 Proudly, we hail. From 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 Women's Army Corps. Our story is entitled, Operation Rescue. A true story of WAC Sergeant Margaret Millen, who served with the American forces in Europe. Our first act curtain will rise in just a moment, but first... Here's a most important message for young women listening to this radio program. If you were between the ages of 18 and 34 and qualify, you can prove that this is a woman's world too. How? By enlisting in the WAC, women in the Air Force. By joining right now when you're needed most and when the opportunities for advancement are greatest, you will be serving your country well and yourself too. You will have opportunities for some of the finest technical training in the world, training which will serve you well should you elect to return to civilian life. But most of all, you will have the inner satisfaction of knowing that you are serving your country when the need is urgent. Do your part in keeping America strong. Visit your local United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station and enlist in the WAC, women in the Air Force. Do it now. And now your Army and your Air Force present the proudly we hail production, Operation Rescue. The scene Frankfurt, Germany in the fall of the year 1946. The place, switchboard room in headquarters building of the United States Army. The time, a little before dawn. Frankfurt military post. Oh no sir, I'm sorry, nothing's come in no word at all. Yes sir, as soon as I hear anything. Yes sir. Marge, you've got to get some sleep, you can't keep on like this, no one can. You must get some sleep. Oh, I'm all right Betty. You haven't been to bed in almost 36 hours and you've had nothing to eat, there's coffee and sandwiches. Marge, look, I'll tell Captain Farnham this. Betty, get me some coffee. But Marge... Betty, please, I'm too tired to argue with you two. Oh, just get me a cup of coffee please, huh? Sure, sure Marge, coffee. And Betty? Yeah, one sugar, no cream. One sugar, no cream. No Helen, nothing so far. I got on the radio that they'd spotted something at beach near the French border. Stop listening to rumours. What does Marge say? Coffee, one sugar, no cream. I don't get it. She said coffee, one sugar, no cream. She wants some. Well, I'll go with you. If you like. Won't do any good though. When Marge gets some news, she'll let us know. All of us. Yeah. If she gets some news. Coffee, one sugar, no cream. You like it that way at home too, remember? Remember back across how many switchboards and transports and trains? Remember your home? Remember? I suppose no one likes to leave home. Especially a home like mine in Hazelton. Hazelton, that's in Pennsylvania. My mom and my dad had both come from good sized families. Ours was pretty big too. I had five brothers, four that were grown up like me and then there was little Bobby. Bobby was too young to know what was going on when America entered the Second World War. I had two sisters too, Betty and Anna Marie. They were both younger than me. The war to them was just big headlines in the newspapers. The war to them was things they wanted and things they couldn't have, but the war to me was something very serious. And it was serious too. Two of my brothers, August and Joe. On December 7, 1941, they enlisted immediately in the United States Army. I wanted so badly to be of some use too and so I thought at the time that the very best place for me was in an airplane factory. Oh, it was a huge place. Blocks and blocks long. You became a part of the plur and the rumble, part of the movement of the giant machines. You were a card which was punched in the morning and then it quit in time. You were Margaret Millan on that card, but of course everyone called you Marge. You know, Marge, sometimes I wish I was doing something more than working in a defense client. Sometimes I wish. Yes, Liz. Oh, never mind. Say, Marge, should I have a date with George tonight? He wants I should have a date with him, but I don't really know him. I mean, real good ones. What do you think about him, Liz? Hey, George. Seems all right. The girl can't be too choosy. Liz had a big heart, but she had a one-track mind too and that was about men. But the way she said... Girl can't be too choosy. I thought about it in a much different way. I thought about it all that day and it kept running through my mind as I rode the bus into New York on Saturday afternoon to do some shopping. A girl can't be too choosy. I wanted to be very choosy. I wanted to make the best choice in deciding how to help my country during the war. I wanted to make a choice which would help me too if I had a choice which made a solid and fine career. The lights bubble gaily over and around Times Square that evening. I stood