 The cavalcade of America sponsored by Dupont maker of better things for better living through chemistry Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is the cavalcade of America sponsored by Dupont and tonight We present Dennis Morgan in a new radio play soldiers of the tide especially written by Peter Lyon for Dupont in tribute to those fighting men on sea on land and in the air the United States Marines our Play is based on actual incidents from the archives of the United States Marine Corps Starring Dennis Morgan as Lieutenant Peters in soldiers of the tide on the cavalcade of America Forgotten ages ago Volcanoes threw up out of the sea a handful of slender piles of mud and lava The waves beat upon them and encrusted them with coral and barnacles The tropic rains fell on them and the sun shone down and covered them with lush vegetation People then with chattering monkeys and with bright shrill-voiced birds This was a heaven a garden of Eden These islands called the Salamans were to become by the inexorable logic of military science a Key battlefield in the greatest war ever to engulf the world and on one of these Guadalcanal The United States Marines were to come to grips with a savage enemy without conscience a cruel and barbaric fighter who by choice Mutilates before he kills Here is a tent under the broiling sun that burns down on Henderson Field on the island of Guadalcanal in the Salamans And here just inside the tent are two men Lieutenant Peters and his commanding officer leaning over a table which has spread a map This along here is the first raid lieutenant It's quite a deep valley here. I should say about 60 degrees. Yes, 60 anyway, Colonel. Oh, I'm sorry I I was forgetting you've been over this bit of land here Now this here is a little ridge slopes down pretty gradually to the river We'll be attacking in force all along here. Okay. Okay, sir And the jet position where I'm right here. It's right along here. They got caves in a riverbank and I Should think they probably meant most of the approaches But it's this black house. We're most concerned with that's here this dot here Right on the bend of the river. That's right You'll remember that it was here. We tried to force a crossing three weeks ago without enough men We hope we have enough now if if If you do your job right from the rear Now here get this picture. Here's the blockhouse at the bend in the river It's right on the only decent crossing in the whole river and the course right way on back to here naturally now then When you're probably in back and ready to make a bid from the rear wheel dent them with some heavy bombardment Then you win clean them out then we storm from the front So if we don't clean them up, we lose a lot of good men coming at them from across the river The Japs need a bridgehead on the river give you to take Henderson field away from us Now if you can't get that block house our position will be untenable. I get my pick of men. Absolutely But I I shouldn't take more than four It'll be tricky enough slipping that matter with their lines On the other hand if you're going to try and maintain any kind of radio leasing with headquarters back here You need it useful. Yes. That's right. No chance of semaphore out there. That's a solution. Oh, not in that jungle valley Okay, Lieutenant Pick your man only be sure to the lads what they're getting into Good honey. Thanks, sir. Same deal How many cards that fix give me two Rudy once enough Blair I'm through. I'm way way through I'm remembering what my Sunday school teacher told me dealer stands back. Oh, how do you like that guy? Yeah, what about that? Check the strength Up to you lawn Can I coach you boys to stick around? Well, maybe just five little pennies? No, not me. Let me see them openers There they are five little hearts You know, I like this game. It's a good game sure helps to prove we got the brains and personality Yeah, not a very good part though. Well, bro. Oh, yes, Lieutenant. Excuse me, sir. I didn't see him. Okay, at ease Corporal I am I here used to play a little baseball back in the States They tell me you were a pretty fair country pitcher Oh, I used to chunk the ball in there a little sir hadn't been for the war on a couple of bad breaks I'd have been up there with them cardinal looking for somebody to chunk a few grenades at those little buzzards In the other side of the river something going pop lieutenant, sir. I'm your boy good And I need a good radio man Can anybody get in on the party sir or did you have somebody special in mind you do fine for now if you want to come? Yes, sir. Uh, you don't need a good shot. Do you lieutenant? I left my medals back in my dugout I still got the junior rifle corps marksman's badge. I won with my BB gun good enough take your word for it What about it Scanlon you got any special recommendations? Well, sir the only one I got I guess is I just been waiting around a long time for a chance lieutenant Well, there's a lot worse recommendations How about it before you want to do some hunting with me tomorrow, right? Okay, you're ready at 1800. That's three