 Let's present Hollywood Radio Theatre brings you William Bendick, Justin Poster, and Lloyd Norlum in Rattle Canal Diary with Richard Jacob. Ladies and gentlemen, your producer, Mr. Cecil B. DeMille. Greetings from Hollywood, ladies and gentlemen. Fifty years from today, an old man slowly walks down Main Street. All his life, he's been justly proud that he was one of the famous few. But as he walked, his neighbors point him out to the stranger in town. That man was at Guadalcanal, they say, and perhaps they add, I wonder what it was really like. Right now, that old man of the future is a youngster with a confidence set to his shoulders and a hint of a swagger in his walk, and rightly so, because he is a United States Marine, a Marine who helped to turn the great retreat in the Pacific into a great attack. A Marine who made American history. But behind the confident shoulders and the slight swagger, lingers the memory of other Marines who rest forever in the green jungles of Guadalcanal. The war correspondent, Richard Turgaskis, wrote the story in Guadalcanal just as he saw it happen. From that book, 20th Century Fox made one of the really great motion pictures of the war. And tonight we bring it to you with the same stars you saw on the screen. Preston Foster, William Bendick and Lloyd Nolan. They happen to be three of Hollywood's busiest citizens. Lloyd Nolan is just back from a bond tour. Bill Bendick is currently adding radio laurels to his screen honors, with a weekly show called The Life of Riley. And Preston Foster runs a 600 acre ranch, in addition to a full picture schedule. Most of us have seen pictures of Guadalcanal in the newspapers and magazines. Pictures of the wreckage of war in the midst of choking jungle, with perhaps here and there a lonely coconut palm still standing above the debris. Strangely enough, that lonely palm tree has a very direct connection with Lux Flake. You see before the war, there were rather large coconut plantations on the island. And from these and many others scattered over the globe, came raw materials that were used in making our products. So the next time you pour some Lux Flakes into a dish pan, you might remember that a lot of people in places all around the world are helping to wash your dishes. Turning from dishes to drama, we raise the curtain on the first act of Guadalcanal, starring William Bendick as Taxi, Preston Foster as Father Donnelly, and Lloyd Nolan as Hook, with Richard Jacob as Chicken. They were all in school a dozen or so years ago. They were taught geography from books and math, and many forgot the lesson. Now they are Marines. Again, they're learning geography, but it is taught with fire and blood and steel. And this time, no one will ever forget. Let's suppose it's February 1942 instead of 44. Only two years ago, and suppose someone asked the question, What is Guadalcanal? Now the answers would run something like this. Huh? Guadalcanal? Never heard of that place. How about you? Oh, sure, Guadalcanal. That's in South America. They send us bananas. That man next to you, do you know? Yeah, it's a canal, like a Panama in a Suez Canal. I think it's in Spain. And you, Mr. DeMille, in February 1942, how would you have answered the question? Well, the chances are I'd have run blushing to the nearest in Cypherpedia. Yes, few people knew much about Guadalcanal. Among those few were these officers and the Marines. Guadalcanal, one of the Solomon Islands lying in the South Pacific. About 6,000 miles from the United States, 3,340 miles from Japan, 1,100 miles northeast of Australia. It's adjacent to several other islands, Sabo, Bougainville, Toulage. Guadalcanal itself is 90 miles long, 30 miles wide. Mountainous and heavily forested. On it are a few copra or coconut plantations. Guadalcanal recently has assumed tremendous strategic importance following its occupation by Japanese troops, who are now using it as a base of supplies in the site of an airfield. This island must be taken from the enemy at any cost, and at the earliest possible moment. The earliest possible moment for six months and coming. Then in August 1942, three transports loaded with Marines plow through the padded waters of the South Pacific. And one of the ships is a chaplain. His name is... Donnelly, William Donnelly. Yes, I'm a chaplain. I'm not a fighter, I carry no weapons. But there's a place for me in this war. I'll find it sooner or later, and then do what I can. They'll need help. No one knows where these ships are going, not even a colonel. But it's very pleasant in the beautiful white sunshine of the signal bridge. We watch the blue sea slip by. Colonel Grayson and the other officers, like Captain Davis and Captain Cross, are relaxing. As contented as if they were on their front forces back home. What a way to travel the war, Colonel. Just wish we had the funnies. I sure like to know if Mammy Yorkham ever got the termites out of the turnip patch. The enlisted men are below, on the port deck. As usual, the favorite occupation is shooting the breeze, exchanging scuttled butt. Boy, I'd sure like to be back home right now, selling me a boat on Chesapeake Bay. If I was home, I wouldn't be on no boat. Every field, that's for me. Watching them beautiful bums. Yeah, bums is right. Just leading the league, Sergeant Malone. Just leading the league. Oh, sure, that league. You've got me doughed, it says the Yankees will take the bums in a series. I look taxi, the dodgers ain't even in the world series yet. And what good is dough gonna do you where you're going? How do you know where we're going? Ah, pipe down. Besides, I don't care if I never see any more dough again in my life. Of course, you guys know I'm talking about confederates, though. Hey, yeah, chicken. Ain't that day over there a war correspondent or something? Yeah, that's him. Hey, you? Are you living next? I was about putting my name in the paper. The funny paper. Sure, son. What name is it? Johnny Anderson. You can call him chicken on account of he's just sprouting his pin feathers. Boy, well, a certain party, I know get a kick out of that. Oh, you're on that certain party again. No, chicken, you know your mother don't let you go out with dames yet. Yeah, we'll listen, you guys. Me and a certain party. Look, pipe down, will ya pipe down. Yes, just like a pleasure cruise. At night, we're out on