 Proudly, 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 for your Army and your Air Force to bring you this story as proudly we hail the United States Army. Our story is entitled Winter Carnival. This is the story of the Army's expert snowmen, the rugged white-clad soldiers who train with skis and snowshoes, high up in the windswept bridges of the Colorado Rockies. Our first act curtain will rise in just a moment, at first. If you're a specialist, there's a wonderful job waiting for you in the United States Army. And if you're not a specialist, the Army will give you specialized training in a technical field. There are hundreds of jobs open and ready for you to enlist and take over, so check today at your nearest Army Recruiting Station. And now your Army and your Air Force presents the proudly we hail production, Winter Carnival. My name is Roger Martin. I'm what is known as a freelance feature writer. I go nosing around in out-of-the-way places looking for stories to write for different magazines and newspapers. I find some yarns and some pretty strange spots. And the one I'm going to tell you about now, I found in the middle of winter, high up on the windblasted ridges of the Colorado Rockies near the continental divide, I found it at a place called Camp Hale, which is the United States Army Mountain and Cold Weather Training Command Winter School. Next event, sled pulling races. I don't these guys ever get tired, Captain? Ski races, snowshoe races, noses. Oh, they're just getting warmed up. When did you see the obstacle race? That's a dilly. I'll bet. I didn't have any idea we had so many experts, snowmen in the Army. How long have these boys been at it? All their lives? Oh, no. Those men out there just finished our four-week training course. Four weeks? Oh, well, then they must have been all top-notch skiers in civilian life. That matter of fact, Mr. Martin, most of them had never been on skis before they came here. Some of them never even saw snow. You mean to tell me that... That's right. You see, that's why we wanted you fellas to come up to our carnival. Get an idea of the type of work we do here. In four weeks' time, one month, you can take a guy that's never seen snow and train him to hop around like an eskimo. Well, there's your proof. Hey, there they go. Even if I have to freeze to death doing it. It was very good of you, Colonel Sheller, to give me a little of your time. Always glad to talk to a writer, Mr. Martin. Sit down, won't you? Thank you. You know, I think I may have frozen the end of my nose off today, watching your men. I must admit, I was quite impressed. Well, I'm glad to hear it, even at the risk of the end of your nose. Uh, Colonel Captain Holt said that the men in those races today had only a month's training. That's right. Pretty remarkable to a layman like me. How do you do this? Well, it's a combination of things, but one of the most important are the men we have here who give the training. Most of our officers and non-coms are veterans of the 10th Mountain Division. 10th Mountain? Italy, the Apennines. That's right. We started the breakthrough into the Poe. I remember. And you say most of your men go back to that time? That's right. They like this life. Well, I have been thinking there might be a good story here. Not necessarily the carnival, but what goes on here? Oh, there's a story all right, but let me warn you, Mr. Martin, we're not glamour babies. Our job is not only to train men how to fight in these elements, but also to teach them how to transport men and supplies across mountains. And the men like it, huh? I guess so. Tomorrow's a holiday, but you'll see most of them out there doing just what they were doing today. Well, Colonel, I don't know how this will strike you, but I would kind of like to hang around after the carnival is over. Watch how you do things. Mr. Martin, what kind of shape are you in? Shape? Physically. Not bad for a desk driver. Why? What have you got in mind? When the carnival's over, we'll be starting a new class. We'll be training a group of reserve officers. You've got a month to spare. You mean I could tag along and take the training with them? As much or as little as you wanted. You know something, Colonel? You've got a new recruit. Well, what do you say, Hal? You sure that high altitude hasn't gone to your head? Maybe, but what about it? What does that mean to you? Your magazine doesn't depend on me, so you get a darn good story in a month. Yeah, if you can last. Well, I'll last. I just want to go ahead from you. Well, what about pictures? The army photographer here is as good as anybody you can send up. You see, it's