 words at war you folks at home probably read about the trial in the papers it must have sounded pretty terrible an officer of the American Air Corps on trial for robbing Italian peasants since it was a military matter I don't suppose the papers over here ever carried a follow-up story on it anyhow now that I'm back on furlough I'd like very much to tell you the real story of lieutenant Eddie Amato's court martial what lay behind it how it finally turned out I know the story at first hand I was flight surgeon of Eddie squadron the national broadcasting company in cooperation with the council on books and wartime presents another program in the series words at war all of us on words at war are more than a little proud that this week our program has been honored by a special citation from variety the trade paper of show business in awarding this citation variety characterized words at war as one of the most outstanding programs in current radio thank you variety tonight it's Elliott's Arnold's novel of democracy in war-torn Italy tomorrow we'll see in February of that year our b-24 squadron was transferred from North Africa to an air base near fogear Italy I remember the day we landed the rain was coming down on hatfuls and the boys were pretty disappointed in their first glimpse of the country so this is sunny Italy give me Chicago any day doctor I see what you mean Kelly no chamber of commerce here hey Eddie you didn't tell us about this why don't you warn us well look Kelly all I know about this place is what my father used to tell me he was born here not me you have some relatives near here haven't you any yeah yeah an uncle of mine's got a farm somewhere around fogear and who cares about your uncles haven't you got any good-looking cousins female cousins listen to them will you doc Kelly you talk like a man with a paper tongue that Eddie's uncle had a farm just a few miles from the base so after we got settled Eddie and I piled into a jeep and drove over there the old man was polite but reserved I am a Genaro Amato I am glad to welcome the son of my dead brother come into the house Genaro's son Ricardo had been an officer in the Italian army he wasn't inclined to be as polite as his father when Eddie told him that he was a bombardier Ricardo said oh then I must congratulate your cousin the bombing of fogear was very well done there's only by me a chance that you find us a life and well Eddie tried to explain that poja had been bombed long before we came there but it didn't help to take the chill out of the atmosphere meanwhile Genaro had sent for his neighbors to come over and meet his American nephew among them were the Sorvinos and their daughter Nina there seemed to be some understanding between this lovely young girl and Ricardo had liked the idea of playing host to American officers you must sing for our guests very well what shall I sing Ricardo sing Lily Marlene the American lieutenant has no objection no of course not why should I have Jackson you know the song Lily Marlene it was sung by the Germans in North Africa and by the Italian army also well everybody's singing it now I'd like to hear you sing it I felt rather sorry for Eddie right then he'd been so eager to meet his relatives the actual welcome was pretty disheartening there was more to it than the fact that he was an American officer Eddie discovered that when his uncle took him outside to show him the farm say uncle that girl Nina she she appears to dislike me well the Sorvinos had a son he was killed by the Americans in North Africa oh I see is a is she in love with Ricardo I do not know for sure Ricardo wish with her brother in North Africa whether this is love or just remembering her brother I do not know she she's very beautiful yes she is well Eduardo what do you think of this farm oh oh it's fine place uncle you should be proud to own it I do not own it no way I thought you did this land this house this farm is not the mind it belongs to you what your father left it in my care when he went to America now that he's dead what was his becomes yours well I guy I don't know what to say nevertheless the farm is yours but uncle I can't come along and take what you've worked for so many years I have my own farm in Long Island a good farm well at any rate it's not a matter to be decided now that was how the legend of Eddie Amato began with this question of the ownership of the farm under the Germans the people had grown used to ruthless ways of a conquering army it seemed unbelievable to Genaro that Eddie should hesitate to accept property which was rightfully his yes Eddie Amato was definitely something new in the way of conquerors imagine the Germans making a request like this uncle if I won't be in the way I'd like to help with the work here you wish to help to work you see I'm a farmer uncle I'd be very happy to work here very well I plan to begin the plowing in a few days good I'll be here say uncle is is Nina betrothed to Ricardo no I am I don't wish to provoke him I know that Ricardo doesn't like me well it is necessary to understand this about Ricardo from at the time of his birth he has been exposed to certain things he is not possible for him to discard these things at once of