deck again. The boy's singing. It's funny in a way. You never hear them singing war songs or boogie woogie or that fast hitterbug stuff. It's always the old familiar songs, slow and sentimental and corny. And then you remember how young they are. Dear mom, we are still somewhere on the Pacific Ocean. And I do not know, mom. Right, you got our baby yours again, chicken? Oh, sure, why not? Come down, huh? Yeah. She's a real hunk of women. And she don't give me no argument either. She don't, huh? I know a thing like that once. But so did a lot of other guys. Well, see you later, chicken. I'm going back on deck. See ya, sir. Hey, thank you. Yeah? Hot ain't it? Yeah. How about you guys like a nice tall glass of ice cold beer? Beer. Strictly a middle class beverage. The last time I was home in Brooklyn, we was having cocktails. My old lady brought them in. I'd take one taste and boy, what a kick. You know what she did, my old lady? Now what? She took them out and put in another slug of gin. What a sweet old lady. Yeah, well, time to turn in, guys. Yeah. Good night, Huck, Saxon. OK, boys, come on, come on. Better knock off Skylock and hit the sack. Lights out, 10 minutes. See you below, Sodge. Yeah, but I get these kids to bed. Oh, good night, Huck. Say, do you know yet what we're up to? Not the same old thing, Seuss. Manuva's going, I'll turn in. Manuva's? I'm getting pretty tired of this whole business. Yeah, well, one of these days you're going to run into the real thing. Well, still the best. Good night, Huck. Good night, partner. Another lazy day has ended. As uneventful as all our days, it's been for more than a week now. The only difference is that we're a few hundred miles closer to whatever we're heading for. At dawn the next morning, we learn the answer. Up on the bridge, I see Colonel Grayson, Captain Cross, and Captain Daivus. They're looking for binoculars of something big beyond the mist. Their men are on the deck below. And what they see is something they have never seen before. Look at it. Just look at it. What's going on, you boys? Look, Father, look. There's a thousand of transport cruises destroyed. Yeah, and over there, you see, plane carrying. I knew something was up. I knew it, so we're out of maneuvers, huh? Well, if he only knew where he was going. Wherever it is, chicken, it looks like we mean business. Boy, I never seen so many ships before. That is, outside the Brooklyn Navy yard. Hey, something's heading this way. You see that launch? Yes, with a civilian. Maybe once they lift. How about me swapping places with him, Huck? And you wouldn't miss this for a week's pain, you know it. Well, gentlemen, at last I have the news for which we've all been waiting. We're going to attack the Japanese strongholds on Guadalcanal and Toulagi and the Solomon Islands. You have a question already, Captain Cross? Yes, if I may. The question is, when? Well, it may be tomorrow or the next day or the day after that. If we choose, we can site Guadalcanal within 18 hours. But whether we do or not depends upon the strength of the enemy's defenses. Captain Davis? I was wondering, sir, if this task force is going to remain with us. No, I doubt it. The Navy and Coast Guard will lay down the barrage and remain offshore until we've established a beachhead. The carriers will give us what reconnaissance they can. A bee company, that's you, Captain Cross. We'll take the left half of the beachhead. A company, Captain Davis, the right. Our chief objective is an airfield which the enemy has almost completed. Now I know you're all wondering about this gentleman here, whom the Navy just brought aboard. He's Mr. Weatherby. He's supervised a copter of plantation on Guadalcanal. And he can give us an idea of what it's like. And Mr. Weatherby, please. Well, gentlemen, after crossing the beach here, you'll have to penetrate a field of grass, as you can see on this map. Grass down easier than pelt boxes? Yes, but it's four to six feet high. Good stuff for the Japs to hide it. Now, two rivers board of this section you're particularly interested in. At the north, of course, is the beach. And at the south, the airfield. And like a square? Exactly, Colonel. I'm not a soldier, but my guess is that your toughest problem is crossing the beach. And getting your men under the cover of the palm trees as quickly as possible. As it grows over these trees, just beyond the grass. Yes, we're going to lose men. But remember this, don't stop to help the wounded. The corpsman will take care of them. You have to cover the men who'll be landing behind you. Is that clear, gentlemen? Yes, sir. Follow him on the subject, Captain Davis. Aye, aye, sir. Oppose to following orders. Aye, sir. An XE to general order number three, burial. Graves will be suitably marked. All bodies will wear identification tags. And now, Mr. Weatherby, I have to hook him alone as a mimeographed paper in his hand. The ink is still wet. He holds it carefully as he reads it to the men of Company A. The coming action marks the first offensive in the war against the enemy involving ground forces of the United States. The Marines have been selected to initiate this action. Ain't it always the way? Which will prove the forerunner of successive offensive actions that will end in ultimate victory for our cause. Yeah. We are meeting a tough and wily opponent, but he is not sufficiently tough or wily to overcome us because we are Marines. Ah, you're talking. Each of us has an assigned test. Let each bow to perform it to the utmost of his ability with added effort for good measure. Good luck, and God bless you. Walter E. Grayson's panel. Very well done, Hook. Very academic. But when do we do it? OK, boys. Infection, 10 minutes on the double. Oh, Jake. Looks like it won't be long now, eh? Looks that way, Patrick. Hey, what time is it? Back home, anyway. Let me see, uh, how many hours difference is it? Well, it's 19 between here and San Francisco, and there's three more between there and home. But I can never tell which way it is. Me, too. I can never tell whether today is yesterday or tomorrow. Oh, well, take it easy, kid. See you later. Yeah, ball, Patrick. The girl sounds like the girl that's married. Small talk. Scuttled but is not a privilege of illicit men only. The officers shoot the breeze, too. But Captain Davis and Captain Cross have been doing that for