hours But I get some food first. You got some hiking in front of us. You want me to have my walkie-talkie, sir. That's right and Listen you guys if I never got any letters to write you better write them Padre tells me you'll hold a special mask for those who want it. That's all See the four of you at six. Yeah, it's it. Yes, sir. Something special Whose deal Getting chilly son's going down Think I'll go over my rifle deal me out. Yeah Any of you guys got a sharp pencil Let's go you guys. We can't waste any time I want to make the camp on the high ridge this side of the river by midnight. What's up lieutenant? I'll give you the story when we make camp. Let's go We'll hit the trail along the shore till I tell you got your grenades with your pitcher. Yeah, I got them Louis Cardinals If it hadn't been for the war and a couple of bad breaks, sure How far'd you get toward them Cardinals Corporal? But as far as the southwestern Arkansas semi pro league say listen Them cards would have took me only the day they ask out come to look at me just that day I had this touch of tome ain't poison At that only give the owl six heads. Hey, you get it you guys those owls can't only see the ball when it's dark The Cardinals you better be pretty handy tossing those grenades. Oh, yeah, who's talking one of them actors was never in a play Sharks, you know, is it? Why'd you get all your practice knocking over ducks in the Broadway shooting gallery? Can't let chatter you guys save your breath. You'll need it going up this ridge. Yes. Yes All right guys hold it up. We'll bunk down here for the night Watch the pitch lieutenant Yeah, this is the big ridge down there's the valley and the little ridge just this side of the river Yeah Dawn tomorrow we cross the little ridge get across the river Come down around the jet from the rear From here in its enemy territory all the way. So pick your spots on the military crest Little down the side of the ridge. We don't want to be silhouetted dawn Okay everybody ready Dolly, I feel like I'm held together by adhesive tape Who do that player you glare get out and sorry lieutenant. You got an excuse glare lieutenant He's still an actor. He just can't resist taking this bow to an audience Nothing may like that rain is stopping lieutenant. Yeah, I think so too It's time. We got started anyway. Delight any minute now let's go Down the incline into the valley single file and eyes sharp for snappers Keep my faces pass it back Keep my faces Keep a sharp look out to right and to left pass it back Keep sharp look out to right and to left Keep sharp look out to right and left Check your rifles Pull it up pull it up pull it up Snipers again What next lieutenant The main body is supposed to be attacking their positions down river frontally We're supposed to be taking advantage of their diversion. What diversion? I don't hear no diversion. Listen What was that a Jap signal? It's one of them birds Maiden Yeah It's your time there maiden well Well lieutenant That's what we're supposed to afford the river Does it smell like a trap? Looks like that's for tojo to know for us to find out Come on. We're going ahead Funny What? I was just thinking of corn on the cob Lots of melted butter I was thinking of rhubarb. Don't ask me why Okay, guys. Here we go Five faces like before have a time wait a second. What's eating you scan them? You should not have to go in first You go third. I'll leave no no no no sir. Thank you right effects is right lieutenant. Okay, okay You eat effects menu corporal than me By the way, yes I go you take over line after him you rudy right then you effects. This is just like i'm broadway I never get the lead Listen you guys Stop calling me lieutenant My name is dick. Peter right? Okay, dick But let's go You are listening to cavalcade of america sponsored by dupont starring denis morgan as luke Lieutenant peters of the united states marine corps in soldiers of the tide As our play continues lieutenant peters has led his men across the x river and down back toward the sea coast back toward their objective Like indians. They are slipping through the jungle thickets of guadalcanal And are well within the enemy lines as they creep ever closer to the japanese blockhouse, which is their goal Throw it up Get down everybody It doesn't see us Yeah, I see him Do we risk a shot I could get him with a knife. So uh, I mean dick Hey What about my junior rifle corps silver marksman's badge? Okay blair make it with one shot easy money Okay Okay Let's shovel up Rudy. Yeah, I'm slinging walkie-talkie. Hi. Hi, sir Hey guys, look Uh, come here our babies. Yes Douglas spd's look. They go to barns boy. That's pretty look at them fall, huh? All set sir. Look at the old man. Good. Give me colonel Come in Go ahead colonel Not exactly sure sir I would think almost right in back of them Say a couple of your shells landed too close to us for comfort I have uh 1200 plus 42 sir check with him 42 and a half good Yes, sir Right, sir. We'll like win right away then Hold off your barrage. Will you sir? Good. Yeah, right right Here you are Rudy hide this equipment somewhere