 Proudly we hail from New York City where the American stage begins. Here's another program of the cast of outstanding players. Public service time has been made available by this station for your Air Force to bring you this story as proudly we hail the United States Air Force's tactical air command. Our story is entitled The Replacement. This is the story of the planes that are the workhorses of the Air Force and of the men who fly these ships as proudly we hail the troop carrier squadrons of the United States Air Force's tactical air command. Our first act curtain will rise in just one moment but first many times a man is skilled in a particular job yet unable to find a use for it. Has this happened to you? Are you a service veteran with a service gain skill that's just going to waste? Well if you are then listen to me. You may be able to put that skill to work as a member of the United States Air Force. Right now the Air Force needs experience and know how gained and all of the armed forces. If you possess one of the critical skills needed to keep America's air defense strong you can put that experience to work in the Air Force and do so at a higher grade and with higher pay than you may realize. You've earned credits toward a valuable retirement income so protect that initial investment. For full details you ride or visit your Air Force recruiter. Ask for the prior service man's folder. Now that's the prior service man's folder. This folder will show you why. Today and tomorrow you're better off in the United States Air Force and now your Air Force presents the proudly we hail production the replacement. Mind if I sit down? What did you say Sergeant? I said to your mind if I sit down here. Oh no not at all. It's just kind of noise and I didn't hear what you said. Yeah it's one thing about an airman's mess there's always something doing but you haven't heard anything yet there's something special on tonight. Oh yeah? Yeah you know when I saw you sitting over here in the corner I decided maybe I better come over and have a little talk with you because well because I felt you have something on your mind and I think I know what it is but look first I'd like to tell you a little story okay? Well okay Sergeant. Good you know it's funny but it began about a year ago right in this very room during a farewell party thrown by my crew for airman Jim Potter and as it happened I had the honor of making the farewell speech. Conclusion Jim I know I speak for the crew when I say that as happy as they are that you're gonna better yourself by being transferred to radio school just as sorry are they to lose you right fellas? We've been through a lot together and your going's gonna leave a hole that's gonna be hard to fill believe me. Anyway now in behalf of the crew I want to present you with this watch. Oh boy there's one guy we're sure gonna miss right Sergeant Baker? You said it daily. You know it's the first time I ever saw him at a loss for words. Well I don't think you expected all this. I guess not. He's gonna leave quite a hole that's for sure. No other guy in the crew with this sense of humor always had a crack at the right time you know just when you need it. Don't I know guys like that are few and far between daily you know this sense of humor is like a well it's like a pearl in an oyster it only turns up once in a blue moon. A sergeant. You remember the time when he was coming out? Well Sergeant daily reminisced I noticed a tall young airman a stranger standing nearby listening and the way he kept glancing about him I know he was looking for somebody so and daily finished. I'm telling you there was some day alright. What a guy he was. Daily you talk like he's departed from this veil of tears already. You keep on like this you'll soon have me crying. Go on have some fun. We want Jim to leave feeling good. I'll see you later. Yeah okay. Well hello airman anything I can do for you. Hello Sergeant maybe you can. I'm looking for a Sergeant Baker. That's me. Oh well I'm airman Henry Bush the first sergeant said I could find you down here at the mess. Glad I made you Bush. What's on your mind. Well I just got in an hour ago and the first told me I'm to be your replacement for all the guy you gave the watch to. For party. Were you here during the speech a while ago. Yes I came in while you were talking. Well then you know how much we thought about it. He was a good man and I might as well let you know right now you're gonna have a job filling his shoes. I'm beginning to realize that. But look if you try and that's all I ask. I'm sure you won't have any trouble. I come up you come along with me. We'll join the party and I'll introduce you around. Well serge thanks a lot but I'm I'm kind of tired is it okay with you if I run on to bed. Oh no not at all Bush. Sure go ahead get some shut out. It's kind of funny you know that makes you a Bush Bush doesn't it. Yes. Good night Sergeant Baker. Yeah. Good night. He didn't seem to get my little attempt at the joke but I figured maybe it was just too tired. Next morning I turned him over to my assistant Sergeant daily while I had it for headquarters where I had a lot of paperwork waiting for me being first engineer that means I have quite a few records to keep up and it took most of the time for a couple of days so I didn't get to see much of the crew. But just when I was about finished my ship commander Major Williams called me into his office. Sergeant I've just been up to see the wing commander we've got a job coming up. Yes sir. And from the looks of it this is going to be one that will top all the others we've had. We're ready for anything sir. What is it cargo carrying. No troops and it's going to be a long one. That's all I can tell you about it now it's pretty much hush