years. They're looking in the mirror for a while, eh? Getting balled? Oh, it sure looks like it. What are you supposed to do? Even the kids are doing right now. Sleeping, I hope. How do you feel? Scared? Sure, but I try to look at it as just another job, like selling a big order when there's a lot of sales resistance. Funny that we should end up like this. The first two companies in. Three to one says my outfit length. I'll take that. One cookin' it says you don't. One who loves nobody. All right, now, wait a minute, you guys. Wait a minute. Pipe down with him. Now, most of you have never had any experience in the jungle before, but the job's half. Plenty. Now, let me give you some advice. Keep your mouth shut. Stop yelling your head off. We can beat them at their own game of silence if we try, but, well, you know how marines are. Some dope will yell, hey, Mac, is that tea company over there? Yeah, well, it ain't funny. Keep an eye out for snipers all the time. You see a bunch of bananas and a cookin' a drink, shoot them down. Makes sense, don't it? You're a very profound guy, hush. Now, look, wait a minute. Blackjack, that thing ain't no government issue. No, no, no, that's flat-fush issue. I, uh, I just made it. If it'll make the jabs happy to die for their emperors, I'm going to try to make them happy. Oh, you're going to take the island all by yourself, I suppose. That would cause no surprise in certain circles of Brooklyn. And one thing more, guys, don't draw around picking up any helmets or anything else that jabs leave laying around. Yeah, but supposing you promise a certain party of souvenir. Just forget it. Sure, you'll have to find it's been rigged up with wiring and it'll blow right up on your kisses. Oh, hi, brother. Hello, boys. Say, uh, Padre, is there any natives on that island? Mr. Weatherby said several thousand. Is that a bull? No, I believe they're strict vegetarians, chicken. But then, of course, they have never tasted marimi. Well, don't worry, we may land tomorrow. Tomorrow is Friday. Oh, yes, that's right, it is Friday. Friday, the 7th of August. It's here, the day of landing. Now on the decks, there is smell of oil and steel. Every weapon has been cleaned and checked a dozen times. Solar lines and bayonets, so sharp that they sing when your thumb touches the blade. The torque and the laughter are gone now. Hearts are pounding, nerves jumping. Perhaps because what's happening is so unbelievable, like a dream. Here and there, a man with his lips breathes a little harder, eye strain. Waiting for a sight of that high, irregular mass lying beyond the sheen of water. Guadalcanal. Well, there she is. Oh, we must have passed these jet batteries by now, Colonel. Either it's a trick or they're awful dumb. Well, anyhow, Colonel, if it works out, it'll make a swell story for me to write about. Let's not think of it any other way. It's got to work out. Looks like this is it, huh? Yeah. You'd better unbuckle your chin, straps, and cockroach belts, man. Bring on him, Japs, brother. Now, this ain't no turkey shoot, thanks. Make him walk down. Don't worry, Sarge. I will. All right, we're not going in the same boat, Walter. No, you're just putting all of our aids in one basket. Only how we can stand here for piling to force the landing on the Japs and act as if it were the most normal thing in the world. Yeah, it is, brother. Hey, look. You see the turrets on that cruisey? They'll get ready to lay it down. No, Sarge. Tons like these kind of make me wish I was back in Brooklyn driving my cab with the first meter, keeping an eye on them What are you talking about? When the yanks get another crack in them, they'll take them apart. Oh, I shouldn't make so long. Hey, what am I saying? All right, here we go. Good luck, man. Thank you. OK, boys. Over we go. Now before Mr. DeMille presents Lloyd Nolan, Preston Foster, William Bendix, and Richard J. Cole in act two of Guadalcanal Diary. Here's our fashion reporter, Libby Collins, to tell us about a style show that has a pressurized department agent as its star. She's Linwood Relayne Gisclair, the maid of cotton for 1944. And she's selling war bonds in over 40 cities and in her spare time, modeling her all cotton wardrobe. The clothes are all ones you can make yourself from easy to follow patterns. And all the fabrics are lustible cotton. So you can put what you save on cost and on upkeep in the war bond. An excellent idea, Libby. Won't you tell us more about Mrs. Gisclair? Well, she's a tall, dark Louisiana co-ed. And she was selected maid of cotton from contestants representing all the Southern cotton-grown states. She's touring the country showing women how practical and pretty an all cotton wardrobe can be. So watch your local newspapers to see when she'll be in your town. Is everything she wears maid of cotton? Mm-hmm. Dresses, darkens, undies, even shoes. They're slacks, play clothes, suits, lovely family on afternoon talks, evening dresses too. All maid of cotton and all lustible. The fabrics were all tested by the luxe laboratory and will still be bright and new looking months later if you always wash them with gentle luxe plates. Yes, Libby, nice cottons are really fine fabrics. They deserve the same gentle luxe care you give rayons to keep them lovely long. Harsh soaps, too hot water, and cake soap rubbing can make them look drab and old before their time. Always use lukewarm water and mild luxe plates. Then you can be sure your pretty cotton will eat a long, long life. Listen, while we sum it up for you in both words and music, cottons lead a long life when they lead a luxe life. Now, our producer, Mr. DeMille. Act two of Guadalcanal Diary, starring William Bendix as taxi, Lloyd Nolan as hook, Preston Foster as Father Donnelly, and Richard Jaco as chicken. We know the jabs are full of tricks, but we haven't counted on the surprise awaiting us as we land on Guadalcanal. Everything points toward a bloody battle on the beach, but nothing happens. Not a shot. Japanese or American is fired. The jabs have vanished. Either the Navy and the Coast Guard have blown them all to bits or, or what? We don't know. Boy, I gotta sit down. I'm all wore out, Leigh, and I think it's such stubborn resistance. Don't worry, Taxi. We'll hear from him yet. Yes, me, it's too good to be true. It's a trap. We'll know soon enough. The old man says