burial. Graves will be suitably marked. All bodies were wear identification tanks. We know now that the enemy has not fled. But in the denseness of the jungle, men are lurking. Silent. Dangerous. Watching us. How many are there? Where are they hiding? How grave is our danger? That one of us can say. All we can do is wait. Wait and watch in the rain. In the distance, we hear the dull rumble of naval guns. Our ships have met the Jap Navy. And we realize that if our people out there lose the battle, we'll be fighting for our lives before morning. Suddenly, most of us know the awful feeling of being pitifully small. Tiny particles of humanity caught up in the gigantic whirlpool of war. At such a moment, without knowing it, we thank God for men like TXE. Yes, leave it to TXE to break the tension, one way or another. Help! Help! Help with the Jap! A Jap, he's got me! Help! Hang on to him! Oh, for the lover. Take him off! Yeah, hang on to him, TXE. To Joe himself. That's the best-looking Jap I've ever seen. I'm sorry, Sarge. I could have sworn I felt his buck teeth. All right. Go up here. Here's your first Jap prisoner. It ain't nothing, nothing but a hook-up palm tree. Yeah, that's right. I guess the rain must have knocked it off the tree and dumped it in my arms. You've captured it barehanded, the flat-pushed Sarge and yours. Well, I couldn't touch them. All right, you guys. Pipe down, shove off. Go on, shove off. Get some sleep. It feels better in the morning. We dig foxholes. And on the airfield, steam rollers and tractors roar out, setting up defenses against the day when we'd have our own air support. And knowing that until that day arrives, we have but one course to follow on Guadalcanal. Dig in, dig in, and wait. Well, Colonel, anything I can write about for the folks back home? No, you can tell them that our task forced feet off the Japs last night. It cost three of our crewers to do it, though, and one Australian. The fight was just off Savile. What about our casualties on Jalagi? Pretty heavy. The Japs are holding up in caves, fighting to the last man. Any idea how many we got? Oh, about 400 on Jalagi, 800 on Gavuto. That's good news, sir. But now that I've got it, how am I going to get it to the States? Well, there's a Navy plane scheduled in here today or tomorrow. Write it up now, see if I can get it aboard for you. I think they'd like to know back home. Thank you, sir. Yeah. Say, how's it about letting me that razor when you get through? What do you want a razor for? Oh, I must have lost mine coming ashore. But you ain't got no use for a razor, chicken. I don't know about that. Here, look. Huh? No, not there. Down here. You see under the chin? Under the chin. Yeah, kind of. Kind of run your finger there. Hmm. Well, hard to say, though. Sure it ain't sand. No, I just washed my face, Taxi. You're there. Yeah, I guess maybe you've got a whisker there. Yeah. Yeah, you can see it now with the naked eye. Yeah, that's what I said. You want I should lather you up and take her off, huh? No, I just assumed you'd let me the razor. The chicken's got feathers. What do you know about that? It's kind of cute, ain't it? Oh, there's the pudgery. I got to tell him. Hey, Father. Yes, Taxi? Chicken's turning his whiskers loose. Look. Hey, that's right. Congratulations, chicken. Boy, there's a certain party that you'd like to know that... No, I guess it'd be kind of silly to tell her. Well, I imagine she's assumed as much all alone, chicken. Look, I just found something, too. Limes. They're limes, isn't it? Yes. Hey, look, come on over here. Chicken's got whiskers and the pudgery's got lime. Oh, yeah? No, we only had some gin, nice, biswater, a couple of maraschino cherries. I'd fix you a Tom Collins. We could drink the chicken's beard. Excuse me, pudger. I was just thinking out loud, you know. Well, that's all right, Sergeant. You fronties the other ingredients, and I'll supply the limes. Here we go again. It's a dish in red, and dish in red. And dish in red. Get in the back, old man. Get in the back, old. Somehow, I can't get over how enemy planes, with the obvious intention of dropping a bomb on my head, can look so beautiful. Get out, Father, are you and kidding