 The Cavalcade of America sponsored by Dupont, maker of Better Things for Better Living through chemistry, presents John Hall in Soldiers in High Boots. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is the Cavalcade of America sponsored by Dupont. Tonight we present John Hall as the star of a new radio play, Soldiers in High Boots, written by Peter Lyon, especially for Cavalcade. Our play tonight is based on exploits of the paratroopers, daredevils of the infantry. Later in the program, you will hear Cavalcade's special guest, Captain John T. Berry of the 508th Parachute Infantry, who will speak from Washington. Starring John Hall as Private Jefferson Smith, we present Soldiers in High Boots on the Cavalcade of America. Come on, jump soldier. I can't, sir. What's your name, Smith? Okay, get back out of the way. Back in the cabin there. Okay, thanks. Keep coming there. Private Smith, sir, Company D. Doctor, there's something I wanted to ask you. Yes, ask away. Well, sir, I thought you being a doctor. Yes. Well, I think I can guess what's on your mind, Smith. You failed to jump from the plane this morning. That it? Has the Jumpmaster reported that to you already? I don't even know who your Jumpmaster was, soldier. But I get visits like yours at least once a week. Well, then can you tell me what's wrong with me, doctor? And what to do about it? Well, I can tell you what's wrong with you. All right, but as for the cure. Well, that's another matter. Yeah, but all the guys in my company, they've got me tagged as yellow. And I'm willing to take any one of them on to prove otherwise. Well, you wouldn't prove anything that way, Smith. No, I guess not. Well, then why don't I jump like the others? Acrophobia. It's a Greek word. It means fear of high places. Acrophobia? Probably something in your childhood caused it. You were frightened by some high place or other. A psychoanalyst could take care of it if it needs to be taken care of. Yeah, but the guys in my company, they think I'm scared. There's nothing to be ashamed of, soldier. It doesn't mean you're a coward. But why do I freeze up just when I'm supposed to jump? You act as though you were the only man who ever froze up on a parachute jump. Don't worry so much about it. Matter of fact, I'm the same way. You couldn't get me to jump out of one of those planes. Yeah, but look, if I don't jump this afternoon, I'm out of the paratroops. Then make your jump. He'll geronimo the way the others boys do. And don't worry about it. That's the worst thing you can do. Worry. If you start getting worried about fear, you'll bump into another long Greek word, phobophobia. What's that? Fear of being afraid. That's really a nasty one. Steer clear of that one. Now go on. Make your jump. You'll be okay. Hey, farmer, how much longer we got before the afternoon jump? We only get started pretty soon, Takes. We're supposed to go up around a quarter after. Hey, Mac, if you got to play that thing, play something cheerful. I say, who'll take a bet on Smitty? Smitty? What about him? Oh, you know. He went up on the second flight this morning and he wouldn't make his jump. Hey, he froze up like an icicle. Takes, when you're up 5,000 feet and you got to jump, you got a right to be scared. Yeah. If you say you're not scared yourself, Texas, you're just a plain lion. So who'll take a bet on whether he jumps this afternoon? Well, if he don't jump this afternoon, they'll jump him right back into the infantry. Two times an out. That's what Colonel told us. Don't worry, boys. He'll jump all right. Oh, so I have no takers, huh? I'm surrounded by citizens who have no sporting instinct. All close students of the dollar. Hey, shut up, will you? Here he comes now. Yeah, he must be going up again, all right. He's got a shoot. All right, come on. We better hurry. Oh, it's my misfortune to have in my platoon. Nobody but citizens who figure that anything involving humans is 6 to 5 against. Well, that's us. Free ticket for everybody, all the way up and all the way down again. Well, boys, after this trip, we'll all be paratroopers. Hope-a-hope-a-hope. Hi, Smitty. Hi, Farron. Missed your char, you feeling okay? Yeah, I'm okay. Why not? Well, the way you usually tie on the old feedback, I was just wondering. What are you thinking about this morning, eh? I know what's on your mind. You figured you'd come over and talk with me, keep my mind off this morning. Well, listen, Farmer, get back with your pals or start thinking about your farm back in Iowa. I'm okay. Sure, kid, sure. Never mind me, and I don't want to talk. Okay, Smitty, happy to you. I tell you, I do so remember something about a sparrow. It's in the Bible. Oh, it's a funny thing. What's funny? Well, on the ground, that big lug is all gut. Getting him up here a few thousand feet, and he tries to remember stuff out of the pot. Oh, that's right. That's it. A sparrow falls anywhere in the world, and God knows about it, and can put out his hand to keep it from palm. You know, Farmer, I'm not scared to jump. I got it all reasoned out, but I looked