 This is Conrad Nagel inviting you to stay tuned for the next half hour for one of radio's outstanding dramatic productions on Proudly We Hail Proudly We Hail and now another Proudly We Hail one of radio's outstanding dramatic half-hours transcribed coast-to-coast in cooperation with this station and presented by your army and your Air Force From Radio City, New York here is your host and star on Proudly We Hail The distinguished star of the theater screen radio and television Conrad Nagel Thank you, Kenneth Banghardt. Hello everyone welcome again to Proudly We Hail our players entitled action at Bouadelle The scene is the French Moroccan desert in the lonely fort at Bouadelle garrisoned by a lonely detachment of the French foreign legion Sounds like a story full of action Conrad. It is that Ken and our first act will begin after this very important message Can you hold on a man's job? If your answer is yes There's a man's job waiting for you in our rapidly expanding United States Army Visit your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station and get all the details today And now with your star Conrad Nagel in the role of Captain Paul the clerk your army and your Air Force present the Proudly We Hail production action at Bouadelle The white limestone fort at Bouadelle had been built upon a promontory that overlooked the valley in the village below It was not a large fort, but it was one of the northern most and one of the most isolated This is the story of what took place there in the spring of the year During the War of the Rift when Abdel Krim not content with his successes in the Spanish zone Gathered war-like mountain tribes and prepared to sweep down upon the border of the French protector There you devil, that's 10 so far this morning orderly We won't cut it in 10 so far mark it down. I'm on captain. You will break the record Perhaps if I send a dispatch back to headquarters, they'll award me a medal Captain Paul Leclerc a single-handedly in 104 days of continuous combat wiped out 2,624 flies almost sir There are three things to be found in Fort Bouadelle one is heat one is cold and the other is flies Got him. I got him indeed. You did Mon Capitan. You destroyed him utterly. I shall mark it down come You may go go lay come in lieutenant close that door quickly. Let's keep as much of the heat out as we can Yes, sir. You may be at ease Well, what's the trouble trouble captain as you're wearing that look I have you classified by looks The look has changed Do I'll relax this isn't sir. So you don't wish to report sir the chief Ali a lulley asked to have an audience with you again Ali here at this time of the morning What did you do leaving the cool or I should say warm his heels in the courtyard? Yes, sir I thought you didn't think that's what you mean Lieutenant Duval You were in France the mayor of your town came to call. How would you treat him? The disdainful look well, let me tell you my young friend There is no different Portland in most cases far more intelligent than most French mayors Just because he wears a burn noose in these skin is brown. Oh, what's the use? Shall I send him in sir? No, I shall greet Ali myself and try to apologize for your bad manners and worse judgment come along Goulet what's up? Why all the day we fill the bags with water. Why don't you ask the bar? He's a sergeant. How do I know are you no all right the captain tells you everything? We're going to be in a package and sippa What do you care Steiner to die a legionnaires to die like a king? I'm not afraid. Oh You are not afraid Steiner is not afraid Hey Steiner I heard the captain say Abdel Krim has an aim in life, and that is to wipe out Boor Del You can laugh when the shooting starts. We'll see who laughs. I will show you School children Corporal a tour John Morano, you will assemble your squads at once We brought in water during the day now We must bring it in during the night and as much as possible and quickly Steiner save your stupid questions is enough to know that your captain has given an order now beat beat Sit down lieutenant you too sergeant now Time is running out on us for over two months. Allia Louie has been coming to us and saying friends Do you know of the danger that's coming against you? Do you know how many well armed men Abdel Krim has at his command? Where are your forces to defend this? Fifty men even with machine guns and grenades are nothing my people are afraid and our old men say you cannot protect us What are you going to do? How can you save us? Yeah, that's been his song and he's known what he's been singing about how can you trust him, sir? But today he came again, but this time it was different. He's been given a choice Either join with Abdul Krim or have his village wiped out. He wanted to stay in fight, but his people overruled him They said we were weak and Abdul Krim would sweep down like a plague of locusts and destroy all before he's might So tomorrow the village will be empty and soon after that we will be under attack And soon after that we will be under attack a rabble rabble. Yes, but