really good. I wouldn't be wasting your money if it wasn't. Be just right for the March edition. Well, you had it. OK. Is it a deal? All right, Rover. Take care of yourself. You're no chicken. Oh. When you see me again, old Harold McWhirld, I'll be part snowball. Sergeant Ed Pascoe, the chief instructor whom I was debunked with, kitted me good-naturedly. But I could tell that he and the rest of the men were really pleased I had decided to hang around. I was too, until the first morning when Revely tore me from the land of nod in the cold gray dawn. And with chattering teeth and a sleep-fought mind, I fumbled my way into my new GI cold weather equipment and stumbled out for morning roll call. Later, I began to seriously wonder if I hadn't stuffed more snow in my mouth than I could possibly chew. Now, the main thing you men will learn in the month that come is what we call over-snow mobility. You'll learn it primarily through the use of skis and snowshoes. And if that's all you had to learn in four weeks, we wouldn't have too tough a job. But you also have to be taught bivouac routine, how to build improvised shelters, sledding, cold weather evacuation, map and compass navigation, winter tactics, use of the M29 cargo carrier, survival behind enemy lines, winter hygiene and first aid, cold weather care of weapons, and man packing. Now, is that enough or shall I go on? Right now, we'll break up into six-man teams and get started on a ski. Oh, yeah, I think all you mentioned, no, we got a spy in our midst. This is Mr. Martin. He's a writer getting a story the hard way. Which I have tentatively titled from man to snowman in six easy lessons. OK, let's get with it. Instructors, call off your men. That morning, with five others, Sergeant Pasco taught us the rudiments of care and waxing skis and how to mount the bindings. Before you can learn to ski, you've got to learn how to take care of your skis. They could mean your life. By the time Chow rolled around, I had a red nose, sore arms, and a monstrous appetite. I also had it in the back of my mind that it would be awfully nice to take a nap after lunch. How you making it, Rog? Oh, slowly, Tom, boys, slowly. I understand this afternoon we're going to put them on, start moving. Put what on? Oh, what we've been learning about all morning, skis, man. Might be nice to sit this one out. No, pass me the saw, will you, Tom? Yeah, sure. You know, we wondered how long you'd last. What do you mean? Just that. Some of the boys even took bets on it. Oh, not that we blame you or anything, but I thought that. I might last longer than the first morning. Yeah, I get that. Maybe the second or third day, huh? Well, don't get so, Rog. Listen, after all, there's no tea party, and you're not in the shape of wearing it. I'll tell you what. For every day I get through, you owe me a cigarette. Two cigarettes, one at noon, one at night, huh? All right, pay up. And we'll go find out what it's like to fall into a snow bank. All right, now we'll try it again. Just stay relaxed. Group, can check. Debonia skis. Fasten the binding. That's much better. Now you're going to start learning how to move over the snow. Now it's a simple matter of body coordination. A little stiff, Rog? Hey, why don't you just take me out and bury me? I never know the difference. Get yourself a good hot shower and hit the sack. In the morning, you'll feel like a new man. As I have so often heard it said, oh, my aching back. You're not doing bad, Rog. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Can any guy come into this igloo, or is it a private way? No, come in, boy. Join the happy throng. Oh, hi, Sergeant. Hi, Lieutenant. I came to give the boys ration. Well, light it, put it between my lips, and smoke it for me. Listen, you're doing fine. You got through a whole day. That's what I've been telling them. Here, thanks. I wouldn't lie there too long, Rog. You really get stiff if you don't get a good hot shower. Yeah, get yourself a shower. Put on your pretty new uniform. We'll go see a movie at the post theater. I'll take the shower, and if it's all the same to you, I'll just quietly lower myself into this ever-loving sack and pray for the longest night of the year. The next few days went by in a kind of blur. Much as I wanted to go on with this course, I didn't see how I could possibly take it. But whenever I'd reached the point of deciding it was time to bow out, Sergeant Pasco and Tom and the others would all be there to cheer me on Pick me up out of various and sundry snow drips. From learning how to move across level terrain on skis, we slowly took to the hills, the gentle ones at first. We