 proudly we hail from 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 Army Nurse Corps our story is entitled the gals from dog patch this is the story of Captain Phyllis the Army Nurse Corps and the members of the first mobile Army Surgical Hospital to reach Korea after the outbreak of fighting our first act curtain will rise in just a moment but first with the rapid expansion of the United States Army more nurses are needed if you are a registered nurse volunteer for service with the Army Nurse Corps there are assignments in this country and overseas only qualified graduate nurses can fill them write the Surgeon General United States Army Washington 25 DC do it now and now your Army and your Air Force present the proudly we hail production the gals from dog patch they call them the gals from dog patch with the American G eyes ability to cover something serious with a cloak of humor but these gals were not for many such imaginary places they were from such real towns as Galveston and Glen Falls Traverse City and to come carry they were also from the Army Nurse Corps members of the first mobile Army Surgical Hospital to reach Korea this story about the first 12 Army nurses to reach the Korean front after hostilities began starts in Tokyo Captain Ori Gregory and Lieutenant Mary Lou Metzger stationed at the 155th Hospital had spent their day off picnicking on their way back to the base the radio and Captain Gregory's car set the girls to thank you you get to spend April in Paris if you call two weeks April I did one I didn't get to go overseas the war ended a month after I joined well you're overseas now Mary Lou and believe me the chestnuts in blossom in Paris are nothing compared to the cherry trees in football here in Tokyo and I suppose the war was pretty awful you just pray they'll never be enough honestly how someone like you ever happened to take up a realistic career like nursing beats me but how you happen to turn out to be such a good nurse is even more bad why if I didn't know so well I would interrupt this program to bring you a special news bulletin the United Press reports from Seoul that North Korean communist troops have crossed the 38th parallel and have engaged the South Korean I'll repeat that the United Press reports from Seoul that North Korean communist troops have crossed the 38th parallel and engaged the South Korean stay tuned to this station for further bulletin that means war doesn't it if it's true we'd better beat it back to the hospital and find out what's really happening anything here at the hospital about it I think it's only a rumor when my commanding officer orders me to organize the nursing surface of an MASH hospital and be ready to leave for Korea in 24 hours it's no rumor you're to be chief nurse Phyllis yes heaven help me taking any volunteers I need 11 or you only need 10 now count me in thanks may I go to take her she's got the stamina of a plow horse I don't think that's much of a compliment it is to me lieutenant Medzger now you two get ready to leave at 05 30 tomorrow I've got to start lining up equipment and we can help let us know bye Captain let's see we need to sterilize okay sounds just like we're going on a girl scout hike back home we seem to have everything Mary Lou you don't have to go nobody will blame you if you change your mind sure I'm going this isn't a girl scout hike and I know they're gonna need notice we're strong as as plow horses like me Mary Lou you're a good gal now tell you what let's go to the wisteria gardens again and take pictures to send home this time we'll wear our fanciest dad this may be the last chance we had to dress up for five months I'll wear my new red suit I'll wear my white organza but Mary Lou yeah this time don't forget the camera gardens are so lovely and peaceful you can hardly believe there's any fighting anywhere in the world just look at all this wisteria man we've got a little bitty vine climbing up the veranda at home but not like this give me the camera I'll snap you so you can send your folks a picture of you under a whole arbor of it okay I bet you thought I'd forget the camera again you wouldn't have dared move that way a little more there maybe I better take another though adjusting Mary Lou what's wrong Laurie you remembered the camera but you forgot to put in any film my how could have been so crazy excuse me ladies I couldn't help overhearing what you said won't you use my camera that's my sweet of you Lieutenant always glad to help a lady in distress especially pretty ones thank you here Mary Lou watch the birdie your girl's gonna be in Tokyo long no we're leaving in the morning well you give me your name and dress I'll be glad to mail you the print negative of that oh you stationed here permanently yes yes I'm in finance here's my name and where to send the picture Lieutenant 155th hospital yes we're army nurse corps I thought you were tourists oh hey look at the time Mary Lou we've got to get back oh won't you let me buy you girls a soda we'd love to but we'll have to take a rain check it's a date when five months five month hmm to the day we're leaving in the morning for a tour of