course of course I understand they were being polite of course Ricardo's hatred of Eddie was of the bitterest kind on a double score first because he was an American officer and then because Eddie might accept the farm and deprive Ricardo of a potential legacy cousin Ricardo poured out his bitterness to Nina but Ricardo the lieutenant has not said that you will accept the farm Nina cannot be that you believe this wait there's nothing but a trick to win the confidence of fools like my father later when this trust has been won the Americans will probably sees all the farms Ricardo no remember this Nina these are the same ones who killed your brother you must not trust them I must not forget this for me I can no longer stand the sight of these idiots grumbling before the American what will you do there are Italian forces still fighting with the Germans in the north I go to join them and when I return it'll be as a hero it was obvious to Eddie that Ricardo had left because of him and he felt very badly about it but it did make things easier for him at Genaro's house and eventually at the Sorvinos too but it was no easy matter to break through the hardness that Nina had thrown around herself Nina I know how you feel about your brother's death but you must realize that it's a thing of war you shouldn't hold it against me why do you come into my father's house what do you do here well I don't ask me to explain why does one wish to see another there can be many reasons if you don't want to see me Nina I won't come here it is easy to be confused you do not think one thing and say another no Nina believe me Nina's suspicion were echoed in the minds of many of these people and Eddie began to break them down with understanding and generosity and kindness he did it in a dozen different ways and each of these things added new wonder to the legend that was spreading over the countryside the blade of the plow has a broken there is no place to get it repaired now split right through what will I do if I cannot get a play the repair I must wait and borrow a plow from the others then we'll be too late for the planting yes yes I think I can get this fixed uncle there's a welding shop at the airfield will they do this your army our conquerors here's the deal fellas I'd like as many of you as a willing to come out to the farm and lend a hand the exercise will be good for you no kidding and at the same time you'll be doing my uncle a favor he'll never forget I'm in trouble at work but the trouble what is it Cicero there's an evil blood on my vines it eats it through my leaves like a hungry team some of the others say I should burn it down to my vineyard burn it down no no that's ridiculous perhaps I can get something for you to cure the vines I would see them maybe something I can get from the army if not I could cable to the Secretary of Agriculture in Washington the Secretary of Agriculture mm-hmm you had a personal relationship with him I have heard how you fixed Pichillo's vines it was very good of you at Warthog it was nothing Nina was fortunate I was able to get the chemical and did did you know that my cousin Ricardo has come back yes I I know he could not get true to the German lines do you care that is back I I do not think Ricardo and I were such good friends as we thought that is what you want to know is it not Eduardo these men wish to ask a question of your government I told them you would answer it well I will answer it if I can Cicero what is it it is the question of the crops in the previous years the proceeds of our labor on the land were denied to us we were told by the Germans that our our crops were needed to feed their army now there is a new army here the Americans your army we would like to know this what is the attitude of the American army on this subject I I don't think any of you need have any fear on that subject the army of the United States provides its own food is they've stayed a promise yes Cicero it's a promise can you visualize the wonder in the eyes of these peasants an officer of a conquering army came among them refused to take advantage of them and went out of his way to help them at every turn and if there was any single thing that clinched their admiration for Eddie it was a shortwave broadcast the whole thing came up in the course of a conversation with Nina's father he was questioning Eddie about the condition of Italians in America is not the government of the United States hateful violent or the Italians in America no no senior so we know look I'm I'm of Italian blood and I'm an officer in the American Army while the mayor of New York City is of Italian decision was not the same mayor thrown into jail then executed what where'd you hear that it was so announced by the all the government here I love all tell me tell me do all the people here think as you do that the mayor of New York was killed sir believe me senior sir you know it it's nothing but a lie I'll prove it to you how can this be proved hmm well I don't know at this moment but I'll find a way to prove it you see Doc yes Eddie I've told these people a lot of things about America but if they believe this stuff about the mayor why they probably think I'm full of baloney about all the