about this bomb? Hey, chicken, he's hit. Who's that? Me? Hey, kid, look at the blood. Hey, guys, I'm wounded. Let me see. Are you okay, chicken? Just a concussion. You're adding a borrower when so deep, kid, cushion yourself on your elbow. Yeah. Hey, they've gotten something out of those planes. Parrots shoots, they're bailing out troops. Those ain't men's dodge. Look, they're baskets. Yeah, baskets. Surprise. Probably for the men in the jungle. Yeah, most of them are going to land right here, though. Come on, guys, let's take a look. Food, an ammunition. Hey, look, a box of candy. They need candy like the Dodgers need a fourth of fire. Now, wait a minute. Look, the papers. They look like messages. Yeah, they're full of good writing. I wonder what it says. We'll soon find out. Hey, Manuel. Yes, yes, Fiery. We have a Jeff letter for you. That's for me, all right. Me speak Japanese, almost good. I speak English. That's what I'm afraid of. Yeah. It was in this basket, Manuel. Let me see these. Oh, it say here, the enemy before your eyes is collapsing. They mean us. Hey, Sarge. Yeah? Look at me, I'm collapsing. All right, shut up. Go on, Manuel. It said, be assured of help from Imperial Heaven. By no means run away from your position. The enemy has suffered enormous losses. All transports have been sunk and their choices troop annihilated. Yeah, it's funny. I never thought of it. Maybe we're dead and we don't know it. How about that, Padre? Well, if we are, at least it's not Imperial Heaven. Sergeant Malone. Hi, sir. Why Captain Davis? How's him to come here? He's got a such a cat fever. Colonel, I just took him to the sick base. Captain's off then, right away. Yeah, hi, sir. Come in, Walter. Colonel? I've just had a report. The natives say there's quite a large bunch of jabs that metallic our village. Aye, sir. That's about five miles from here. You'd better take a patrol down there and see what it's all about. It'll be a pleasure, sir. You'd better go by boat. Take a higgin. Keep offshore far enough so they can't snipe you. And then come in where and when you can. Well, you might take Sergeant Malone with you. Aye. Maybe the report is true. Maybe it isn't. Be careful, Walter. I don't know what you're talking about. Captain, be careful, Walter. Don't take any unnecessary chances. They leave at noon. Captain Cross, Hook, and 24 men. Hours later, aboard Dawn. Taxi and the boys return to the beach to watch for them. It is almost dark when they see something offshore. It's been an eight-along. It's moving. See? Step aside, gents. I'll show you how I used to win them Cupid dogs at the Coney Island shooting gallery. I'll buck you in this. Wait a minute, Taxi. It's a guy. Look, he's swimming. Yeah, that's right. A jack. He's coming this way, too. Probably a one-man suicide squadron with a load of dynamite going to sneak in as soon as it's dark. Where'd he come from? Somebody's hooked his pretty good swimmer, kid. Maybe come down to coast where Hook and them went. Taxi, it is Hook. Put down that gun. Trying to run out on that bed, huh? You're nuts. Look, Taxi, it is Hook. Hook! Hook! Sarge! Sarge! I might have shot him. Gangway, guys, I'm going in after you. You all right, Hook? You all right, kid? Yeah. Yeah, get me to the colonel. I got to see the colonel. Sure, Sarge. Sure. Come on, guys. Pick him up. Go back there, sir. We've got to go back. Yes, we're going back to Matanicao. Yes. This time we'll go in force. And not just to take a look around Malone. This time we go for blood. Thank you, sir. We pause now for station identification. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System. After a brief intermission, Mr. DeMille returns to Preston Foster, William Bendix, Lloyd Nolan and Richard Jekylls for act three of Waddle Canal Diary. Mr. Kennedy, I have a wonderful new way to shop to save time and energy. Every time I want to buy something, I buy a war bond instead. And then just imagine how I'll spend it after the war. Let's ask a couple of people from the audience what they'd do with it. I'd like something for the house, like new curtains or an electric mixer. I'm going to buy something pretty for myself. Well, I'm going to buy nylon stockings. Half