 Proudly we hail New York City where the American stage begins here is another program with a cast of outstanding players. Public service time has been made available by this station for your army and your Air Force to bring you this story as proudly we hail the men of your United States Army. Special mission an outstanding story of courage. Our first act curtain will rise in just a moment but first here is a special message to the high school class of 52 the United States Army the senior service needs bright young men men with ambition who want to continue their education if you can fill the bill the army will send you to one of its many fine technical schools for the army trains its men for such interesting and exciting fields as radio radar electronics mechanics meteorology and many many others you'll not only get the finest training in the world but you'll have an excellent opportunity for a satisfying career your army is growing fast and bright young men can grow with it why not get all the facts about what the army has to offer you visit your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station today and now your army and your Air Force present the proudly we hail production special mission it's a big room filled entirely with file cabinets it's a silent room dusty dark and dull dull until you open any one of the cabinets and pick a folder and random from its closely packed confines then as you start reading the neatly typed pages your surroundings are swept away in a fast-moving undertow of time you're carried back away from the room the dust the silence and you find yourself entering another room a smaller brighter room the place is London it's August of the year 1944 top of the morning to you two minutes late major your watch is bad I feel good to see it sit down well how's it feel to be a full Colonel okay have a good rest here have one of mine thank you well what's a scoop got a job for him I figure big job plenty important there are over half a million German troops in Norway they've got to be prevented from being shifted to the Western Front we can cut that transportation lines the only way they can move is by sea the British Navy will take care of that and I get the job of cutting the transportation lines you had the group that takes a crack at how many in the group about 45 you'll have two other officers with you Tom Sather and Glenn Farnsworth I think you know farms with demolition expert that's right say there's an Arctic Explorer you'll be mighty handy in that kind of country how soon do we leave your leaf of Scotland tonight we've set up a training headquarters on the slopes of Ben Nevis you'll get special ski training and thorough work out that's right you'll have members of the Norwegian underground for your instructors now let's have a look at the man okay fellas okay okay schools out consider yourselves graduated we've had five months to learn our job night we go to work I'm not gonna make any speeches you all know what the score is the help of God some luck in the Norwegian underground will come through all right now we'll be going over in three planes 16 men to a play group one will assemble at 2200 hours it's not good we're icing up badly in this stuff I'm not sure where we are you want to turn back I don't want to but it's the only sensible thing to do you can't jump in this stuff I don't know how much longer I can fly in it okay you're the driver swing her around can't help things like that weather stink oh everywhere I'll continue your training and we'll let you know when I try again you know this is beginning to get a little monotonous oh Tom you speak the truth yay verily ten hours of bouncing around in that bucket for nothing and makes two strikes that still leaves us one guy I suppose majors are just naturally optimistic they have to be Glenn keep their subordinates out of the slough of despond now the birds of poet what do you say we take him out and bury him in a snowdrift that sounds like an excellent idea you boys don't have any respect for rank none whatever I'll be careful I have 11 Brooklyn Dodger fans in my group we give up I've just gotten word from the Colonel next time we try you too will ride with me doesn't trust him no he uses his head he figures if we have to bail out in lousy weather the chances of the three of us linking up will be much better if we bail out of the same plane a very intelligent man the Colonel there you go buckin again I can tell you is that we're over the northern part of Norway north of Namsa if you're going to go you're gonna have to go now getting low on gas lovely night peachy you're sure we're over land yeah we picked up a signal you don't get out Pronto you're apt to come down in Sweden all right take her down as low as you dare Roger good luck and happy Easter thanks well mighty lucky we latched up in this a real howler got me idea where we are no let's start looking for the others snow must be about four feet deep yeah I know we're on a mountain slope let's start moving down I don't know what's happened to the others the chances are they didn't give it a try anyhow the 16 of us will have to go it alone major you've got any idea where we are sure sergeant we're in Norway Tom captain say there has our position pinned down pretty well we're not too far off the beam back landing up here in these hills has undoubtedly saved us a lot of grief now you see those peaks off to the southeast though right between those peaks there's a leg and as soon as it gets dark that's where we're headed we got about an hour to wait I keep moving around as much as you can but stay close and stay in these woods a sergeant I want four men along the timber line see that they're relieved every 15 minutes any questions okay keep on your feet and keep moving I got the rim all right now look down there and I don't know more to the left light that's the end that should be I'm going down alone to make contact I'm not back in an hour you know things didn't pan out in that case you're to clear out of here and follow the alternate plan I go down alone bill take a couple of men with you if anything goes wrong you'll have a chance to get out and warn every Nazi in the area that they've got company this way if anything gets nerve food you jokers will still have a chance to get the job done