 Welcome to Hollywood the armed forces radio and television service brings you the Hollywood Radio Theater starring Van Johnson and George Murphy in Battleground. Ladies and gentlemen, your producer, Mr. Irving Cummings. Greetings from Hollywood ladies and gentlemen. Ten years ago there was a battle being fought. Tonight we honor that momentous battle of Bastogne with Metro-Gowan mayor's great tribute to the foot soldier of World War II, Battleground. And from the original cast our stars are Van Johnson and George Murphy. Now act one of Battleground starring Van Johnson as Holly and George Murphy as Javas. This is a story about a squad of men, the second squad of the third platoon of I company of the 101st Airborne Division. It's November 1944. We're in a rest camp in France after 63 days on the line in Holland. Couldn't ask for a better deal. Even Kenny our platoon sergeant is feeling his oats. Horsing around with the rest of us out there on the truth. Now and most of the squads just killing time waiting for tomorrow. Tomorrow is a big day. Three days passed to Paris. Sanderford, Abner and Wallowitz are playing cards. That fella hanging up his socks is Rob Regan. Next to him the one with the glasses that's Hanson. Hanson's writing a letter home to his wife. That's her picture there on his bunk. His wife and his kid. Next to Hanson is Kip. Rushing his teeth are those gleaming white false teeth. And then as Layton he just walked in a brand new replacement. Sergeant Kenny. Yeah. My name's Layton. I've been assigned to your platoon. Well you'll be in the second squad then make yourself at home. But on some other sack home that was my own. Sorry I didn't know. Sergeant. There's a replacement I came in with fellow named Hooper. We've been together ever since we got in the Army. They split you up. Yeah he's in K company. I was wondering if there was anything you could do to get him over here. Well I tell you I'm a little outranked. All you see there's a major general in every outfit. It's his job to find out who your buddy is and then split you. That's for sure. That's for danger. And will you stop saying that will you please. I heard the war was on his last leg so I thought I'd better come back. That holly gets a rough deal huh. Little scratch in his leg and a month later he comes back in time for a three day pass to Paris. I was misery in that hospital Rodriguez. Passes every night champagne. And me rooting all the time about my dear old buddy's back there defending the. Guys get sick guys get wounded and nothing ever happens to me nothing except that time when you both them false teeth. It was when you was back holly you find out about some regulation you can't keep a man on the line unless he's got at least six teeth of his own. I didn't know nothing about that regulation so he busses G. I. T. with a butt of his rival I ran to a tree drunk in the dark. Anyway he was off the line for two weeks getting a new set made. Which one of these cuts is mine you can have this back next to me holly nobody's got it out there. Oh oh no I was just sitting here hey holly come on what's it like Paris. Of course I spent all my spare time in the art gallery there but I happen to hear about a place that might interest you plus big. Big Ali be sure to bring your dog tags with you though because one night in Pig Ali and you're going to think you're the Caleb of Baghdad. Hey Jarvis how about you and me butting up in Paris. What's the matter Rodriguez did pop play that your son you pop can't go kind of is off the right. I love you Rodriguez I love all of you but I'm getting me a private room and a private bath in Paris if I have to get it at the point of a gun and the big brain wants to get away from us common people hasn't got anybody around here to chat with about the Einstein theory what do you mean he's got me and if I ain't nothing we like to talk about better. What are you busting out about pop though it's nothing at all son hardly worth mentioning they're making me a civilian that's all they're what an arthritis it ain't the arthritis they they got a report from the Red Cross and my wife's too sick to take care of the kid so I let him talk me into accepting a dependency discharge glad you made it pop I was going to adopt Rodriguez he'll be lost without his popsy wopsy kept one of these days you're going to get a GI bootsy wopsy right square and those GI teeth when you leave pop any day now I just got a sweat out a letter of confirmation from a higher headquarter you're going to miss me after that for sure that's for dang sure have no will you please I'm sorry Jarvis keep slipping out how about dousing that light then Paris trucks will be leaving early yeah go ahead turn it off hey that's my culture laying off sorry I didn't know I'm in your replacement I was just that phone number of Paris I told you a dozen times a 12 carat do what's on these yeah who is that guy said the ward be over by Christmas what do you want egg in your beer here we are two hours from Paris so it goes small talk then the slow even breathing as we fall asleep and the clicking of kip's false teeth I had a wonderful dream that night Paris a