the jabs are hiding in the hills. We're to stay here and hold this village. It's very wasteful. They didn't even stop to mine the runway. They're very considerate little sons of heaven. Hey, you son of a bitch. Where? In that hut, look. Look out, guys. I'm going in. Hey, chicken. You cover Taxi, can you? I'll go around and talk. Watch out, kid. Here I go. All right, you little yellow cunt. Huh? Well, what do you know? Hey, relax. Check it out, you big pig. Pigs ain't a pig. Yeah, look at them go. I'm sorry I called you a nasty name, pig. Hey, give me a cigarette, Leigh. Yeah, sure. Since when did you start smoking cigarettes? I'm going to start right now. What's this? They've got a warehouse full of jeff beer and caviar. Yeah, appreciate that. They taste pretty good. Maybe the jabs poison it. If nothing happens to you, butch, let me know. Gangway, gangway. Hey, Padre, where did you get the bicycle? I don't crowd me, boys. They're funny more with this game. Boy, that's our honey. Must be a couple of hundred jeff trucks over there. Radio, guns, everything. Well, Padre, I guess we really caught them with their come-oners down, huh? Well, if we want to be elegant, Taxi, that's one way of putting it. But from the reports, we're getting to two lockings. Things over there aren't going so well. Get behind those trees, guys. On the doggy. It's like a hell of a thing. Oh, Taxi, yeah, this is it, huh? Yeah, maybe. Hi, sir, what's going on there? Oh, you can't tell, sir. The shots came from the edge of the jungle. Hey, Sarge, there they are. Three monkeys on a rope. Hey, sir, looks like Private Steinhaus got three prismits. Bring them in here. Hey, Taxi, you're a pretty small guy, huh? Yeah, they don't smell so good either. Hey, Snow White, where's the rest of the seven quarks? I don't know you guys. They don't speak English. That's Hart, that's Schaffner, and Marx. Oh, good work, Steinhaus. Where'd you pick them up? Found them sitting under a bush, sir. Sir, these are the monkeys we're fighting. Oh, no, these are laborers. They keep pointing up to the hills, sir. I guess that's where the rest of them went from. Hey, what are they doing? Playing? They think they're going to shoot them, Sarge. Sarge! All right, sir. Get them something to eat, and then turn them over to the MP. All right, sir. Get moving, poachers. Manila, cut now. Cut it now. Avocado! Avocado! We ain't got no avocados. You don't have to wait long to learn what tropical weather is like. The sky suddenly blackened with drenched in the steaming cloudbursts. The rain comes down in tarns, and through it slows the steady, flop, flop, flop of the sentry's feet. And then it comes. A solitary shot in one of the sentry's sides and crumpled silently into the black mud. He is dead. Harman! Harman! I get it. Too late. Is he dead? Yes, he is. He's dead. May God have mercy on his soul. An XE is general order number three. Burial. Grave will be suitably marked. All bodies will wear identification bags. There is little sleep this first night of occupation. We know now that the enemy has not fled, that in the denseness of the jungle, men are lurking, silent, dangerous, watching us. How many are there? Where are they hiding? How grave is our danger? Not one of us can say. All we can do is wait. Wait and watch in the rain. In the distance, we hear the dull rumble of naval guns. Our ships have met the Jap Navy. And we realize that if our people out there lose the battle, we'll be fighting for our lives before morning. Suddenly, most of us know the awful feeling of being pitifully small, tiny particles of humanity, caught up in the gigantic whirlpool of war. At such a moment, without knowing it, we thank God for men like Taxi. Yes, leave it to Taxi to break the tension, one way or another. Help! Help! Help with the Jap! The Jap is coming! Taxi, hang on to him! Hold on, I love it. Oh, yeah. Hang on to him, Taxi. Hold Joe himself. That's the best button Jap I ever seen. I'm sorry, Sergeant. I could have sworn I felt his teeth. All right, Garkwell, here. Here's your first Jap present. Well, it ain't nothing but a hook-up palm tree. That's right. I guess the rain must have knocked it off the tree and dumped it in my arms. Yeah, you captured it fair-handed. The plant pushed Sergeant yours. All right, you guys, pipe down, shove off. Come on. You feel better in the morning. The rain is over. We dig foxholes, and on the airfield, steam rollers and tractors roar out, taking up where the Japs had left off, finishing runways, setting up defense against the day when we'd have our own air support, and knowing that until that day arrives, we have but one course to follow on Guadalcanal. Dig in. Dig in and wait. And W-M-O-1. Let's all look more frozen than they're moving. Well, Colonel, anything I can write about for the folks back home? You can tell them that I passed four feet off the Japs last night. It cost us three of our cruisers to do it, though, and one Australian. The fight was just off Savo. What about our casualties on Telagi? Pretty heavy. The Japs are holing up in caves, fighting to the last man. Any idea how many we got? About 400 on Telagi. That's good news, sir. Now that I've got it, how am I going to get it to the state? Well, there's a Navy plane scheduled in here today or tomorrow. I'll write it up and see if I can get it aboard for you. I think they'd like to know it back home. Thank you, sir. Yeah. Hey, how's about letting that razor in the distance? What do you want a razor for? Oh, I must have lost mine coming to shore. But she ain't got no use for a razor chicken. Oh, I don't know about that. Here, look. Huh? No, not there. Down here, you see? Another chin. Yeah, kind of. Kind of on your finger, though. Hmm. Hard to say, though. Sure it ain't sand. No, I just washed my face, actually. You did, huh? Yeah, I guess maybe you've got a whisker there. Yeah. Yeah, you can see it now with the naked eye. Yeah, that's what I said. You want I should lad you up and take her off? No, I just assumed you were one of the razors. Hey, the chicken's got feathers. What do you know? Hey, it's kind of cute, isn't it? Oh, there's the poetry. I got to tell him. Hey, father. Yes, Haxi? Haxi? Hey, that's right. Congratulations, chicken. Boy, there's a certain party you like to know. No, I guess it'd be kind of silly to tell her. I imagine she's assumed as much