 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 United States Army our story is entitled it's a small world this is the story of a strange night reconnaissance patrol that Sergeant George Kelly led against the Germans and how the sound of a familiar voice brought it to light nine years later our first eye curtain will rise in just a moment but first young man here's news about an important opportunity for you right now the United States Army the senior service of our armed forces has an urgent need for qualified technicians to operate and service the complex equipment that science has brought into being the need is vital and you can be trained in such interesting career fields as radio electronics radar photography meteorology mechanics and many many others yes indeed here's your chance to acquire a skill that will be of value to your country and help you later in civilian life too for full details visit the recruiting sergeant at your nearest recruiting station today and now your army and your Air Force present the proudly we hail production it's a small world if you've heard it said once you've heard it a hundred times especially when you're far from home run into a guy went to school where there happens to be a relative of your cousin's brother-in-law's best friend and he's bound to say or you're bound to say well well it's a small world huh you don't have to tell me how small this world is here I'm stationed in Berlin and I got married to this wack corporal who lived eight blocks from my home in Chicago can you imagine but the story I'd really like to tell you really proves how small this world is and it concerns something that happened about nine years ago is it that long well it must be anyhow Della and I had us each a furlough and we got a car so I could show Della around Europe we got on the Autobahn and barreled along till we reached Stuttgart we figured that we'd stop off for something to eat and then drive all night and reach Paris the next day if you got a good car distances are really nothing in Europe well we're sitting in this restaurant and all of a sudden I hear a voice a voice I remembered hearing during the war nine years ago Kelly is there something wrong with the soup you've been sitting there like a statue holding the spoon halfway between the plate in your mouth it isn't bad so look after your left see those three guys sitting at the table next to it so I'll bet any amount that nine years ago the blonde one was in the German Army well at his age why shouldn't you have been in the German Army nine years ago what else would he have been doing playing left field for the whites starting to talk again it has to be the guy I know that voice any word sometimes I wonder what would have happened if our parents had nothing to eat from our children really could have bought them their communication we could have demoralized them we might have gained time isn't it bad enough I have to listen to your war stories do I need this when the power shoot battalion landed it was ambushed the Americans had the area surrounded they were waiting how did they find out it was a secret a carefully guarded secret how did they find out who knows I know how many times must I tell you when I'm with you I don't want you to sit there talking to yourself finish the soup on Werner the other guy just called him Werner that was his name all right major Gottfried Werner friend of yours we were together in the same house yeah when France back in the winter of 1944 now look honey they got a new captain at the army hospital he's a psychiatrist when we get back from leave I want you to report in here I am under the same roof with this guy again yeah it's a small world should I tell him why his paratroopers were ambushed what do you think well I'm we use we I don't know what to think and how did it all happen I got lost I was in charge of the patrol and I got lost okay okay you're going to have to tell me this story which means your soup's going to get cold do you mind if I finish it for you while I listen look if that's how you feel about it skip the whole thing how did you happen to meet that guy the next day forget it no sweetie I really want to know well it was December why you put so much salt in your soup you ruined it for me it was the coldest December I ever saw in my life I was in a foxhole with a machine gunner when the runner came to tell me to report back to the command post I could have jumped for joy even though I was sure I knew what the old man wanted sit down Kelly you look at all you could use some coffee Charlie fill up a cup will you yeah how is it out there cold captain I think it's going to snow get some coffee search hey you want to change your socks yeah that is called Kelly I'm trying to relieve as many of the boys as I can I got most of the first platoon back in town I'll have them up in the line as soon as it gets dark I figure most of your men can get a night in front of a fire I could use it well not you exactly Kelly I need a patrol maybe I can have another cup of coffee yes sure battalions worry they think we may be just a little bit too far forward they don't know just what kind of strength the enemy has so someone has to get out there look around and bring us back to prisoner I think you could handle it with two men and yourself we're not going to find any sensible Jerry soldiers drifting around in this cold well the cold should make it easier