a dozen pairs right at one clip. Ah, yes, that's what many women say. But so far, those post-war nylons are only a dream. So why not let's face the facts? Lots of women didn't like nylons at first, remember? Then after they'd worn them for a while, they raved about them. Probably you didn't like the new rayons much at first. Neither did their makers. But they needed time to work out improvements. Now they're really are some lovely ones. And if they're given the right care, they wear as well as silk. Every time you put a pair of those pretty rayon stockings in the wash bowl, remember... That's practically a dollop bill in that wash bowl. So I hope you're using Luxud. Because dollop bills don't grow on trees. If you're tempted to be careless and use strong soaps for stockings or rub with cake soap, remember, those stockings cost money. Give them the luxe care they deserve, and they'll repay you in extra wear. Yes, strain tests prove stockings washed with Lux Flakes last twice as long as those rubbed with cake soap are washed with a strong soap. Nightly Luxe Care cuts way down on runs. Helps you to get two pair wear from every pair. If your dealer is out of Lux Flakes, try again soon. More is on the way. Remember, Lux is worth waiting for. Now, Mr. DeMille returns to the microphone. We'll investigate the private lives of our stars after the play. But now here's the curtain for the third act of Guadalcanal Diary. Darring Preston Foster, Lloyd Nolan, William Bendix, and Richard Jekyll. We are going back to Matanacal. And this time for blood. Men are going and boys. Going into battle for the first time in their lives. Boys just out of high school, grocery clerks, truck drivers, insurance salesmen. Filled with the memories of tricks and ambush and slaughter. The memories of dead friends. It'll be another hour before we reach Matanacal. We slipped through the jungle. A few at a time. Look. Yeah? This is it, huh? Well, we're getting closer, chicken. How do you feel about killing people? Kill or be killed, ain't it? Besides, those Japs ain't people. Yeah, but I mean the first time you got one of them. Well, it was kind of rugged, I guess. Then it's just a matter of repetition. Quit thinking about it, you'll go crazy. Yeah, but I wonder what it's going to be like. Yeah? You've got plenty of cover here behind these trees. I got an idea of those monkeys. They'll be coming this way. You can pick them off from here like fishing a bow. Look, where are you going? I'm going over to see how Taxi's making out with a mortar. I'll be back. Just keep your head down, kid. Hey, look, there's one over there in the clearing. Yeah. He's dead. Yeah, it's an officer, too. You see a sword? That's for me, Hook. That's for me. You nuts get down. Oh, he's dead, ain't he? I promise a certain party of souvenirs. You've got enough to think about without going at the souvenirs. Are you just saying? Poor guy. Keep laying it down there, Taxi. They'll be running for the woods any minute, Sarge, if there's any of them left to run. Any sign of snipers? No, not yet, there ain't. Texas is watching for them over. You'd better watch closer than that. You heard Taxi? Would you look at that. Right through my helmet. Look, Hook, it ain't possible. Put it back on, you fool. Get back to that mortar. Big enough to drive me kids. Hey, Texas, you see what I see? Yeah, up in the coconut tree. Watch. Who do you think you are, County? Kuma or Roy Rogers? They're pretty good, too. This'll put them out. Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go. Look. Look. You see? He's sticking out his greasy kisser. Yeah. Watch. Ah! Scratch one, squid-eyed jack. That's OK, Thig. That was for Captain Cross. I've got 24 to go. Hey, Taxi, yeah? I'm going back over the ridge. Join up with it there when you're through, huh? Look, look. What the... Look. Hey, chicken. Where are you? Hurry, look, hurry. You're a crazy kid. I tried to get the sword. I thought it was dead. Yeah, yeah, I know. Take it easy now. I killed him. He shot me first. Yeah, yeah. Look, am I going to die? No, you'll be all right. I promised a certain price. Look, I got to get you out of here. You think you can walk? Yeah, I guess so. OK. Come