right here in this bush a good place mark the spot. All right, okay kids This is it For a while at least check your rifles knives grenades man Here we Got the lieutenant Just a little cover you guys take cover. Hey dick. Just a scratch. I tell you cover your thumb level neck We've been trapped the surround Shut up get out get back to you. Will you what do you got guts for down on your belly? And here goes a perfect strike One right over the plate. Who said I couldn't chuck them grenades, huh? Good pitching one. Yeah Surrounded were we One nest of lousy jabs One little bunch of poison Three of them you're talking about being surrounded. Yeah, I'm so talking In fact, I'm never even gonna think again Yes, you are. Yeah, thanks We're gonna start thinking now Okay, guys, we'll take a little breather I'm gonna make our bid for that black house 300 yards of fiction Wish we could see it from here Blair if you had 50 bucks And you were in new york now, where would you be? They're asleep. Oh Me I'd be in a nightclub Three sixes sort of hay market with my girl. I wish I was there now Boy, it's hot. I stopped crossing you guys. Do you want to live forever? You tell them I fix I'm not crossing. It's thinking as well. Well, let's shove off sir. We got our bet Okay, shop. She looked me off I think you stand here. What do you mean? I'm staying here. You're wounded. You stay here. You're out of your mind I'm the command here. You don't seem to realize how important this would clean them out. Let the colonel know it's clean Yeah, we know dick. Yeah, and that's why you stay in here. They listen shade here. We're in command now, but Okay Let me get back here. One of you anyway One of you has got to get back here We've got to let the colonel know when it's all clear. We'll be back there Take it easy Okay, Rudy cover that back door. Yeah fx you got the automatic. Yeah, I got but our barrages let up They're going back in again Tell on your stomachs guys Little cretin seems to be in order Blair You and fx suck around to the sides. I want to cover those wings. What are you going to do? I got some chunking to do FX you keep me covered I'm just naturally going to walk up and toss these little legs inside there Let's go quick. Now. How'd you do? We did okay. You got the whole bunch. Yeah You still have a lot going on back there. Yeah, that's our side They're starving that little old blockhouse from across the river I had never catch any of that in your pitch for them Cardinals again Lonnie. What a arm Look, here's FX carrying Blair. What's the matter? Go help them on you guys. What happened FX? Sniper gun It's my stomach We get the blockhouse line Yeah, we've got a kill Hear that That's our boys. They're starving from across the river We've got that little old blockhouse came Where's the snake? Up the tree. I'll be coming back It's going to be some water. The snake is around here in about 10 seconds. No, never mind FX Come on on. Give FX a hand Blair You're okay, Kim We'll get you back Sure is hot. Yeah, shouldn't we kill him? Oh, let him be Yeah, I should think of a good exit man guys At least a good exit man Cigarette Blair exit with excursions and alarms Yeah That's it That's the word that I was trying to think of. That's all Come on. We gotta get back the radio I want to get through the old man Will you guys cover him with his poncho? Give me a hand with your Lonnie It's gonna be a beautiful sunset Look I'll write a letter to his mother She'd like to know what a beautiful sunset there was today Dear madam It is my thankless duty to write you of the death Of your son Blair Williams He died gallantly in performance of his duty I can give nothing better to say to you than what Lieutenant Colonel Evans Carlson said Over the graves of the Marines in his unit who have fallen here at Guadalcanal Colonel Carlson said It has not given us to know the process By which certain of us are chosen for sacrifices While others remain As I pondered the names of those we honor Seems to me as if the most worthy among us are selected for separation in this way These comrades of ours have given convincing proof of their determination Their courage Their sincerity They also loved life But when the men came to face the enemy they didn't flinch or hold back What of the future for those of us who remain? Our course is clear It is for us at this moment with the memory of the sacrifices of our brothers still fresh To dedicate again our hearts Our minds and our bodies To the great task that lies ahead And beyond that lies the mission of making certain That the social order which we bequeath to our sons and daughters Is truly based on the four freedoms For which these men died Any resolution less than this will spell the trail of the faith Which these staunch comrades reposed in us Thank you Dennis Morgan Ladies and gentlemen in a few moments, Mr. Morgan will return to the microphone to introduce our special guest of the evening Private James Gorman of the United States Marine Corps Before we hear from him. However, we have a story to tell you about chemistry at work in wartime A few days ago the 