down. I know. I get sick. I don't get scared, I get sick. Oh, sure, that happens to a lot of guys. As soon as I hear the jumpmaster give the order, then I freeze up. Oh, you'll get over that. You get so you like it after a while. All right, you guys, everybody stand up. Fix your ripcords, the guy line. Remember the sparrows. No talking in the ranks there. Now, when I give the order to jump, I want you guys to start jumping. I want all 18 of you out of this plane and start at 10 seconds. That means no delays from any of you. Any guy who hesitates, I'll pull them right back out of the way. Open exit door. Farmer, I'm right back here, kid. Okay, sir! Geron! Geron! Don't move forward, Smitty, never stop, see? My hands. My hands, Farmer. See me, shaken kid? What, 15, 16, 17, 17. Go ahead, soldier. I don't think I can, sir. Go on, Smitty. All right, step back out of the way. No, no, no, I'm going. Geron! Not all I've got to say, men. Those of you who took the second jump yesterday completed your training. You're now full-fledged paratroopers. Now, one more thing. As of this moment, all leaves and liberties are canceled. Report to your quarters and prepare for immediate embarkation. Full field equipment. You have exactly one hour. I'd like to tell you where you're going. But unfortunately, I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine. Anyway, you're a fine bunch of paratroopers, and wherever you go, I know you'll do a good job. Now, good luck and good hunting. Company dismissed. Well, Smitty, oh boy, we-we do did it. Yeah, we're in, Farmer. Oh, and look, fella, thanks for yesterday. Oh, don't thank me, Smitty. Nobody pushed you. Hey, gentlemen, I have a little sporting proposition. Five will get you 10 now. Hey, Texas, Texas, come over and get in on this. Oh, you got another sure proposition for us to bet on, Mac? What's the bet? Well, now, first, let me ask you a question. Where do you think the High Command has decided to use- utilize our talents, huh? Well, I got a hunch we're going to be heading across that blue Pacific. How about you, Farmer, what do you say? Well, I got different hope. Understand there's going to be a little excitement up around Alaska. Considering the way they've been training us, I think it's going to be Iceland. Okay, boys, it's a bet. Now, I'll tell you, gentlemen, where we're going. Africa. Son of Africa. Yes, sir. Africa where the sun always shines. Gene, is that all it does in England? Rain? Hey, Smitty, you got another cigarette? Sure, here you are, Farmer. Look at that rain. Too wet even to go down to the pub for a beer. Who's got the dice? Oh, relax, Texas. I bet it's not raining down in Africa anyway. Yeah, Africa. I thought we were heading straight for Africa, Mack. We've been in England two months. Oh, boy. I wonder how our old outfit's doing. You know, what I wonder is why we didn't get to go to Africa. Well, they got their reasons why we didn't go south, Farmer. Yeah, such as which. Well, I'd rather not say. What do you mean by that, Texas? Oh, no hard feeling, Smitty, but you're the guy who went chicken on a jump once. Figures on your record. Texas. Why don't you keep your yap shut, Texas? Now, listen, Mack, you and the farmer both agreed that maybe Smitty was the reason we didn't get to go. Still got that on your mind, eh, Texas? He can call it a mine. Well, what about it, Smitty? You sure you wouldn't freeze up again? Cut it out, Texas. They aren't keeping all of us here just because of Smitty. You said not all of us, Farmer. You mean you figure that's why I'm here? Well, Smitty, it probably is on your record that you didn't jump once, but... Well, if that's the case, they wouldn't, wouldn't they throw me out of the pear troops? Well, that's reasonable. Ah, the trouble with you guys, you got nothing better to do than sit around and dream up peace for why we haven't seen any action. Did you ever stop to wonder why there was so anxious to teach us how to ski? Well, we weren't the only guys they trained to ski, Smitty. I'm not saying we were. But the four of us, we're all supposed to be pretty hard at skiing. So long as we're all figuring out why we didn't go to Africa, I'll make my bet is because they're going to send us in the other direction. Gosh, Smitty, you really think so? Well, how do you figure it? Oh, fine. Now we're the second front. Hey, Mama! No way, eh? That's cold country. I'll get a hot. We aren't in no way yet. It's just one way of looking at it. Hey, Vincent! Private Smith? Yes, sir. Carter? Yes, sir. McElroy? Yes, sir. Ramsay? Yes, sir. You're all to report to the CO at once. Never mind sprucing up. He wants you there in a hurry. Is this? Does this mean maybe we... The CO will tell you. Get going. It is, man. I want you to know Captain Olaf. That's his first name. Never mind about his last name. Oh, and he's not a man, Colonel? These are the men. I'm glad to see all of you. Thank you, sir. Hello. All right. This is one of our allies. I'm going to turn you over to his command. That is, if you're willing. What? We don't understand, sir. I