 presents Tyrone Power and John Hodeak. The Mutual Network in Cooperation with Family Theatre presents Turn on the Lights starring John Hodeak. Now here is your host, Tyrone Power. Thank you Tony LaFranco. Family Theatre's only purpose is to bring to everyone's attention a practice that must become an important part of our lives if we are to win peace for ourselves, peace for our families and peace for the world. Family Theatre urges you to pray, pray together as a family. And now to our transcribed drama, Turn on the Lights starring John Hodeak as Commander Somes. I'd keep him on the adrenaline for a few more days Lieutenant. Alright sir. Be better if we postpone any further surgery until he's back in the States. If you're worried about our facilities Commander I should tell you we have just about everything aboard need. I'm not running down your hospital, Chef Lieutenant. I just think the boy needs more rest. Very well sir. Now what about this Marine Sergeant that was taken aboard at Tokyo? Oh, oh yes Landon. Well this is his room right here sir. About his history. Are these dates correct? Yes sir. Seems to me that five months is a pretty long recuperative period just for a flesh wound. Well sir in Landon's case we considered it lucky that he recuperated at all. Oh? No he didn't want to recover. Have you seen the psychologist report on him? No. Well no it wouldn't be attached to that history sir. They're kept in a confidential file. What happened to him? Well last spring Sergeant Landon was sent out on a night reconnaissance patrol his charge of five men and somehow the patrol was spotted and all of them were killed all but him. He was wounded and crawled back to his own lines. Well I guess it's only natural for a noncom to feel a sense of guilt when some of his men are lost. Yes sir yes but Landon's guilt seems to go deeper almost as if he personally were responsible for what happened. What kind of a combat record did he have? Well excellent. Decorated twice. You mind if I talk to him alone? I wish you would sir. Do you want me to wait out here? No that won't be necessary. Very well. I'll be in the records office if you want me. Fine. Sergeant Landon? Yes sir. Mind if I come in? No sir. I'm Commander Somes. How do you do? Doctor? Yes. Mind if I sit down? No sir. How's your leg feel Sergeant? All right. Little stiff. That'll go away. Do you feel like talking about it yet? About what? About the five men you murdered. What do you mean murdered? That's what it was wasn't it? No. What kind of a doctor are you? I was trying to save him. Save the kid. Save nobody. You were trying to save yourself. That's a lie I wasn't. It was Kessler the kid. He got separated from the squad and I tried to find him and they spotted us. I'm no murderer. I was trying to save the kid. I was trying to save the kid. They spotted us. I know. I had to make you tell me what happened. That's why I said those things to you. I'm glad somebody knows anyhow. You should have done this a long time ago. I couldn't. It was my fault. Oh come now. No. No it was. I tried to find Kessler. I thought about him when I should have been thinking about the whole squad. That's only natural. Kessler was one of your men. No. No. No. If I stuck to the manual, played it like a pro those guys it'll be alive. What do you mean like a pro? A professional. 30 year man. Soldier. That's where I went wrong. I was trying to act like a human being and you can't be a good soldier and a human being at the same time. You didn't read that in the manual. Well it ought to be there. Sergeant it says here on your record that you were born in 1930. That's right sir. I'm 23. Well let's see. And you would have been about 14. When sir? During the Battle of the Marianas. That was in June 1944. It began with the invasion of Saipan by the 2nd and 4th Marine Division. Unable task force in the Philippine Sea when into action against the enemy fleet under Admiral Ozawa. The craft battle of the war. They nicknamed it the Marianas Turkey Shoot. The enemy lost almost 500 planes in that fight. But aboard the carrier on which I was serving, we had our losses too. Mr. Soms. Yes will it. You want it on the intercom, sir. It's the bridge. For me? Yes sir. They asked for a doctor. Someone's been hit up. Well tell them to bring him down here to Sekpe. Well I suggested that sir but the officer on the line ordered me to get you. He says it's an emergency. They think that we've got enough emergencies down here. Well I tried to tell him that sir. All right. I'll talk to him. It's right over there sir. I'm finished dressing that man's wound will you? Yes sir. I'll get you. Sekpe Lieutenant Soms. Yes sir. Sir do you know we have 14 men waiting for surgery down here? No sir. I'm not operating at the moment. Well no they're not priority cases but sir why can't you bring the man down here? All right. All right sir. I'll be right up. What's it all about Mr. Soms? Some