17th army navy e for excellence award was received by a dupont plant This latest award went to a plant in west virginia with brigadier general trolloni march on presenting the flag and lieutenant commander gh crocker presenting the e-pins The plant is one of the most complex producing mechanisms the brain of man has ever devised So complex so vast that to keep it running not only the skills of chemists and chemical engineers are required But also the skills of all of the many branches of mechanical engineering and many electrical engineers as well To give some idea of the intricate processes of the plant almost 50 men are needed just to look after the sensitive instruments used recording meters and so on Raw materials are air water from the river and cold from the nearby hills The plant's tools for they are tools are heat cold and pressure of an intensity all beyond comprehension cold of minus 365 degrees fahrenheit heat of 1152 degrees pressures of 10 and 15 000 pounds to the square inch Miles of pipes hundreds of tons of iron and steel bend and turn beside the river Great jets of colored masses roar and boom The men at the control panels constantly watch their quivering dials as hundreds of tons of vital chemicals pour from this great plant The principal product is ammonia a chemical important not only to agriculture and industry But absolutely essential to the prosecution of the war For ammonia is used in making nitric acid without which it would be impossible to make smokeless powder TNT and other military explosives In addition to ammonia this that makes scores of other products vital to the war effort Methanol cooling agents for the motors of planes and tanks for antifreeze and plastics Hydraulic fluids for the brakes and controls of military vehicles Chemicals used in adhesives for the plywood of planes gliders and boats And those used in flame proofing compounds for treating the clothing of workmen in plants aircraft factories and shipyards Chemicals for oil refining for water purification for the hardening of steel for food preservation For air conditioning for the recovery of strategic metals In this plant also are made the intermediates for nylon now used exclusively for many military applications such as parachute fabrics In awarding an e to this unique dupeint plant The army and navy have recognized not only the outstanding record of the men and women who work there But the vast almost unbelievable productivity of chemistry itself The productivity that brings you in peacetime better things for better living through chemistry And now our star of the evening Dennis Morgan Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen One of the privileges of this evening is guest of dupeint and the cavalcade of america Has been the opportunity of meeting a young man who has been in the spot. We've talked about tonight Private james gorman of the united states marine corps Private gorman enlisted in the marines about a year ago He was one of the leaven necks who first landed in the solomons on august 7th of last year Saw a few weeks of action And the jack bullet got him in the arm and he was sent back to the united states Is here tonight and i take great pleasure in introducing to you private james gorman Thank you. Mr. Morgan There's a lot i'd like to be able to tell you tonight for this show We've just listened to carries me back to the solomons Into the fighting job that was and still is going on out there If there were time i have a few things i could add about life in foxholes About hand-to-hand fights with knives bayonets and grenades But we haven't time so i'd rather concentrate on giving you some straight dope There are a lot of rumors floating around this country I know because i heard some of them before i joined the marine corps But american equipment is a match for anything the jabs have And not only that Our guns will out shoot them and day of the week Just look at the solomon scoreboard I have a lot of friends out on guadalcanal Fellas i'd like to see again either here or there They're all sliding it right now When your houses grow a little cold and you have to put up the car And there's not enough coffee for a second cup I hope you'll remember them as i do And be glad for the chance to share a tiny bit of their discomfort For the sake of the victory we're all fighting for thank you Next week ladies and gentlemen the cavalcade of america sponsored by dupont Will present the computer screen star ralph bellamy in a new radio play flying tigers a story of a group of american aviators who volunteered to fight with the chinese against the jabs Be with us again next week when cavalcade presents ralph bellamy in flying tigers The orchestra and original musical score tonight were under the direction of don burris Dennis morgan whose latest film the hard way is currently being shown in theaters throughout the country Appeared tonight through the courtesy of warner brothers pictures. This is clayton collier sending best wishes from dupont sponsor of the cavalcade of america This program came from new york, this is the national broadcasting