well trained well armed All day I've been receiving messages mother forts along the line. It's the same there Abdel Krim is ready to make his big push Our headquarters have been apprised the situation a short time ago I received a message from Taza the whole protectorate has answered the call to arms a large well equipped force with the legion at its Core is being rapidly assembled to smash Abdel Krim once and for all if I may ask one captain How long must we hold here? I was coming to that sergeant two weeks at the least Maybe a month shouldn't be too difficult He jokes by about he's fought the riff before they're nothing poof Sargent you inform your squad leaders that they may inform the man Guards to be doubled at all times the gate will not be opened again without my order You know what to do. It shall be done sir. That old monk captain for now. Yes Hey, I want you to remain a moment lieutenant. What's what captain? What's what man? Cigarette. No, thank you, sir What I'll ask you a question Duval You don't have to answer it Whatever you say is between us as men not officers Do you have some particular reason for disliking me dislike you sir? Yes, I try to get along with my men I know most of them respect me some have stronger feelings than that, but you You've no respect for me. You don't want my friendship What's the reason I can speak is one man to another please do You're right. I don't like I have no respect for you either Even though I've heard all about you're daring exploits Even though that old sergeant worships the ground you walk on and the men would follow you wherever you led them I think you're a hero. I know better. I see Well, you must have some reason call yourself paul the clerk But that isn't your name. You're not a Frenchman can't even speak the language decently your English or American But you don't have the courage to be English or American. No, you've got to be paul the clerk a French But is that all just because I know it's not all you know it And join the Legion give anything they want either to forget or be forgotten sometimes they even take a different nationality You're the only one that I've ever heard of What a man was or what he did before joined the Legion is the business only of that man and he's God I Don't ask you if your name is really Duval Can be no concern of yours what my name really is now, but that's where you're wrong You see, I don't mind telling you my real name. I've been wanting to tell you It's look clerk. Oh Really look clerk what? Oh? No, you can't mean yes, I do mean it My father's name was paul the clerk your father. No, it stops you Paul the clerk was murdered 15 years ago. The man who did it was nearly caught but he escaped They said into Morocco See You think I'm that man You think I joined the Legion and took your father's name. Yes, that's what I think and you sworn to revenge his death I'll die in the attempt was taking you so long I wanted to wait until you mean like Hamlet you couldn't make up your mind Now listen you young fool the name is a coincidence. I don't believe me give you a good piece of advice The first attempt you make upon my life will be the last act of your life. I promise you that Now I've humored you enough Which will assume this conversation never occurred until the forts out of danger as of now your lieutenant duval and I'm your superior captain the clerk Yes, it's possible that I may be wounded or killed in the coming attack That should happen. You will assume command the lives of 50 men will depend on how you command Up to now your blasé attitude about what's to come terrifies me So sit still and listen while I try to beat a little knowledge into your head before it's too late I Coz it I listen I wait You think before dawn who can tell the captain takes precautions. We all leave a little longer. He's a good one not one a best But that lieutenant duval Fool better you use your eyes to watch than your brain to think I'll tell you sergeant. I Hear something. Yes Steiner it's a trick get your head back over the wall, but there is They pulled him over And it's only the beginning They go starring in the role of captain Paul the clerk of the French foreign legion and the proudly we hail production action at Boadel will return in just a moment for the second act Here's some great news for intelligent young men Your growing United States Army needs qualified young officers and a brand new regulation says you can apply for OCS Officer candidate school before you enlist you must be at least 19 years old and able to pass the mental and physical exams for Army officers a High school diploma is your best qualification if you're accepted You'll take 14 weeks of basic then to leadership school for eight weeks and be sent directly to OCS You'll be taught many interesting subjects and it'll be a great day when you line up for your commission You'll be proud to be an officer in the United States Army with good pay and allowances for quarters and food This is a great opportunity for young men and you should take advantage of it now If you think you can make the