 proud lay we hail New York City where the American stage begins here is another program with a cast of outstanding players public service time has been made available by this station to bring you this story as proudly we hail the United States Army is entitled the newcomers this is the tense and dramatic story of a man who learned the true meaning of comradeship the hard way as proudly we hail the United States Army's artillery our first curtain will rise in just a moment but first young man be honest with yourself have you reached a standstill in life is each day just like any other are you worried about your future and most important of all are you feeling dissatisfied with yourself and your personal development well if this description or any part of it fits you it's just about time you investigated the opportunities waiting for you when you enlist in the United States Army every man in the army has a skill and more often than not the army taught him that skill in one of its fine schools the army offers an interesting present and a secure future with plenty of promotions along the way and above all the army molds you into a man a man whose family friends and country are proud of him if you think you can measure up stop in at your nearest recruiting office and see if you can qualify to wear the mark of a man the uniform of your United States Army and now your United States Army presents the proudly we hail production the newcomers you know I've got a soft spot in my heart but it wasn't always like that there was a time when I could take him or leave him but I changed my mind about it however that wasn't until I got in the army some years back and was transferred to England in the spring of 44 right before the invasion I was a sergeant then in chief of section in a 105 millimeter howitzer battery of a field artillery regiment as you know around that time England was bulging with our troops and everywhere you'd turn you'd see how it's a batteries but of all these outfits I was convinced that my section was best I know that's what a soldier supposed to think but if you'd seen the way they put a piece into action on the firing range you'd have to agree with me ready from the opening command took only a few seconds destroyed their target gun squad of eight canineers working at 100% efficiency is like seeing Joe DiMaggio take a cut at a ball or if you want to get a little corny about it you could call it poetry in motion at least that's what Corporal Harris used to say yeah Sergeant Mason it's like a work of art play a ballet symphony it takes teamwork to bring off any great feet Corporal Harris was my right-hand man he was a real artilleryman there wasn't anything he didn't know about operating a 105 between the two of us we were able to keep the section not only proud but happy and contented as well then one day something happened that sort of changed things I just got back to my tent with some interesting news Corporal Harris yeah Sergeant just been down a orderly room to a meeting effective at once everybody's restricted to their battery areas why how come take a guess you mean it's coming off finally yeah finally nobody knows exactly when but it looks like we're soon gonna be making a boat trip well maybe it's another maneuver I don't think so it's a little different this time looks like they're an earnest real earnest that's great but wait a minute Sarge I just thought of something Jackson isn't back from the hospital yet yeah and he won't be shipping them back to the states well that means we'll be one man short when we go into action don't worry about it the first sergeant told me just now we'll be getting a replacement should be in tomorrow I hope you know something about a 105 I know this once you had 13 weeks at Fort Bragg wow that case we shouldn't have too much trouble with him I'll put him in number seven man spot as it happened Harris's prediction didn't turn out quite the way he thought it would the next day right after we had dinner I stopped by the section tent to get in the rundown on what was on our schedule I'd have to know oh I sigh there what say you and me having a bit of a set you with the blaster dart and I don't care if I never look another dart in the face again well we're going we'll be throwing bigger things in darts and I can hardly wait yeah you ain't kidding have to wait in this long I'm ready for anything all right man give me your attention for a minute as you know this looks like it's it that doesn't mean that all we have to do now is sit back and wait well we got everything all set ain't we serge sure O'Connell but it might be today or two months from now so we're gonna proceed just as usual and that means gun drill this afternoon that's okay with us serge we don't want to let ourselves get stale how about it felt that's what I wanted here oh they help you you sergeant Mason that's right my name is Gallagher first sergeant told me to report to you oh sure glad to meet you Gallagher might as well put your barracks bag down and rest this is where you're gonna end up I can hold it I'm not that weak man meet your new