hush. I see. There'll be an initial briefing tomorrow morning but in the meantime you can proceed with normal long flight preparation will do sir. When do you think we'll be taken off very soon within a day or two at the most. You might call it an emergency flight sergeant. Yeah quite an emergency. Emergency is a word that always spells trouble of some kind for somebody but for us an emergency mission spells action like the time we flew to Pakistan with medical supplies a year they had the terrible floods or an operation hay lift when we airlifted hay and grain food to starving cattle during a severe winter in the southwest and now once more we were being called on. Carrying troops sergeant. Must be a maneuver coming up huh. I don't know daily or when's the briefing tomorrow morning. Hey daily how's a new man Bush how's he coming along Bush. Okay I guess good will and work but but what I don't. Sort of down the dumps you know oh yeah well what's eating I don't know I don't know whatever it is it's contagious I don't get you will the crew maybe I'm imagining things but they're not the way they used to be when Jim was around life and things up so used to seeing that green and mug of his when they look at this guy straight face well well they'll get over it and so will Bush all he needs is time to get oriented I don't know such I hope you're right but you can't change a lip at spots if there's any place that teamwork is needed it's on a plane like the C124 when you've got a ship as big as a two-story house and it can haul two greyhound buses you can bet it isn't a one-man job to get and keep her in the air takes a bunch of men to work together like a like a high precision machine the only difference is men are not machines you can't keep them at a high pitch merely by flicking a couple of switches or adjusting fuel mixture take something else I don't know call it what you want morale spirit pep it's got to be there or else so you can see why daily was worried about bush the next morning at the brief all right everyone all right give me your attention all right the mission this squadron will engage in calls for maximum security for caution those regulations will be enforced as of now the primary purpose of your mission is to carry troops in flight destination to be given later but this is not to be a maneuver I repeat not a maneuver squadron will depart this afternoon across the continent to west over base after refueling and rest you will then proceed across the Atlantic to location in Europe where you will pick up your troop load navigators and ship commanders will see me after this briefing for flight plan instructions this miss as soon as the briefing was finished we hustled out to the bulletin board block time 1630 hours it doesn't give us much time no say Saaj what's he talking about not a maneuver you heard the man same as I did Adams what else could it be Adams yours not to reason why yours but to do and fly yeah so let's get going we got business to take care of daily was right this mission was gonna mean business but I was as much in the dark as the crew was we only had eight hours to take off time and during that time the crew had to complete the pre-flight check of the globetrotter from spark plugs the nose ramp and elevator raising mechanisms it's a big job but every item on the checklist has to have an okay beside it before we can take off however we finally were checked and loaded with major Williams at the controls our ship lumbered down the flight line Larson Tower Air Force 5 4 2 0 3 ready for takeoff Larson Tower to Air Force 5 4 2 0 3 clear for takeoff over AF 5 4 2 0 3 to Larson Tower Roger with a tremendous power of 15,000 horses turning our four engines we were airborne in a few minutes on our way across the continent to the Atlantic Coast it was gonna be a long flight so after our primary in flight check I dropped back to see how the crew was getting along everything okay back here guys good you might as well relax a bit got a long ride ahead of us what do you say Bush how's it going okay Sarge I like the globetrotter some ship are yes yes it is a bush you feel all right yeah I'm okay you're sure there's nothing bothering you know no sergeant daily tells me he thinks you're down in the dumps about something he did well I'll tell you Sarge it's my first time on a long flight sort of new oh first time sure but you'll get used to it you know after you're up a while a funny thing begins to happen to you you don't ever want to come down again look take a look down there through the wind we're gonna be passing over the rocky stone and look see how the ground is rising up in the hills see almost as if it was moving you see what I mean yes Sarge I see I could see that he didn't he glanced out of the window he didn't seem much interested just polite and obliged even though I tried a little longer to snap him out of his glumness I felt like I was talking to a brick wall so I gave up hoping that whatever was bothering him would wear off with time our night long flight was uneventful after we landed at West over and had our debriefing I stopped by at the PX to pick up some things anything else sergeant no that's all here you are oh hi aside hey bush getting something to yeah well you have four candy bars this magazine here and and that harmonica there harmonica so you're a musician huh well I play a little oh kidding hey maybe you could oh sergeant which can I have a card in a cigarette hello major way well I'll be running along now look at yourself some sleep now bush we got a long trip ahead of us okay Sarge you said it sergeant I've just come back from squadron operations anything new sir come on over here a minute anything else sir no no thanks thank you sir we've got some work to do the troops we're