okay now check your watch it's now 2200 I'm not back by 2310 start moving north you hear any shooting clear out the password will be heat wave I missed the main road could I stay for the night who are you where did you come from I'm a fisherman from Trondheim come in come in frozen the fair will warn me quite a lake here as a fishing to tell you the truth is the fishing is particularly good winter that's the best news I've heard all day it almost given up hope of seeing you I nearly forgot the right words where did you come from where your men are we alone here only my wife she is in bed I am Carl and I would like to shake your hand I'm Phil glad to know you Carl and my men are on the ridgeline up in back they will be safe here until I've had time to let our friends know you have arrived good how long will it take you to notify your friends by night for tomorrow you will be able to start quite a hike isn't it quite about 100 kilometers how many pairs of skis will you need a 16 and as many hands sleds to carry the explosives so few to do such a big job well perhaps it is better that way best we can do right now here's a Northland Railway the only line that connects the north and the south if we can blow this bridge right here we're going to badly disrupt their transportation that's part of our job and from the underground understand that I've explained it all to them they will guide you to the bridge and then help you to escape well that's only our first objective after that's done we've got to destroy a mile and a half of track at this key station near Snorlax when you come to do a job you do a job a all right our men will take you good and the sooner we get started the better there's the bridge bridge of great workmanship and beauty is it not so and Selmo you read too many books only got two guards at each end Hans what do you make of it don't they usually have it better protected than that sir at the Sunday on Sunday relax and they are confident not much activity they're post down there whole place looks asleep Tom take six men get rid of the guy sir if I'm a bigger pardon the guys can take care of the guards are you constantly in the explosives we would be honored sir in there will be no warning I promise you okay Hans that'll be a big help don't bungle it sir that is something we never bungle but those guys gonna do wait till the guards die of old age now keep your shirt on Glenn they know what they're doing and Hans is some boy but they all are they've been fighting these cookies a lot longer than we what do we do if they louse it we keep cool Glenn we stay right here and keep cool look they're coming up over the side of the bridge get your head down it was quick work all right Glenn you and sergeant grow on your party will work on the span Tom will take the left if the alarms give and fall back to this point let's go how is it up top okay my Rooney but the charge a little higher hurry it up what is it sergeant four of them and an on come coming up the road going to change the guard Manila hurry it up Glenn your detonators all set up right here all right everybody down flat soon as it's over on the double up to the timber line hurry sir hurry that they reached the bridge they know something is wrong hold on to your hats we're listening to the proudly we hail production of special mission we'll return to our story in just a moment did you ever stop to wonder why your United States Army has such a long tradition of victory well the secret is a very simple one it's training that pays off old soldiers will tell you that it's good training plus the best leadership that spells victory your United States Army has always emphasized both visit the United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station in your neighborhood and learn all the facts and list in the United States Army today you are listening to proudly we hail now we present the second act of special mission close it up close it up keep moving Franklin get going well it was a lovely explosion sighted one bridge blue same yeah and look back there yeah we're popular looks like the whole Nazi Army's out after us move those skis you doggers be thankful for this blizzard uh huh yeah we cannot make good time in it but neither can they a great danger in it all for them I'd stumble upon us you want to keep moving all night no we must rest for time being at least to going ahead would be more difficult than our hunters will not give up easily now I know what it feels like to be a fox a half frozen box now I remember one time what is it sergeant I think we got company sir coming from where up through the timber following do learn on guard down there all right you're sure they were only eight in that patrol they cannot be positive sir but we be checked back as far as we dare can find no sign of others one of their advanced patrols they couldn't have known we were here Bill yes I realized that I don't think they enjoyed committing suicide but if one of them managed to get away we sergeant we move out in three minutes back we've been going for four days of four years well who cares we gave him the slip I'll stay here and rest a day or two and then head for Snazern Hans we owe you and your friends our lives at Boston on the guide user and if we may we'll stay on the job as long as you have need of us Hans will have need of you from now until well until it's time to go home I grabbed that into the map will you Glenn thank you all right this is where we are in this mountain right Hans yes sure that is correct sir here's Snazer here at the end of the lake there's the junction you know it's well guarded especially now and Hans tells me it's about a day's journey start tonight reach this point here that's about two-thirds the distance we'll hold up during the day in some time around midnight tomorrow night we should be on target you don't plan to use the same method of detonation do you know we use the time devices on this one I'll probably break up into two man teams with a central point of rendezvous once we get to Snazer but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it sergeant everybody okay ready to knock it out of ebb it feels there on this storm is just what we need it yes sir but the track is happily guarded on both sides well how far from the track itself are they