number seven man he's taking Jackson's place I only got a couple of things to say Gallagher and then you can get yourself settled first you're a lucky soldier yeah how because you're assigned to the fastest and most efficient gun squad in the whole artillery regiment that's why second it looks like we're going at action soon you're gonna have to work special hard to measure up to the rest of the section who says I don't already well if you do you'll have to prove it is that all you have to say yeah that's all for now okay Harris over here Gallagher well Corporal Harris showed him to his cut I stood there for a moment watching who's a bulky guy with big gnarled hands leathery face and sandy hair as hard as nails I came to the conclusion that I'd better keep an eye on him turned to leave the tent as I stepped outside I could have sworn it someone came in the same time as I came up but when I turned around I didn't see anything thought I must have been imagining things but I was mistaken that was when our section received its second newcomer only I didn't know it back then that afternoon I had a few things to check over with the supply sergeant and I didn't get around to the drill field until around four o'clock when I got there I found Corporal Harris running the squad through gun drill hi Sergeant Mason oh how's it going Harris all right I guess any news yet not yet the situation is still as is as a new man doing well from what I can see for only 13 weeks training he sure knows his 105 I rotated the squad through the various positions and he was right at home in each of them you think he'll fit in without too much trouble when there's a canineer member of a gun squad sure but as a soldier I got my doubts so do I well you must have noticed it too yeah I did something eating them it's right look I may be wrong but I think it isn't just a temporary thing it's something he's lived with for a long time well I'll try to work on it yeah maybe you can shake them out of it like you did with O'Connell's home hey the heck is that huh oh him I mean it well it sure isn't it all right what kind of an animal is it the dog Sarge my boy come on I guess you're right it is about the saddest looking car I ever did see and I've seen plenty where'd he come from him with Gallagher he claims it followed him from the railroad station you get that idea O'Connell the guys have already adopted them Sarge they think it's a good luck sign coming in like this just before we're about to take off well that might be so but if I was you guys I wouldn't plan too much on that well how come Sarge in the first place the way he it looks now I don't think it'll live very long and in the second place he won't be able to get a first-class ticket as a passenger on an LST hey I never thought of that maybe you ought to talk it over with the fellas O'Connell huh yeah I guess I will come on boy you'll have to see that they get rid of that animal Harris the sooner the better that evening we noncoms had a meeting with the CEO dealing with preparations for our expected move out following that I burnt the midnight oil refreshing myself with some field manuals and when I hit the sack around 1130 I was pretty well beat didn't take long until I was in a dreamland as it turned out it didn't take long until I was out of it hey Sarge Sarge wake up what's up Paris something about it look I'm sorry to disturb you like this but Gallagher he wants to talk to you I made a little night what's he want yeah look I tried to stop him but he insisted on coming himself he can explain it to you okay send a man right what's on your mind Gallagher couldn't you wait till the border I'll tell you what's on my mind what kind of an outfit have I got myself in with I'd like to know what's the matter with this out from what little I've seen plenty but that ain't my concern as long as they tend to their own business and let mine alone that's all I am on out with it what's eating you let me ask you something Sergeant Mason is there anything in army regulations it says I got asleep with animals what are you talking about you better tell that squad of yours they brung that dog into the tent tonight they aim in asleep on the same tent with a man's the animal around me they did April I wish I thought I told you that I have to get rid of that dog well yes I was but how the men are restricted and if the pooch hangs around what are they going to do a Gallagher is right a dog doesn't have to stay in the tent well I know it isn't regulation but it gets kind of chilly out at night and the poor much half starved as it is yeah I'll tell you what to do I got an empty ration box here for my firewood this set of all fatigue so one out anyway take them and make up bed for it right outside the tent flat that ought to keep warm thanks I'd you better get rid of it tomorrow all of the minute Gallagher satisfied now yeah okay now you'll listen to me you prove today that you know what it takes to operate a 105 you still haven't proved that you know how to soldier I got a good squad but what makes it good is not only their skill around a gun but