learned how to snow plow down hills at the maneuver to slow your descent. More often than not, the point of my snow plow is my chin. Keep your heels pushed out. Heels out. Oh. You all right, Rush? I bet you never had a student as champion as a snowball as me. I know that there's more insulation in snow than wood. And I didn't either, till I learned how to build a snow hut. Ever try sleeping on balsam boughs? Sounds kind of uncomfortable, but it's not once you learn how. How about snowshoeing? Ever try that? Sounds easy. Looks easy. But it's not till you learn how. In the days that passed, it was amazing the number of things we learned how. And I, who hadn't been on skis since I was a kid, found myself moving along with the others through a winter wonderland, uphill and down, and not in too bad a fashion. Knock, knock, knock. Come in. Oh, Mr. Martin, come in, come in. Are you wanted to see me, Colonel? I did indeed. Sit down, sit down. Thank you. Well, for a minute, I hardly recognize you. You look like you've lost a little weight and taken on a bit of color. Colonel, I recommend your course to all fattening desk drivers. Really enjoying it, huh? Well, I didn't think I'd make it for the first few days. Your boys pulled me through. Now, they're good boys, aren't they? I've been a lot of places. I've never found any better. Was there some particular reason you wanted to see me, Colonel? No, just find out how you're doing. I can see you're doing fine. Think you've got a story here? I've got two stories, Colonel. Training is one. The men who give the training and the men who receive it, that's an even bigger one, even though they both go together. I think that's the story that's going to do a lot of folks a lot of good to read. You know, I'm glad you decided to stay on with us. If you're not careful, we might draft you. Can't draft a volunteer, Colonel. You planning to go out on the attack problem? I wouldn't miss it. The weather's been unusually good lately. I think you can look for a blizzard or two pretty quick. Kind of mean, I'll bet. Some people call a blue norther, blue hell. We'll see what you call it. You are listening to the proudly we hail production, Winter Carnival. We'll return in just a moment for the second act. Is there a doctor in the house? Your house? Well, I'm not looking for a medical man. I'm looking for a man who can doctor machines used by the United States Army. Machines that get out of commission and need repair. Machines like hospital and surgical equipment in the Army Medical Centers. Machines like electrical instruments that Army posts around the world. Office machines like telegraphs or typewriters in Army offices. Machines like the fire control instruments at Army camps. If you're a man with experience at repairing these vitally important machines, you'll find that your skills will be put to good use when you enlist in your United States Army. As a soldier expert in this field, you'll increase your technical knowledge and work with the most advanced scientific equipment. Ask for complete details today at your nearest United States Army Recruiting Station. You are listening to Proudly We Hail, and now we present the second act of Winter Carnival. The entire class moved out on skis from Camp Hail one bright, sharp morning. As Colonel Scheller had said, what we carried on our back we'd live on. Dressed in white coveralls from hood to boot, moving smoothly and steadily in twin columns, we blended nicely with the snow as we made our way toward the open mountainous slopes ahead. The problem was simple. Somewhere out there at a designated point, we'd come to a halt, we'd turn and we'd move back in on Camp Hail. Our job was to move in without being detected, to attack swiftly and successfully. Opposed to us were the very men who had been our teachers. We had three days in which to succeed or fail. The only man from Camp Hail with us was Sergeant Ed Pasco. He was the commander of our attack problem. All right, take flight. I think we're losing our nice day. Smells like a bit of snow, huh? Yeah, that should be good for us. How much farther out you figure we're going? Oh, probably over that next high ridge there, or the one beyond that. Oh, think of all the people sitting in offices right now. You think of them. I'm enjoying the scenery too much. All that day, we glided along the level, open stretches, herring boning our way up the hills and then swooping with that wonderful, fresh-born feeling you get on skis. In the afternoon, dirty gray rubbed all the blue out of the sky and brought along a bitter, gibbering wind with it. And shortly after we hollered at dusk, the wind