grade get all the details at your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force Recruiting station You are listening to proudly we hail and now with your star Conrad Nagel in the role of captain Paul the clerk We present the second act of action at Boadel Word came at sunrise to Taza flashed by Heliograph Silent flashes that spoke loudly enough From a nuncher toe enough Srimar who Adele it was the same under constant attack Riffian forces well organized and greatly superior in numbers holding on and the reply flashed back that left so much unsend relief Coming soon Well What is it lieutenant that trains they've been digging I'll reach the wall tonight Yes, your calculations are accurate Well you something to suggest you well, I should like permission to lead a patrol out at sundown We'll occupy the trench long enough to mine it and get yourself slaughtered into the bargain You know after a week of this I should think you'd begin to realize we're not fighting baboons. They're clever They're well organized and they just love you to try to mine their trench But then what do we do sit here and wait until they get close enough to blow the wall down Sergeant sergeant bad man Sergeant Could you tell the lieutenant what the tourist squad is doing down there with a wall they make the preparation sir? We have dug a pit inside the wall and mounted the machine gun and they have also dug a hole through the wall Not a very big one mind you Which is right on a level with the trench our friends are digging well You begin to say do well When the riffs reach our wall our machine gun firing through the hole Be able to sweep their trench from one end to the other. Hmm. Is that correct sergeant? That is precisely correct sir Say to it sergeant be assured more captain Not so brave a plan is yours lieutenant But far more lasting don't you agree? Suppose they change the direction of their trench before they reach the wall Good for you lieutenant That happens and I'll lead the patrol to clear them out myself. I'm more chance girl a well enough won't have it then The arm but a scratch Nothing get some sleep man perhaps tomorrow sir. Yeah, good man all good Come along sergeant. I Suppose the list has grown since last night. It is to be expected sir. I know Let's have a look Hmm Darrow Tobin Scarletty One three six seven Seventeen unfit for duty That's four more than yesterday total loss of seven It means that just 28 of us left to hold them off 28 Cut us down to nearly half and a little more than a week. They are paying for it, sir Well, they can afford it sergeant. Unfortunately, we can't This the report on the water water food and ammunition, sir Seems we still have an ample supply of the two most important water and ammunition Quiet tonight, aren't they few digging in the train sir the rest Taking it easy. I suppose so Who are the men on the machine gun? Corporal a tour and an ad off on the gun captain Singeli and Smith are on the platform above All four of them. I swear by my patron saint are descendants of cats They see in the dark And what they don't see they smell or hear we're gonna be thankful for that How are the rest of the men holding out the new ones especially one captain? They are legionnaires Yeah, you're wonderful, Baba You don't change like a rock How long has it six years we've been together? What were you in the czar's army? No sergeant. I'll wage your colonel more likely maybe a general To tell the truth, sir. I was the czar himself Men without past comrades and forgetfulness Only you can never dig the past from your heart Stays and it stays as long as you draw breath We know don't we Baba? Enough of this foolishness How's the lieutenant handling himself? I've been too busy to keep an eye on him He's young sir and brave and foolish Inexperienced sir if he lives he will learn you realize he'll be in command if I should be killed Of course, sir. He'll be in command, but you'll have to see to it that he's guided wisely. You may depend on it one captain good now Your catcher at work come along 16 days and nights and another night ahead Long time sergeant the relief arrives tomorrow was the next day or is in there? No, it's true. The word was just flashed from taza three columns. You would not joke with his old one You would not you're passing the word the wall the captain Well sergeant grenades, sir I Saw it come over the wall. It hit the firing platform and bounced through the ventilator into the magazine The eastern wall is badly breached and we can thank God for sundown on the rift for reluctance to fight after dark What about casualties? well, well the The wounded month captain All except for lieutenant Duval what in the barracks next to the magazine? No one survived Everyone who was on the firing platform nearby they Two sir. Oh, no, there are about ten of us left to hold Buadel till the relief arrives. I see Ten you say ten All right Bring them down off the walls everyone bring them here to me at once more kept Do not talk to Val save your strength difference. I'll be dead by morning good soldier does not a good And