 proudly we hail where the American stage begins here is another program with a cast of outstanding players public service time is remain available by the station to bring you this story as proudly we hail the United States Air Force a week of Sundays this is the story of seven days in the life of one of those men whose first duty is to serve as proudly we hail the chaplains of the United States Air Force our first act curtain will rise in just a moment but first young man if you're a high school graduate unmarried and otherwise qualified there's a future for you as an aviation cadet in the United States Air Force you'll receive a year of the world's finest flying training graduate as a second lieutenant earning more than $5,000 a year here's the opportunity of a lifetime to serve your country and build a career that will fit you for responsible positions in both military and commercial aviation visit your nearest Air Force base or your nearest Air Force recruiting station for complete details and now your Air Force presents the proudly we hail production a week of Sundays in the Midwestern town a group of men and women are gathered together in a meeting room in their town hall building their minds are on the newly activated Air Force base located 10 miles from the city line and as mayor of this town I tell it would establish a firm foundation for mutual understanding if we got to know a little bit more about how the Air Force operates so tonight we have with us a man will be able to explain to us the moral and spiritual work of our Air Force so without further ado I'm glad to present chaplain James Andrews I had come prepared to make a speech tonight but since this is a forum I think I'll take a chair here and just talk to you as friends I believe that you know pretty much of what a chaplain represents but I think you'll be able to get a better idea of what he does if I were to describe one of my typical weeks the week just passed and some of the things that happened let's take last Monday morning well that's when I usually make out my report on attendance and consultations and so on I had just barely started on them when Amon Johnson my friend Andrews fatigue detail is arrived oh send him in Emma Johnson all right you can go in good morning hello sir what's your name son I am in Skinner chaplain to meet you have been skinner we don't have too much for you to do this morning just a bit of piloting a lawnmower around the chapel long yes have I had any experience at it oh sure I used to do it all the time at home good and then Johnson will give you the lawnmower you don't have to Russia take your time okay okay oh what's that sure sure that's okay something to matter no no I was just thinking of something no nothing's the matter you want me to start now yes that's right are you sure there's nothing wrong no there's nothing wrong chaplain except me what do you mean son you'll probably get a big kick out of it I'm a real sad sack I guess but believe it or not I'm still homesick I see it's a laugh isn't it I can't help it I've tried my darndest but it's no use I understand well I better get busy on that lawn I'll get over it that afternoon I spent looking up them and skinner's records and talking to his officers and squadron mates by the time evening came I had a fairly comprehensive idea of what was at the root of his homesickness and how it might be cured after chow I dropped around to his barracks and found him sitting on his bunk as I expected hello chaplain what are you doing here just passing by I thought I dropped in to say hello I see you're catching up on your correspondence yes I write a letter home to the folks every night every night and that's right a long one too each letter runs about 10 pages one must keep you busy all right up to taps it seems to me it keep your folks busy answering all of them I guess it does mom says one letter a week it'd be plenty but not for me say skinner I found out you've done a bit of singing oh sure sure I was president of our school glee club back home well in that case I wonder if you do something for me I'll be glad to chaplain I've been thinking of starting a singing group here on the base do you think you could scout around for me and see if anyone would be interested in joining up well I suppose I could but I don't find I'll drop in one day and let me know how you're making out okay chaplain I'll run along now so long skinner so long chaplain and don't forget if you ever need your lawnmower again I'm your man now for Tuesday Tuesday morning I was busy checking the list of classical recordings we would need for the chapels music library when captain Andrews there's a lady to see you a lady Mrs. Wallet would have a come in Johnson right this way with wall thank you sit down please thank you now may I help you I don't know if you can do anything but I just had to see somebody is there something wrong yes but I I don't know if I should even have come here my door is open to everybody it's not that it's my husband Joe he's got it in his head but I shouldn't go see anybody about it how about what Mrs. Wallace well I'm gonna have a baby it you aren't happy about it oh no chaplain Joe and I are both very happy it's our first one and we're both looking forward to it it's nothing like that chaplain promise me you won't tell Joe that I was here to see you