going to carry will be combat ready combat uh-huh and if you remember they told us this was to be no maneuver but major we're not at war with anybody right now that's right bigger we aren't but I don't get it you will sergeant you will you are listening to the proudly we hail production the replacement and we will return in just one moment for our second act are you a service veteran well then listen carefully because this message is just for you you may be qualified to enlist in the United States Air Force and agree that'll be a real surprise to you if you possess one of the critical skills needed to keep America's air defense strong the Air Force offers you an opportunity to put your skill to work and at a higher grade and with higher pay than you may realize right now the Air Force needs experience and know how gained in the armed forces and now thanks to the new career incentive act you can put your service gain skills to work to your best advantage by returning to the armed forces as a member of the Air Force team right or visit your Air Force recruiter for the special prior service man's folder now remember that's a special prior service man's folder it's full of important details and you'll see why today and tomorrow you're better off in the United States Air Force you're listening to proudly we hail and now we present the second act of the replacement say I was puzzled the major William said we'd carry combat troops is putting it mildly you have to remember that that was in the spring of 1954 our country was not at war anywhere in the world I thought though that maybe the briefing the next morning would clear things up but I was wrong all we found out was that our first stop was Paris France in order to maintain security precautions the ship commanders will open and read seal orders after takeoff that's all any questions we had plenty of questions at least I had but they'd be answered later in the dim hours of dawn we once more boarded our ship and took off on a mission that was going to turn out to be one of the most unusual I ever took part in after we got squared away attention all members of the crew at Eastman is the final dope on our mission is called Operation Valley High it will take us completely around the world we'll pick up a full load of volunteer combat paratroops in Paris those troops are French and will be flown by us to window China so that they may take part in the battle for DNBN full from there we will proceed to the Philippines where we'll pick up a cargo to be delivered to the States if you've been reading the papers I don't have to tell you what's going on at DNBN full but at this mission is of vital importance Lieutenant Johnson will give the information later on our route but our first stop is it all he failed Paris landing time 1800 hours that's all DNBN full isn't that where they're fighting the last ditch battle side yeah it is Adams and it's a tough one they're surrounded they've got something like 11,000 men left against maybe four times as many enemy sure sounds rugged does that mean we'll drop in there I doubt it from what I know they're landing strips under fire already it's probably not big enough anyway for the globetrotter we'll find out soon enough the sooner the better side yeah the sooner the better we'd find out all right but we had some traveling to do first during the flight from west over to Paris the crew is a pretty thoughtful bunch I can tell you and this time it wasn't because of their new colleague Bush on the way we picked up some tailwinds and arrived a few minutes earlier than 1800 we could see the lights at Paris in the Eiffel Tower but on that evening they were just the lights of another city AF 5 4 2 0 3 to Orly Tower final approach geared down and locked over a major brought the ship around the beautiful approach turn and the globetrotter touched down in a perfect landing while she was being refueled I finished filling out my flight and fuel records and then reported to the crew shack sergeant there's hot chow for you and the crew in the mess hall and after that you can grab some sleep right sir they'll have the troops here by then ready to load it's sergeant Ali all set for them yes sir good see you then oh 600 oh 600 hours 6 a.m. and it's no different there in Paris and it is back in the States gray chilly our ship has been pre-flighted everything is ready waiting for our payload in a few minutes the buses pull up there's no dawdling around the nose ramp of our ship is down and with daily supervising the tough-looking French paratroopers 220 strong marched up and into their seats along the two low decks the nose ramp is brazed in a few minutes we're airborne 80 500 miles to go I ran to my desk checking the engine and flight performance then turned it over to the second engineer while I dropped down to take a look see below everything's under control here search too much if you ask me too much elucidate daily well it's those French since they come on poor there's been a peep out of me all look as glum as bush does well maybe they got a reason to I guess they have look such we've carried plenty of troops before you know how they sort of yuck it up among themselves and it's good to it helps them to relieve their tension exactly these guys just sitting there seats period come on take a look you see what I mean just sitting there looking at the floor who's in charge of that guy over there I think it's a sergeant I'll talk to him hello sergeant I'm sergeant Baker crew chief bonjour mon sergeant you speak English only little how you men feel feel oh they feel not good we're croix the battle the ambient few we think maybe we come too late oh well sergeant we'll do our best to get them there as fast as we can look if they want anything just let us know okay