the way they feel to know where you started you ain't gonna be much help in that yeah I know you've got your rights but you're gonna have to learn that you have to give a little too for your own good as well as the squads you are listening to the proudly we hail production the newcomers we'll return in just a moment for the second act high school seniors here's an important message for you the United States Army's reserve for you program will guarantee you a classroom seat in an exciting Army technical career course before you enlist you'll get top-notch training on the job experience while serving side-by-side with America's finest young men the choice is wide open and it's yours to make high school graduates can choose from more than 100 interesting career courses that range from atomic technician through welding a fact-filled booklet called reserve for you tells you about the entire program get in on the swing get your free copy of reserve for you by visiting or writing your nearest United States Army recruiting station you are listening to proudly we hail and now we present the second act of the newcomers the following morning after my midnight interview with private Gallagher I decided I'd better have a talk with the squad from the way Corporal Harris had talked I figured the men were beginning to take the stray dog to their hearts and I wanted to set them straight and how I felt about it so before the battery fell out for first call I dropped by to that sense oh good morning Sarge morning Harris any more trouble last night oh no we fixed up the bed for Scottie I don't mean to tell me he's a scotch terrier who you kid no and it isn't a he it's a she they named her Scottie from the word mascot got it yeah she seemed pretty comfortable in the box he gave her where's it now inside the tent with the men they've been feeding the scraps from breakfast she sure goes for flat jack sounds like the men are enjoying it as much as the dog well you better call them out I want to talk to okay sir all right man outside come on let's go on top just just more than in front of the tent huh man I just want to tell you something about your new mascot hey Sarge ain't gonna tell us to give her up I'm afraid so kind of now I know you don't like it the only reason I'm saying it is and I know when we ship out she's gonna have to stay behind I think it's best that she go now before you become too attached to her the day came and went we still sweat it out our orders I noticed that the men made no effort to get rid of their mascot Scotty but I didn't mention it to them again squad wasn't feeling too good about not being in on the invasion so I decided to forget about it and let them work it out for themselves when the time came for them to give her up that time came all right but not before I had another visit from Gallagher such a Mason yeah Gallagher what is it I want to put in for a transfer transfer now come I just don't fit in with your squad I noticed that you know why no I don't care to know you sure got a chip on your shoulder anybody ever knock it off yeah but it didn't stay off long how about it Gallagher how come you enlisted didn't you know you'd have to learn to get along with other people in the army I got my reasons why I enlisted I told you once I can get along if I'm left alone well it's anybody bother no but they asked too many questions what I done before I got in the army is my business ain't it sure maybe it's because they want to become your friends you got to know something about a guy before you can do I don't need any friends maybe you'll change your mind about that someday okay I'll talk to the first sergeant about transferring you okay but remember this Gallagher you'll never solve anything by running away from it what do you mean I ain't running away see you once you're right away in the orderly room like couple Harris think over what I said Gallagher I got down to the orderly room I forgot all about Gallagher's request for a transfer orders that just come down calling for our immediate shipment to France naturally you can imagine the things that had to be done in order to move an artillery battery to a port of embarkation but our plans have been prepared well in advance of things proceeded like clockwork when we landed two days later on the coast of Normandy I marched the section of their Bivouac area and lined them up to assign them their individual positions for their pup tents by that time was getting dark and I didn't notice it but I got down to the end of the line Adams McGregor over under that tree O'Connell Gallagher side that big rock there right well that doesn't know for you and me couple Harris yeah a sergeant but didn't you forget somebody I think so this is the end of the squad roster take another look over there behind Gallagher and that only took one look I took two but right behind Gallagher trotting along her nose lifted high and happily was the familiar looking brown and white bundle of Scotty well how the heck did she get here no sir I just noticed to myself for the first time somebody must have carried an extra barracks