and Mrs. Wallace I'd like to promise you but I don't know anything about what's troubling you why don't you just tell me then we'll decide what should be done all right if you think that's best it's like this chaplain Joe's a crew chief in the 116th squad reconnaissance isn't it yes and the squadron is due to take off on a training mission they'll be out of the country for four weeks they're due to leave this Saturday I see and you're expecting your baby during that time yes and I want Joe to be here when it comes I want him to be I see it isn't that I'm afraid chaplain it's that I'm all alone my mother lives in California and she won't be able to come and I just can't bear the thought of having it was Joe off someplace of course Mrs. Wallace and I asked Joe to go to his group commander and request to be taken off the flight but he won't do it don't get me wrong chaplain Joe isn't hard-hearted he just doesn't want to be let off the mission but he feels bad about it too what was it you wanted me to do Mrs. Wallace I did want to ask you to go to the group commander and ask him to have Joe taken off but I guess I'm just being selfish well anyway I've talked to somebody about it no Mrs. Waltall my own feeling is that a husband should be by his wife's side to see the miracle of his child being born now I'm going to try to do something but I can't promise you anything don't be disappointed if I'm not successful oh I won't be chaplain Andrews I promise good I'll have airman Johnson give you a lift to your quarters thank you chaplain thanks for everything Mrs. Wallace left I dropped around to the dispensary at the top of the medical officer who was treating her I learned from him that she was an excellent physical condition and would in all probability have no trouble in giving birth to her child from there I went to her husband's group commander Colonel Hodge and told him the facts in the case he was quite sympathetic but he informed me the mission had great importance and it was necessary that it be carried out with the present personnel in addition Sergeant Wallace had not requested relief so there was little the Colonel felt he could do when I left his office Tuesday evening I was beginning to think there was little I could do either but as it turned out on the next day Wednesday I wasn't able to give it much thought and Johnson and I arrived at the hospital early Wednesday morning and started our journey through the wards we visited with the patients at their bedside offering spiritual comfort where it was needed and generally trying to cheer them up about 10 o'clock as I was passing down the corridor from one ward to another and then excuse me chaplain could I speak to you a moment certainly Sergeant my name's Gordon 13 squadron I'm glad to meet you Sergeant Gordon what can I do for you nothing for me chaplain it's for a buddy of mine and Jim at well he's a patient here and I don't know how to say it why not well it's like this you see I'm not much of a religious guy myself I don't belong to any church I don't know whether it's fit for me to ask you the church of God embraces all go right ahead Jim's got pneumonia and pretty bad and the thing about it that worries me is that he feels depressed depressed why when he came in here and found out what was the matter with him he sent a letter to his dad in California but he didn't get any answer from him at all and since then Jim's been brooding about it and well what but the fever it isn't helping him any I see and I thought well maybe you could sort of encourage him a little I've certainly tried but first I think I'd better talk with you chaplain we try to reach his father but well till now we haven't had much luck I see and you say at well we'll reach the crisis tonight sometime perhaps they may come sooner and tell you doctor I'd like to talk with him if I may but before I do let's try once more to reach his father may I use your phone don't go over there here's his address operator would you get me person to person mr. Harry at well one two two Naples Street Los Angeles California thank you doctor what are his chances of pulling through 50 50 but when a patient has inner trouble it's a lot harder to cure is outer trouble yes now they're ringing now hello hello mr. Atwell now this is chaplain Andrews or yes you just read the letter from Jim I see yes yes of course but just hang on a minute will you he's been on a two weeks vacation in Canada where he was isolated from all communications he just got home half an hour ago and got the message he's making plans to fly here immediately that's great I think you'll make it in time doctor hard to say I have an idea would you arrange to have a phone extension set up an Atwell's room why sure what are you going to do chaplain we'll let him talk with his father that's the best medicine I can think of right now I'll see to it right away I'll be back in a minute all set doctor I'm sorry chaplain what's the matter well the phone won't do any good he's delirious oh hello mr. Atwell sorry to have kept you waiting but what I can only advise you to hurry here as fast as possible yes yes that's quite alright goodbye doctor I'd like to see at well now of course Sergeant Gordon will you show the chaplain to his room yes sir but there isn't much you can do now is the chaplain there's a lot that can be done sergeant