on, now. Up now. That's it. Put your weight on me. Get the sword. Yeah, I'll come back for it later and get it. Thanks, look. I'll get a couple of jabs to put on it, too. Look, what time is it? Will you save your breath? I mean, back home. I never figured this was going to happen to me. What time is it, hook? We'd better get him to an ambulance, doctor. You'll never make it, father. Is it that bad, doc? He's lost too much blood, needs plasma, needs it fast. Can't we give it to him here? With all these other men waiting? He's just a kid. They're all just kids. I've watched you often enough. Perhaps I could do it myself. You? Well, why not? You'll die if you don't. Nothing to lose. Call him in. Plasma! Over here, quick! Yeah, father? I think you'll be all right. You'd better get back. I'll watch out for him. Yeah, thanks, Mark. It was over by nightfall, the Battle of Mechanicale. This war of mighty armies of tanks and planes, it has been nothing more than an incidental skirmish. Only a few hundred will ever remember it. The boys who fought there, and the families of those we buried. But the enemy has at last been met, and we have wiped him out. Those who can walk, trudged back, weary and stunned. Moving like drunken men are men in a nightmare. Heads and legs bandaged, clothes torn, unlit cigarettes dangling from their lips, old before their time, veterans. We rested at the village. And then, in the morning, as if from heaven itself, comes the one thing that can best snap us out of it, mail. Mail from that distant, hazy spot, bill of hopes and dreams, home. Smells delicious. Come here, give me that. All right, here it is. Captain Clark. Captain. Oh, I'll take it, Corporal. Oh, yes, sir. There's two more forms, Captain Davis. Yes. Come on, take what about me, Aloysius. Take it easy, Flatbush. We'll get around to you. Michael Boy. Michael Boy. Hey, where's Michael Boy? That's you. Huh? Oh, yeah, me. Pass it. Kalinsky. Favourite. She's three months old. And did you hear that bell? It's like my mother. He got up a little soon, didn't he? Yeah. Who'd you hear from, Taxi? Or me, or from the Flatbush Athletic Club. It says here, it says, it says, are you keeping fit these difficult days? You owe it to yourself to exercise regularly so that you will keep your body in the pink of condition. You think we've been neglecting our health out here? Yeah, I think I'll join up. Come on, let's go over and see the chicken. I'll take that, bring him a plate. It was weeks before we had reason again to celebrate. Weeks of rain and disease and malnutrition. Weeks of digging graves. The watching the enemy slip more and more men ashore. Weeks of being a target day and night of their bombers and zeroes. Against whom we're lucky to put up six or seven Grumman fighters. We wonder if this will be another but ten. And then they come. Reinforcements at last. Immediately we start to push inland and that Jap runs to his hills and his caves, sweeping us down with machine guns, change of them sometimes rather than surrender. One by one these fanatics must be blasted out and the job goes to men like Taxi and Hook. They do it with dynamite and grenades, with gasoline and sheer guts. So then it's all on that day's work now. And when the job is done, back to camp they come and rush for the portable radio. Now I've piped on you guys, piped on, I got it listening. And now for the world of sport. Oh, shut up, shut up. Enforcements Park St. Louis was packed with 34,000 wild-eyed fans as the cards in Yanks tangled in the second game of the current World Series. Come on, you Redbird. Give us the score. Give us the score, will you? In the beginning with the score tied one to one, the fans got the thrill that they've been waiting for. Yeah, but will you give us the score? The cards had two men out when Enos Flotter caught a fast one and slid into second base for a double. That's it, Enos. I knew you could do it. It's all right, Sammy. Think nothing of it. Then Phil was due to a second, let the ball slip away and Flotter dashed safely to third. Ah, you'll be expecting that. And that brought Stan Mugiel to bat. He worked on him for a 3-2 pitch. And then with the home crowd screaming for a hit, he bounced over