 This week the paratroopers Robert Vermillion of the United Press would like to see you colonel the million oh Vermillion. Yes. Yes. He covered the campaign in Italy. Didn't he yes, sir. Well, send him in yes, sir now mr. Vermillion Thanks. How do you do colonel? Hello, Vermillion sit down. Thank you, sir Well, what's on your mind another scoop for the United Press? Well, sir, not exactly I'd like to go along with your paratroopers on their next mission soon What makes you think it's going to be soon? You've been receiving a lot of reinforcements lately at this air base. Yes. Yes Well, Vermillion, I'll keep you in mind. That's all. Thank you colonel Excuse me for saying it mr. Vermillion, but you're nuts Who isn't you want to jump out of a plane for haven't you heard that a paratrooper holds his life in this thin silk shoot once Lipping your agonist. Haven't you heard Phil that the Lord rewards the daring and nuts By the way, what are you doing jumping out of planes? Yeah, but I'm a paratrooper. I got training I got the know-how the know-how for me. Yeah, what about you? How many times have you jumped out of a plane? Huh, come on quit stalling you heard me the first time how many times once twice three times How many times have I jumped from planes? well none Well captain, this is what we've been waiting for. Yes, sir. It's good news Before I forget it better send in that United Press correspondent, huh? Robert Vermillion. Yes, that's the man Thirsting for a little excitement after what he went through in Italy. Yes. He wants more this time. He'll really get it Sit down Vermillion sit down. Oh, yes, sir There seems to be a lot of activity here. Never mind the activity. You still want that action. Well, sir Things have been kind of quiet lately. Vermillion. We're moving in on southern France Southern France When sir 2 a.m. Tomorrow morning Our job will be to pave the way for troops landing from naval and airborne craft. I'd like to come along sir All right Vermillion See captain McCall He'll give you all the instructions he can but to have you long for million. Thank you captain now before we issue your equipment You'd better get an earful of my 45-minute paratroop training course Okay, when do we start right now? First we'll go into the parachute shed What's in here parachutes make sense doesn't Some shed think you're ready for your first lesson sure sure I can take it good man. You see that over there Yeah, that's a parachute You put it on like you're putting on your overcoat Some overcoat any questions, you know, I wouldn't know enough about it to ask any questions So far so good Be sure to put on your parachute before you get into the plane. Uh-huh Otherwise you'll break all records for bouncing off the ground Yeah, that is a good idea captain the record now the parachute Yeah, you said it Now once you get into the plane you're gonna find it pretty crowded with guys wearing parachutes like yourself and Unlike yourself carrying rifles automatic pistols sub machine guns 60 millimeter mortars and a few hand grenades At all no not quite We also carry signal and demolition equipment the captain. What about the chances of? survival a trifle risky But you see we're always supported eventually by reinforcements from land air or sea Who's gonna support us in southern France? I'm not sure, but I think it'll be the airborne troops Now where were we? Oh, uh, you told me be sure and strap on my parachute before taking off Yeah, well after the plane takes off you just sit there like sardines and think about the jump What about the jump you grab the sides of the door of the plane bend your knees and push yourself out with your feet Oh, just like I was diving but you probably won't do it that way most everybody forgets on their first jump What happens if I forget? Forget the guy behind you'll kick you out. That's all Everybody here captain. Yes, sir. All here. All right men. All right your attention, please You have been chosen to spearhead an invasion which may break the enemy's back We're going to hold until hell freezes over a password when your land is Charlie Jack Now one more thing I want you to know how proud and glad I am to be with you Well, man I'll see you in France God bless you all Everybody in captain. All right, sir Well, what do you say men? Everybody happy Like flashes up the end of the cabin. That's the signal to jump understand. Yes, sir Now I'm going first you follow me. Okay Stand up and hook up the propeller blast sees me sweeping me beneath the plane's tail Then came an agonizing shock as my shoot open I felt as if I're being torn to pieces Green red and yellow lights flashed in my head like a high score on a pinball machine a moment later all motion had ceased I Seem to be hanging in midair I was falling fast Going down to push me out See of a million. Hello captain so far so good. I guess we're all here Let's get going funny Where over there the Frenchman we miss you will you tell us what you know about Americans We knew you would come what can you tell us of enemy force in this area? They've all gone into the interior. They're going to join forces in the north Beat that a crouching site. I'll be dark on Yeah, that captain, huh? Sounds like planes to the south Plains hundreds of reinforcements. We'll need them later minutes. We stood in awe watching one of the greatest spectacles of the war a Great fleet of transport planes and gliders dropping troops into the it was one of the greatest shows of sheer airborne power Anyone ever saw There's more and more came roaring in without drawing a single shot The colonel said in the low boys What a sight It's all my heart can stand makes you feel good doesn't it mean good Captain it makes me want to sing the star-spangled banner right Right thing to paratrooper the story of the airborne invasion of southern France has seen through the eyes of Robert Vermillion Other United Press correspondents are on the world's battlefronts ready to flash you the news whenever and wherever it happens We will present another in this thrilling series soldiers of the press soon be sure to listen Meanwhile look for United Press dispatches in your favorite newspaper Listen for United Press news on the air It is your guarantee of the world's best coverage of the world's biggest news