private room a private bath but yesterday they said we were off the line for good please order just come through now let's truck this time a set of gliders that's a good sign anyway this is one for the birds brother strictly for the bird general I need a crack division to plug up that gap a crack division general I'd be honored if you'd use the hundred and first awfully nice of you old boy thanks a lot not at all general not at all hey pop maybe the adjutant can put in a phone call about your discharge oh yeah they'll probably send me home in a private plane oh I forgot to tell you man reach the village and the convoy hauling there seem to be three or four roads coming together here some of the truck started to deploy on the street is scattering of civilians that watch it garbage that's the more we are will you hey killing an arm to save me large what does he say where are we are you kidding we're gonna be in this town like this is what I like about the infantrymen you always know just what's going on how do you like this guy he don't like it in the he must be off his nut in about a second he found a home in the army to keep her in shocker for about a week she wants to know if we'd like to come inside warm up yes warm up a run right down main street no bombs no strapping just leaflets a flurry of leaflets and then it was gone the ink was fresh and the printing was in English get a load of this will you welcome to the 101st airborne division I like these secret moves yeah we sure slip one over in the Jerry's huh how do they find out these things who tells them I keep them posted short way yeah well somebody does but you see they occupied France for four years naturally when they left they left a few spies behind yeah that's an idea why don't us GI's hire some spies so we'll know what's going on once in a while get him inside sergeant on the double all right looks like a good hot spot look coming out of the chimney yeah but once we get a break brother yeah it wasn't Paris but it could have been worse a nice warm house with a beautiful girl waiting to serve as hot coffee I jotted down the name of the town so I'd be sure to remember it best own best dog me huh I won't be forgetting this place in a hurry I wouldn't mind all my panel Christmas I heard that's just what we're going to do all the rumors a good one come on mama let's you and me take a little walk that she isn't the mother the kids from a town near here bombed out both parents killed are you all got a sob story let's cut a rug underneath don't say first you got a fork over another chocolate bar what you say please I said do you think the rain will hurt the rhubarb please you tell me what he says he um he wants to know if we could have a little coffee oh we the cafe or plenty of coffee to sweet anything you want sure as long as you pay for it they're all alike over here yes they're all alike kept scared they're hungry and they're lonely oh stop beating your gums will you let a man please it's about that time we sure come up for a piece today that's for sure that's for dang sure they are so tired you want to get me no no I guess not I go no I guess so I'm all beat up all beat up you know it never fails every time you meet a pretty babe you're either out on your feet or you get the order to move what you say please oh nothing nothing thank you for the chocolate that's all right hey where you going Jarvis God oh aren't we Mademoiselle she did a little chocolate for Charlotte what she say what she say she said she's gonna hide the chocolate from the kid with Christmas oh brother I wish I knew for sure we'd be here tomorrow we'll be here Holly are you sure Kenny all we do is lie around here till the fog left so the air core can come up and win the war for us oh well in that case I guess I'll take a chance I'll see you in the morning Denise this may go down in history is the greatest gamble of the war good night Denise good night soldier hey Kenny are you are absolutely sure yeah but see all told us so wake me up early Denise huh it was dark and cold on the street as I went out to relieve late late and stood in the middle of the street you've heard someone approaching through the thick wet fog fast forward hamburgers onions I thought the 101st was the only division here they will be soon as the rest of us can get out what's that we were over a little of the east in there for weeks without find a shot and they started coming tanks planes everything you ever heard of but they told us it was just a weak little counterattack yeah no probably tell you that this is just a strategic withdrawal but take it easy up right and early the next morning Holly went out on a patrol an egg patrol in Denise's backyard his mission was accomplished seven beautiful white eggs carefully concealed in a towel no just getting a breath the first year I didn't know you're up I'll be right back hey Jarvis keep an eye on these eggs will you all right Holly get your pack on what the internal McCallup decided to move my company up on the line that is if you agree I should have known better maybe she'll give you a refund on those chocolate bars Kenny how much time have I got ten