a lot that can be done with prayer into the proudly we hail production a week of Sundays we'll return in just a moment for the second act aircraft observers are now being trained by the United States Air Force for crew positions in the world's mightiest bombers the B-36 B-47 and the B-52 can you qualify well if you're between 19 and 26 of the half single and a high school graduate see your aviation cadet project officer at the nearest United States Air Force recruiting station today where the silver wings of your United States Air Force you are listening to proudly we hail and now we present the second act of a week of Sundays you're gonna be okay your dad's coming to see you Jim Jim he doesn't hear you sergeant there's only one voice he can hear now one voice oh yeah I guess I hope so for the next half hour we sat beside airman at will sergeant Gordon sitting at one side of the bed curiously watching me while I silently prayed about 1130 the doctor came in to work you chaplain but I better stand by now I understand doctor but I've done all I can I must get along now to conduct my services very well chaplain yes sergeant Gordon do you think it's out of our hands now thanks chaplain thanks I made my way to the hospital chaplain to conduct a brief service when I had finished since it was about 1230 I decided I'd better get some lunch before I tackled my afternoon schedule but as I was leaving the chapel I saw something in the far corner in the last pew I saw an airman kneeling his head bowed it was Sergeant Gordon although the rest of my day was a busy one I thought often of Sergeant Gordon and his friend and then at well and I made up my mind to drop by the hospital after my class in religion was over in the evening but I didn't have to go to the hospital but just as I was preparing to begin my class Sergeant Gordon entered my office looks like I'm interrupting something not at all I am just about to begin my class in religious instruction but I have a few minutes how was that well that's what I came about his dad arrived short while ago him got through his crisis okay doc says he's gonna recover I'm happy to hear that yeah he's almost a goner there for a while it hadn't been well a lot of things yes sergeant I think I told you I never had much to do with religion but I'll have to what happened today I've done some thinking and would you mind very much if I sort of hung around while you had your class tonight Sergeant Gordon of course not I'll be happy to have you very happy I can assure you that was one of the most satisfying classes I ever had now for Thursday Captain Andrews I've checked up on the PA system in a works fine fine after lunch I'm having a meeting with the ladies aid committee where the recreation room across from the chapel and I'd like you to set up the slide projector I've got some slides I want to show them here want to take a look say these are pretty good where'd you get them sir I had been laid from photographs I took while I was in Korea I think they should prove interesting to you especially since we are about to launch this drive for clothing for the children then now I know some of you have been to the Far East but I doubt as any of you have been in Korea so I believe that some of the pictures you will see now will demonstrate the importance of what you are about to do I am a Johnson the first slide please yes sir now this slide is from a photograph I made on a road leading to Seoul as you can see this little boy is no more than six years old when I came across him it been separated from his parents for three days during the refugees exodus from North Korea it was the middle of winter those those little feet of his were wrapped in a thin cotton rag the next slide please now now this is a picture of Kim you won two weeks later in an orphanage maintained partially by members of our faith in Seoul he looks a lot different now doesn't he there are thousands of orphans that still cannot be taken care of sufficiently and there is a great need for clothes and food that's where you come in for the next half hour I showed my slides and when the meeting was finished I felt I knew project was off to a good start by the time Emma Johnson and I had packed our equipment the ladies had all gone all that is except one hello chaplain Andrews why Mrs. Wallace I didn't know you were a member of the ladies aid committee I'm not they told me at your office that I could find you here have you been here long what half an hour that's too bad I wish you would have called me first I was going to but now I'm glad I didn't since I talked to last Monday I've been pretty much down in the dumps my nerves were on edge I just didn't know which way to turn I tried to do something for you Mrs. Wallace I I talked to your husband's group commander but he was unable to relieve him from the training mission especially since he didn't request I know Colonel Hodge phoned me and told me he was sorry about it I also talked to Red Cross headquarters today but they're going to see that you're well taken care of after the baby arrives there'll be a Red Cross volunteer aid who will be there to help you with your house oh that's wonderful I'm just sorry I couldn't do more what chaplain you have I have how well when I came to see you I I really didn't know what for unless it was to cry on your shoulder I know well