Soldiers of the Air, September 22, 1941

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Series 2 number 7 of a weekly radio program that aired on Portland radio station KOIN. This week's program follows the recruiter, Bill "Butch" Harris, who speaks to a local artist about how his artistic talents can be used in the army.

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UNITED STATES ARMY RECRUITING SERVICE

/to i 8

Sept. 29, 1941--------KOIN 10:15 P.M.

SOLDIERS OF THE AIR

ANNCR: KOIN presents-------------Soldiers of the Air'.

MUSIC: THEME "SECOND CONNECTICUT REGIMENT" (475) UP AND FADE TO BACK-

GROUND

ANNCR: This evening KOIN is pleased to cooperate with the United

States Army Recruiting Service in presenting another chapter in the life of Sergeant Harris, soldier of the air.

MUSIC: THEME UP AND OUT

ANNCR: Orders for recruiting amateur radio operators, or hams as they

are better known, have come to the United States Army Recruiting office. This should be easy for Sergeant Bill Harris who is himself a ham. Let us look in and see what results he is getting in enlisting amateur radio operators ------

SOUND: TELEPHONE BELL

FOSTER: Army Recruiting Service. Sergeant Foster speaking.

VOICE: (VIA TELEPHONE) Sergeant Harris, please.

FOSTER: I'm sorry, but Sergeant Harris is in conference. He'll be

through in a few minutes. May I take your number and have him call back?

VOICE: (VIA TELEPHONE) Thanks, no —- I'll phone later.

FOSTER: (AS TO ONE IN DISTANT PART OF ROOM) Sergeant Lawrence I

LAWRENCE:-(AT DISTANCE BUT FADING IN) OK'. CK'. I know what you want.

(LAUGHING) You want me to take the telephone. Funny the way you and Sergeant Harris always manage to switch the phone duty to me.

FOSTER: Well, that's easy to explain. You're the only guy around here

who can see any excitement in a telephone ----

LAWRENCE: Sure, something exciting is always going on over the wires and — but wait — (WITH GROWING INTEREST) maybe I do miss something by having my ear glued to the receiver. Look what's coming down the hall I

FOSTER: A female — a lady soldier — or — my eyes deceive me

LAWRENCE; And a pip and a peach, and a Say, that's quite a uniform she's wearing. It's almost like ours. Just hang on to the phone, Sergeant Foster'. I cun see I'm going to be busy for a few minutes.

FOSTER: Say — who’s top kick around here anyhow? And Besides — your stripes arc on crooked I

LAWRENCE: OK. OK. Give (FADING) me the phone and you take over the women’s army.

FOSTER: With pleasure '. (PAUSE) How do you do, Miss -- (HESITATINGLY) Madam — Sergeant — or —

MARY: (BRIGHTLY AND TEASINGLY) R - 2 '.

FOSTER: (NON PLUSSED) I beg your pardon'.

MARY: Q- R - L'.

FOSTER: (COMPLETELY ABnSHED) I'm sorry, Sergeant —

MARY: (RELENTING) Sergeant Mary Mulloy of the Oregon Women's Ambulance Corps. (LAUGHINGLY) I'm glad you cun read my arm stripes, Sergeant Harris, even if you can't answer my code letters.

FOSTER: But I'm not Sergeant Harris, Miss -- or — Sergeant Malloy, and I haven't the slightest idea what you meant by

MARY: R - 2?

FOSTER: Yes, what’s R - 2?

MARY: Well, suppose I sort of apologize first. I had an appointment to meet Sergeant Harris here this morning. He's a ham, you know.

FOSTER: An actor? 2-2-2

MARY:

FOSTER:

MARY:

FOSTER:

MARY:

FOSTER:

MARY*

FOSTER:

MARYs

FOSTER:

MARY:

FOSTER:

HARRIS:

Good heavens — No A ham is a brass pounder —

A brass pounder

Sure, an amateur radio operator.

Yes, of course. (STILL CONFUSED iiND GROPING) Sergeant Harris is very enthusiastic over radio. He spends a lot of spare time fiddling with it.