the plate. Wait a minute, wait a minute. It's coming in again. Listen. And so, baseball fans, today's game ended with a final score. That's the way today's game ended. Thanks for listening, folks. See you tomorrow. Heddington Red! Heddington Red! Heddington Red! Heddington Red! It's the worst one yet. They're throwing everything at us with the hitch and stove. That's the stove now. Here, chicken. Take a dragon and a cigarette. Oh, no thanks. I don't mind the one with my name on it. It's the one that's dressed a little, but may concern. I don't like it. Anybody who says he ain't scared is a fool or a liar. You hear what I hear? What do you mean, Jose? Those are not all bombs. Some of them are hidden shells. They've got nothing anywhere near that thing unless we got visitors. The Jap Navy. There's a report that a couple of battleships and eight cruisers are off Savo. They're really pasting us. I don't mind saying I don't like it. I've got things on my mind, too, but I don't know how the Padre will like it. Go right ahead, taxi. Well, I don't know about you guys, but me, well, I'm telling you, this thing's way over my head. It's going to take somebody bigger than me to handle it. I ain't much of this praying business. My old lady always took care of that. Yeah, my old lady was like that, too. Well, I don't know if I mean that kind of praying. You know, the Lord's Prayer, things like that. I know. I used to pray like that back when I was a kid. You know, Lord, give me this. Give me that. Please, let the Yankees win, but I've never been in a spot like this before. I don't like to hear you guys talk that way. Me, either. You guys are different. I don't believe you're scared. You worry you wouldn't have gone up under those cliffs. Right under their noses. Stopping gasoline even in their case. Stop it, chicken. I'm just a guy. I come out here because somebody had to come. I don't want no meddling. I just want to get this thing over with and go back home. I'm just like everybody else, and I'm telling you I don't like it. Except maybe I guess there's nothing I can do about it. I guess it's up to the God. And I'm not kidding. When I say I hope He knows just how I feel. I'm not going to say I'm sorry for everything I've done in my life. Maybe I am, and maybe I'm not. The only thing I know is I didn't ask to get in this spot. If we get it, then it sure looks that way now. Well, then I only hope He figures we've done the best we could and let's just go with that. Maybe this is a funny kind of praying to you guys, but it's what I'm thinking and praying. Amen. Amen. You're sick at your stomach. Your head rings like a giant bell, pounded with a giant sledge. It's as if God grabbed the world by the shoulders and shook it and shook it. Trying maybe to bring it to its senses, and then it's over. But you're not certain because you still hear it in your head. The earth doesn't leap up at you anymore and the shells have stopped screaming, but the planes are still there. Dozens and dozens of planes. Hook stands up, a funny look on his face. He starts to leave when you grab at him, but he shakes you off and runs outside. Hey, look. Look, those are jets. Those are all planes. They're all planes. Morning, Captain Davis. Hello, Taxi. Hard to believe, isn't it? Yes, sir. Men, planes, food, hot food. I almost feel good, Captain. Yeah? What's up, sir? I mean, we ain't getting all this for nothing. I figure when we get hot showered, it means it's time for us Marines to push out somewhere else. If you'll get this as good as mine, Taxi. I'll know later today. Colonel Grayson's called. There are 10,000 jets on Guadalcanal. They have good equipment, and the jungles and rivers are all in their favor. We've done very well at Mechanicale, Tanaro, and Bloody Ridge, but we've got to take over this entire island. It means an all-out effort, and I can think of no better date to begin it than tomorrow. November the 10th, the 167th anniversary of the Marine Corps. MUSIC Dear Mom, I'm fine and hope you and Dad are not worrying. It's funny you writing to me how you went to the blood bank, because a few weeks ago, they gave me some of that plasma when I got hit a little. Maybe it was your blood. That