mercy okay see what I mean such yeah yeah that impressed and for guys it is soon gonna be on the front line and what you mean there ought to be something that could be done to buck them up yeah sure but what I mean even if we didn't know the language there's nobody in the crew you could call a gloom chaser now that potter's yeah boy we could use him now while daily and I stood there talking bush passed by us going down the line of men and pouring hot coffee for him as he bent down the pour a cup for the French sergeant I saw something that started the wheels turning in my head a bush yes I just saw your harmonica sticking out of your shirt pocket I I got an idea you know these guys are gonna be in a tough spot very soon they need some cheering up how about playing a couple of tunes for my gosh sergeant I don't know I'm I'm not too hot on the harmonica so what play what you know well I yeah I still got a finished pour on this car I'll take over for you well okay I'll try but I play anything let me think a minute hey how's this oh no no no no that's too sad too slow place of let me see some lively okay that's okay keep it loud and strong from the flight deck a little trouble with one of the generators I got it straightened out and then took over for my second engineer for the next two hours when matured duty was finished you can bet I headed for the ladder down to midship right away as they got halfway down the ladder I could hear above the roar of the engines I looked around the deck and what a difference instead of being gloomy and glum and standing besides the hatching down the lower decks that both decks that here was airmen bushes face red nice sparkling blow on his head oh whoever said music was a universal language knew what he was talking for the rest of the trip to window china with stops refueling and rest the French paratroopers were relaxed and cheerful and in sign language and pigeon English and French they swapped experiences with the guys in my crew there were a lot of friendship started that trip some that continued up till now by letter and others that well we'll cut short and then at last we were flying over into China attention crew and passengers stand by prepared for any emergencies that is all a few minutes later we landed safely at the field in a matter of seconds the globetrotters nose ramp was lowered and the French paratroopers started disembarking as they did so airmen bush pulled out his harmonica standing at the head of the ramp that was one straight back proud bunch of soldiers that marched down that and as the sergeant who was the last one to leave came by bush he stopped merci moncomon merci he stepped back one pace saluted bush and turned around smartly and followed the others down the ramp and as he passed by me I saw tears glistening in his eyes and I knew without looking that his weren't the only eyes they were just a little bit damp but not the last we heard shortly after they left we again took off continued the Clark Field in the Philippines as soon as I got the chance I got hold of bush yes Sarge that was a great job you did with that harmonic you know that's something I bet a French general would give his right arm to be able to do to be able to relax those men and you know renew their courage anybody could have done it I'm I'm glad I was able to help I can see you are you you feel you feel better now you did before right yes Sarge a lot bush tell me something what has really been bothering you since you joined up with us well Sarge I I don't mind telling you now but that first day in the em club when I when I talked to you remember yeah I remember well I heard what you and daily said about the guy I was replacing and from the way the crew felt about him I thought I'd never be able to fill his shoes boy you have filled them already as of now you are officially and otherwise a full-fledged member of this crew and it'll be a sad day if we ever have to lose I just about finishes it I said then it would be a sad day of bush ever had to leave us well that's the crew you're here marching into the club now with the bush we're gonna have another farewell party it's for bush this time he's being transferred to another C124 as assistant crucial what when I saw you stand in here I figured you were Bush's replacement right that's right sir well I I thought I'd tell you his story so you know you have a chance to do just as well as he did another man's shoes and the greatest crew with a greatest ship in a world of globetrotting come on and you make an investment you wanted to pay off right well fellas how about those years you invested in the service learning skills gaining experience valuable to yourself and your country you can make those years pay off in big dividends today by becoming a member of the United States Air Force yes indeed if you've been in any of the armed forces you may be eligible to enlist in the Air Force in a gray that'll be a real pleasant surprise to you you see the Air Force needs men skilled in certain important fields and you may be just such a man if so the Air Force offers you an opportunity to put your previous service experience to work and to collect on those credits you've earned toward a comfortable retirement your Air Force recruiter has a folder full of details so you write or visit him right away ask for the prior service man's folder today and tomorrow you're better off in the United States Air Force this has been another program on proudly we have presented transcribed in cooperation with this radio station proudly we hail is produced by the recruiting publicity center in New York for the United States Air Force and this is dick Herbert speaking and inviting you to tune in the same station next week for another interesting story on proudly we hail