officer up in Flag Plot caught an ACAC splinter in his arm. He won't leave the bridge. Hey you're getting up in the world. What? There's only one person on this carrier they can't order off the bridge. The admiral? Well you bet. That too tight sir? Matter of fact it feels a little loose. It was not supposed to be a tourniquet sir. It's just a dressing. Oh. How long do I have to lie here in this couch? Better stay off your feet for the next hour anyhow sir. Well can't you put my arm in a sling or something? I intend to sir when it's time for you to get up. You tell the exec to report in here if anything shows on the radar. I've told him sir. I think we finished him off. Got a feeling Ozawa played his trumpet the last strike. I certainly hope so admiral. You topped side when they came over first time this morning? No sir I wasn't. Remember sir anything like it. Better than sixty zigs. Not ten of them got out. How about our own planes admiral? We lose many. Not bad. Well an operations officer I spoke to says we've won a great victory. I think we will have when it's over. But sir you just said... I know what I said. We stripped Ozawa's fleet of its air support but that's just a defensive victory. Now it's our turn to attack. All right all right we hear you we hear you. Your number come up for this and Bill? Yeah sure. You wouldn't expect the old man to plan an operation it didn't include ensign Brooks would you doc? Well at least you'll have a lot of company. Yeah not one of them will be an admiral you can bet on it. Most admirals I've seen are a little old to be flying Hellcats. Yeah never seem to get too old to shout hello from the rear. Well even so I wouldn't want the old man's job. Too many big decisions. Some decisions. Do I send up fifty ships or a hundred? Do they go in waves of twenty or forty? I'll trade jobs with him anytime. I don't know. He's got a listing flag plot of every ship he sends out. Also what? So I wouldn't like to be in the shoes when they towed up the ones that don't come back. Yeah sure sure. He reads the list and he hates himself for half an hour. The next morning he's back at the same old stand raring ago. That's his job. A pretty cushy one too. Bill let's face it somebody's got to give the orders. Yeah sure sure and somebody else has to carry him out. Well I can't argue with you there. Don't pay any attention to me. Just letting off steam. I know. But you know something just the same just as a matter of interest before this fracas goes into the wrecked books there's something I'd like to see. What's that? A brass hat. A great big brass hat having to make a choice between being a hero or saving his skin. Yes will it. Commander Johnson wants to report to sickbay as soon as the decks are clear sir. All right sir. Well they sure are something aren't they? What? The hell cats. Oh oh yeah yeah. I'll say they are. All right. You ever been up sir? A commercial airliner. Two years ago I thought I'd be up there flying one of those babies. Oh I didn't know you'd been an air cadet will it. Well I wasn't for very long sir washed out in pre-flight school. See they sure are something huh. Yeah. What was wrong? Physical? No. Couldn't lick the math. Navigation. Too bad. No no I ought to be grateful. Those boys taking off are gonna need all the navigation they get this afternoon. Why this afternoon? Well look at the time sir it's almost 1600. They get less than four hours a daylight to go out make the strike and get back here. It's cutting it pretty thin if you ask me. Why would the admiral wait so long to send them out they were through with the briefing before lunch? Well sir that part's kind of smart. I got a buddy down in Ops told me Ozawa's fleet is somewhere northeast of us. That means if they hit them late in the afternoon they'll come in with the Sun right behind them. Well that's good. It sure is sir. It's pretty hard to hit a man flying that shot of the Sun. Now what these guys got to worry about mostly is getting back here before dark. What if they don't get back here before then? Well you can't land on a carrier if you can't see it. They're out of luck. You wanted to see me commander? What's this commander stuff Joe? I thought we were just a couple of civilian medics. Yeah yeah I I don't know Jerry I guess I'm getting a little rank conscious. Anything wrong? Yeah yeah plenty is wrong. Well I'm listening. 