 proudly we hail 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 army to bring you this story as proudly we hail the United States Army our presentation is titled a lunch and date at Clorox and it's a story that seems to ask a question how do you know how important you may be to someone else even to a stranger you've never met before our first act curtain will rise in just one moment but first young men let's talk about your future and America's future they're important to each other you know and to you today your United States Army is charged with a vital responsibility and to meet this responsibility the Army is rapidly expanding its forces they have a job for you a job that must be done by men of courage you can get full details of how you may best serve your future and your country's future by a visit to your nearest United States Army recruiting station remember gentlemen team up with the army and you team up with success it's amazing how your actions can sometimes indirectly affect someone else I'm sure what happened later wasn't an accident although it might have been who knows whether these things are planned or whether they just happen that could get us into a great big discussion and when it would be over we'd know no more about it than we did at the beginning well getting back to the story that I want to tell you a routine army transfer sent me back to Germany me and my wife I'm first sergeant of a rifle company and Marsha is a lab technician in the medics and she was able to transfer with me we both liked our new assignments and before we knew it time had passed and we both put in for furloughs we thought we'd spend a couple of weeks driving around Europe now as we drove south through France I happened to realize how familiar the countryside was 1230 where should we stop for lunch well there's a fairly big size town right along about here place called Clarence I don't see any signs of the town I'm sure of it my outfit came up through this way back in 44 I remember the stretch pretty well wait a minute there's a road sign what would you say no Clarence eight kilometers that's right about eight kilometers say about about five miles you know right around here is where I met your brother I don't think I'll ever forget that night I don't think you should either don't worry I won't I've heard about it enough what you just think just think both of us were lost we were in different outfits we didn't know each other if I hadn't met him that night we wouldn't have looked each other up after the war and I never would have met you why don't we send him a postcard from Clarence sure say I wonder whatever happened to the druggist and the doctor those two Frenchmen in Clarence I always meant to go back there one day and look them up but you know how it is would they still be around why not they couldn't have been more than 40 or so at the time two nicer guys you wouldn't want to meet anywhere say when we get to town why don't we ask him to have lunch with us wonder if they'll remember me funny I don't even know their last name I think one was called Etienne and the other only but I can't be sure how can we look them up if you don't even know their name well I remember the house in the street with a druggist live we shouldn't have any trouble I was only there once in my life and it was a dark night but I'll bet you I can pick it right out say it's a shame your brother can't be with us what are we stopping for well let's get out here for a minute you see that farmhouse that's where Jim and I met my rifle company was attacking Jim was part of a machine gun section from the heavy weapons company supporting it the Germans sure had an ambush set up for why did you tell me about it after we didn't know it at the time but but here was where they were ready to counterattack or one company walked into a whole regiment of them you wouldn't know it to look at it now but right here this is the field that we were moving across a captain Henley he was our company commander I was just his runner that there was a big shell hole right about here no no no no no closer to the road well anyway yes sir I'm just come back from the point it would be a whole jury reserve regiment coming at us and that's a fall back to the command unit clearance you know that machine gun section leader from each company is why he should be about 50 yards behind us to the left no see if you can get to them and we have to pull back and tell him to give us all the covering fire he can yes sir hey sergeant get down your phone I'm looking for you jump in here when you are your sergeant Hastings from age company yeah I feel feels Captain Henley's runner the captain's going to try to pull a company back can you give us some covering fire we've already figured that out hey Miller get over to the other gun tell him to drop back with the rifleman there's some good cover back in the rear haven't set up there and cover it for me pull out I feel that your name we're only machine gunners not miracle workers you want this baby to operate we need a little protect don't worry about it you've got a B.A.R. team on your right and rifleman on your left don't worry about it he says Jack I don't see any more than 500 rounds ammo here go back when we drop those other boxes Frank you might as well lend him a hand I'll take over the gun if you get pinned down and can't make it back bring the ammo to the other gun I'll get out of here I'll field what are you waiting around for me I think I'd better find the captain hold it buddy here they come let me get around the other side and feed you the ammo I'm not stopping you if you ever see so many Jerry look look they're dropping back and looking for cover that's good every minute we hold him counts I don't hear that B.A.R. team and I don't see those riflemen either I got a strange feeling there's no one here but us firing back buddy we've been out flying what we're gonna do you they just bypassed us when you hear him in the rear there's just one thing to do get out buddy if it wasn't we'd have never got this far I don't hear any more firing I don't know what worries me is what happened to the Jerry's that's the town right up ahead for us he did our option pull out of the Jerry's in there now well there's only one way to find out let's go easing the noise let's get around back of those houses what what happened fell right into it somebody's old fox so what's the matter my leg what what's the matter with yeah it's my ankle I sprained it real bad I had ankles never been any good since I broke it playing football oh no it's no good can't walk okay just take it easy take it easy boy you're doing fine look if we should run into any Jerry's no point in you're trying to be a hero just drop me like a hot rock and run for it we'll figure that one out when we