everything takes practice You got the makings good of you to say so. How does it feel? Hold in the chest gives one practice Have a drink of water The mere scratchers about that would say Yeah Now try to not drink too much Plans sir Before I tell you there's something I want you to know It's about your father. You did kill him. Didn't you well? I brought the men sir don't tell me you're still alive go away. This one is too bad to die the devil would not have me Be at ease misery. Well, we're all that's left And now we too must leave The morning when the attack comes or even tonight we couldn't hold them back They take this fort When the relief arrived that job would be a terrible one So we must make it as easy as possible Men we must blow up Bo Adel Sergeant Babin take six men and plant charges under the walls You'll rig a time device and set it for Exactly two o'clock When we leave we must look like riffs It's complete sir good now here try one of these no no pull it up over your hair Not bad You look like a rift chieftain. Well, let's hope that if things so to where And all we can hope to do is brazenly walk through their lines as though we belong there The darkness we looked apart if they discover us Well, we shall pacify them sir Yes As long as we're able And we're going over the northern wall and head directly into their territory Should we get through their lines? We'll hold up in the mountains till the relief arrives assemble your men and get them into those things Like father like son. Oh You think I plan to leave you here why not Cut down your chances works out perfect for you young fool here help me get this on you Can't the tenor develop an order to give you a beast still All right now men Two at a time Don't try to crawl walk Walk quietly and if your challenge run for it Sergeant you go lay and I will go last Tender lieutenant of Al any questions Good More chance must I mean Go lady Take my rifle. I'll carry the lieutenant. He comes won't kept it in We'll wait here a moment Give the others a chance to spread out Shooting at the wall all right all right. No, I'll go first Galeigh you watch the rear don't fire unless I give the word Yeah Here in these rocks will do Seems to be sort of a cave help me put him down I Thank the bond here for this dark night and not a little bit of love not always so lucky Did you hear the shooting on the left? I'm not deaf How is the lieutenant sir? I don't know. This is a good place high and well-protected Bulley is a man of strategy. I'm not I Capitaine he picked it. It's nearly time. I Suggest we remain quiet and listen for Goulay to remain quiet It's like asking for rain and a clear day and like a mouse Farewell, but oh and now we must wait for morning in a safe place Is our enemy has moved out at dawn moved up Fort is for me It's gone to attack the relief, but it is a pleasure to watch Relief column stretches as far as I can see Say no What do you say sergeant? Well, the Baron has not seen his last battle Well, I and I will go and see if we can find some of the others come little man No rest always orders always something and I Goulay was going Well, Duval and your father He's a piece the name Paul the clerk That was a coincidence Something I saw in a book or a paper. I don't remember which I Never knew your father. I believe Even if you lie, I believe Then we leave it at that who we were in the past Why we're here is not important We're men of the Legion That is enough more than enough Capitan In just a moment with a word about next week's show. Here's a special message The United States Army needs young men men with ambition who want to continue their education If you can qualify the army will send you off to one of its many fine technical schools The army trains its men in such interesting exciting fields as radio radar electronics mechanics meteorology and many many others You'll not only get the finest training in the world But you'll have the special pride that goes with wearing a United States Army uniform Today there are plenty of chances for a man to get ahead for our army is growing fast and ambitious young men can grow with it But why not learn for yourself about what the army has to offer? Go to your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station Have a talk with the recruiting sergeant and learn all the facts This has been another program on proudly we hail Presented transcribed in cooperation with this station by the United States Army and the United States Air Force recruiting service Proudly we hail stars Conrad Negal Action at Buadel was written by Dewitt Koff. The music was composed and conducted by John Guarnieri This program was produced under the supervision of Charles and Rogers Productions and directed by Charles Wilkes This is Kenneth Banghardt speaking and here again as your host and star Conrad Negal. Well friends next week on proudly we hail we present a spine-tingling drama about a house of mystery with several strange characters both frightening and Frightened our players entitled the house on the hill. We hope you'll be with us until then. Goodbye