all alone, chicken. Look, I just found something, too. Lines? Lines, huh? Yes. Hey, Haxi, come on over here. Chicken's got whiskers and a Padre's got lines. Oh, yeah? Now, if we only had some gin and ice, fish, water, a couple of maraschino cherries, I'd pick you a Tom Collins. Well, that's all right, Sergeant. You furnish the other ingredients, and I'll supply the limes. Here we go again. Get that dirt, you guys. Condition red. Condition red. Get it out of the box, old man. Get it out of the box, old man. Somehow, I can't get over it. I want to be praying for the obvious intention of dropping a bomb on my head. It looks so beautiful. Get out, Padre. You ain't getting about those bombs. Hey, chicken. Hey, chicken. Hey, chicken, look at the blood. Hey, guys, I want it. You won't, nation. It's just a concussion. You're in a burrow so deep, you're pushing yourself on your elbows. Yeah. Hey, hey, look, they're dropping something out of the plane. Parachutes. They're filling up troops. Those days, men's sergeants. They're baskets. Yeah, baskets. The prize, probably, for the men in the jungle. Most of them are going to land right here, though. Come on, guys, let's take a look. Damn your nation. Hey, look, the parts are candy. They need candy like the Dodgers need a fourth umpire. It's paper. It'll look like message. Yeah, they're full of good writing. I want to know what it says. We'll soon find out. Hey, Manuel. Yes, Padre? Yes, Padre? We have a draft letter for you. Oh. That's me, all right. Me speak Japanese, almost good as speak English. That's what I'm afraid of. Yeah. It was in this basket, Manuel. Let me see the... Well, if they hear the enemy before your eyes is collapsing, they mean us. Hey, sir, I... Look, I'm collapsing. Come on. Go on, Manuel. Be assured of help from Imperial Heaven. By no means run away from your position. The enemy has suffered enormous losses. All transports have been stopped and their choices troops are annihilated. I never thought of it. Maybe we're dead and we don't know it. How about that, Padre? Well, if we are, at least it's not Imperial Heaven. All right, sir. Well, he's got a such a cat fever, Colonel. I just took him to the sick bay. All right, sir. Come in, Walter. Colonel, I've just had a report. The natives say there's quite a large bunch of Japs in Mechanical Village. That's about five miles from here. And maybe you'd better take a patrol down there and see what it's all about. It'll be a pleasure. You'd better go by boat. Take a Higgins. Keep offshore far enough so they can't snipe you. And then come in where and when you can. Well, you might take the Sergeant Malone with you. And maybe the report is true. Maybe it isn't. Be careful, Walter. Don't take any unnecessary chances. They leave at noon. Captain Cross, Hook, and 24 men. Six hours later about dusk, taxi and the boys return to the beach to watch for them. It is almost dark when they see something offshore. Tell you it ain't a log. It's moving. See? Step aside, Jess. I'll show you how I used to win them Cupid dogs at the Coney Island shooting gallery. I'll buck your mess. Hey, wait a minute, Taxi. It's a guy. Look, he's swimming. Yeah, that's right. A Japs. Coming this way, too. Probably a one-man suicide squadron with a load of dynamite. Going to sneak in as soon as it's dark. If it's a Japs, where'd he come from? Some of these good, pretty good swimmers, kid. Maybe come down to coast where Hook and them went. Taxi, it is Hook. Put down that gun. Trying to run out on that bed, huh? You're nuts. Hook. Hook. Hook. Sudge. Sudge. I might have shot him. Gangly, guys. I'm going in after. You all right, Hook? You all right, kid? Yeah. Yeah, give me the colonel. I got to see the colonel. Sure, Sudge. Sure. Come on, guys. Pick him up. Go on, Sergeant. After you're dug in on the beach, then what? Well, he started. He started closing in, sir, one by one. We got him. Captain Cross asked for volunteers. To bring back word to you. So, McDonald went. He got about 50 yards. And then Alvetti, Blandik, Zamaski. All killed. They kept coming closer and closer. Grenades, machine guns. We got lots of them, sir. But after a while when I looked around, I found out I was the only one left. They were all dead. Captain Cross, 24 men, dead. I figured it was no use. I made a run for the ocean. That ain't quite true, sir. The ocean was right there. Tired to come in. In some of the bodies that... Keep talking, Sergeant. Aye, aye, sir. Anyway, I started swimming. I kept under water as much as I could, and I managed to get back here. But I ain't staying here, sir. I'm going back. I'm going back there. Easy, Hook. My heart gets easy. I... I could see them. They come out of the jungle and ran a bayonet into them. They were dead and they ran a bayonet into them. We've got to go back, sir. We've got to go back. Yes. We're going back to Metanicao. This time we'll go in force. And not just to take a look around Malone. This time we go for blood. Thank you, sir. We pause now for station identification. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System. After a brief intermission, Mr. DeMille returns with Preston Foster, William Bendix, Lloyd Nolan, and Richard Jacob for Act Three of Guadalcanal Diaries. Mr. Kennedy, I have a wonderful new way to shop to save time and energy. Every time I want to buy something, I buy a war bond instead. And then just imagine how I'll spend it after the war. Let's ask a couple of people from the audience what they'd do with it. I'd like to buy something to the house, like new curtain or an electric mixer. I'm going to buy something pretty for myself. Wow. I'm going to buy nylon stockings. Half a dozen pairs, right at one clip. Yes, that's what many women say. But so far those post-war nylons are only a dream. So why not let's face the fact lots of women didn't like nylon at first. Remember? Then after they'd worn them for a while, they raved about them. Probably you didn't like the new rayons much at first, neither did their makers. But they needed time to work out improvements. Now there really are some lovely women. And if they're given the right care they wear as well as silk. Every time you put a pair of those pretty rayon stockings in the washbowl, remember... That's practically a dollar bill in that washbowl, so I hope you're using luck, son. Because dollar bills don't grow