brought the snow. Sergeant Pasco assembled the squad leaders in front of his lean-to, and I came along. All right, gather around. Pull that end of the map, Jack. OK, sir. Everybody see OK? Yeah. All right, now, this is how far we've come. Right here on the lip of this woodland. Now, here to the north is Longbelly Mountain. Our plan is to move along the valley below it with scouts up here on its flank. Now, if the weather clears, they'll be able to spot just about anything that moves way off here to the east. Sergeant, will the enemy have patrols out already? Yeah, naturally, there are no danger to us right now. But by tomorrow, they could well be anywhere. They'll be in radio communication with the camp. Now, once they spot us, we'll have a tough time shaking them. Now, if we move out in two hours, daylight should find us just below Longbelly. Then, even if it clears with scouts paralleling us along the mountain, we know they won't be able to spot more surprises till we reach this point here. As opposed to the snow keeps up. Well, if it doesn't get so bad we have to call a halt. It'll be to our advantage. There are the hunters. Slowly, heads lowered before the lash of the snow-blasting wind. In the thick, noisy darkness, it was all I could do to make out the white bobbing figure of the man just a ski length ahead of me. The snow and the cold get deeper as the night wore on. The stops became more frequent. And I wondered why Sergeant Pascoe didn't call a halt and let us hold up until the storm blew itself out. Three weeks before, I wouldn't have lasted 10 minutes. Now, although bone-weary and numb with cold, I knew I could go on with the rest. And the fact that I was a part of this thing with the men of this thing was fire enough to drive me on. Just before dawn, the snow began to give up. And we fell out to make coffee and get some warmth into our stomachs. Long night, Rush. I'm taking a little walk in my sleep. Oh, this stuff keeps the man alive. Here, have some. The snow's about to finish. Temperature's really going down. Oh, thanks. Well, where are we? What happens now? Another mile will be in the valley below Long Belly. Give you a real break there. Food in a couple hours' sleep. What about the scouts? Oh, they'll make it up someplace else. Two men up there, you'll be able to rest easy. I'll tell you something. I could rest easy on my head or hang it by my heels. Get all your can-rush. Might not get any more for a couple of days. That's a joyful thought. It took the best part of a great, dead cold day to traverse the valley below the lean, protective height of Long Belly Mountain. With scouts paralleling our courses on the ridges above, we knew we were safe from surprise. But now, having reached the end of this helpful terrain and definitely in the sweep of ranging patrols, we must use our knowledge not only to fight the brutal elements, but also to avoid the eyes of a forewarned adversary. It'll be dark in another hour. I want to be up on that ridgeline in those woods before moonrise. Moonrise, Sergeant. We won't see them overnight. Don't bet on it, Lieutenant. The wind's changed. If it doesn't change again, it'll be clear within two hours. I want a three-man patrol to push ahead and make sure that it's all clear up there. Suppose it's not? If it's not, the patrol will be captured and we'll know it. Now, come. The patrol will flash us a prearranged signal. It's all clear. Well, doesn't that have to be seen? Well, only by us. We'll be able to spot anyone coming up from the south or east. What happens if they do have men up there? We'll have to double back to these ridges here, then cut north and try and get around the flank before dawn. I want three men to go ahead on the double. If they spot you, you'll be on your own. But you won't be able to take our alternate route. You'll have to play decoy and lead them away from us. I always was a decoy at heart. Me, too. Look, how about me? I'm not officially one of you, but I'm glad to have you along, Rod. Good enough. You get some coffee and grub stowed away and then report back to me. I'll have the details for you. You've got 15 minutes to get ready. So the three of us, Tom, Jack, and myself, moved out in the growing dust and set a course for the high ridge looming ahead. Within five minutes, we felt very much alone. It's one thing to travel with a well-organized group of men through an icy wilderness and quite another when you're practically alone. As the evening flooded in and the ridge became a black irregular line across the darkening sky, I had the growing feeling that we were being watched. We'll take a breather. That's a mean slope