for you to get in unobserved what do I take with me captain we'll take somebody who's been back here keeping warm in the CP all day I've got about 12 men in the other room I better go inside and break the good news to two lucky soldiers take two good men Kelly fellas who have been out with you before yes Charlie save me some coffee I know it's after Christmas but I got two extra presents here for two lucky guy keep away from me I know it's going on your mind I ain't interested thank you mr. Gordon be good enough to join me in the captain's study at once we're gonna talk about the present worldwide conflict and what you personally can do to end it sooner not a night like this I'm gonna see the chapter far he isn't gonna go out in the patrol with you I went out last night that's your fault for being such a good man inside let's see oh was that corporate van classes it sure is van your country needs men don't look at me Kelly I'm just a boy on a man along who can speak some German I don't speak German Kelly I speak good enough come along van this brisk exhilarating air of the wonders for you all the you guys get ready your personal stuff van you got a 45 having your barrows lend Gordon yours do I have to carry a machine gun to know we're not mad at anybody tonight we're not looking for fight I'll take my M1 you two can take car beads you know I'm not running this army but if I was nobody fight in the winter time there used to be such a feasible guy Kelly how do I get into these things you think about it for a while and when you're finished come inside yeah you know what I'm thinking yeah but look at all the war stories we'll have to tell our grandchildren yeah I should only live to tell them we moved through the deep snow as quickly and as quietly as we could all the time the flakes were coming down as big as silver dollars no good to try to judge the distance by counting paces because half the time we found ourselves slipping and floundering along and then I had to pull the biggest rock of all I took out my compass and tried to get a fix on our direction but my fingers were so numb with the call that I well what can I say I dropped it was somewhere in a snow bank gone forever or maybe in years to come a French farmer plowing a field that find it he can keep it I make him a present of it but that wasn't helping us now my original plan was to go wide around the enemy flank and work our way behind his lines for a patch of woods but right now I had no idea of where the woods were I had no idea of where we were either I found out soon enough at the ground for us with the jerry's what were they saying van nothing they're not sure Kelly just up ahead that big black thing it's a tank and they must have a tank in position to help out the artillery what are we doing back here with your children up a much further back than I thought okay let's grab one of these guys and go home that'll be a good idea if we knew where home was you hear anything yeah yeah my teeth I hear them shattering let's go inside the tank and start the motor sergeant said we have to start guard outside do you think it will come around in the night like this to make sure no but shoot yourself I am going inside oh is that all about fan did you catch it we ran into a couple of real gold bricks who can blame them they went inside the tank that means we can sneak past let's go where it's a difference we can't stay here couldn't stay where we were in any minute we could have run into the whole German army I looked at the direction that the 88 mounted on the tank was pointing our line would be in that direction that was no good I'd lose sight of that 10 yards away and we'd be lost again only it stops snowing only the moon had come out yeah but if it did how good would that be we'd be able to see but we would also be seen we couldn't stay where we were and we didn't know where to go just up ahead what's that it looks like a house Kelly it's right it is a house the question is is there anybody inside maybe yes maybe no what do you think Kelly I don't know looks like a big house the kind of place maybe a battalion or a regimental commander would use for command post yeah but then they'd have guys outside on guard on a night like this a guy and guard at stand inside the door maybe a gold brick like you shut up the tour there were Jerry's inside there be some kind of vehicles outside that have to be why is there some kind of law that says so no but it figures anyhow I say let's go in that suits this half Rose boy to a T so what if they're inside we got our weapons ready that have to go get there and now it's not that I really got anything against it you understand but I thought weren't looking for a fight and seconds from now we could blunder into Jerry's and be in a fight anyhow leave the way sergeant slowly we walked around the side of the house wasn't a single sign of life anywhere as we walked around the house I saw it was a large place made of stone like a lot of substantial old houses in the French countryside this must have been the country home of some wealthy guy maybe a place that was in the family for generations but nobody would be living in it now we hoped there was a door in the rear of the house tried the handle it was locked that's a good sign oh man can't we get in there I'm freezing what are you gonna do in the winter time let's see if we can get this window give me a boost higher so I can raise the