15 minutes ago I watched 30 kids. Kids take off from this carrier and you know what? What? They're dead men. You can write them off our records right now they're dead. How do you figure that? Because they aren't going to make it back here not before the Sun goes down. They got a chance to. I understand they got a good chance to. That's not the way I hear it. No? No. I hear it they've been held off from making the strike until late afternoon so they'll have the Sun behind them. Doesn't that make sense? Sure it makes great sense especially if you're back here on the bridge fighting the war like it's a chest. Now now take it easy. It even sounds humane. The admiral takes every precaution to safeguard his fliers until you look at it a while. Cool down. And then it comes to you. This withered old butcher isn't worried about as many as worried about his target. Joe shut up. He wants them to be alive when they get there. Joe. But how they get back that's their problem. Dirty lousy brass. Sit down Joe. Yeah I know how you feel. But I've been here a little longer than you have. It's just something you learn to get used to. You learn to get used to seeing men's lives spent like like quarters. Not intentionally but if that's what it takes to win. Yes I guess that's what you learn. Then I'm not the man for this slot because that's something I'll never learn. We're in war Joe. Yes we're in a war and I'm a doctor. I'm supposed to save lives not throw them away. Now now now no one means to throw them away. No. What would you say the admiral is doing. His job. You know that's just what I told Brooks this morning. That someone had to give the orders. I said it with a straight face too. I said that was the admiral's job and I didn't envy him. Well you were right. No I wasn't. Brooks was right. He said he'd trade jobs with the admiral anytime and he was right. Well right or wrong the admiral still your patient. What's that got to do with it. His dressing has to be changed. That's why I asked Willett to have you report here. You can send someone else for that job. Look I'm sending you for that job because that's who the admiral wants. I won't do it. Now listen Joe you and I can think what we want but the way this war is being run but you said a moment ago we're doctors so just don't start acting like a prima donna on me. Then why don't you go up and change his dress. Because he asked for you. Oh I'm flattered. I suppose I'm expected to break my neck getting up there too. Matter of fact I was told to have you finish your tour of duty in sick bay and eat dinner first. Well I wasn't that thoughtful. I think so. You want to know what I think Jerry. All right. I think his nibs wants a neutral party up there to hold his hand when those planes come back after dark and start falling in the water. Flag plot. Yes admiral. How much more daylight do we have. Sunset's log for 2014 sir. About four minutes. Any sign of him yet. Negative. All right. Okay now go to it. And by the way those pills you gave me last night worked fine. Glad to hear it sir. First time in a month I've slept over four hours. This may hurt a little. Go ahead. Oh sorry sir. How's it look. Healing up very nicely. Do I have to keep wearing the sling. Just a few more days. Is something bothering you Lieutenant. I was just thinking about the planes that are out sir. That makes it unanimous. Do you think they'll make it back in time. I'm afraid not. You know Admiral I heard a story about a carrier pilot early in the war who didn't get back to a ship until after dark. Yes. Yes sir. Lift your arm a bit. They could hear him flying overhead so they broke radio silence to talk to him. I remember the story Lieutenant. He had less than an hour of fuel left in the nearest land was four hours away. So they gave him his bearings and wished him good luck. Is that the story you mean. That's the one sir. I guess you would think that was pretty heartless. What do you think sir. I think the commander of that ship had a tough decision to make. Yes sir. Flag blot. Operations we picked them up on the radar Admiral. How far off. About five minutes sir. Any daylight left. All finished up Lieutenant. All finished sir. You've never seen the task force from up here on my bridge have you. No sir I haven't. Would you like to. Very much sir. Snap off that light will go out and have a look. You find the door. Yes sir. Come on. Hardly see anything sir. Your eyes will get used to the dark in a few seconds. Can you make them out yet. I guess they're a little just shadow we outlined so far. Those are the big ones the cruises. Those two long flat shadows to the left to carriers like this. Before long you'll be able to make out the destroyers. Yes sir I can see them now. They look tiny. They look bigger through a periscope. Any idea how large this force is. More than a hundred ships. More than four hundred ships. Well that's that's quite a responsibility. I agree with you. Flag blot. We've got a fix on the lead group sir they're coming in northwest. Very well. Any instructions sir. Negative standby you're ending yet Lieutenant. No sir. Keep listening you will. Yes yes and now they're back. Briggs silence with the commander of that lead group. Yes sir hold on. What carries he with. Hold on sir. Five sir that's us. Tell me exactly what you've got in the sub screens. Just a minute sir. Fifteen minutes. And before that. Intermittent. What range. Hold on sir. You're sure that's absolutely all. Affirmative. Stand