ahead. We'd better keep our voices down. The night has 1,000 eyes. I have the feeling they're all up there watching us. Sergeant was right. Stars are out. Our moon gets up about midnight. We've got to be there in another hour. Let's hit it. Look what that slope. We'll be right out in the open. We can't go through the woods in the dark on these things. Take half the night. Why don't we try the snowshoes? It makes sense, Tom. You mean carry the skis? Why not? We're traveling light. I'll buy it. Well, let's get them on. Now, see if we're alone, huh? Yeah. Jack? Can't see any sign of life down there. Hard to tell, though, in the dark. They'd be waiting for us to make a move. You cover that area over there. Move up through those pines to the high ground. No sign. I guess we're alone. Well, time to flash that signal. Oh, gladly. And then we better keep a lookout on each side of the crest. Well, now what? Take a rest. Give the moon two hours. All clear then. We'll shoot down into the valley, get scouts up on the far ridge, and head into the deep woods. We'll hold up there for the day, get a good rest, and move out around nightfall, and hit them at dawn. Well, what's the matter? Quiet. What's up? We are. The outpost spotted an enemy column that found our trail moving up behind us. We're moving out on the double. We're not going to ski down this mountain, are we? You know any better way to get off it? But in the dark, we... The moon will help stop the jabber. Get ready to hit the trail. Anybody told me a month ago that one day I'd be skiing up and down mountains, I'd have told them to change their brand. Anybody told me I'd be doing it in the moonlight with the temperature at a nice even 20 below, I wouldn't even bother to answer. But that's what we did. Matter of fact, it was about the most exciting ride I've ever taken. Try it sometimes. Good for the soul. Well, once down the mountain, we forgot about the nice even valley and pushed on as fast as we could and the low wooded ridges on the far side of it. What do we do now, ambush them? Well, we just keep moving. Sergeant says the weather's going to turn stinko again. Snow. He must have a direct wire to the chief weathermaker. Well, what happens then? Maybe we give him the slip, maybe we don't. We can bet they've radioed the rest of their pals. We're probably being converged on from six different directions. All right, man, move out. Keep your interval and keep going. If the guys are fired on, wait my command. It was the snow that saved us. The loveliest blizzard of the season came roaring down out of the north and cut visibility down to a few feet. Once during the afternoon, one of their patrols went blundering past as we lay in a thin stand of pine. By all rights, we should have stopped moving and holed up till the storm blew itself out. But Sergeant Pascoe had other plans as we struggled along the lawn. Didn't I tell you I was meaning that we're there? Yep. What do you say if I get down and wake him up? You look like someone who's done a bit of skiing. I do? Why? Oh, you have that healthy outdoor look. Not like me sitting at the desk all day. Well, a month ago, you might not have thought so. You've been on a vacation up there? Vacation? Yeah, I guess you could call it that. Best one I've ever been on. Regular winter carnival. Well, that must have been fun. That's educational, too. You taught me a lot about some young fellas I met. Really? Who were they? Oh, some guys it's been pretty wonderful to know. They're helping to do a job. The biggest job in the world today. Biggest job in the world? What would that be? Well, since you asked me, Mr. I'd be glad to tell you. There are lots of things I could tell you about the United States Army, and they're all good reasons why you should enlist. But if you want to be really convinced, I suggest that you talk with a career soldier. Now, there's a man who's making a lifetime job of it, and he already knows that he's got a job that just can't be beat. But if there aren't any career soldiers around your particular community, why the next best thing to do is to visit your nearest United States Army Recruiting Station. They'll be glad to show you all the opportunities waiting for you when you enlist in the Army. Yes, your investment in the future of your country will start paying dividends right away, and the sooner you're in, why the sooner you benefit. This 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 for the United States Army and United States Air Force Recruiting Service. This is Mark Hamilton speaking, inviting you to tune in this same station next week for another interesting story on Proudly We Hail.