minutes five minutes anything you got to do you better do in 30 seconds oh no all right you guys wouldn't be a long march Kenny said only three or four miles the morning was gray with the fog but on either side of the road we could see the land rolling into little hill covered with a thick wood it was beautiful country beautiful we never saw anybody hit the ground faster than we did all except Holly he had to take it easy so he wouldn't break those precious eggs we got that that you want to clear let's go we entered the woods this is the back of battleground you know what our servicemen stationed in so many countries around the world they have a wonderful opportunity to observe the customs and traditions of other people and they're finding out that well these customs aren't so strange after all for instance in many countries the first of May May Day is quite important in Japan the children build immense paper kites in the shape of a carp a fish that represents the abundance of food from the sea they parade these kites through the streets on this day halfway around the world in Austria and other parts of central Europe a king and a queen are chosen to reign over the festivities of May Day complete with music and dancing in English communities a maypole is erected the children attach long streamers to it as they dance around the circle well as our servicemen have observed we've adopted this to our own culture many new England communities still retain the custom of the maypole complete with a king or queen of the May we also use May Day as an international signal of distress this is true about other customs and traditions of all countries the way of doing things may be different but the ideals are the same and our servicemen are helping to maintain goodwill by observing these customs by learning about them and honoring them this after all is one of our traditions to let the other fellow have the same rights and privileges that we want for ourselves now our producer mr. Cummings act to a battleground starring Van Johnson this holly and George Murphy as jobless we started into the woods slowly because of the fog slowly because we were scared but the woods were clear at least this section so we dug in fox holes in the frozen ground and burn these eggs it takes a slow steady flame when you cook an egg in a helmet it wasn't my idea we got to dig in at another area about a mile from here tell me something pop at time when you're in that camp in New York if you ever phone your wife would it cost a nickel what you think that's right came there to see you what did you phone your kids long distance yeah just before we get down why what did that cost a couple of bucks for three minutes why Johnny well I was thinking it's probably far from New York to Wichita where your kids were and it is from Wichita to Los Angeles my folks are and when you get back home what would that be pop you wanted Frank I'll send your bill Johnny tell him that I eat and if it runs over three minutes that's okay sure don't worry I'll phone for you I know a boarding house far far away where they serve ham and a three times a day oh how the borders yell when they hear that dinner bell I don't really like eggs they'll taste a lot better tomorrow morning for break up I'm out of your helmet and put it on your head you got the next on the roadblock with Jarvis not no man they said to watch out for Jerry's wear on GI uniforms what about the password that might be nice to know in case somebody thinks with Jerry's it's a bug jitter okay hey pop I'm pouring my eggs into that canteen cup watch it for me will you okay okay you get half of thanks chum with darkness we took over the guard at the roadblock at the roadblock Holly and I crawled into a ditch the fog was worse now we could barely see late we could hear him stamping his feet on the frozen ground and then we heard other footsteps coming down the road oh password but jitter what is this Charlie company no sir item I company and this must be the road to new Chateau I think it is sir well the bridge up ahead yes sir about half a mile good let's go man we got a good look at him from the ditch lieutenant and about a dozen men smart cookie that lieutenant wearing his bars and a patrol must be a new replacement yeah they were from cake company I got a buddy in cake company fellow named Hooper sure hope I run into it wasn't bad enough to fog and the cold the next morning something new was added snow look pop it's snowing I never saw snow up close before it's beautiful you didn't hear by any chance that it's kind of cold and a bit on the wet side of course you can see snow from Los Angeles way off in the mountains close the window Johnny and fix that hole in the roof I'm really good when you get the branches for your fox hole where do you usually get branches ladies oh I didn't know those woods have been cleared yeah sure a company moved in a while ago cake company I got a buddy in cake company I was in the woods cutting some branches to build a roof for my own foxhole when Leighton went rushing past towards one of the men in cake company hey Matt well I find Hooper Hooper never heard of him I