watching them knowing I had a decision to make. Working at the airplane factory wasn't enough. I wanted to do more. I had to do more. The choice was up to me. Excuse me, miss, but could you tell me how I get the radio set and music on? I'm sorry, what did you say? Oh, excuse me, miss. Oh, no. No, wait, please. It's just that I didn't hear what you asked me. Well, I have a ticket for the Radio City Music Hall. I don't know where it is. Well, you haven't far to go, Corporal. Just 6 or 7th Street. You can't miss it. Sure hope not. This is my first trip to New York. Some big town. Big like nothing I've ever seen before. Yes, it is a big town. Well, thank you, miss. I'm supposed to be there at 7. And then someone stepped between us and someone else and then he was gone. He was gone. But something stayed behind. Something in the tone of his voice. Something in the way he carried himself in the pride with which he wore his uniform. And suddenly I knew the answer to my problem. Suddenly I knew the choice I wanted to make. It was all suddenly so very clear. We need girls like you very badly, Miss Millen. I'm glad you've made this choice. Your papers will be processed immediately. Oh, thank you very much. Basic training. No explanation needed, I'm sure. Oh, it was hard work. Routine work. Reveille at 6.30, calisthenics and drill. The thrill of your first letter from home. Fatigue. And your date dress. And then it was only a matter of weeks until my address was changed from Fort Oglethorpe to Gunter Field and finally Frankfurt, Germany. I'm glad to have someone here with your experience, Corporal Millen. You'll be Chief Operator of Headquarters Switchboard. A very important assignment. And one which I'm sure you'll enjoy. And now about your billets. The WAC billets are two blocks down the street. You passed the PX. Frankfurt, Germany. 1946. The remnants of the war were everywhere and they were very ugly remnants. The torn and twisted buildings. Rubble piled high along the streets. The streets where the cracked troops marched. The invincible men, the iron machine, the goose step and heads held stiffly erect. The dream that marched into a nightmare of hell. Frankfurt, Germany. 1946. The railroad station, the Carleton Hotel, deluxe accommodations with one wall torn out. And everywhere the stench of decay. The gray shadow of hunger. Hunger painted across the faces of the children. Hunger looking out of their eyes. Hunger holding out a tan for the chocolate. But all of this was a part of our assignment too. Part of the words Army of Occupation European Command. These were routine. The work was difficult, but it was exciting too. Calls coming in from Paris, from London and America. Calls routed to Berlin, to Vienna, to Munich and Heidelberg. Once just names in a geography book. Now names spread across a telephone switchboard before me. Your movements became automatic. Your voice, a non-committal mechanism. Yes, General Blair, I'm completing your call now. I'm sorry, no personal calls to the switchboard. You should know the regulation. Yes, London, you are coming through. There is interference on the line. Frankfurt military pose. Yes, just a moment, please, I'll connect you. I'll have to transfer your call to the post exchange for that information. The officer in charge is Major William A. Bentley. Hour after hour, calls coming in. Calls going out. A five-minute break was as welcome as a school recess. You'd step outside for a breather. Cigarette, cup of coffee. If it weren't the middle of November, I'd say this was the longest day of the year. Cigarette. Oh, coffee for me. Sugar, milk, please. I've had so much of this stuff today. If I get near an open flame, I may percolate. You never had it so good. Are you referring to the coffee? It's not bad. Good coffee, something I really enjoy. What time are you off duty tonight? I'm not. How's that again? I'm not off duty. I'm taking Helen's shift. And what's with Miss Glamour? She'd pair a cuticle too close or something? You wouldn't want me to stand in the way of young love now, would you? Marge, look. You can be a nice person. And you can also be too nice a person, and people walk all over you. How many times have you taken that gal's duty so far this morning? I don't mind, really, I don't. I like Bill. And it's for him, too. Bill is in Italy on furlough. Bill is landing at Rhyming tonight. He got on a special flight, a C-47 coming from Pisa. Is it okay if I take Helen's shift now? Okay, you win. Oh, I wish you could have seen Helen's face when she got the call from Bill. Talk about a bright sun after a thunderstorm. You know, I guess maybe I was as happy as she was. We just stood there and grinned at each other like a couple of foolish kids. Marge, Helen, we were just talking about it. Betty, wait a