duty in Korea well good luck but it's still a date your attention please girls orders are to set up the hospital in this abandoned schoolhouse and be ready to receive patients in 24 hours our equipment and cleaning supplies haven't arrived but this building must be cleaned up you can see how filthy it is how this is to be done I leave to your ingenuity use plenty of disinfectant and DDT every crack and crevice captain Gregory yes captain you're in charge of the cleaning detail Lieutenant Hardy get another detail and keep them supplied with water oh it's easy or easy to make a broom sure we cut off some branches in those bushes and time together with strength oh what do we use for handles three branches silly well now how in heck did you figure that out I learned it in the girl scouts Mary Lou you are a constant surprise to me rooms are working very well indeed well thank heaven some of the equipment's arriving we'll be ready in time the operating rooms all set up in the other room we have no bed so make up the litters on the floor here two sheets to each one two clean sheets will do more for the boys morale than anything else now when this is done give the man a hand and getting your tents up and don't forget mosquito netting each of you take a little brother can I sleep I thought we'd never get his tent up and all that wind I don't understand it or it was never this hard when I was a girl scout it turned that flashlight over this way while I take a cold shower in my helmet isn't it awful now the school is clean and we're not personally I think we just stood outside in the rain we'd have a Mary Lou what is it me the flashlight you use my helmet Mary Lou he just come to welcome us to our new home those Korean mosquitoes are more like heavy bombers oh quick let's hide behind a cloud of mosquito netting before they get us in their sights flashlight so I won't attract another squadron okay I'm worried about tomorrow go to sleep if you could come through the day and still fresh as a daisy you'll be all right tomorrow no no I mean do you think it'll be pretty awful well managed somehow yeah but do you think there'll be lots of patients we're likely to be plenty busy it's what's so awful there are so few of us I know we always need more nurses yes major brand already better have one of your nurses give him plasma before we take him to the operating room yes sir how do things look pretty bad I'm afraid the enemy still has the offensive well we're ready receiving ward five operating table ward for critical cases our setup is crude no running water of course but my nurses are the best that's the most important thing captain I'll carry that man in here please man what's the diagnosis major brand have domino wounds machine gun fire what do you order sir he's just had a shot of penicillin and one of sodium amatol get them 500 cc's of whole blood and prepare him for surgery yes sir Lieutenant Metzger prepare this man for surgery as soon as you can after administering transfusion you're gonna be all right no don't try to open your eyes and just taking off your temporary bandage be as gentle as I can you're the prettiest medic I ever saw just keep your eyes closed in my eyes can't close my eyes too glad to see you mighty glad you can't see get some sleep I had some sleep yesterday two hours how much did you get that's beside the point I thought so I bet you haven't had two hours sleep in the whole two weeks here new tenant hips went to sleep standing up a while ago I don't want that to happen anymore now get some rest is that a direct order kept not if you're sure you can carry on thank you fellas I can't there were only a dozen more anesthetists and nurses doctors that reminds me I've got to see major brand right away well I hope he makes you get some sleep just came in major he's pretty badly hit I'm afraid all right I'll take a look at him let's go such a sad case little 14-year-old Korean boy helped bring him in they got caught in some machine gun fire and now the boys wanted to get a young major let's see fracture of a female and a treading wounds and we will sound we will and doc I was on reconnaissance where they got me they got three divisions back up there bearing down this way we only got one if they break through thanks captain we'll be prepared oh captain we're going to evacuate the hospital yes that's bad is it right so looks like a major break through then you don't think our boys can I think they can but it's a question of time though now we'll be ready to move that must have been the railroad bridge we had a dynamic just in case dynamite it but major if the bridge is out the train can't get through if it doesn't come how can we transfer our patients to a point of safety I'll turn that problem over to the CEO you'll get a train here if he has to build one we just have to trust in some miracle we'll start getting the patients ready for transfer to the loading platform captain Gregory take only such personal belongings as you can carry by hand where's the tenant Metzger send a tenant fibs here right away you are listening to the proudly we hail production the gals from dog patch our story