Well, while he was fiddling, as you call it, we got acquainted, by way of the air waves. I've never seen him, but since I hud an appointment to meet him here I just supposed that you were Sergeant Harris, — (GIGGLES) and when you seemed sort of confused ---

(NOW AT EASE) I was just plain embarrassed. (PAUSE) Come in and sit down, won't you? Sergeant Harris will be free in a few minutes.

Thanks, yes. I'LL wait. (PaUSE) Well, when I saw how — how — embarrassed you were, I just couldn't help saying Pl - 2 — I thought that would identify me and —•

Just exactly what does R - 2 mean?

Well, you were sort of mumbling so I said R - 2. In ham language that means "Occasional words distinguishable".

(LAUGHING) Well, you sure enough hud mo guessing, and what did you mean by Q - R - L?

That means, "Are you busy?"

(LAUGHING) No, I'm not busy, but since you came to interview Sergeant Harris, I'll call him -- but — here he comes now. Pardon me, Sergeant Malloy, I'll tell him you are here.

(OFF MIKE AND FaDING) Sergeant Harris, you have a caller.

(Fading IN) Just a second. Well, — it must be my friend, W-7-C-D-DL (PAUSE) Hello, W - 7 - C - D - D I I'm glad to see you.

3-3-3

MARY: (LAUGHING) Hello, A- 7 - H - I - D I

HARRIS:- (HEARTILY) "Jell, this is a pleasure, VI - 7 - C - D - D I've talked with you so many times without ever seeing you that I'd sort of come to believe you were just a composite made up of tubes and head phones and signals '.

MARY: It is odd, isn't it — the way we hams get to be such good friends without ever seeing each other. Yle know so much about each other, and still so little. Like lust night whc-n you told me you were Sergeant William Harris of the army Recruiting Service

BILL: You seemed a little surprised when I told you what I work at.

MARY: Well, I was really more interested than surprised. Do you remember what I replied?

BILL: Sure, you said "Q - S - A - 5" — excellent', about five times.

MARY: and then right away I made a date to meet you here this morning, remember?

BILL: (LAUGHING) Yes, — I thought you seemed pretty anxious about it.

MARY: Anxious '. I should say I was '. Wait till I tell you but — well — I don't exactly know where to begin I put on my uniform just to give me courage, but

BILL: Snappy looking uniform, if you ask me. And I see you're wearing sergeant's stripes. What does it all mean?

MARY: (AT EASE AND ENTHUSIASTIC) It is a neat uniform, isn't it, — almost like yours, except maybe it is a little more feminine. You see, I belong to the Oregon ’/omen's Ambulance Corps, and this is our official uniform. We're training for emergency work —

BILL: . Like what?

MARY: Driving ambulances, making emergency repairs to curs, first aid, fire-fighting, and operating emergency communication equipment such us telephone, signals, or radio — that's how I got so

interested in amateur radio

4-4-4

BILL: (QUIZZICALLY) V.ras that the only reason you got interested in radio? Couldn’t have been any — ah -- heart interest, could there?

MARY: (CONFESSING) I gbess I may as well confess it. That's really why I made this appointment with you on account of W - 7 - k - M - A<

BILL: (TEASINGLY) W- 7 - K - M - A I why, that's the lad over in Spokane. The one you and I sometimes talk to around eleven at night.

MARY: Yes, that's u -7-K-M-A the big big

BILL: (TEASINGLY) Would "palooka" help?

MARY: Big palooka'. That's what he is — a — a palooka'.

BILL: (GENTLY) You must be wrong, Vi -7-C-D-D — I mean, Sergeant Malloy. From what he says, he's really a little fellow, and delicate at that.

MaRY: (ANGRILY) Little fellowl Little fellow'. Honestly, W - 7- H- I-D I mean Sergeant Harris, he's as big us a a

BILL: (TEASING AGAIN) Would ’’moose" be the word you want?

MARY: (SOLEMNLY) Big us a moose'. He's strong as an — an —

BILL: Ox —

MARY: Strong as an ox'. (BEGINNING TO SEE THE FUNNY SIDE) I guess I sound crazy, but all this makes sense, if I could just think where to begin.

BILL: Well, Sergeant Malloy, let's just start at the beginning, buck some months ago when you and W -7-K-M-A and I first began talking together. Remember?