on trees. If you attempted to be careless and use strong soaps for stockings or rub with cake soap, remember those stockings cost money. Give them the luck they need and they'll repay you in extra wear. Yes, strain tests prove stockings washed with luxe plates last twice as long as those rubbed with cake soap are washed with a strong soap. Nightly luxe care cut way down on run. Helps you to get two pair wear from every pair. If your dealer is out of luxe plates, try again soon. More is on the way. Remember, luxe is worth waiting for. Now, Mr. DeMille returns to the microphone. We'll investigate the private livers of our stars after the play. But now here's the curtain for the third act of Guadalcanaldao, starring Preston Foster, Lloyd Nola, William Bendick, and Richard Jekyll. We're going back to Matanacal and this time for blood. Men are going and boys going into battle for the first time in their lives. Boys just out of high school, grocery clerks, truck drivers, insurance salesmen, filled with the memories of tricks and ambush and slaughter. The memories of dead friends will be another hour before we reach Matanacal. We slip through the jungle, but we're new at a time. Yeah. This is it, huh? Yeah, we're getting closer, chicken. How do you feel about killing people? Kill will be killed, isn't it? Besides those Japs ain't people. Yeah, but I mean the first time you got one of them. It's just a matter of repetition. Quit thinking about it, you'll go crazy. Yeah, but I wonder what it's gonna be like. Hey, chicken. You've got plenty of cover here behind these trees. If I got an idea, those monkeys will be coming this way. You can pick them off from here like fishing a barrel. Where you going? I'm gonna see how Taxi's making out with a mortar. I'll be back. Just keep your head down, kid. Look, there's one over there in the clearing. He did it. Let's get down. I promise there's a certain party of souvenirs. You've got enough to think about without going after souvenirs. You just think it's important. Yeah, nice work, guys. Keep laying it down there, Taxi. Have you been running for the woods any minute, Sarge? Is any of them left to run? Any sign of snipers? Not yet. There ain't tanks watching for them over there. Hey, you better watch closer or not. You heard Taxi? He threw my helmet. Look, hook it ain't possible. Put it back on you. We'll get back to that mortar. Picking up to drive me kid. Hey, Taxi. See what I see? Yeah, up on the coconut tree. Watch. What do you think you are, Gary Cooper or Roy Rogers? They're pretty good, too. This'll put him out. This'll put him out. You see, he's taking out his greasy kisser. Watch. Hey, Jack. That was for Captain Cross. Like a 24 to go. Hey, Taxi. I'm going back over the ridge. Join us up there when you're through. Huh? What's this? Hey, chicken. Where are you? You crazy kid. I'm trying to get the sword. Yeah, yeah, I know. Now take it easy. I kill him, but he shot me first. Look, am I going to die? No, no, you'll be all right. I promise there's a certain part of it. I've got to get you out of here. You think you can walk? Come on now. Put your weight on me. I'll come back later and get it for you. I'll get you a couple of chaps to put on it, too. What time is it? We'll just say it, Brett. I mean, I never figured this was going to happen to me. What time is it? We'd better get him to an ambulance, Doctor. You'll never make it, Father. If he needs too much blood, he needs plasma, he needs it fast. Can't we give it to him here? With all these other men waiting? Well, he's just a kid. They're all just kids. I've watched you often enough. Perhaps I can do it myself. You? Why not? If I die, if you don't, nothing to lose. Foreman, plasma. Over here, quick. Yeah, Father. I think you should be all right. The mighty armies of masses of men, of tanks and planes. There's been nothing more than an episode. An incidental skirmish. Only a few hundred will ever remember. The boys who fought there, and the families of those we buried. But the enemy has a past been met, and we have wiped him out. Those who can walk, and judge back to our village in silence. They're weary and stunned. Moving like drunken men, or men in a nightmare. They pose corn, unlit cigarettes dangling from their lips. Old before their time. Veterans, the rest of the village. And then in the morning, as if from heaven itself, comes the one thing that can best snap us out of it. Nail. Nail from that distant, hazy spot, filled with hopes and dreams. Form. Smells delicious. Come here, give me that. Yes, sir, this. Two more forms, Captain Davis. Come on, take one about me. Take it easy, Flatbush. We'll get around to you. Mackle boy! That's you. You got up a little soon, didn't you? Yeah. Who'd you hear from, Taxi? Me? From the Flatbush Athletic Club. It says, are you keeping fit these difficult days? You owe it to yourself to exercise regularly so that you will keep your body in the pinker condition. You think we've been neglecting our health out here? Yeah. I think I'll join up. Come on, let's go over and see the chicken. I'll take that drink. It was weeks before we had reason again to celebrate. Weeks of rain and disease and malnutrition. Weeks of digging graves. Of watching the enemy slip more and more of men ashore from Bougainville and Rapal. Weeks of being a target day and night of their bombers and zeros against whom we're lucky to put up six or seven grumman fighters. We wonder if this will be another batan, another corregidor. Then they come. Reinforcement. They're finally here. Immediately we start to push inland and that Jack runs to his hills in his cave sweeping us down with machine guns. Chains of them sometimes rather than surrender. One by one these fanatics must be blasted out on the job goes to men like Taxi and Hook. They find a mighty grenade with gasoline and sheer guts. To them, it's all in a day's work now. And when the job is done back to camp they come and rush for the portable radio. I'll pipe down you guys. I got it. Listen. And now for the world of sports. All right, shut up, shut up. Portman Park St. Louis was packed with 34,000 wild-eyed fans with the cards and the yanks tangled in the second game of the current world series. Come on, you redbird. Give us the score. In the eight inning with the score tied one to one the fans got the thrill that they've been