would be funny, wouldn't it? Everything here is okay. No kidding, and maybe I'll get home soon. Hello, Shirley. I bet you never expected to hear from me again, but ha-ha, I fooled you. Because when a gentleman like I tells a lady like you something, that's not true. It's here at last. The great offensive. The men have written their letters home, or many their last letters. We started dawn. Along the shore and through the jungle, there was but one command, attack, attack, attack. It's one gigantic charge across the width and breadth of Guadalcanal. Hook and taxi are loaded down with grenades. They carry them in slings. You can't help but think of those pictures of old-time farmers sowing grains. Hey, too, a sowing grain. The lethal grain of sudden death. Ain't that General Randy Griffith over there with the turtles? Yeah. Don't he know it's dangerous here? Yeah, why don't you go and tell him? Come on. Yeah. There is Seuss, born in some tiny Mexican village. He came to the United States and he liked us. And we liked him. And now he is behind five feet of bandit and rifle fighting for us. Ahead of him, a Jaffa screen for cover. He has dropped a knife. Hey, Jaffa, you forgot something. Seuss picks it up, aims and flings the knife with a speed and accuracy of a striking rattlesnake. He forgot something. Funny, eh? And so he dies. Dies in blood and laughter. And the green jungle of Guadalcanal. Seuss never knew what hit him. Chicken hears the shot. He comes running up. There's another shot. And chicken sprawls grotesquely beside the body of his comrade. And then, out of nowhere, appear two Japanese. And with their rifle butts, they prod the motionless bodies. Banzai, honor to the emperor. And back to nowhere, they disappear again. But not quickly enough. Chicken is on his feet and his rifle at the shoulder. And two quick shots make two dead Jaffs. That's one you taught me. Chicken has remembered a Jaff officer and a shining sword for a certain party. And on it goes, an avenging army, yard by yard, mile by mile, drunk with righteous hate and fury, until at length this island is cleansed of its plague. Those few Jaffs who are still alive dash headlong to the sea. And the waters of the Pacific rise and wring down on infamy. A green and foamy curtain. It is December the 10th, 1942. We are leaving Guadalcanal today. They have told us our job is done. More soldiers are landing now. And from this tiny foothold in the Pacific, in good time, we'll go forward. We're all at the beach. Off shore, we see the ships that brought them here and will carry us away. Okay, you guys. Stay put, will you? We'll be going aboard in a few minutes. Hey, Taxi, look at me. Whiskers all over. Look at them. Hey, I got you guys here to be fighting in foxholes. This joint looks great. Give it time, putt. The beauty will wear off. Hey, Sarge, what did I got here? It's not too bad, soldier. It's pretty rugged. So long, guys. See you in Tokyo. Okay, we'll be there waiting for you. And then Colonel Grayson says he has something to read to us. We stand there looking out to sea. The waters seem misty. And we wonder why we are the ones who are leaving and why so many of us, a mile or so back in the little clearing, are the ones who shall stay on Guadalcanal forever. We know that we shall never forget them. We pray that you at home will never forget them, too. From Admiral W.F. Halsey, commander of the South Pacific Force of the United States Pacific Fleet, never throughout the long and brilliant history of the Marine Corps have your deeds and sacrifices been surpassed. Your shining courage has surmounted every hardship and conquered a vile and treacherous enemy. By your zeal and accomplishments, you have added a new verse to the Marine hymn, set the pattern for our inevitable victory and tower as an inspiration for every American on every front. Today, as never before, we the Navy are justly proud of you in deep appreciation for a job superbly done and knowing that you will win again and again onto victory, we say, God bless you all. Yes, God bless you all. So, Curtin falls on one of the most stirring real-life dramas of our time. In just a moment, Mr. DeMille will return with our stars for a Curtin