bag with me it's funny I checked everyone myself and I could have sworn that oh well there's no harm done I guess he or she is here now and I suppose maybe it's just as well I think it is such maybe the men are right maybe she'll bring some luck well Scotty did bring some luck but not the kind we expected we laid over on the beach for about a week and then we were assigned to an infantry division that seemed to be a reserve outfit we would have supported but somehow it never seemed to get into position where it needed support the front moved inland through Normandy but we were always about 15 miles behind it like everything else it's the waiting it's the hardest to go through however the men held up pretty well and a lot of it was due to their mascot Scotty was always the center of attraction for all the men in the section all that is except Gallagher he just couldn't seem to stand the dog I remember on the day that we got orders to move out again about two weeks after we moved into Normandy we had the gun hitched and the men were all sitting in the truck waiting for the battery to move out and I dropped around to see how they work everybody's here Sarge where we going this time Sarge to support a quarter master company very funny no I think this is it this time well I hope so I'm beginning to forget what a 105 sounds like even Scotty agrees with me go on get out of here leave the dog alone Gallagher she's not bothering no one oh yeah hey look Sarge how about leaving her here every time I turn around she's under my feet maybe that's because you gave her a chocolate bar that first day she came to the battery I did nothing of the kind what okay okay have it your way look if Scotty stays here I am too all right can it's coming along just have to put up with a Gallagher she's one of the squad now yeah sure when my transfer comes through she can take my place your transfer maybe I can get in with an outfit with men in it that of a bunch it acts like kids over at dirty mangrove but I'm warning all you guys keep this mud away from me or else I'll you'll what you'll find out until Gallagher mentioned it I'd forgotten all about his request for a transfer but after that episode I promised myself to see to it first thing when we got to our new station that hopefully come around I decided he was nothing but a troublemaker and the sooner he left the better for the squad and for him to however I didn't have a chance to get to it because when we reached our new area I found that my hunch was right the division we were supporting had pulled out of reserve and had replaced a division that had been on the front you want the gun set up here in this field sergeant yeah now here's the situation man what immediate front there you'll see a wooded Ridge rifle battalion were supporting is dug in at the base of the Ridge on this side they got outposts along the top now the battalion that was here had been moving pretty fast and nobody knows what's ahead out there beyond the ridge if they break the battalion where support will start moving so we have to be prepared to move out then too but right now we'll dig in here over that close to them maybe we better dig a recoil hole for the gun yeah because we'll have to fire at a high elevation for such a short range when you're finished make sure you also dig yourself some foxholes around the gun just in case you got your guard detail set up for tonight Harris yes sergeant O'Connell from 10 to 12 Adams from 12 to 2 McGregor from 2 to 4 and Gallagher from 4 to 6 fine I'll see you later I have to check with the CEO right okay man let's get to it when I reported to the CEO I found out that all likelihood there'd be nothing for us to do but in any case we'd be ready so return to the squad area dug myself a foxhole and bet it down for the night leaving instructions with Gallagher to awaken me when he finished his tour of guard duty at 6 a.m. well I was awakened at 6 all right but not by Gallagher Sarge Sarge and Mason yeah oh oh you ours but I told Gallagher to wake me up he was not here Sarge what where is he O'Connell just told me he saw him heading toward the ridge and he's got Scotty with him yes what do you think orbital I don't know O'Connell said he yelled after him but Gallagher just said something about losing the dog and before O'Connell could stop me was gone up the hill I've met all kinds of people in my life but that guy takes the cake corporate wake up the rest of the squad to see if they get their breakfast I'm gonna have to take off after him or he's liable to not only lose that dog with himself to before I forget it again tell the first sergeant the Gallagher wants to transfer in as far as I've been starting this sooner the better I started up the path daybreak was just beginning so I was able to make time about 15 minutes I was halted by an infantry outpost who told me he'd seen Gallagher yeah about 15 minutes ago you have a dog with him yeah I tried to tell him it's kind of dangerous walking out there no man's land like that but he didn't pay me no mind he wouldn't thanks okay what's your step Sarge about five minutes