come to it the whole old stone can't see a thing their shades pulled down take out your bayonet pry up that window a little bit just push the shade a little bit not so much see anything the back of a shop of some kind there's a guy mixing up prescription you don't look that way it's a billion friendship oh we have to take a chance call him over what is that what are you doing Americans are any Germans here wait I must turn out to let the Bosch they're in this time they have it again what do you do here you must go quickly American I've gone back across the river you cannot stay here what is the matter with your friend my ankle I can't walk bad bad something must be done you cannot remain outside you and I will help him through the window then you the sound one climb enough time we are safe for now but hold the lamp I'm on the party carry our look at his ankle he's broken well look mister the Germans are in town we can't stay here it is obvious I should hesitate to think what would happen to me if you are discovered in my cell however we need not waste time in unpleasant thoughts there is a way to get you back to your lines with this ankle first I will get the doctor that ankle must be handled properly it is no task for an amateur you say you know a way to get us back how you'll see now wait here I shall return presently oh there is a bottle of wine on that shelf I guess we're stuck where's he could come back here with a squad of Germans I thought of that too it doesn't look like the type who knows these people live through four years of war on their own backyard they've been through a lot sometimes a guy figures he has to survive best we can well this is the end of the line all we can do is wait anyhow the wine is pretty good yeah try something going at my house both your mouth and the door quickly again I have sworn you would never set foot in my eyes just as I have sworn you would never enter mine my opinion of your remains the same and no matter what I may think of you at least I give you credit for being a Frenchman very well then a truce is there a job to be done the Germans I stick as thieves right now in the town what is called for your medical skill I have two American soldiers in the cellar of my house we must get them out of that one exactly on re and we have every chance of success I'm afraid the one has suffered a broken ankle I will set it at once let me fetch a few things I should remind you that the German officer said any civilian found walking the street after dark will be shot if you have the nerve to walk to my house I will find the nerve to walk to yours we had better try the back way less chance of encountering any of them very well I'm ready after you doctor finished you understand I could perform far more creditably under hospital conditions oh this is all right this is fine as a doctor I should prescribe absolute rest but I realize this is an unusual situation when you walk clean heavily on your comrade you were you said we could get out of here you still haven't told us how large town of Clarence has always been a secret headquarters of the resistance we have much experience in hiding fugitives again has a tunnel underneath the cellar it leads straight to the river you would come out that they came near a narrow part of the stream where the shadow you have an excellent chance of getting a cross and then you will be with your own troops sounds good we must leave now while it is still dark I will go with you good luck I know we'll make it I don't know how we can ever thank both of you thank us for what we are only doing our duty but come we have no time that's all there was to it Marsha yes dear I took you to the river you waited across and there you were back with your outfit now can we have lunch you know I always meant to come back here and this is the first time I had the chance where do we tell us to Jim when we get to town I'll show you the river and I'll bet they still have the tunnel can we please get back in the car and get to a place where they serve food all right all right all right but remember first we pick up that drug is tonight doctor man what a reunion we're gonna have and this is the shop all right I told you that I could find it first shot come on I can hardly wait to see this guy again we miss you up we're looking for the drug is I guess you're calling the apothecary well whatever you choose to call him this year I am me oh do you do you run this place we well isn't there another man working here no no I am quite alone well maybe you made a mistake bill it must be another drug store but no they're apothecary mother oh no no no there is no no thank well what what happened of the man who used to run it during the war I think his name is Etienne oh I can't I hope he's still alive we I fear he is still alive you fear he's alive where is he is in prison in prison why what for murder he killed a man oh I'm sorry when one was this he was during the war he he killed a doctor a doctor we he was in either Germans recapture the town wait a minute was this doctor's first name all read of course but how do you know wait you are a soldier and American how how do you know this doctor I was here you were here but of course you were here oh Lord have mercy on us then again was telling the truth say tell me gals are you kind of tired of the same old office routine hmm well I just bet you are well you know what now you can get away from it all join the women's Army Corps visit exciting places in your country and abroad make new friends among young men and women all over the world and you'll have plenty of leisure time to enjoy your travels to you see you get a 30 day paid vacation each and every year plus many many weekend passes and of course there are always the holidays so why don't you join the women's Army Corps I'll tell you what to do you go down to your local United States Army recruiting station and talk it over with the real friendly folks down there remember gals you'll enjoy life more in the women's Army Corps and now the second act of the proudly we held production a luncheon date at Clarence would you be good enough to step this way he's excellency the mayor will see you now come on Marcia please be seated a sergeant need I tell you what commotion your presence is caused in our quiet little town well it's a mystery to me all I know is I stopped into the drugstore to look up a man who had done me a good turn during the war all of a sudden this guy was talking to ran out of the story yelling in French in a crowd gathered around us and brought us here I'm I'm sorry about lunch Marcia don't mind me we may as well see this thing through you see you and another soldier were in Clarence the night the Germans counterattacked yes that was November 1st 1944 I won't forget that night in the hurry