by. Lieutenant. Yes sir. I think you've got this bandage a little tight. Sir. That blip on the radar scope. That have been a submarine. Very possibly. What are you going to do sir. The way I see it I. I haven't got much choice. Flag blot. Get a fuel estimate from that group leader. Hold on sir. Ten more minutes sir. Oh how far is the nearest land base. Just a minute sir. Almost twenty sir. Pass the word. Turn on the lights. Yes sir. Long as I live. One by one the great banks of landing lights along the edge of the carrier blazed up. Every ship in the task force turned on its search lights to watch as one after another the squat blue hell cat swooped down out of the darkness and came to rest on the decks of the carriers. No one thought about the enemy submarines or planes that might be lurking nearby. The risk had already been counted and taken. And everyone. The most important thing to remember about the man who turned on the lights. Is that he was a professional. One of the most successful professional military men we've ever had sergeant. You. You mean that really happened. It's naval history. And Admiral took that kind of a risk with our whole task force just to save the lives of a few flyers. There were more than a few. There were a couple hundred. Oh well no wonder. No great wonder. Remember those few hundred flyers were a smaller part of the Admiral's fleet than Kessler was of your squad. Maybe but. But the Admiral got away with it. He saved these men. That's why it's a good story. What do you think would have happened to him if there'd been a sub out there in the dark. And it let go a couple of torpedoes. I've often wondered about that. I'll tell you what would have happened. He'd have been Court Marshall. They'd have thrown a book at him. And why haven't you been Court Marshall. Why. I don't know. Would you like me to tell you. Yeah. It's because the pros the 30 year men the fellows who wrote that manual realize that you and the Admiral and hundreds of others like you may sometime have to face a thing like this. That you may be forced in one way or another to make the hard choice between being a good soldier and a human being. I wonder if they know that you can bank on it. It's the reason the Admiral wasn't Court Marshall. It's the reason you won't be Court Marshall. What's the reason the pros the 30 year men. They've got something in common with guys like you and the Admiral. Yeah. Yeah. They're human beings too. Listening to tonight's play with the sound of all those airplanes taking off and landing reminded me of a simple and yet moving sermon that I heard a chaplain give to a gathering of young fighter pilots during World War Two. He said you young men have spent many hours thousands of feet in the air. And I guess that each of you at one time or another has felt a great sense of peace and contentment up there in the sky. Perhaps you've even felt that being able to fly has brought you a little closer to heaven than most of us ever get in this life. But have you ever considered how much like flying the simple act of prayer can be. You lift your heart to God much as your ship lifts you from the runway. You forget for a while the smallness and meanness of the world. And if you look back at it whether in prayerful meditation or in flight you see that world as it must look to God. But most of all in praying as in flying you are given a sense of the wonder of all that God has created your mind like your plane can roam the horizons of time and space and see one might say the entire universe laid before you like a giant carpet. In fact prayer is flight the flight of our minds and hearts to the hand that cradle them the hand of God. I'd just like to add a small footnote to those words of the chaplain. Don't forget the family that prays together stays together. More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of from Hollywood family theater has brought you turn on the lights starring John Hodiak Tyrone power was your host. Others in our cast were Sam Edwards John Dana Ted DeCorsia Tony Barrett and Herbellis. The script was written by John T Kelly with music composed and conducted by Harry Zimmerman and was directed and transcribed for Family Theater by Luex Lansworth. This series of Family Theater broadcasts is made possible by the thousands of you who feel the need for this type of program by the mutual network which has responded to this need and by the hundreds of stars of stage screen and radio who give so unselfishly of their time and talent to appear on our Family Theater stage to them and to you our humble thanks. This is Tony LaFranco expressing the wish of Family Theater that the blessing of God may be upon you and your home and inviting you to be with us next week when Family Theater will present the Ballad of Dan McBurdy starring Don DeFore and Sterling Halloway. Join us, won't you? This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.