know he's in cake company William J Hooper there's nobody by that name with us yeah there is he came in with a new replacement just the other day oh that was his name huh hey sergeant what's up that kid that got it last night his name is Hooper what do you mean got it directed on this box more you don't hear him coming you don't know what hit you you didn't even know his name we didn't even find his dog the snow kept falling but we did get one break the mail was still getting through to us charlotte yeah holly yeah Leighton yeah start up a go and wallow it's you know that's all nothing for me I'm sorry pop it'll probably come up in the next batch you act as if I wanted to discharge man I like it here but hey Kenny what about that patrol let's think I better take it out I can't let you go all of it so I want to be sure you'll be around to take over if I have to go back go back yeah it's my feet they froze up pretty bad last night all right I want three volunteers to go on a patrol you you and you you'll be in charge holly why am I always volunteering for patrols just a cowboy G2 says that Jerry's dropped some paratroops last night you know that farmhouse we passed yesterday well they think they're hiding in the woods this side of it G2 wonderful how they always know what's cooking yeah well I can tell you something they do know last night some Jerry's and GI uniforms infiltrated right through this area they blew up a bridge on the road to new chateau was one of them wearing lieutenant bars how did you know Leighton oh we get all the latest rumors rumor my eye they captured one of them spoke English perfect knew our password plan of deployment everything that's incoming all right head it's right out you leave your a they're cooking over there on the fire we left on the patrol Holly Rodriguez and I we found the farmhouse what was left of it and we looked around for a little while before entering the woods this is what G2 calls a patch of woods a whole division could be hiding in there nice job for a three-man patrol huh yeah we don't get back that's how they'll know we rented us and Jerry's get behind those trees cheap like GI's from here three of them we better make sure you guys cover me right what's the password I said what's the password I just didn't cover corporal and maybe German and they lie on these woods major I didn't hear the kind of sign oh Liga Texas Liga was rotate at the third battalion headquarters straight ahead that going corporal I just a minute what is a Texas Liga major of that I said what's the Texas Liga well it's some kind of baseball term what kind of safe it just over the head of infield nobody asked you how the Dodgers make up this year hey who's your commanding officer soldier whoever he is he knows all the Dodgers made out let's see a dog tags what come on come on we're not taking any chances like and see to it hey what is this what's this dynamic what kind of not a little snail not much break and see it just a minute you who's Betty Grable going with he's a romance not you him who's a dragon lady she's entering in the pirates but the hot rod it's a hopped up Jalopy hello Joe what do you know just got back from a board of it I guess they're okay thank you Sergeant a PFC major praying for civilians that's why I believe in being careful and may I suggest sir that you study up on baseball yeah I guess I'd better by the way you might tell your buddy that Caesar Romero is out she's married to Harry James let's go purple we moved on into the woods maybe half a mile or so and the further we went the less we liked it should have sent out a bigger patrol well if you want to goof off anything about goofing off nobody nobody I'm just saying the best ways to tell him you you heard voices talking in German let's say we heard voices talking in Japanese and let G2 figure that out well I'm going to sit down read my morning mail that paper any good best in the world that's the daily a news hey get a load of this our changing times by Mrs. Donald Jarvis pinch hitting for your favorite columnist and her favorite husband now on active duty U.S. Army well you know I worked on a newspaper yeah but I call them big stuff I'd had its point I used to get those wire releases and know that I was the first person in town who had the news I'll guarantee you that my wife knows what's going on at Bastone all I know is what's happening to the second squad in the third foot soon of eye company. Sound off pal password. Legos. Hi fellas hi what's the situation nothing but pine trees in these woods we've been all through well I guess our mission to accomplish that courtesy of our company you can tell them they can stop worrying about this area thanks well guys I guess we might as well party huh yeah yeah. Jarvis did you see what I saw yeah that guy with the bars is the one who brought the patrol through our roadblock last night those Germans and uniforms Kenny was talking about there's too many of them for us let's get out of here on the double come on Rodriguez got two of them with a hand grenade but they were coming at us in too many directions we fought our way back to the ruins of the farmhouse behind