rest well how about this why not let them listen to listen to you nuts doc how I understand the mayor broadcasts over shortwave every Sunday he does huh see that's a terrific idea doc look we'll borrow a radio and take it out to Savino's next Sunday he can pass the word around all the farmers they can hear the mayor for themselves well the news of the coming broadcast spread all right like a prairie fire that Sunday night there must have been at least 500 farmers gathered in Savino's front yard up on the porch Eddie paced back and forth well Kelly and I have fiddled with the radio Eddie was as jittery as a bombardier before a flight doc doc suppose just tonight he doesn't speak or the transmission span is that it doc is that it the 25 meter band the mayor ought to be on a few seconds hey you better say something to the crowd no say something sure you know introduce it okay it goes attention everybody in just a few moments we'll hear the voice of the mayor of New York City I don't know what this man will say the thing I do know is this he's of Italian blood he's still mayor of the largest city in America and he speaks his mind as he pleases such as the United States the faces of the peasants were filled with wonder as the mayor talked on heads began to nod gravely eyes began to shine as the mayor closed his talk there was a restless stirring in the crowd as they anticipated the finish you see you don't generally think of ideas in the abstract you identify them with people and when these farmers thought of democracy in America they thought of Eddie Amato maybe that sounds a little pompous but it was really the way they felt if they didn't they would never have sought Eddie's opinion about the marketing of the crops to them it was as crucial as life and death Eduardo as you have promised we are now permitted by the American to sell our crops wherever we please but when we go to market place so we find the dealers are all agree on a certain low price half what the crops are worth well then we ask ourselves how are we better offer than before it it was thought to buy these men that perhaps you could help us as you have in other ways well to investigate this organization that appears to be keeping the prices down is beyond my abilities there's there's probably some agency some government agency which could help you it seems to me that the only way the only way to fight an organization of buyers is with an organization of sellers how you mean it well it's this uncle together you may not even have to deal with the buyers in the market why not sell directly to the retail stores in the town let's take a vote on the matter then all those who wish the plan to be investigated say so there was much enthusiastic discussion and finally Eddie's plan was approved by all Genaro and some of the others went beforehand to the stores in the towns and made contracts for the storekeepers on the morning of the day on which the produce was to be sold the wagons of the farmers formed a long procession on the road it was like a holiday with Sunday clothes and flowers and silver harnesses when they reached the first town Eddie arose in his wagon and addressed the people listen everyone listen listen my uncle Genaro Amato has suggested that I take charge of the money we receive from the storekeepers then I will divide it among you tomorrow is that satisfactory all right then let's go the day was unbelievably successful and by evening every lettuce vegetable have been sold at a good price Eddie and Nina celebrated the day by going to the opera in Bari then she and Eddie drove slowly home in the wagon it's been a long day Nina long happy at Waldo there has never been such a day for any of us I'm glad I was a little worried it might not work out no one at Waldo no one has ever so concerned himself for them they will not forget it well they'll be even happier when I divide this money why I must have several hundred thousand lira how much is that in your money well let's see a lure is now worth penny there must be about three thousand dollars whoa well here we are but wait a minute you know I'll help you down all right come on there we are you must go and get some rest I cannot wait to see their faces when you divide the money Eddie said that he left Nina at one o'clock in the morning it was four hours later when he came into my quarters and waking me his face was white and he was trembling all over doc something terrible happened but was it Eddie doc doctor though I was holding for the farmers it's gone I I lost it as somebody stole it or something what I've been laying out there in the road since one o'clock somebody cucked me on a head or something fell on me I don't know but when I came to the money was gone what am I gonna do doc what'll I tell those farmers I don't know where he did get the guts to face those people the next day it was brutal the worst part of it was that none of them set a word they just accepted it the way they had been accepting treachery for years you know I'll refuse to look at Eddie uncle look at me do do you believe that I've stolen the money I do not make me answer please all of you you must believe me look look at the back of my head seeing also mean oh look