wind all right that's got it hurry up look out for the best man oh what Kelly now let's look around wait a minute what's that so just somebody coming in this room van Gordon be ready to fly out that window our cubby they didn't get a civilian speaking English oh yes sir Americans are the Germans in this house no sir that isn't not yet what do you mean not yet I mean they come they come so where are we where is this place you are two kilometers east of Clarency Clarency yeah I remember that name from map Sarge the Jerry's hold it he we certainly wanted a long way from home one thing for sure we got to get out of here permit me to ask a question where can you go in this storm you will become lost you are five kilometers say three of your miles behind the Germans what did you mean when you said there were no Germans here yet about three hours ago a German officer and two men came here they told me a colonel would use this house for his headquarters they said he would be here with his staff I was told to make this place ready when is this Colonel gonna show up I do not know at any time perhaps he's being delayed by the storm there's nobody else in the house now no monsieur I am alone here this estate belongs to the Baron runner was he dead monsieur killed in the Maginot land he had a son who is a prisoner in Germany listen you hear that Kelly we're gonna be prisoners in Germany too in just about one minute this way major the house is ready have your squad move here should we make a break for what Sarge we can lose them in the storm the sergeant permit me to help I can hide you yeah where here in the house hide in a house full of Jerry's you nuts oh this is an ancient house there are rooms passages what have we got to lose open the door come this way quickly one moment one moment behind it was a panel the panel slid open there was a passage where leading to a room behind a wall you will be safe here I hope I must let me know Kelly how do we know we can trust this guy how do we know he won't give us a way to the Jerry's you want to know the truth kid we don't you are listening to the proudly we hail production it's a small world we'll return in just a moment for the second act girls how would you like a job with a 30-day paid vacation every year a job which pays while you learn all right if you're 18 and not yet 35 and have a high school education there's a wonderful job waiting for you in the women's Army Corps you can learn a trade it will be of great value to you here are just a few of the jobs which the whack can train you to do be an office manager an expert photographer a radio broadcast specialist a secretary an x-ray technician or even a lady journalist and don't forget you get a 30-day paid vacation every single year where can a gal go to find out about the women's Army Corps why all she has to do is visit her nearest United States Army recruiting station believe me girls you'll enjoy life more in the women's Army Corps you are listening to proudly we hail and now we present the second act of it's a small world we were in a small room it was dark except for a pinpoint of light I walked over to where the light was coming from there's a small grate on the wall that separated our hidden room from the one we had just been in I looked through it and I saw the door open Andre and a German officer came into the room we could hear their voices this is the largest room in the house well that'll do oh no put my telephone in here you'll light a fire yes he hasn't given us away yet or has he oh what I love to get out of here just everybody shut up for a minute Chow who's got something to eat I got one K ration and with the cheese at bed what else morning major good morning hands it is almost morning I thought the battalion was supposed to attack last night that would have been a good time but I have received an order counter madding the attack patrols about the Americans are spread very thin sir an attack and battalion strength could break the line I suppose the general knows what he is doing how's the food situation I ordered is preparing something in the kitchen shall I have him surface here no we may as well eat inside I wonder why the attack was called off thought of food made us realize we were starving yet what could we do and we saw old Andre and he had a tray he was coming toward the closet he opened the panel and came into our little room here is some bread and cheese and a little wine it is all I have in the house or anything it tastes good right now perhaps a letter I can steal some of their russians they have meat what's the situation I think the snow is stopping there are 20 of them here now 20 how do you figure we can get out of here until it becomes dark you must stay we will try to think of something I'd better leave you now thanks thanks for everything he opened the panel again walked into the closet now into the room just then the outside door opened in the major walked in what are you doing in here I thought I would clean the major's room sir that will not be necessary we will not enter this room unless I summon you it's not understood yes sir you may leave yes major what is it there's a courier outside with orders from the general where are the orders his instructions are to deliver them to you personally call him so that you are the owner from general reine moods yes meter Werner oh I know you you are Heinrich Diermann your father and the restaurant