will continue in just a moment after this important message here's a message to young women with college degrees in physical education or the biological sciences you may be eligible for a commission as a physical therapist in the women's medical specialist corps receive all the benefits of a second lieutenant while you attend the army special physical therapy course right the surgeon general department of the army Washington 25 DC you are listening to proudly we hail now we present the second act of the gals from dog patch now it was the courage of desperation ready to drop in their tracks captain Laconte and 11 bone tired army nurses work feverishly to dismantle a hospital and transfer the patients to the landing platform where they hope the commanding officer would send a train to move the hospital back to safety but not daring to use a light of any kind they work by the glare of bursting shells captain Laconte was supervising from the landing bring that man right over here please where is that train ever come that's the last patient captain oh good everything in order plaza bottles and everything saying Carol thank you we're all ready to move us yes soldier what is it we're getting out of here I'm gonna get us there now it's all right we have plenty of time train will be here in a moment a train isn't any train why don't you tell us the truth corporal I am telling the truth train will come sorry do you really think I'm gonna find a train I know what she can manage anything on earth are you doing from the light of those shells sure now don't tell me you learned that in the girls now major friends you've got to do something we've got to move these boys yes I know I know train should have been here long ago but maybe didn't get across the river isn't there some other way I've got three jeeps but that's not enough to move all those men no well we could get them on to that boxcar on the siding if only we had a way to move the boxcar I wish I knew a magic you then you could turn three jeeps into one locomotive oh you're wasting time what did you say captain I said then you could turn three jeeps into one locomotive I misunderstood but I've just had an idea you couldn't mean to hitch the jeeps to the boxcar instead of an engine why not to in tandem could certainly pull that great car down the track with a couple of tow chains I will have that boxcar pulled over to the landing platform and the patience safety behind the lines of no time captain Blake bring your driver here I've just had a great idea I was a miracle we got the patience out and settled back here without losing a single one the only casualty of the trip with our clothes thanks Evan oh hey I'm plumb out of soap powder doesn't matter this is our last sheet I swan Ori I rubbed my fingers off to the second joint on this washboard I never realized before that the automatic laundry was the most important part of the hospital now for a bath and some clean clothes borrowed but clean one good thing about moving we got fresh bath water for our helmets what size shirt did you get married 17 and a half wow the shoulder seems hang down to your elbows judging by these garments they lend us all soldiers are built like Superman well we can reef in the trousers with a belt and roll up our sleeves and pant legs but what are we gonna do about these shoes no this pair I drew with the smallest they had and they look big enough for Goliath look at we'll fall over the patience with these things on providing we find a way to keep them on hey I know what let's do you get three pair of those heavy wool socks didn't you yeah well maybe if we put on all three pair at once it'll help the shoes to fit we've got to try it we're on duty in ten minutes man funny and what there's nurses in the bar a GI clothes well they weren't made to fit the female of the species especially the shoes with those tapes hanging at the back and all of five sizes too big you know those girls look like a bunch of gals from dog fat gals with dog fat look look at that one coming I hope she didn't hear us doctor hey doc not doctor on the nurse but may I help you my nurse I heard your footsteps it sounded like I know we love that close when we moved here and we're wearing government issue I overheard a couple of boys calling us nurses the gals from dog patch now do you get the picture yeah thanks I wish I could see in those cloud uppers shoes don't worry you will pretty soon now what can I do for you soldier I wondered if you'd write a letter to my mother for of course I know you're busy not too busy to write your mother and you'll mail it right away of course it's terribly important you see I know she'll get a letter from the adjutant general I'd rather she heard it from me first heard what from me then I'm blind how do you know you are can't you see these bandages over my eyes certainly but that doesn't prove anything yeah let me take a look at your job oh stop stop all that just write the letter won't you look for this it won't be necessary and it would be pretty hard for your mother to get a letter like this from you with there was no need for it what do you mean I just don't want