minute, Helen, what is it? Oh, but Betty, get some water. Get some water in the hall. Now Helen, Helen, you're all right here. Just try to sit up a little. Now there, that's better. Just take it easy for a minute, Helen. Here's the water, Marge. Should I call the captain? I'm all right, really, I... Oh, sure, sure, you are. Now here, try a little of this, huh? I'm sorry, I was so silly. It's just that... Now you said something about the radio. Yes, it was the news report. The plane is missing. A C-47. But Helen, you mustn't jump to conclusions. You know there's more than one C-47 over here. This one took off this morning from Pisa, Italy. Oh, my. You are listening to the proudly we hail production of Operation Rescue. Here's to our story in just a moment. You know, times have certainly changed. While just a few short years ago, women were completely left out of this man's world. But today, in more and more instances, women are proving that they can assume the role of skill technicians in positions once thought of as solely for men. Now a case in point is aviation. Today in our rapidly expanding Air Force, women are taking their places alongside men as cryptographers, control tower operators, cryptographers and dispatchers. Now these are but a few of the vital services now being performed by the women in the Air Force. If you were between the ages of 18 and 34 and can qualify, visit your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force Recruiting Station today. Ask about the WAF, women in the Air Force. They need you now. You are listening to Proudly We Hail, and now we present the second act of Operation Rescue. 24 hours and no report of the missing plane. Two days passed, three. The entire zone was alerted, soldiers and civilians alike, everywhere searching parties spread out through woodland tracks, in the mountain districts, through the wide Bavarian farmlands. AFN, the American Forthes Network, was on the air hour after hour, keeping us informed on the latest details of the air tragedy. Early this morning, constabulary in Air Force vehicles rolled into the town of Beach in southern France to check on the report that the wreckage of the plane had been sighted. But after hours of ruthless search, military leaders were forced to give up when a heavy blizzard started. The same weather has now grounded all searching aircraft. As yet, there is no indication that... Well, no news is good news, Helen. I don't want to listen. Try a little of this hot soup. Oh, I can't eat much. Now, Helen, look, listen to me. You've got to pull yourself together. You're just making things harder than they are. Maybe if you came back to work, maybe that would keep your mind off things a little. But I don't want to listen to anyone say, has there been a report of the plane? Hasn't headquarters heard anything at all? OK, Helen, I understand. But please try to eat a little. You'll feel better. I'll leave this tray here for you. See what you can do, huh? Hey, frankly, Corporal Millan, I don't know where we can get any experienced help. We've screened all the files in this district. None have had any switchboard training at all. Betty Thomas has been on duty for almost 10 hours without relief. I've tried to reach Timmy Brady and Joan Nagel. They're on leave in Garmish. The Blizzard, though, has cut off all communication in that district. Well, we'll get along. It's of the utmost importance that the switchboard be kept operating smoothly till some news comes in concerning the missing plane. I'll do my very best, Captain Farron. I'm sure you will, Corporal. Tell me, how is Helen? She's sleeping now. She's certainly taken this whole thing very much to heart. The poor kid just can't think of anything else. Let me know if I can do anything. Anything at all. I will. And thank you, Captain Farron. Oh, by the way, Corporal, how long have you been on duty now? Don't worry about me, Captain Farron. I'm fine. Just fine. Well, if I find anyone at all who can relieve you, I'll send them right in. Thank you, Captain. Uh, Marge. Yes, Captain Farron? Thank you too, Marge. Thank you very much. Frankfurt military post. Oh, no, sir. I'm sorry. Nothing's come in at all, sir. No word. Uh, yes, sir, as soon as I hear anything. Yes, sir. Marge, you've got to get some sleep. You can't keep on like this. No one can. You've got to get some sleep. I'm all right, Betty. You haven't been to bed in almost 36 hours and you've had nothing to eat. Just a sandwich or two and coffee. Marge, look, I'll tell Captain Farron... Betty, get me some coffee. But, Marge... Betty, please, I'm too tired to argue with you two. Just get me a cup of coffee, huh? Sugar, no cream. It became something I'd read about in books. Time was something I'd known a long time ago when I was packing my kid brothers off to