I finally saw him about 500 yards ahead of me up the path beyond him about a couple hundred feet with Scotty as I watched I saw Scotty stop and then turn around and run back to Gallagher barking her when she reached Gallagher she jumped up on him barking all the while Gallagher pushed her off and kept going but Scotty kept running back and forth was as if she was trying to say something to him I yelled at him Gallagher he didn't pay any attention he's kept on going and finally Scotty stopped barking and started running up the path ahead of him until I took off as fast as I could but Gallagher reached her before me when I got there was holding Scotty in his arms talking to her but she couldn't hear him Scotty hey Scotty how are you Scaliger Sarge she saved my life yeah and she tried to tell me about the booby trap hey Sarge I'm a jerk a real jerk I wanted to lose her that's what they told me when I when I got off God doing this one I found her standing by my foxhole I'm just no good Sarge take it easy Gallagher we all make mistakes yeah but not as many as I've made my whole life for spin a mistake I might sit down for a minute here's a cigarette thanks I'm a hard luck guy if you only knew why don't you tell me about it Gallagher yeah yes beneath me up inside I gotta get it out of me while he sat there with what was left of Scotty in his arms I found out what was his trouble been alone and kicked around ever since he was a kid before he joined the army worked for construction firm one day the ditch he was working in collapsed and buried his pal Gallagher got out of it okay but his pal did wasn't Gallagher's fault but he was blamed for it and fired he couldn't forget it no matter where he turned there was always somebody to remind him about it so he joined the army trying to get away from it all but it did no good he got to the point where he hated everybody but himself most of all at the time he finished telling me quite a doubt something well there is such I guess you're glad I did ask for transfer to get it now look at it this way Scotty wanted to be your friend but you didn't give her a chance the guys in the squad want to be your friends too so now it's up to you how about it I don't think the one to do with me anymore after this I wouldn't say that people aren't as hard as you think they are you just got to give them a chance come on let's go I'll tell the first sergeant to forget about that transfer okay son and thanks when we stood up I happened to look out into the valley to our front the sun was full up now and I could see clearly what I saw made me do a double take for down the road about five miles away heading toward us was a column of tanks I focused my binoculars on them and saw right away that they were the enemies Gallagher get down to the battery right away and tell the CEO and then get back immediately with a walkie-talkie I think we're finally going to hear our 105 in action I figured out the ranges and coordinates on my map by the time Gallagher got back I was able to radio the approximate target positions and start fire within 20 minutes our battery destroyed 15 tanks and sent what was left of them full retreat but the tanks were not the only surprise that morning when Gallagher and I finally got back to the battery we found another surprise waiting hi sergeant how'd we do great corporal Harris just great where the man I want to tell him they're over by Gallagher's foxhole my foxhole you know about Scotty yeah I told him about it when they came down before how'd they take it well they were pretty sore naturally but now in the light of what's happened what do you mean well that's what the guys are standing around Gallagher's foxhole for they found a litter of puppies Scotty gave birth to before she went with him up the hill what do you know if I only looked in the foxhole well she's gone now but she left something of herself behind I think no man could ask for more now I guess that about finishes it up our squad and battery with Gallagher sparking them all the way later on won several citations for themselves by the time the war was over there were enough descendants of Scotty to furnish a mascot for regions well I better get back to my duty post if you ever get down my way stop in and I'll introduce you to Scotty Scotty the third did you know that you can get ahead enjoy your work have security and a steady job all when you enlist in the United States Army why you'll get your first promotion when you've been in only a few months there's a wide variety of jobs available but most important you'll be helping to preserve the national security of our country why don't you check at your local recruiting office and let them tell you how you can make the most of your life in the United States Army this has been another program on proudly we have presented transcribed in cooperation with this station proudly we hail is produced by the Recruiting Publicity Center in New York for the United States Army and this is Mark Hamilton speaking inviting you to tune in the same station next week for another interesting story on proudly we have