MARY: (LAUGHING) I'll never forget. u - 7 - K - M - A sort of barged in on our conversation ’when I asked Q - S - A -- Whut is the strength of my signal? Remember?

BILL: (LAUGHS) Do I remember? You got mud when W - 7 - K - M - A said "I don't know about your Q, lady, but your S A seems good enough

for me 1"

5-5-5

MARY: Well, since that first night when the three of us -- You and

Jimmie — that’s A - 7 - K - M - A — talked, he and I have spent a lot of time together —

BILL: So you have seen him?

MARY: No, I've never seen him. I mean we’ve spent air or radio time.

We’ve talked a lot and — well------

BILL: (TEASING) You sort of like him, -- is that it?

MARY: Like him1. It sounds silly, Sergeant Harris, but I'm crazy about

the big ---

BILL: Palooka '.

MARY: We've talked so much together. We've sort of introduced our

mothers over the air — oh, yes — that's the way he got interested in brass pounding —

BILL: I don't understand -- your mother was the way he got interested

in amateur radio.

MARY: No, his mother.. He's a sort of — well, to put it mildly

- 7 - H - I - D, he's a member of the nprong String Brigade.

BILL: Aprong String Brigade ’. Nover heard of them.

MaRY: You wouldn't'. (PAUSE) what I mean is that Jimmie is so attached

to his mother's apron strings that when he was sent to Spokane he got a hum outfit so he could talk every night with her here in Portland. She's been a radio fan for years, but Jimmie wouldn’t ever have learned if he hadn’t been sent to Spokane. So,, every night he calls her and talks ----

BILL: Does this make his mother happy?

MARY: Happy'. I should say not., Jimmie's mother is a honey. She's

been trying to wean him for years, but somehow when he was a kid he got the idea he was delicate and that he could never do anything without talking to mamma about it.

6-6-6

■r

(COAT'D)

MARY: The truth is she's bored to death with Jimmie and would do anything to make him realize how strong he is -- how very much of a man he is — how he cun do a man's job -- that's why she wants him to enlist in the army

BILL? And what about you --

MARY: Me? Just this: if he doesn't enlist, I'll never marry him — never'.

BILL? So, it's gone us fur as that?

MARY? (SHYLY) Yes — it's gone as fur as that. I guess I just us well confess everything. You've just got to help me, - 7 - H - I - D'. You've just got to'.

BILL: ■jell, go ahead. We'll see what we cun do.

MARY: Jell, last night when you said you were Sergeant Harris, of the United States army Recruiting Service, I just knew you could help somehow — someway. I didn't know how, but I figured if I'd get Jimmie down here on some pretense, maybe you could convince him he ought to enlist —

BILL: Pretense? TJhut do you mean?

MARY: I told him I'd meet him at W - 7 - H - I - D's office as soon us he got into town. I told him you were going to give me some advice on crystal controlled D C tone — (RUSHING ALONG) jind I told his mother and she suid for goodness sake to enlist him if you could — and I told my father and he suid I don't want any sissies in our family — a family of soldiers —

BILL: Hold on a minute, Sergeant Malloy'. I'm beginning to see the light. Is your father by any chance "Fighting" Malloy?

MARY: (PROUDLY) Yes '. My father is "Fighting" Malloy, — General Malloy --a great soldier '.

BILL: (’WHISTLING) lihe-ew'. General Bob -- Fighting Malloy'. Say, he was

one of my heroes when I first joined up.

7-7-7

MARY: He's retired now -- but maybe you cun understand why he wants a soldier, not a sisy, in the family. You see, dud never hud u son, -- in fact, I'm the only child, -- and there are u lot of things a girl can't do for national defense. I'm doing what I can, and I'm mighty proud of my uniform, — but I've just got to manage someway to convince Jimmy that he's not u — a

BILL: Sissy '.

MARY: That's it. So, what are we going to do, Sergeant Harris?

BILL: If I get this all straight, it’s like this: You've never seen y - 7 - K - M - A, but you're in love with him --

MARY: That's right.

BILL; and ho's in love with you?

LARY: (SHYLY) Yes.

BILL: And today you see him for the first time?

MARY: Yes, — he'll walk in that door that's marked Recruiting Office, United States Army — any minute now'.