the stone foundations maybe we'd have a chance but just before we reached out Rodriguez been in front of us out of sight of the Germans with the snow covered record of the grab Rodriguez and drag him in behind. They go up. Thanks coming. Thanks over there. Go ahead. We left him there in the snow under the Jeep there wasn't anything else we could do. We reached our fox holes reported to Kenny Kenny with his frozen feet wrapped in strips of blank he called in the lieutenant we saw them lieutenant coming straight at us Kenny think we've got enough anti-tank grenade to do any good we ain't got any. You mind if I make a suggestion with them. Well our usual defense against tanks is to call for artillery and then one like a jack rather ordered to hold the division. All right. Well let's call for artillery and keep our heads down. We could send out some bazooka men if we had any bazookas but in the cold rock. Yes sir that's great artillery with Rodriguez line out there under that Jeep. Well we love it's not a patrol for him as soon as the barrage was with what a sponge. When the barrage was over Holly and I went back to the farmhouse pop stay Zach was with us hop was going crazy hurry up will you how long you think a guy can last in this cold come on hurry up that's it pop that's the Jeep Johnny Johnny. No with a hand the palm up turn the fingers stretched reaching the way a man who had never seen it before might raise his hand to catch the falling snow. Way off in the mountain. They say it's just like going to sleep. He was a religious kid and anybody got hit he used to he used to say it was God will. We covered him with a blanket and left in there that afternoon Layton found a copy of the Stars and Stripes but three days old but it was the first news we'd had as we hit past home. What's wrong and balls it says. What's the ball. It's me Hitler's military counter offense he swept on yesterday plunging twenty miles into Belgium. Hey that's where we are we Belgium I thought it was like some bird let me see that paper. War Department reports the morale is high along the fog bound front that'll harden the boys pressure up but making trying to get the commercials Jarvis. Hey look at that at best on the hundred and first air ball and that's us men you'll be proud to know that you are making a heroic stand hurling back the best upon one step and throw at you who's born run a step and not see general the best they got pop is a hundred and first the only division up here it don't say late and we'll have to wait for the next edition only you won't be here to read it up here is a letter for you it looks official thanks Kenny you want to get back to the age station Kenny before those feet get any worse they won't take frozen feet unless they started to change color besides all they got left at the age station as aspirin and I what about the field hospital captured medics casualties of work for me Kenny I'm a civilian it's official signs field and delivered. No place I ate I kept read this letter yourself I don't care what it says nobody's leaving best head for this patrol just went by we're out on the road block and I got it straight from them was surrounded around if this is one of your company don't get bound up in G.I.T. right down your taking a straight pop I was on the road block I didn't have the heart to tell you much in coming they'll hit it you know I can get them in a lot of trouble for this it's against the rules of war to shoot it's a video. I set some burnt out powder you'll die of old age if we see a shadow around here this fog ain't never gonna lift to the plane have to wait didn't they never hear a blind blind nobody cares they just don't care I don't believe that you're ever on the lake well now lead us in prayer might not be a bad idea they only passed out some information man gets hit at least has the right to know what country he's died in yeah that's for sure that's for dang sure after I've asked you eight hundred times honest I won't say it no more that's for sure we were digging in at the railroad bank the cold was never more penetrating to the fog thick we could barely see our own men in their foxhole we knew that the Nazis were coming closer and closer close now that we could hear their order first when the voices came from and dropped to the ground only some who dropped never moved anymore have never was one of them stand up for the answer was badly wounded I saw how he jumped from his box hole and start running I couldn't figure it out and then latent after a moment back three of battlegrounds you know the world is in pretty good shape when people try to outdo each other in doing things for others if that sounds a little confused let me tell you what I mean in Tokyo two of the commanding generals honor guard platoons each adopted an orphanage they sent work parties to repair roofs walls ceilings windows and floors to fix the plumbing and renew kitchen and heating facilities intense rivalry developed between the units as to which could do the most each platoons solicited money at its pay tables they bought bolts of cloth and had warm clothes made for their protege is the kind of game the