that was the night the teenager had to murder dr. or at any rate was convicted of murdering him you're serving like a prisoner madame family is here have you come in with my dad we be seated madame friend what is this about me sir the mayor I am a very busy woman it was your testimony madame friend a which created the case that sent a king of Gerardo to prison you remember the night of November 1st 1944 do you not perfectly will you tell us what you saw for what reason you may find my statement in the record of the trial never the best would you please repeat it now and it is quickly done I have to be looking out of my window my house was across the street from that of dr. Henri Lavel I saw the darkest at yen Gerardo walking perfectly down the street he entered the doctor's house the following morning the doctor was discovered dead in his room he had been shot me I leave you now and so you determined it in head shot I had determined nothing I only testified concerning what I saw I did see it in enter the house the jury determined that at yen was a murderer you were not mayor then you yourself served as prosecutor but it was your testimony that sent an innocent man to prison you will not get out of it so easy mr. the mayor I know the soldier is the news of his presence here I've spread like fire from the town until today everyone believed in it can't get I told the truth it can himself admitted he visited on is it my fault everyone in the town allowed his imagination to run riot all of us are guilty if it can't be wrong yes now then perhaps but now we must see that justice is done sergeant will you this mayor I wish you'd tell me exactly what happened I only did what I thought was my duty if there had been some way of knowing who you were how to reach you you see everyone in this town knew and loved dr. Lee and after the Germans were finally driven out we held a trial yeah but why should at yen want a murder only you did not know them are they ate it each other now could you after the Germans were defeated uptown was in an opera everyone demanded justice I will not forget that day it came took the stand in his own defense I had the perfect case against you I made my reputation that day I was I don't know I was sinning and innocent but I'm gonna testify you enter always go I have not denied it and for what purpose did you enter his house two American soldiers were hiding in my cellar one of them needed a doctor he'd convenient alliance the Americans two of them were in your house very well not tell me that does end this fast is only one way only could have been killed it was on his way home he may have been seen that a distance to buy a German bottle they may have fired on him badly wounded he probably managed to get back into the house I tell you it was the only way it could have happened he was probably discovered by the Germans in a little rhyme from them why should he have run he knew he would be killed why not surrender to them and explain after all he was a doctor because he could not explain where he had been everyone knows the Germans were extremely nervous that night they said they would shoot at any civilian found in the streets after midnight a good story but not good enough simply because true stories are always the best ones and what is the truth you and on the each of us into a boy's everyone in the Scott who knows of your bitter I've agreed you are always jealous of his superior knowledge it rankled you that he should have the range to become a doctor while you could only aspire to be a man who filled his prescriptions he married the girl you are in love with when she died in an automobile accident you declared it was his carelessness that killed her for years you have been swaying to have your revenge and he took this way this unfortunate war that has devastated our country to give you your opportunity you sneak into his house you shot him and you have created a fairy tale which you cannot prove of two mysterious Americans who appeared out of nowhere and you want us to believe that he was killed by a German patrol and he was returning from their big two of our allies it was the q-shan rest was fun guilty of course but it was clear to us at the time we were so convinced all of us you know isn't there isn't there anything we can do yes madam obviously the American soldiers did exist and here is one of them and therefore he can did go to on this house to secure on this and not to shoot him such would you be good enough to write out a statement of what happened that night just give me a pallet and paper it will take you some time perhaps you'd better have your lunch first lunch a man's been in jail for 10 years lunch can wait I do you want your every visitor who would come to visit me why don't you go and find out visitor is there something new remember me who are you no no it cannot be it is you remember the other soldier the one with a broken ankle well she she says sisters my wife wait wait now you can prove I told the truth we've already done it they even wrote out a card before you I asked if I could be the one to deliver it doesn't mean that I am free that's right at you who let me sit down I must sit down you saved my life well you saved mine for only I hated him but you know that night neither of us said a word the both of us felt a newest fate for each other I think we would have become good friends I think how these things work out Bill the first time you came to Cora 18 saved you second time you came to Cora you saved him yeah just think so pause the army had never transferred me to Europe again impossible it was fated to be there's a pleasant return as you can probably imagine and Marcia and I still talk about it all started out because we both had a furlough and wanted to drive around Europe and we just happened to pass by a town where I remember just one incident that took place long ago during the war but it worked out to be the turning point in another man's life how do you figure these things the success of a drama either radio television or stage depends primarily on two things first and foremost the play is the thing second fine actors to deliver the lines and in whatever your occupation training and teamwork are the reasons for success if you're a young man of service aid you can be trained for success in the course of your choice by enrolling now in your United States Army's new reserve for you training program for complete information you visit your nearest United States Army recruiting station remember fellas team up with the army and you team up with success this has been another program on proudly we hail 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 Army and this is Richard Hayes speaking inviting you to tune in the same station next week for another interesting story on proudly we hail