BILL: And ’,7 -7-K-M-A, who is a big chunk of husky manhood, thinks he's a weak little fellow and could never make a decision without his mamma

MARY: It sounds terrible when you say it that way, but it’s the truth.

BILL: Now, what you want me to do, is somehow to show him that all he has to do is enlist and everything is rosy — presto — he cuts the apron strings and bung — your father, Fighting Malloy accepts him us a sen-in-law.

MARY: (HAPPILY) Yos, — that’s it exactly'.

BILL: Sergeant Malloy — you don't need Bill Harris'. You need a magician but Hm-m-m, — let me see — (PAUSE)

8-8-8

I.iAKY: Please, A - 7 - H - I - D, you've just got to think of something. Think fust — it's eleven o'clock and he'll be here any second. He doesn't know I'm in uniform — doesn't know I'm even training and if you can't convince him he’s got to enlist — (THREATENINGLY) you'll have to lie for me'.

BILL: Lie for you '.

MARY: Yes, lie; If he won't enlist — you cun just tell him that --that — I -- called up and broke the date '.

SOUND: TELEPHONE BELL REPEATED ENOUGH TO ESTABLISH SOUND

LAURENCE: (OFF MIKE) Array Recruiting Service. Sergeant Lawrence speaking. (PAUSE) Yes, he is. Just a moment. (PAUSE) Sergeant Harris

BILL: MARY: Pardon me, a minute. (FADING SLIGHTLY OFF MIKE) I'll take this call. Hello, —— hello, Jack'. Sure, sure -- I'll be glad to — that is — (INSPIRED) Say, you're just the man I need. Ahen, — right now'. In exactly five minutes I got to have a big man — very big man — in five minutes — Sure, you'll do'. Aren't you six feet two and don't you weigh two hundred and twenty-five pounds? (URGENTLY ’WHISPERING) Hurry, Sergeant Harris, hurry. Here comes ;; _ 7 _ k - M - A —

BILL: Look Jack, this is urgent really -- nutter of life and a — ah — er — love'. It's only one floor, leave your old trees and forest maps for five minutes'. Cone up to my office — In exactly five minutes, no more, no less'. No, I'm net kidding. Rush in and when you

MARY: (PaNICKY) Hurry, Sergeant Harris

BILL: (REASSURINGLY) OK, A - 7 - C - D - D '. — Now, listen, Jack. Do exactly us I tell you. In the hull there'll be a pretty girl --darn pretty — in a uniform that looks like a soldier's — pick a fight with her somehow — (PAUSE) 9-9-9

(CONT'D)

BILL: No, no — I don't curt howl Just insult her *. And when a big guy rushes out and tries to hit you — just full down — Full down, you idiot I (PAUSE) That's right — and if you fail me on this, Jack — I'll never repair your old radio set'.

MARY: (EXCITEDLY 7.UISPERING) He got off the elevator but he went dovm the hall locking for the number — in just a minute he'll be back (WILDLY) Oh, what am I going to do

BILL: (WITH AUTHORITY, BUT KINDLY) You, my dear Sergeant Malloy, are going out into the hull and look innccont in front of the elevator. W - 1 - K - M - A — your precious Jimmie — is coming in here to talk with me, You stay put until a big man -- very big -- comes loping upstairs — he'll insult you —

MARY: (INCREDULOUSLY) He will?

BILL: And you yell for help I Forget your uniform and your military training — forget everything except that you're a pretty girl yelling for help -- Nov/ -- get out of here — the apron String Brigade is upon us

MARY: All right (FADING) I'll wait in the hull, Sergeant Harris

JIMMIE: (FaDING IN) Did that pretty girl say, Sergeant Harris?

BILL: Yes, sir. That's me. ’'hut cun I do for you?

JIMMIE: Well, I guess you can't do anything for me -- I — gee, she sure looks cute in that uniform, doesn't she?

BILL: (VERY BUSINESSLIKE) You are interested in enlisting, I suppose.

JIMMIE: Oh, no, thunks. I couldn't possibly enlist. I'm — ah — I'm delicate.

BILL: (WITH AMUSE1/IENT) Delicate'. I never saw a finer specimen of manhood ■That a soldier you'd make'.