this is where I was struck Cesaro look you can see the sign of the blow look look uncle please you you can't believe that I did this the boy was crushed completely when he wasn't flying he refused to move outside his tent imagine that everyone would point him out as a thief of course the fellas all believed Eddie's story I tried to but they all admitted that he was in a bad spot a court martial proceeds on fact not faith Kelly if frantically laid down a barrage of potential suspects they got no good cousin of his for example doc that guy give us right arm to turn these people against Eddie why don't we sweat it out of him Kelly please don't just see what that would look like it's just what their own black shirts would do and what about that damn Nina she was the last one kidding she's in love with Eddie how do you know she is because she says so you remember how she hated all of us when we first came here how do you know she hasn't just been playing up to Eddie just to frame him like this Kelly I know you want to help him but all right then what about the old man himself his uncle that whole business about the farm belonging to Eddie would not be a sweet way to solve the problem Kelly was just sounding off there wasn't a shred of proof in Eddie's defense and the court martial was instituted at once the people were amazed at the very fact of the trial here the Americans were trying one of their own officers for robbing the peasants and then to top it off they summoned the peasants themselves as witnesses I was called last as the doctor who had examined Eddie's brewers I hated to give that testimony but there was nothing else I could do captain can you state authoritatively that the blow is delivered by an outside force no I cannot thank you captain your witness major captain is it possible to so deliver a blow to the head that the victim will be rendered unconscious and yet not to break the skin of the scalp objection your honor incompetent or relevant in the material what is the line of argument the defense is attempting here the court please I will try to show that the injuries sustained by the defendant would have been delivered by an assailant after that I hope to show that this type of attack is known to have been a part of the training of the black shirts go on major well there are many black shirts in the neighborhood aren't there for my black shirts yes it was a weak defense we knew it everyone knew it it was just about then that a man rose in the courtroom went over to Genaro and whispered in his ear it was Dino a little Italian who worked in the officers quarters at the field Genaro get up suddenly and both of them left Eddie was asked if he wished to make a final statement he came slowly toward the front of the courtroom and stood there for a moment I I don't know what more I can see in spite of what's happened I'd I'd like all these people to know that I don't hold anything against them I hope they got to understand American things better because of me I ought to say this maybe I wouldn't don't you see I wouldn't let these people down like that that's your honor your honor now what on earth is this Genaro motto who is this man with you your honor is a former black shirt it is my son Ricardo Amato I wrote at the stand with tears of shame in his eyes the old man told how Dino had been invited by Ricardo to join him in another attempt to reach the Germans in the north Ricardo had offered him huge sums of money for the care of his family but Dino had no desire to accept the imitation your honor I was anxious to know the source of this money my wife she knew where Ricardo was hiding now I have a broader son of mine here he will tell you the truth you seek he will tell you it was he who stole the money not my American nephew well that's the story of how American democracy came to one little section of Italy democracy in the shape of a decent honest kid from a truck farm in Long Island I'd like to be able to give you a rousing end to the story to tell you that Eddie and Nina were married and lived happily ever after but that's not the end Eddie is now in the Pacific continuing to fight a war and Nina is waiting for him in Italy please God the two will meet again in any case Eddie Amato will never be forgotten in one corner of Italy he'll live if only as a legend as eternal proof that democracy is something more than a political concept has proved that this overused word is nothing more or less than a man's decency to his fellow men tonight on words at war we've brought you a dramatization of Elliott Arnold's novel about democracy in war torn Italy entitled tomorrow we'll sing the radio play was written by Edward jurist Eddie Amato was played by Larry Haynes Nina by Bryna Rayburn Genaro by Lou Soren and docked by Joseph Curtin Mayor LaGuardia was impersonated the music was arranged and played by William Meader production Garnett Garrison next week words at war will present the radio dramatization of Banshee Harvest by James Phelan this series of programs is brought to you in cooperation with the council on books in wartime by the National Broadcasting Company and the independent radio stations associated with the NBC network this is the National Broadcasting