is what is this what he says I was sent sir because I was the only one at headquarters will you personally these orders are top-seeker I see well Heinrich you've had a long cold trip go to the kitchen and have coffee thank you major secret orders now what we should soon find out man can you follow these guys some kind of big deal secret orders nice pay attention what do they say month that you must leave the room leave the first sentence you will open these with no one else in the room no one is to know the contents of these orders except yourself I shall have some coffee it's a deal all right she can't even tell his adjutant I knew it was in those orders just sitting there reading yeah he's reading to himself right he's getting up and walking around the room major yes we have some fresh eggs and some sausages in the kitchen choke all these guys do was eat I'll be with you in a moment call the fence he's out here on the hall you come here yes sir is there a key to this room yes let me have it that will be all yes oh my friends of food they're going out listen he locked the door from the outside come on we got at least 15 minutes to do what those orders are in the desk we'll see if you can read them but suppose he comes back we will shoot it out maybe something else we'll just have to see what happens they read fast look I studied German and I still haven't come on let's go kid as long as we went this far let's read the kitchen to headquarters and no staff secret parachuted hey and wait a minute wait we try to get the sense out of the whole thing those are numbers oh 200 2 o'clock in the morning won't I it's tomorrow morning Clarence that's where we are now alley behind American lines parachute battalion supported by infantry battalion is back jump them before I can make a sound Andre I have another key they're gonna drop a parrot troop battalion in the back of our lines to break us up in the rear while they attack us from the front mentions the place and everything we gotta get out of here I'll take these orders leave them don't you see they don't know that we know we can ambush the parrot rule how do we get back to tell our outfit that is what I have come here to tell you you have a watch good it becomes dark at five there is a barn close to the other side of the house at five I shall set fire to it in the excitement every one of them will go there you can then leave for the window make for the woods follow the woods northeast that is the direction of your lines remember at five all of us had better be out of this room before the major returns in our little room all day major worked over his papers made calls guys kept coming in and out all day we sweated out five o'clock could Andre start the fire with a major on out to see it I can tell you we were on pins all right major as a fire the barn is burning fire how did it stop the barn is blazing good Lord if it can be seen from the air the plan can be upset there will be heavy enemy artillery there they go and here we go come on right see anybody outside no okay out the window okay sprint for the woods hard to sneak through the woods we were extra careful we picked our way through the trees we were numb with the cold but that worked both ways because the Germans who were supposed to be on guard weren't too alert either we reached our outpost at midnight two hours before the parachute troops were supposed to land the commanding officer sent us back to battalion and then they got the division commander on the phone Americans were waiting for the parachute troops were ambushed I'll attack fate I'm sure they found out it was casual but how what a coincidence ten years later I run into this guy in a restaurant should I tell him Kelly no I wouldn't hey come on we better be going no no no no wait a minute wait a minute I I just I just can't walk out like this you can okay have you got a pencil yeah yeah now write a note for you what are you writing I'll tell you later we'll make it good I think so waiter as soon as we leave will you deliver this note and a bottle of wine to the gentleman at that table there the blonde one oh yeah okay come on Kelly yeah sure is a small world for me yes the party that just left asked me to deliver it hmm good wine one though and and this note sir a note once again we were under the same roof it's a small world signed sergeant George Kelly I wonder what this means the US Army needs men men who take a special pride in being part of a man's army if you're a high school graduate you can join now at after basic training apply for assignment to any army school for the finest technical training now if you qualify for the school you select and come within the quota you'll be assigned to it but however you choose to serve it service that means a special pride the sense of a job well done in a man's army young men between the ages of 18 and 34 men who look to the future are now choosing the United States Army visit your nearest recruiting station today and grow with the world's greatest army and the opportunities it offers you this has been another program on proudly we hail presented transcribed in cooperation with this station proudly we hail is produced by the recruiting publicity center for the United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting service this is Mark Hamilton speaking inviting you to tune in this same station next week for another interesting story on proudly we hail