school. Time was a clock I punched in an aircraft factory in New Jersey. Time was revelry and miss-call and retreat and taps. But not the switchboards stretching to my right and left. Not those flashing lights. Not the constant... Frankford Military Post... Frankford Military Post... Frankford Military Post... Frankford Military Post... In the search for the missing C-47 and the area in which the plane is believed to be has been narrowed down considerably. The job has been long and grueling. Men working impossible hours under impossible conditions but still not discouraged. Last night four fires were sighted. Approximately 40 miles away an oil smudge fire was sighted and wrecked scene or so the report was worded. But it was just another rumor, another false report. And Ryan may be a special place... You hear any more of this? No, I think it makes the waiting easier not to listen to the law. No, you too. I took the radio out of Helen's room. There was some definite news, some hope, anything. Frightening, isn't it? What time is it now? Little after eleven. I don't think we can expect any rush, of course. I suppose you turn in. I'd rather stay here with you. I can handle this by myself, I don't need any help. I'd rather stay. Betty, can't you understand? I have to stay here. It's like those men out there looking for that plane. They have a job and they're sticking to it. I'm chief operator. It's my job. Marge the switchboard, it's my job too. But it's my responsibility. Okay. Then let me go down to the mess hall and get you some... Betty, what... I just feel a little bit tired. Look, you're going to bed right now or else I'm going to call Captain Farnham now. Start marching. I knew I had to keep awake. The night stretched on an endless corridor before me. Strange the things that keep running through your mind when you're alone. Little bits of your life snatches of conversation. Brief glimpses of people in places you'd forgotten very long ago. A girl can't be too choosy these days. I had to keep awake. I had to keep watching the switchboard. It sure is some town big like nothing I've ever seen before. And as chief operator, it is your duty, your duty, your duty, your duty, your duty, your duty. Frankfort Military Post... Yes? Yes? Would... Would you repeat that once again? Please? Yes, just now. How about Bill? No, Helen, no. They found the plane near the Swiss border on the side of a mountain and they found the plane and Helen, they think everyone's all right. When they flew over, they could see the people waving near the wreckage of the plane. And Chum? Is everyone here, Betty? Everyone, ma'am, with the exception of Helen. She went out to Rhinemaine about an hour ago. Well, that's understandable. Please, all of you sit down. I just wanted to thank you all personally for your help during the recent emergency. All of you, collectively, and particularly Corporal Marge Millen. Our job here in Frankfort, in fact, the job of the Army Corps all over the world, is one about which very few people know. Too few people. We are not in active combat, but we have important battle lines which must be held. No matter how difficult the circumstances, they must be held. Corporal Millen has demonstrated this very abry these last few days. Her untiring efforts, the long hours she spent at the switchboard, all this should be an example of the spirit of whack to all of you. Now, there are no medals given out for courage, such as she has showed, but medals aren't necessary. She had a job to do, and she did it well. We all owe her a vote of thanks for proving the qualities of the women's Army Corps. When you get finished taking vows, Marge, how about some coffee? A sugar, please. Sure, I know. And no cream. Here's a message for you young women who have just graduated from high school. There's a future for you in Air Force Blue. Yes, an important future in the exciting places of the world. Today the WAF, women in the Air Force, is rapidly expanding to keep pace with our defense needs. Now, if you are between the ages of 18 and 34, and can qualify, enlist in the WAF, women in the Air Force, and join the many patriotic American women who are serving their country on the Air Force team. You are needed to fill an important job in the service of your country. So, visit your United States Army and United States Air Force Recruiting Station. Have a talk with Recruiting Sergeant and learn all of the facts. Remember, there's a future for you in Air Force Blue. This has been another program on proudly we hail, presented transcribed in cooperation with the station by the United States Army and United States Air Force Recruiting Service. This program featured a cast of outstanding players. This is Kenneth Banghart speaking next week for another interesting story on proudly we hail.