waiting for. Yeah, but will you give us the score? The cards had two men out when Enos Flutter caught a pass one and slid into second base with a double. That's it, Enos. I knew you could do it. All right, tell me it's all right. I think nothing of it. Oh, I was expecting that. And that brought Stan Musial to bat. He worked on them for a three-two pitch and then with the home card screaming for the hit he passed over the plate. Wait a minute, wait a minute. Coming in again, listen. And so baseball fans, today's game ended with a final score and that's the way today's game ended. Thanks for listening, folks. See you tomorrow. The worst one yet, throwing everything at us with the kitchen stove. There's a stove now. Here, chicken, take a drag in this cigarette. I don't mind the one with my name on it the one address to whom it may concern your life. Anybody who says he ain't scared is a fool or a liar. You hear what I hear? What do you mean? I think. Those are not all bombs. They're eating shells. They got nothing anywhere near that thing unless we got visitors. There's a report that a couple of battleships and eight cruisers are off Kabul. They're really pasting this. I don't mind saying I don't like it. I got things on my mind too, but I don't know how the budget will like it. Go right ahead, Texas. I don't know about you guys, but me, well, while I'm telling you this thing's a way over my head, it's going to take somebody bigger than me to handle it. I ain't much of this praying business. My old lady always took care of that. Yeah, my old lady was like that too. Well, I don't know as I mean that kind of praying, you know, the Lord's prayer and things like that. I used to pray like that back when I was a kid. You know, Lord, give me this, give me that. We've let the yanks win. I've never been in a spot like this before. I don't like to hear you guys talk that way. Me either. You guys are different. I don't believe you're scared. If you were, you wouldn't have gone up under those cliffs. Lending to their noses, dropping gasoline and grenades in their caves. Stop it, chicken! I'm just a guy. I come out here because somebody had it come. I don't want no medals. I just want to get this thing over with and go back home. I'm just like everybody else and I'm telling you I don't like it. Except maybe I just there's nothing like I do about it. I guess it's up to up to God. And I'm not kidding. When I say I hope he knows just how I feel. I'm not going to say I'm sorry for everything I've done in my life. Maybe I am and maybe I'm not. The only thing I know is I didn't ask to get in this spot. If we get it, it sure looks that way now. Well, then I I only hope he figures we've done the best we could and lets it go with them. Maybe this is a funny kind of praying to you guys, but it's what I'm thinking in praying. Well, then, you feel sick at your stomach. Your head rings like a giant bell pounded with a giant sledge. It's as if God grabbed the world by the shoulders and shook it and shook it. Trying maybe to bring it to its senses. Then, it's over. You're not certain because you still hear it on your head. The earth doesn't leap up at you anymore and the shells have stopped screaming but the planes are still there. Dozens and dozens of planes. The book stands up. The funny look in his face. He starts to leave and you grab at him but he shakes you off and runs outside. Look, those are the captains. Those are our planes. No planes. At last. Good morning, Captain Davis. Hello, Taxi. Hard to believe, isn't it? Yes, sir. Men, planes, food, hot food. I almost feel good. Captain, what's up, sir? We ain't getting all this for nothing. I figured when we get hot shower it means it's time for us Marines to push on somewhere else. Your guess is as good as mine, Taxi. I'll know later today. Captain Jeff from Guadalcanal. The handles and rivers are all in their favor. We've done very well at Matanicao, the narrow and bloody ridge but we've got to take over this entire island. It means an all out effort and I can think of no better date to begin it than tomorrow. November the 10th, the 167th anniversary of the Marine Corps. Dear mom, I'm fine and I hope you and dad are not worrying. It's funny you writing to me how you went to the blood bank because a few weeks ago they gave me some of that plasma when I got hit a little. Maybe it was your blood. That would be funny, wouldn't it? Everything here is okay. Maybe I'll go home. I bet you never expected to hear from me again but ha ha I fooled you because when a gentleman like I tells a lady like you something that's... It's here at last. The great offensive. The men have written their letters home for many, their last letters. We started dawn along the shore and through the jungle there was but one command attack, attack, attack. They pour it on with tank and plane, grenade and machine gun, pistol and bayonet. It's forward, ever forward in one gigantic charge across the width and breadth of blood canal. They carry those grenades. They carry them in slings. You can't help but think of those pictures of old-time farmers sowing grain. They, too, are sowing grain. The lethal grain of sudden death. Hey. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Isn't that General Vandy Griffith over there with you? Curl? Yeah. Don't you know what's dangerous here? Why don't you go tell him? Come on, thanks. Born in some tiny Mexican village, he came to the United States and he liked us, and we liked him. Now, he is behind five feet of bayonet and rifles fighting for us, like some dark-skinned demon. The head of him, a jab is swinging for cover. He has dropped a knife. Hey, jab! You forgot something! Seuss picks it up, aims and flings the knife at the speed and accuracy of a striking rattlesnake. He forgot something! Ha-ha-ha! Fully, yeah! And so he dies. Guys in blood and laughter in the green jungle of Guadalcanal. Seuss never knew what hit him. Chicken hears the shot. He comes running up. There's another shot. And chicken sprawls grotesquely beside the body of his comrade. And then, out of nowhere, appear two Japanese with their rifle butts they prod the motionless bodies. Fanzai, honored to Emperor. And back to nowhere, they disappear again. But not quickly enough. Chicken is on his feet and his rifle at his shoulder. And two quick shots make two dead jabs. That's one you