said, if you're willing, because I want to make clear to you all that if you're transferred to Captain Olaf's command, it is on a voluntary basis. Let me outline what is on our minds. We're asking for volunteers among the men who are trained as paris ski troopers. The mission is extremely dangerous. Maybe a little six to five against? Possibly. But in any event, the objective is the destruction of certain key military installations on the continent. Norway, the second front. Second front? I don't know anything about the second front. And it's not your province to guess about it, nor mine. Maybe a certain country will be the scene of an invasion. If so, then your chances of coming back from this mission with a whole skim are somewhat enhanced. If not, your chances are, well, slim. Either way you look at it, they are not very good. You know enough to make your decision now. You want a little time to decide. Count me in, sir. Me too, sir. I'm in this, sir. Smith? Huh? Oh, count me in, sir. Supply Sergeant will issue you special equipment at once. You'll have one hour to write letters or whatever you want to do. That's all. Well, this is a good feeling. When will we be able to see something, Captain? Some land, I mean. Oh, is there much visibility? It should be. We've left all the rain down in England. Well, then we should see some land pretty soon if we are not too high up. Hey. Hey, look at that sky over there. Oh, yeah? Well, where do you mean, Smitty? There. There, over there. Oh, yes. Hey, look at that. I will ask the navigator. Hey, that must be some bonfire, huh? Could that be Berlin? Berlin's pretty far away, isn't it? I don't know what it is, but it's sure burning. It's Hamburg. All pilots finished their raid there about half an hour ago. Hope we can do as good a job where we're going. You are listening to John Hall as Smitty in Soldiers in High Boots. A new radio play on the Cavalcade of America sponsored by Dupont. As our play continues, Smitty, the farmer, Mack, and Texas together with Captain Olaf have set out on their first mission as Paraskee troopers. A fast army plane is speeding them toward continental Europe to a destination known only to Captain Olaf. As the plane drones through the night, the four men wait impatiently for the order that will let them see action at last. Shake your safety belts, man. What's the matter, Captain? Nothing, I hope. The pilot just called me to say he saw some ship stone below. We're hoping they're not Nazis. What if they are? Well, then we'd have a committee to welcome us as we float down, perhaps. I suppose we ought to be glad we're up in these clouds. And I'm glad. Yeah, only I'd like to get a look at the country. Listen, you wouldn't be able to see much. It's just beginning to get light. Where's Olaf? I've been having a little shut-eye. No, he's up with a navigator. Telling him where to go, I guess. Cold. It's cold up here. Who's got a cigarette? Hold on, everybody. Get ready. We jump in a few minutes. Jump? Into those clouds? Well, we go down to 2,000 feet first. You should be glad of those clouds, my friend. Yes, I am, but... But what? Nothing, sir. Nothing. Come on, let's check the supply chutes. No. When you land, you go straight to the supply chutes, yeah? And I will give the orders at that time. Any second now. You all check your chutes? Yes, sir. Ready, Captain Olaf? For the 2,000 we've done for an hour. Right. Thank you. Not a bit. Good luck. And good hunting. Thanks again. Open exit door. One, two, three, four in that order. I shall go last. Your order is to jump. That means you're first, Smitty. I have a way, kid. No. No, you go first. I'll jump after you. Please, you must hurry. Go ahead, Smitty. Hi. Form. My hands. Come after me, Smitty. Geron! Sorry, Captain. This happened before we sniffed. Geron! Here I go. Geron! I'm all right now. Geron! Goodbye, Captain Olaf. See you again, Lieutenant. Thanks! To business. The power station is that way. About four and a half miles. I know all the trails through here. Now, you will follow me. You all have your assignments, huh? I think we're... Oh, one thing. Smitty. Yes, sir? You had to carry a share of the explosives and guard the side entrance to the power plant while Mack attended to setting his fuses, right? That's right. Yes. No. You will divide your share of the explosives among us. And it takes us... Yeah. You will take over the task of guarding the entrance. That will leave the rear entrance unguarded till after I can return from the basement. But we'll have to take that chance. It's arranged now. But... But where am I going to... Sorry, Smitty, those are orders. That's all for now. You mean... I have no orders? That's right. Don't worry too much, soldier. Adjust it first. Perhaps it would be well if you stayed right at my hand all the time, huh? Until I tell you. All right, come on now. We've got to hurry. The Nazis changed their guard at the power plant in less than an hour. There we are now. Quickly. Fuse number one. Check. Right. It is set. Fuse number two. Anything I can do to