patrolling about a hundred yards from the embankment over which the track runs but then once we get past them we can climb the embankment and in this snow and doctors there's not much chance of our being spotted you make it sound easy sir busy line isn't it only harsh the bridge and soon only as far as the embankment sergeant roll gather the men around a haunt you and your boys will wait here until we're all back if we're discovered take off now this is a pitch guys we're going to infiltrate in two man teams now first let's get our watches synchronized he's moving toward the right yes I see him when he comes back and moves to the left you go through keep right on going up the embankment I'll wait until he moves to the right again far so good at your charges under the rail right here I'll take the other side set the timing for 0 2 3 0 I sure hope the other guys have as lucky as we had if they hadn't been sergeant we'd have heard about it no uncertain terms let's get cracking what's the matter the rails are on me here put your ear down here wins behind us can't tell how close it is maybe we better quick grab that dynamite roll down the back all right sergeant major now I know what a bomb feels like I was sure it was going to go off when I hit this ditch let's get up there again and finish this job check them in sergeant right say who are they sergeant do learn foul not least McDonald and Goldberg but they may be lost sir and the snow perhaps a could go find them can't afford your arms they're not here in five minutes we'll have to go without them it's 0 200 sir thank you Glenn you let me wait here for him we can catch up and they don't come I'll only wait 15 minutes and you'd never catch us or even find us in this snow sorry take a seat tomorrow I go out and guide them in oh if Tom scares me like that again I'll fire him where you're taking us Hans back to the cave no sorry could never make it they will alert the whole country side there are some of my countrymen we will help them it is best to head south eastward there are mountains and another side the Swedish border they will keep going till dawn's light it is best on the button now the fun begins for sure no rest for the wicked sergeant don't let those men straggles them in the flesh at the rate of your traveling they'll overtake us before we reach the top head for that stand of timber I'll take four men and slow them down happens others will be in charge if we don't catch up with you can't do that major you've got any better ideas lieutenant sure let me stay behind and I can take a cup and what are you bucking for a promotion would it not be better if you all waited for them in the timber and make the ambush there's no cover out there and no it would not be better on maybe no cover for them but with a gang they've got to get out flank us in no time I plan to stop their advanced patrol and hide tail it it'll buy us a little time sergeant we just clobber that patrol and hit the road that's all to stop the main group make them think we're all here waiting to make a fight about doodling get your silly head down get ready men now pour it at them told you to keep going lucky shot Nick Roberts onto this boys are lashing a stretcher out of skin how bad is it not too bad Glenn give him a shot of penicillin now you man hold your fire I'm we've got to start down the other side of this mountain fast that brought along mortars we'd be finished but good pawns how soon will he be ready to go ready no sir how far are we from the border about 35 kilometers all right I want two of your best men to try and get Roberts there just as soon as they can Glenn show them how to use the penicillin they reach the border they can take off his insignia and hand them over as a refugee Norwegian let's clear out of here while we're still able Glenn how many weeks you figure they've been chasing us well I haven't kept tracks over a month look down there another patrol nosing around man must be spring only never know it up here know something Tom living on barley and wheat flowers a fine way to lose weight as we should be honored entire occupation force looking for us can't make up my mind whether it be better to have them catches or just curl up and die of hunger and exhaustion I think we better let the major know about that patrol before we do anything now what's he got to grin about maybe he enjoys this must you smile major Colby what's the closest big town closest town Steinser I guess what do you want to do blow it up understand they only got about 4,000 troops there what do you say we get down and take possession of Bill sir major you better sit down be quite a sight for the townspeople won't it 15 half-starved Yanks and four Norwegian members of the underground all in rags oh boy I'll bet that get a big kick out of it Sergeant assemble the men are going to town now wait a minute major just take it I forgot to tell you man they picked up some news on the portable a few minutes ago all over but the shouting the Nazis quit what are you kidding the tenant never questioned the veracity of a superior officer especially when he tells you we just want to lure you young men who graduated from high school in the class of 52 listen to this there's a real opportunity for you and the expanding United States Army and you can continue your education too you see the army gives its soldiers the finest technical training in the world today's many soldiers go to excellent schools where they learn to do a job and do it right what's more in the army you can even get a college degree through usafi the United States Armed Forces Institute and because our army is expanding so rapidly promotions come fast remember there's lots of room at the top you'll lead an interesting healthy life too and work side by side with other intelligent young American why not visit your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station and find out what the army has to offer you this has been another program on proudly we hail presented transcribed in cooperation with this station by the United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting service this program featured a cast of outstanding players this is Kenneth Fagnhardt speaking and inviting you to tune in the same station next week for another interesting story on proudly we hail