kind of a rivalry that we like to hear about because it's one in which everybody wins and such acts by you and your friends today are shaping our world of tomorrow we pause now for station identification curtain rises on act three of battlegrounds starring Van Johnson as Holly and George Murphy as job Holly and Layton had run to a ridge of small snow covered hill then Kenny jumped to his feet and waved his out of our foxhole eight of us made it to the hill the Germans hadn't seen us and then we waited and they came into sight maybe 40 of them all told creeping toward the railroad in bank and then Kenny gave us the word it was one of the hottest skirmishes were ever in Layton had had his baptism of fire he was a veteran now I like Holly was one of the way Jarvis I fly around after how do you know what Holly was thinking how do you know if he was thinking at all things just happen and then ask would you try to figure out why you acted the way you did I know why I ran I was scared to that you just joined the biggest club in the army late and everybody belongs later on that day we had more visitors this time they came with a flag of truth to not see officers and to enlisted man I thought they had up around it. I speak English who is here in command I am here in command the ever message for the commanding general I'll get a jeep and take the officers back Jarvis you keep the other two here maybe you can get something out of them I threw all the German I know what these two Nazis but all I could get out of them was their name and rank if I don't have told you all come on loosen up give us a load on you can talk now Hitler's kaput how'd you guys like some nice K rations shock a lot yeah shock a lot you know they're on a shot of cigarette and ready he says you'll talk for a pack of cigarettes okay talk they're still in an I know the madam and they don't ever got up or a tot what they say they want us to surrender surrender or be killed he said well tell him to take a fly and leap at a rolling donut that's all we learned until Holly came back with the officers with them was a colonel from our headquarters the Nazi captain seemed a little upset general MacAleff must have missed on the foot we have appealed to the well-known American humanity to save the people of Bastogne from further suffering we have given you two hours to consider before reigning destruction upon you we do not understand general MacAleff's answer well I'll be glad to repeat it the answer is not new sir you know there's a negative or a positive in this is that a negative or an affirmative reply not to strictly negative a negative then feel American is on global mission we will kill many Americans on your way but well I feel better for once we know what's going on around here for once we get the story before my wife writes it up in the Sedalia news they weren't kidding they poured it on us everything they had from every direction and we drew back still further no reinforcement no help of any sort it looked as if kip had something when he said nobody cares they just don't care cold is getting me you think they'd let it stop lying up to build a fire don't tell me your problems late and tell the chaplain oh yeah chaplain forgot we've got nothing to worry about only Joe's gonna pray for it the Christmas day that wait up on the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as eagle that's a fog lift they shall run and not be worried unless they have frozen feet and they shall walk in that thing if they don't lose too much blood before the medics come up hit it hit the ground it was another airmail message from Hitler propaganda leaflet this time delivered in a shell which exploded near barly picked up one of the leaflet hey listen to this merry Christmas soldier and our deepest sympathy it's tough being away from home at this time of year especially when you're surrounded and outnumbered 10 to 1 don't you feel your loved ones worrying about you praying for you yes old boy praying and hoping you'll come home again man have you thought about it what if you don't come back just remember this where there's a will as a way hot chow and safety are waiting for you only 300 yards away I don't miss a trick him Jerry's hot chow and safety well all right come on on your feet come on let's go services were just a little bit different from any we'd ever attended before maybe 30 of us gathered in a clearing the chaplain was just as cold just as dirty just as tired as the rest of it and he talked our language I'd get the show on the load anybody here from Ohio but I like this an addict or I'm from Chilacati and you man losing my wife is all mine and these services aren't just for losing any more than just a minute from Ohio I'm really happy to be in your area in other areas there are other chaplains of various denominations and religions you know what all of us holy Joes or switch hitters earlier this month in Holland I held Hanukkah services for some of the men of the Jewish faith how'd I do all this not bad for a beginner well man nearly Christmas here we are in beautiful Beth Stone enjoying the winter sports and the 64 dollar question is was this