anyway I'm all right now I'll get through even if Joe isn't here of course you will those four weeks will fly around fast when's Joe leaving Friday afternoon I'll drop by then I'd like to have a little talk with him before he goes I did drop around Saturday but it was under much different circumstances than I had anticipated but I'm getting a little ahead of my story they're still Friday I have to account for that's the day I try to keep open as much as possible for private study for figuring out a theme to use for my Sunday sermon but last Friday afternoon and then Johnson entered chaplain I hate to disturb you but there's a bunch of fellas outside said they were to report here this afternoon that's strange I I don't have anything scheduled what do they want I don't know and I think they don't either well I'd better see them where are they out on the lawn and then Johnson tells me you were to report here to me but I don't chaplain chaplain Andrews and Amit skinner I'm sorry I got here so late gosh quite a few turned up yes do you know anything about this I guess I do they don't know it but their candidates for the chorus you talked to me about you are yeah I picked them out and I told them to come up here today since we're having a night problem tonight and we have this afternoon off why didn't you let me know I wasn't sure the guys would come I guess I just didn't think much about it I hope it didn't surprise you too much well this is a surprise but a pleasant one bring them over to the reception room of a chaplain and Johnson I'll be there in a moment or two okay fellas I heard back to my office dug up some coral books of my footlocker and then went back to the reception you already know chaplain yes but now I guess I'll be running along away you're going skinner I got a couple of letters to write for you you aren't going to desert me are you desert you come over here a minute confidentially skinner I'm not too sharp on my coral technique it's been quite a while since I've done any of it now how about you taking charge for me me oh gosh chaplain you'll be doing me a big favor well okay but I won't be able to stay long fine what do we do first audition them I suppose good fellow the reason you're here today is that amon skinner here wanted to help me form a singing chorus you men are the ones he selected how come he picked us I don't know well maybe he can tell you sure you guys all have good voices how do you know how easy I just hung around the shower room and heard you sounding off I can't think of a better way rest of the afternoon the air was filled with the sounds of voices tenors bases baritone and as I had hoped amon skinner forgot about going back to his barracks by the end of the afternoon they were singing in chorus together they didn't sound bad considering the short time they rehearsed and skinner has promised me he'll develop them into the best singing group in the whole Air Force if he's going to do that we fill out his spare time and you can be sure he won't be homesick anymore and now for Saturday that's the day I always spend writing my Sunday sermon but on last Saturday I didn't even have my text chosen yet and as the day passed it didn't look as if I was going to get one by four o'clock I had made a dozen false starts beginning another one when I got a telephone call that made me jump out of my chair get into my Jeep and hustle over to the base hospital oh come in chaffin hello doctor how is she quite well come along well I didn't expect anything like this yeah it's quite a surprise to me too I was way off and oh here we are this is Wallace is a visitor well my dear how are you just fine and this is the early bird a very fine looking baby it looks just like Joe yes doesn't it by the way where is Joe he left just a little while ago on his mission yeah he was here when it happened I'm glad time's up chaffin chaffin I'll never forget what you did for me Mrs. Wallace I didn't do anything it was the good Lord's doing and yours I wrote up my Sunday sermon without any trouble I had found my text from Mark chapter 10 verse 15 who so ever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child he shall not enter therein now ladies and gentlemen there are any questions I'd be glad to answer them well I don't have any questions chaffin but I'd like to say something if I may certainly mr. Mayor I'm sure the forum has learned a lot more about the Air Force's activities in the spiritual field than we thought we would because well speaking for myself before you came here tonight I had thought a chaplain was pretty much a Sunday only worker but after hearing about your week I can only say that you're a Sunday worker all right but yours is a week of Sunday for the young man looking to his future there's a place today in the Air Force as an aviation cadet climb the skies in a powerful jet be one of the best trained best equipped young men in the world a pilot in your United States Air Force if you're between 19 and 26 and a half single and can meet the other high standards check at your local Air Force recruiting station and get all the details right away 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 in New York for the United States Air Force and this is Mark Hamilton speaking inviting you to tune in this same station next week for another interesting story on proudly we hail