help? No, no, no, thanks. Check. Right. It is set. Fuse number three. Check. Right. Believe me, sir. I'm not a fan of confusedness, no? I hope Mark is having an easier time with history charges I have with mine. No. And I look around the two centuries. Deton on moans. Do you want me to get over to the rear entrance, sir? I still have my submachine gun. No need to, I still think. Just imagine what this will do to the Nazis, Smitty. And hydroelectric plants are applying energy for every mine, every mill, every plant, for the whole area. It's a good night's work. All right. All is well. We are precisely six minutes to get out of the way of the explosion. Come along now. I hope so, sir. You won't think I... Good. There's your friend, Texas. I will pick up Mark and the farmer. Quick, don't. Everything okay, my new captain? Yes, sir. What was that shot I heard? I don't know. Where are the others? They were right behind me. There they are. What's the matter? They're running. Mark, he's hurt. Must have missed one of the centuries. Nick, Mark and the leg. I'm okay. But we've got to get going out of here. I'll make it five minutes to the whole mountain. I guess we're on the part. Did anybody hear your shot? What about a Nazi cent? He beat it. Come on. We better do the same. Dirty shame and after such a good beginning, too. I think I can see where they've set up the machine gun, sir. How about I try to work around the side... Hey, one walk, Texas. They shoot you before you get ten steps. Hey, where's Smitty? Well, he's right with me. Where is he? Huh? I was hoping I was wrong about that guy. I never saw him at all. We've got to get out of here. We must make a move. We can't just sit here behind this escarpment, waiting for an explosion. Less than three minutes to go, sir. Oh, what are those dogs up to now? Oh, they're just taking pot shots, I think. No, sir, they're not. They're shooting at... It's Smitty. Huh? Where? See? He's going along down by that big pipe. He's got grenades with him. See him? Bulldairy. See? Get down, you fool. Get down. Look out, Smitty. Oh, he can't make it. He can. He's just got that ten yards to go in the clear, and then he can really toss that grenade. Oh, Smitty. You know how to make his break in just a second, no? There he goes. Run, Smitty! Run! They caught him. No. No, he's not down. Look. He's still got the grenade. One, two, three, throw it! He doesn't dare hurt him. Throw it back at him. There. Come on, everybody. Get to him as fast as you can. Come on. I dug down your eyes. Keep your heads low. I don't like this. I'll read. Yeah. Dave. Old and Nancy's stage. Smitty. Smitty, you all right? He's still alive. Here, here, help me. Come on, Smitty, oh boy. Smitty. Don't be dope, you guys. You gotta get away from here. For the place blows up. No, don't try to talk, kid. Here, Texas, you take his legs. Careful. No. No. Get out of here. Do you hear me? You can't do anything for me now. We ain't got much time left, Captain. Get out of here, all you guys. You haven't got time to carry me. He's right. I'm sorry I went chicken on the jump, guys. Will you shake my head, Smitty? Thanks. Come on. We gotta go. Trudeau Streets and down the hill. So long, Smitty. So long, Farmer. Remember the sparrow. Thank you, John Hall. A little later in the program, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Hall will return to the microphone to introduce our special guest, Captain John T. Berry. Meanwhile, here is Gain Whitman with a story of chemistry at work in war. Tonight, we bring you a story of chemistry on the home front. But the story begins, as most stories do these days, with chemistry and speeding a job for the army. They've just finished painting the inside of a big new bomber plant in Ohio. You can get some idea of how big it is from the fact that the job took over 20,000 gallons of paint. But there's another fact that's more interesting than that. The paint was applied at the rate of 800 or 900 gallons a day. That's fast. Wartime paint jobs call for speed. One of the things that make great painting speed possible is a new kind of paint, resin oil emulsion paint. DuPont Speed Easy resin oil emulsion paint was tested against two competitive paints at the bomber plant in Ohio. Speed Easy was selected. This new wall finish does the job in fewer coats and dries more rapidly than old-style paints. It gives excellent light reflection. Because Speed Easy was formulated originally for use in the home as a one-coat finish for wallpaper and other interior walls, we think you'd like to know what it is and how it works. Everybody knows the old saying that oil and water won't mix. DuPont Speed Easy disproves that saying because while you mix Speed Easy with water, what stays on your walls after the water dries is an oil paint. The secret of this wartime paint development is what chemists call a homogenizing agent. I'll explain. Paint pigments, the compounds that give paint its colors, are usually ground in oil. The oil encloses each pigment particle in a coating. The ordinary paint that you put on your wall is