her to hear it from the army first private Vosburg according to your record you've been badly wounded with involvement of the eyes but you're due to be flown out of here in a couple of hours to a hospital in Tokyo where there's every reason to believe that expert surgery will save your sight why not write the letter after that and the army won't write mom till after that no well if you're sure I'm certain of it now now don't you worry about a reminder there's a tremendous risk of both you and your patients being clobbered between here in the asterisk you hear that heavy barrage of artillery going on the calculated risk major but assuming you got through there aren't any air force nurses available to care for patients on the plane they're all out on scheduled evacuation missions then I'll fly with them but captain we can't run this hospital without you you'll manage these patients need complicated surgery as soon as possible delay would be tragic I'll be back in 24 hours see you tomorrow major clear boys we're circling the field now Captain LaCona yes private Vosburg I'm scared oh but you're doing beautifully I couldn't manage without your optimism and good humor to help me keep the other patients going I was just whistling in the dark what am I saying I'll always be in the dark from now on you're going to see again I know it I'm gonna be right with you until after the operation so I can say I first operation doctor successful captain LaCona the boy will recover inside I knew it but if the operation had been delayed another two hours you're doing a wonderful job you got some dog patch what thank you pardon captain it's left out and so right but how did you know they called us that news travels with the speed of light in the army good news that is have you heard how things are going in our sector now I haven't oh the news isn't good I'm afraid I've got to get right back give my best to private but Captain LaCona you haven't had me sleep I'll sleep on the plane leave in 10 minutes going Captain Gregory fill us thank heaven you're back the artillery I don't hear it what what's happening isn't it wonderful let's just say we cut them off at the path oh so glad so very glad now let's get back to work so ended the first two weeks the army nurse corps spent in Korea but for more than four months they continued working under unbelievably difficult conditions with courage skill and good humor saving lives perhaps even more important helping wounded soldiers recover completely finally in November their tour of duty over the first 12 army nurses to land in Korea returned to Tokyo among them captain Gregory and Lieutenant Metzger their first day back the two girls returned to Kameido Park to keep a casual appointment they had made five months before there's the taekobachi let's wait for a while probably the lieutenants forgotten all about that rain check or it was five months ago you'll show don't worry we don't even know his name you girls waiting for an ice cream I bet myself you'd forget but I checked to see when you'd get back just in case we had come to thank you for sending the picture don't mention it incidentally I know you're a lieutenant Metzger but I wonder if you might be captain Laconte no I'm captain Gregory why oh my brother told me how grateful all the boys in Korea are at all you army nurses but he said captain Laconte was an angel she saved him from going blind by flying with him all the way to Tokyo did you know him as a matter of fact we did well knowing my brother makes us practically old friends hey hand me that cameras I can take a picture of you too and send it to him sure here you are lieutenant Bussburg thanks are you to stand there by that japanica bush that smile that's good I better take another though just to make sure Mary Lou I swear I put film in on the boat to tell the truth lieutenant your brother wouldn't recognize us all slicked up in dress uniform anyhow I suppose you're sending this picture I have in my wallet instead mean a lot more to him like one of those comic strip characters one of the gals from dog that's what they called us now you see why well that is a picture of you know it's a picture of a good friend of your brothers captain Phyllis Laconte oh thanks funny thing brother told me she was an angel and this is the first time I ever saw an angel wearing size nine infantry boots if you are a registered nurse there are outstanding opportunities for you in the Army nurse corps a nursing career with a future offering world travel specialized training and a good salary you will begin at the commissioned officer enjoying the same prestige pay and benefits as the male officers you'll work with the best of equipment develop your professional skills you receive a 30-day vacation each year with paid most important you will get a tremendous satisfaction from your work and you'll be doing your country a vital service act now write the surgeon general US Army nurse Corps Washington 25 DC 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 Kenneth Banghart speaking and inviting you to tune in the same station next week for another interesting story on proudly we hail