call. Have you ever noticed how music can be used to express a mood, to picture a situation? Take two women both doing the daily job of washing dishes. Here's how Mrs. Jones feels about it. Oh, dear, I wish I were through. And just look at my red dishpan hand. But, Mrs. Smith... Well, they're all done in plenty of time for our first aid class. Mmm, and my hands look soft and smooth as ever. That doesn't sound like the same job at all. Tell us, Mrs. Smith, how come you're so cheerful? Oh, dish washing is no chore, not with luck. Such suds, so rich and so kind to my hands. Guess that's why more and more women are changing to luck's flakes for dishes. Richer suds that wash the dishes fast, gentler suds that leave hands soft and smooth. A good combination, isn't it? Yes, and it's surprising how thrifty luck's is, too. Goes further and does more dishes. Actually, up to twice as many dishes, Mrs. Smith, as the same weight of other well-known dish washing soaps. A little goes a long way. Now, here's Mr. DeMille with our stars. In the diary of the Lux Radio Theatre, Waddle Canal Diary will occupy an honored page. And here are three of the artists responsible. William Bendix, Preston Foster, and Lloyd Nolan. Thank you, CB. Glad to be back with you. Yeah, me, too. How are things going in Brooklyn, Bill? Brooklyn. I was only acting. I'm really from New York. Huh? You're not really a Dodger fan? Please, I used to be a bad boy for a New York giant. Oh, say, by the way, are they still in the league? I don't care about that. We are very sensitive. Besides, it makes me remember the great tragedy in my life. The time I had the chance to go south with the giants for spring training and couldn't make it. Accident, Bill? No, my mother wouldn't let me. A bad boy. Well, that's very interesting work. Another man that's always amazed me on jobs is Preston Foster. He's done everything from setting up pins in a bowling alley to singing and opera. How many jobs did you have before you got into pictures, Preston? 56. Pretty hard to beat in Hollywood. I just made it, CB. Waddle Canal Diary was my 57th picture. I don't think you'll lay at the end. What's your next play, CB? Well, Lord, the author is one of the foremost novelists and playwrights of the 20th century. And next week's play is one of his triumphs. The Letter by Somerset Morne. And our stars will be Betty Davis, Herbert Marshall, and Vincent Price. Betty Davis' fine performance in the Warner Brothers' picture will be long remembered by all who saw it. And next Monday night, she brings us this drama of a few dangerous weeks in the life of a beautiful woman. Performance by Betty Davis is something you just can't miss, CB. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. And remember, the Marines are still attacking them. Our sponsors, the makers of Lux Flakes, join me in inviting you to be with us again next Monday night. And the Lux Radio Theatre presents Betty Davis, Herbert Marshall, and Vincent Price in The Letter. This is F.B. DeMiro saying good night to you from Hollywood. William Bendix will soon be seen in the 20th Century Fox picture, Greenwich Village. Preston Foster appeared through the courtesy of 20th Century Fox and will soon be seen in the Bermuda Mystery. Lloyd Nolan was heard through the courtesy of 20th Century Fox, producers of the Sullivan. And Richard Jekyll is currently making wing in the prayer also at 20th Century Fox. Heard in tonight's play were Herbert Rawlinson as Grayson, Ed Emerson as Davis, John McIntyre as Correspondent, and Paul Zaremba, Tom Holland, Eddie Maher, Howard McNear, Ken Hard, Bob Young, Charles Thiel, Charlie Lung, Norman Thiel, Gary Brechtner. This program is broadcast to our fighting forces overseas through cooperation with the armed forces radio service. Our music was directed by Laura Silver, and this is your announcer, John M. Kennedy, reminding you to tune in again next Monday night to hear Betty Davis, Herbert Marshall, and Vincent Price in The Letter. Attention, victory gardeners! Fry offers you and Jenny's rainbow victory garden. Six kinds of choice vegetable seeds. Farglobe tomatoes, empharotter carrots, famous varieties of Swiss chard, lettuce, beets, radishes...