a mixture of pigment and oil. With Speed Easy the pigments are ground in oil and then a homogenizing agent is added which makes oil and water mix. The water evaporates. The pigment in its resin oil binder is left on your wall. The cold water tap in your kitchen is the only thinner you need. And every gallon of this DuPont wall finish gives you a gallon and a half of ready to use paint. Enough for an average room. What's more, DuPont Speed Easy covers most surfaces in one coat. Even over-figured wallpaper are discolored plaster walls. You can paint over practically any interior wall surface. Wallpaper, painted and unpainted plaster walls, brick, cement or building tile. In less than an hour, Speed Easy is dry. Paint your walls in the morning and by afternoon your furniture, draperies and pictures can be put back in place. Another advantage is that Speed Easy's flat smooth finish can be kept clean with just soap and water. So interested is the government in encouraging people to protect America's $80 billion property investment that it wants people to make necessary improvements such as plumbing repairs, roofing and painting, repairs that will keep your property in good condition. Not only from the standpoint that this may be a long war, but from the standpoint of common sense. But because America is a land of homes, we don't think of our houses as a mere roof over our heads. We think of them as homes. And we want them to be well-kept homes for reasons of efficiency and cheerful homes for reasons of morale. A product of chemical science, this new wall finish deserves a place among the many. DuPont, better things for better living through chemistry. And now the star of tonight's cavalcade, John Hall. In presenting tonight's cavalcade, DuPont not only salutes on a heroic branch of the Army, but also those brave men who gave their lives. In Washington tonight is one who suffered wounds. He is Captain John T. Berry of the Airborne Command, which invaded Africa. Captain Berry brings us a firsthand report of the largest flight by air ever made by paratroopers and the action which followed. It is my privilege to introduce Captain Berry. Come in, Washington. The paratrooper spearhead the African operation with our objective, the capture of a strategic airfield in Algeria. Our first landing was relatively uneventful. The airport was already in friendly hands, but we were immediately set on another mission and were attacked in flight by enemy fighter planes. We suffered our first casualties in this operation. One week later, we were on our way to Tunisia and jumped out to occupy another air drone, which is now used by our air force as an advanced base of operations. On December 1st, our unit fought along with other infantry units that fired past and captured the past in two days, taking the number of German and Italian prisoners. In this report, I have been able to outline only briefly the operation of the first American paratroopers in North Africa. What our men did then will be fully recorded by history. What I will remember longest, however, will not be the military achievement of these paratroopers, but the courage and determination of the men who fought these battles. As I said to Count McCall, North Carolina will be dedicated in honor of Private John T. McCall, one of the first paratroopers to die in the African action. The memory of this hard-fighting, freckle-faced American voice serves as an inspiration to all of us in the airborne command. Count McCall is the first training center established by the Army to be devoted exclusively for the training of airborne troops. The paratroopers who are carrying on in Africa and those who were following increasing numbers from Count McCall to combat airs throughout the world are determined to a fancy death of Private McCall and you can be sure they will. Thank you, Captain Berry. Ladies and gentlemen, you have just heard Captain John T. Berry, cavalcade's special guest for this evening who spoke to you from Washington. They flew the Atlantic in a bomber. They were attacked in the air and on land, but like real troopers, they carried on, performing day and night for the men of our armed forces. You've read about them in the headlines of K-Francis, Martha Ray and Mitzi Mayfair, three Hollywood stars who will appear on cavalcade next week in a salute to the entertainment world, Soldiers in Grease Paint. Be with us again next week when cavalcade presents K-Francis, Martha Ray and Mitzi Mayfair in Soldiers in Grease Paint, a true account of free girls who risk their lives many times to entertain our men on the fighting fronts. Cavalcade is pleased to advise its listeners that John Hall is currently starring in the universal Technicolor success, White Savage. The musical score of tonight's program was composed and directed by Robert Armbruster. This is John Easton sending best wishes from cavalcade's sponsor, the DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware. The program came to you from Hollywood in Washington, DC. This is the National Broadcasting Company.