At War44-12-0575The Guys On The Ground

Words at War. The National Broadcasting Company in cooperation with the Council on Books and War Time presents another in this significant program series Words at War. Gramatization of the most representative books to come out of this great world conflict.

Tonight, it's The Guy's on the Ground by Captain Alfred Friendly. This is a tremendously heartening book, a grand tribute to the men of the Air Force, who rarely if ever leave Terra Fermos, whose job in a word is to furnish and fix.

Sounds rather humdrum, doesn't it? But wait, the story begins in one of our larger cities. The time is not so long ago. Three young fighter pilots are back on leave after long periods of combat duty, and they've been attending a war bond rally.

But now as they return to their hotel suite, they've put one thought in mind. They want to relax. Sweet home. Oh, this couch feels right. I'm pooped. Need for a shower. Will somebody get room service?

Because I'm thirsty. Put down that phone book, Collins, and call room service. Oh, yeah, call the cutie later. Get room service, will ya? Oh, metal telepathy, room service. Come in. May I come in? Why, uh, sure.

Come right in, heady. Suzy. Ah, that's Captain Pinnypagors, who's he ignored here. May I introduce myself. You made you a Richard Collins? Well, that's right, but how did you... Hey, you guys, where's that room service?

Which way is that Robes are? Oh. Oh. And you're made to Russell, aren't you? She knows our name, Susie does. Anybody here expecting someone to sell me? I'm no legal, Beagle. Just a newspaper reporter.

Oh, I see. I covered the bond rally and well, I thought I'd come up here and sort of get an exclusive story. You mean about all the thrilling battles we were in, huh? And how it feels to shoot down an enemy plane.