taught me, sir. Chicken has remembered a jab officer in a shining sword for a certain party. And on it goes, an avenging army, yard by yard, mile by mile drunk with righteous hate and fury. Until at length, this island is cleansed of its plague. Those few jabs who are still alive dash headlong to the sea. And the waters of the Pacific rise and ring down on infamy. A green and foamy curtain. It is December the 10th, 1942. We are leaving Guadalcanal today. They have told us our job is done. More soldiers are landing now. And from this tiny foothold in the Pacific, in good time, we'll go forward. We're all at the beach. Off shore, we see the ships that brought them here. And will carry us away. Okay, okay, you guys. Stay put. We'll be going aboard in a few minutes. Hey, Taxi, look at them. Whiskers all over. Look at them. Hey, I thought you guys here be fighting in footholds. This joint looks great. Give it time for the beauty of wear-off. Hey, sir. What's it like out here? Oh, it's not too bad, soldiers. Pretty rugged. Come on, guys. See you in Tokyo. Okay. We'll be there waiting for you. And then Colonel Grayson says he has something to read to us. From Admiral W. F. Paul Day, commander of the South Pacific Force of the United States Pacific Fleet, never throughout the long and brilliant history of the Marine Corps have your deeds and sacrifices been surpassed. Your shining courage has surmounted every hardship and conquered a vile and treacherous enemy. By your zeal and accomplishments, you have added a new verse to the Marine hymn, set the pattern for our inevitable victory and tower as an inspiration for every American on every front. Today, as never before, we the Navy are justly proud of you, in deep appreciation for a job superbly done, and knowing that you will win again and again onto victory, we say, God bless you all. Yes. God bless you all. We stand there looking out to sea. The waters seem misty. We wonder why we're the ones who are leaving and why so many of us, a mile or so back and a little clearing, are the ones who shall stay on Guadalcanal forever. We know we shall never forget them. We pray that you at home will never forget them, too. Now the curtain calls on one of the most stirring real-life dramas of our time. In just a moment, Mr. DeMille will return with our stars for a curtain call. Have you ever noticed how music can be used to express a mood, to picture a situation? Take two women both doing the daily job of washing dishes. Here's how Mrs. Jones feels about it. Oh, dear, I wish I were true. And just look at my red dishpan hand. But Mrs. Smith... Oh, they're all done in plenty of time for our first ink class. Mmm, and my hands look soft and smooth as ever. That doesn't sound like the same job at all. Tell us, Mrs. Smith, how come you're so cheerful? Oh, dish washing's no chore, not with luck. But thuds, so rich and so kind to my hands. Guess that's why more and more women are changing to luck's flakes for dishes. Richer suds have washed the dishes fast, gentler suds that leave hands soft and smooth. A good combination, isn't it? Yes, and it's surprising how thrifty luck's is, too. Goes further and does more dishes. Actually, up to twice as many dishes, Mrs. Smith, is the same weight of other well-known dish washing soaps. A little goes a long way. Now, here's Mr. DeMille with our stars. In the diary of the Lux Radio Theatre, Guadalcanal Diary will occupy an honored day. And here are three of the artists responsible. William Bendix, Preston Foster, and Lloyd Nolan. Thank you, CB. Glad to be back with you. Yeah, me, too. Hey, how are things in Brooklyn, Joe? Brooklyn? Oh, huh. I was only acting. I'm really from New York. Huh? You're not really a Dodger fan? Please, I used to be a fat boy for a New York giant. Hey, by the way, are they still in the league? Don't kid about that. We are very sensitive. Besides, it makes me remember the great tragedy in my life. The time I had the chance to go south with a giant for spring training and couldn't make it. Accident bill? No, my mother wouldn't let me. Hello, Bat Boy. That's very interesting work. Another man that's always amazed me on jobs is Preston Foster. He's done everything from setting up pins in a bowling alley to singing an opera. How many jobs did you have before you got into pictures, Preston? 56. That's pretty hard to beat in Hollywood. I just made it, CB. Guadalcanal Diary is my 57th picture. I don't think he'll last you. What's your play next week, CB? The author is one of the foremost novelists and playwrights of the 20th century. Next week's play is one of his triumphs. The Letter by Somerset Morb. And our stars will be Betty Davis, Herbert Marshall and Vincent Price. Betty Davis' fine performance in the Warner Bros. picture will be long remembered by all who saw it. And next Monday night, she brings us this drama of a few dangerous weeks in the life of a beautiful woman. A performance by Betty Davis is something you just can't miss, CB. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. And remember, the Marines are still attacking. Our sponsors, the makers of Lux Flakes, joined me in inviting you to be with us again next Monday night. And the Lux Radio Theatre presents Betty Davis, Herbert Marshall and Vincent Price in The Letter. This is Cecil B. DeMille saying good night to you from Hollywood. William Bendix will soon be seen in the 20th Century Fox picture, Greenwich Village, and is currently making the Jules Levy production, the Harry Eight. Preston Foster appeared through the courtesy of 20th Century Fox and will soon be seen in that studio's production, The Bermuda Mystery. Floyd Nolan was heard through the courtesy of 20th Century Fox, producers of The Sullivan. And Richard Jekyll is currently making wing and the prayer also at 20th Century Fox. Heard in tonight's play were Ed Emerson as Davis, John McIntyre as Correspondent, Paul Zaremba as Seuss, and Tom Holland, Eddie Marr, Howard McIntyre, Herbert Rawlinson, Ken Hodge, Bob Young, Charles Seal, Charlie Lung, Norman Field, Gary Brechtner. This program is broadcast to our Fighting Forces overseas through cooperation with the Armed Forces Radio Service. Our music was directed by Louis Silver. This is your announcer, John M. Kennedy, reminding you to tune in again next Monday night to hear Betty Davis, Herbert Marshall in The Letter.