10-10-10

JIMMIE:

BILL:

JIMMIE:

BILL:

JIMMIE:

BILL:

JIMMIE:

BILL:

JIMMIE:

BILL:

JIMMIE:

(aBSENTLY) I was to meet a nun and a woman — (SUDDENLY ATTENTIVE) what was that you said?

I remarked that with your fine physique you'd look wonderful in a uniform.

Yes, I know -- (SADLY) I look strong -- but the truth is I'm very delicate. I couldn't possibly do all the hard work soldiers have to do ---

You don't know much about the new army, do you?

Yell, no, not much, but really, — I'm not much interested. (PATRONIZINGLY) No use, you know, in considering something entirely beyond your strength -- //hat I'm really interested in is radio. (PaUSE) I guess I'm mixed up somehow. This certainly is the main post office building, and it looks like nothing but federal offices. I was to meet a couple of hams --

(aS IF HE HaD FORGOTTEN THE aRMY) Why, you're \i - 7 - K - M - A from Spokane, of course. A - 7 - C - D - D just phoned me you were coming'. I’m W - 7 - H - I - D.

You are'. Well, hello — am I glad to meet you’.

(GENUINELY PLEASED) This is a pleasure. You know, we've talked together so many times and I've so often wondered what you'd be like.

Me too. Funny how you can get to be such good friends and yet be so far apart.

Yes, it is -- but I don't suppose we'll have so much time now for these chummy three way talks you and I and W -7-C-D-D have been having ---

•Thy won't we?

BILL: JIJ&IEs well, at any rate, I won’t* I'm going to make my equipment available to the men ut the Portland Air Base, so they can send messages to relatives and friends ut home Jell, that's swell — maybe I could do that too up ut Spokane

BILL: Perhaps you could. Too bud you are so delicate. There'd be a good job for you in the regular army. They use a lot of hams -—

JIMMIE: How?

BILL: 'Yell, I don't suppose you're much interested, seeing you are so —

JIMMIE: (GENTLY nS IF REMINDING OF SUFFERING) Delicate — (PAUSE) I'm always interested in amateur radio.

BILL: J - 7 - C - D - D will be here any minute — but while we're waiting I’ll tell you a little about hams in the army. "Ie use a lot of them, why, without the telephone and radio operators we just couldn't do a thing. Je couldn't operate the big guns with any assurance of accuracy. Je couldn't possibly out-manoeuver an enemy without adequate communication.- In fact, we just can't get enough really good operators, like you, -A - 7 - K - M - A. (EARNESTLY) I tell you, this new army (FADE IN SOUND.OF J^CK AND MARY IN nGUMENT) Say, what's going on out there

SOUND: BRING ARGUMENT UP a LITTLE LOUDER BUT LET IT BE AD LIBBED AND INCOHERENT UNTIL JIMMIE GETS INTO IT

JIMMIE: Sounds like an argument.

BILL: It is an argument'. Look '. That big guy

JIMMIE: He's insulting that pretty girl in the uniform'.

BILL: HE shoved her '.

JIMMIE: Well, it's their fight — but — what are they arguing over? Listen.

MARY: (AT SOME DISTANCE OFF MIKE BUT PLAINLY) Let go my arm'.

12-12-12

JACK: Go ahead and yell, baby'. I guess I’m big enough to take cure of any guy that —

MARY: (SOMEAHAT LOUDER) Oh, you big palooka'. You'd never dure touch me if J - 7 - K - M - A was here '.

JIMMIE: (AMAZED) A -7-K-M-A'. That's me I She's yelling for me'. She' s — she ’ s 'I - 7 - C - D - D ’.

BILL: JIMMIE: (DRYLY) So she is '. Vfnut are you going to do about it? Do about it’.' Hatch me'. (FADING) I'm going to knock that big

BILL: JIMMIE: Palooka — — into next week. (FIERCELY OFF MIKE) I'm coming, 77 - 7 - C - D- Durling — I'm coming. New you big

JACK: (OFF MIKE) Get out of my way, — wart '.

JIMMIE: (OFF MIKE) ./art, huh? Take that '.