trip necessary I like to better answer that of a can have it my sermons like everything else in the army depend on the situation in the terrain I can assure you this is going to be a quickie was this trip necessary the boys let's look at the facts and I'll nobody wanted this war but the Nazis great many people tried to deal with them a lot of my debt millions have died for no other reason except that the Nazis wanted them dead so the final showdown there was nothing left to do except fight a great lesson in this those of us who learned it the hard way aren't gonna forget it we must never let any force dedicated to a super race super idea super anything become strong enough to impose it must be smart enough and tough enough in the beginning to put out the fire before it's fresh the boys my answer to the 64 dollar question is this trip was necessary the years go by a lot of people are gonna forget it you men won't boys don't ever let anybody tell you that you were a sucker to fight in the war against passion now Jerry's committing a great place for this almighty God the organist is hitting those bass notes a little too loud for me to be heard so let's each of us play in his own way to his own God morning did we know how bad it really was it was then that the cooks the headquarters clerks the typists even a walking wounded who've been brought to Bastone came back on the line every man who could go fire a right no more little feelers to find out where the enemy was everyone knew where they were they were all around us Holly got out his bandit and he fixed it to his right he just looked at him slowly one by one we followed suit I was watching Kim suddenly he dropped his right he just stood there staring down at the snow at a shadow of himself on the snow it's China it's China the box lifting China later playing bombers T-47 dropping rations ammunition medical supplies just what we wanted for Christmas came the replacement new men fresh men men with clean uniforms and strange clean faces we sat on the road watching them come in and then the most beautiful sight of all daddy what are them thing all that's new kind of warfare son mechanized I think they call it right about the stars and strides well what'll they become into the stars and stripes the folks back home knew we'd get out of this they had relief was breaking through two days ago fine I'd hate to think they've been worrying you'll be happy to know that we're in Belgium not Luxembourg just so we're going back that's all count you mean you're not happy in the service I didn't say that I love it you found all many armies jump me through never had it so good in my life I get it back to best own Kenny living along in front of us to get hardly walked but he didn't like the way some of those new replacements were staring at it all right all right come on come on what do you want those guys to think we are and you make an ally there's a thought for you to keep in mind as many another American has perhaps one of our greatest ambassadors was the humorous Artemis Ward who did a great deal to cement the friendship between America and England in 1866 Artemis Ward arrived in London for a series of lecture tours although he wasn't in the best of health after his first lecture an English newspaper wrote there is certainly this foundation for a cordial understanding between the two countries calling themselves Anglo-Saxon that the Englishman puzzled by Yankee politics thoroughly relishes Yankee jokes when two persons laugh together they cannot hate each other much so long as the laughter continues as Artemis Ward continued his tour in his own humorous way he criticized both England and America and the cordial understanding grew between the two countries although his health grew worse Artemis Ward refused to abandon his tour and he didn't stop until he collapsed in the middle of a lecture within a few days he was dead at the age of 33 in announcing his death the London Observer said Artemis Ward never used his great powers of humor for that biting purpose which is implied in the word sarcasm he's been a man not only of humor but of good humor there is no man among us who does not feel that he is the better for having known him since his landing in this country he was taken by the hand and the feeling of brotherhood between our two countries so it was that Artemis Ward proved to all America that by helping others you help your country now here's Mr. Cummings with our stars and here they are Van Johnson and George Murphy I'll tell you about next week's play it's an exciting paramount picture a drama of an American adventure out to steal a sunburst of the ancient tribe of Peruvian Indians secret of the Incas and as our stars of this strange treasure hunt filled with intrigue and romance will be the original stars Charles Heston and Nicole More we won't miss that one either everything good night good night everybody good night. The theater is produced by Irving Cummings our orchestra is directed by Rudy Schrager this is your announcer Ken Carpenter inviting you to be with us again next week at this same time for another presentation of the Hollywood Radio Theater.