SOUND: (OFF MIKE) FIST ON FLESII

JACK: (GRUNTING OFF MIKE) Ugh'.

JIMMIE: (OFF MIKE) And that —

SOUND: (OFF MIKE) FIST ON FLESH

JACK: (aS ABOVE, GRUNTS AND FALLS)

SOUND: BODY FALLING (OFF MIKE)

MARY: (AS nBOVE) Darling'. .7 - 7 - K - M - A'. Oh, you wonderful — you big — strong man '.

JIMMIE: (STILL OFF MIKE) Here, let's get buck into this office and close the door. (FADING IN TO NORMAL) I don't want you mixed up with that guy any more

MARY: All right, darling, whatever you say — but

BILL: You can't leave that body lying there •

MARY: That's right. Carry it downstairs, Jimmie'.

JIMMIE: (SUDDENLY SHOCKED TO DISCOVER HE HAS EXERTED HIMSELF)

MARY: (VJORSHIPFULLY) Oh, but darling — you cun’, Anyone who can knock out a big

BILL: Pulooka —

MARY: a big palooku with one blow —

JIMIE: Two blows. One with the left and one with the right — Pow I Pow'. Just like that.

MARY: You're wonderful '.

JIMMIE: OK. I'll be gone just a minute — (FADING) I'll curry him down to the landing.

MARY: Sergeant Harris — IT -7-H-I-D — what do we do next?

BILL: Enlist him'.

LAY: But how?

BILL: From this point on, my deur Sergeant Malloy, you -- VT - 7 - C - D-D take over. He's your man '.

JIMMIE: (FADING IN AND VERY MASTERFUL) There now, I guess he'll be out of the way. He'll come around in a minute. Now, then, Mary

MARY: Sergeant Malloy, of the Oregon Women's Ambulance Corps'.

JIMMIE: Gosh, I never expected to see you in uniform. You kind of look like a soldier '.

MARY: Well, I figured one of us ought to bo serving Uncle San — he needs radio operators you know — and since you are too delicate —

JIMMIE: Who said I was delicate?

MARY: Well, your mother thought

JIMMIE: She did, huh? My mother thought'. Well, she's done her last thinking for me'. (BELLIGERENTLY) I'm not delicate, see'. I'm strong us an

BILL: JIMMIE: Ox — Strong as an ox'. Look what I just did to that guy that picked on Mary 14-14-14

BILL:

(ADMIRINGLY) You sure stopped him'.

JIMMIE:

(EXPANSIVELY) Yeh, dead in his trucks*

Darling, you'll make a wonderful husband'.

(DAZED) Husband — husband? Vjhy — I — Gosh, ’7 - 7- C- D-D,

I can’t marry you now.

MARY:

'.Thy can't you marry me?

JIMMIE:

Because a married man can't enlist in the regular United States

army, — cun he, Sergeant Harris?

BILL:

That's right. ’Te don't accept married men.

ILiRY:

(/ORSHIPFULLY)

Oh-h-h, - 7 - K - M - A ’. (PROUDLY & SLO’.JLY)

You're going to

enlist

to enlist'. Uncle Sam needs radio operators'.

Give me that pen, A - 7- H- I-D, -- you're enlisting another

ham

MUSIC:

ANNCR:

And so we leave Sergeant Harris signing up another recruit for

the regular United States Army at 323 Main Post Office Building.

Next week at this same hour KOIN will present another in this

series of Soldiers of the air.

Tonight's program was written by

the Oregon Writers’ Project of

the uork Projects administration

and produced by members of the

Youth Theatre Guild. The cast

included:

Listen again next Monday night

t ten fifteen over this station

when you will again hear

SOUND:

TELEPHONE BELL

BILL:

Army Recruiting Service. Sergeant Harris speaking.

MUSIC:

THEME UP AND OUT

Extent

12 pages

Contributors

Digital Publisher

Multnomah County Library

Subject.Topic

Subject.Place

Portland, Oregon

Language

English

Rights & Usage

No known rights (no copyright or related rights are known to exist for this work).

Identifier

JWtxt_001521

Type

Text

Date.Created

September 22, 1941

Shelf.Location

O358.4 F29 Apr-Nov 1941

Source.Collection

John Wilson Special Collections