Golden Memories of Radio (10 of 10)

Summary

Harold’s Old Time Radio — “Golden Memories of Radio” (10 of 10)

Date: May 11, 2026
Host: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Episode Overview:
In this final installment of the “Golden Memories of Radio” series, listeners are taken on a powerful auditory journey through the monumental moments of World War II as experienced via radio. Through authentic broadcast snippets and carefully interwoven narration, the episode memorializes radio’s unmatched role as both record and lifeline during the world’s defining conflict—bringing global events into American homes with immediacy, emotion, and unity.

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Main Theme and Purpose

The episode is a tribute to how radio news shaped public understanding and emotional response during World War II. It showcases historic broadcasts, from battlefield reports to presidential addresses, capturing the drama, sorrow, and triumphs of a nation at war—before the era of television.

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Key Discussion Points & Segment Breakdown

The World Shrinks: Radio Brings Global War Home

[00:40 – 01:20]

• Narrator contextualizes the global scale of WWII, listing battlefronts that went from mere geography to household names.

• Introduction of D-Day (June 6, 1944): Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s first communiqué announcing the Normandy landings is played, underscoring radio’s immediacy.

  “A landing was made this morning on the coast of France by troops of the Allied Expeditionary Force. This landing is part of the concerted United nations plan for the liberation of Europe, made in conjunction with our great Russian allies.” — Eisenhower address via narrator [00:55]

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FDR’s Prayer: The President as Comforter-in-Chief

[01:20 – 04:57]

• FDR’s full D-Day prayer is broadcast, echoing the blend of somber gravity and hope that radio uniquely captured.

  “Lead them straight and true. Give strength to their arms, stoutness to their heart, steadfastness in their faith. They will need Thy blessings.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt [02:16]

• The prayer acknowledges the sacrifice, uncertainty, and resolve required of both the soldiers and those waiting at home.

  “Men’s souls will be shaken with the violences of war. For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt [02:56]

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Radio on the Front Lines: Eyewitness to History

[05:46 – 06:42]

• Dramatic frontline reporting:

  • NBC’s George Hicks describes invasion chaos from the deck of a landing craft during the Normandy invasion:

    “Our own ship has just gave its warning whistles and now the flak is coming up in the sky… Looks like we're going to have a night tonight.” — George Hicks [06:01]

• Iwo Jima Invasion:

  • NBC reporter aboard an amphibious craft narrates the perilous approach as Marines land under heavy fire:

    “We are now inside the screen of warship. There's no more warship between us and the beach…” — NBC War Correspondent [06:58]

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Breaking News: National Trauma in Real Time

[08:39 – 09:33]

• Death of FDR:

  • The episode plays CBS’s urgent news bulletin reporting President Roosevelt's sudden passing.

    “We interrupt this program to bring you… a special News bulletin from CBS World News… President Roosevelt is dead.” — CBS [08:57]

  • Arthur Godfrey’s somber coverage of FDR’s funeral procession:

    “The drums are wrapped in black crepe and are muffled as you can hear. And the pace of the musicians is so slow.” — Arthur Godfrey [09:33]

• The moment displays radio as a vessel for communal grief and national shock.

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The War’s End: Victory, but Not Yet Peace

[12:13 – 13:11]

• VE Day — Churchill’s sober warning:

  “We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing, but let us not forget for a moment the toils and efforts that lie ahead. Japan… remains unsubdued.” — Winston Churchill via announcer [12:21]

• The narrative transitions to the Pacific, raising the specter of kamikaze attacks and escalation.

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The Atomic Age Begins: Historic Newsflashes

[13:11 – 13:53]

• News of Hiroshima:

  “The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base.” — Radio Correspondent [13:11]

  “We won the race of discovery against the Germans.” — Arthur Godfrey [13:18]

• The sobering necessity and destructive power of the bomb are underlined in brief, measured statements.

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Surrender at Last: The Final Broadcast Sigh of Relief

[13:53 – 16:06]

• Japanese surrender announced:

  “The Japanese have accepted our terms fully. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the end of the Second World War. The United Nations are united and are victorious.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt (archival, posthumous report) [13:39]

• MacArthur’s speech aboard the USS Missouri:

  “As Supreme Commander… to proceed… with justice and tolerance… to ensure that the terms of surrender are fully, promptly and faithfully complied with…” — MacArthur’s surrender ceremony remarks [14:03]

• These moments give an epic but human close to years of uncertainty, heartbreak, and upheaval.

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Reflections: A New Era Begins

[16:06+]

• The narrator notes that WWII became the defining chronological marker in American life—everything dated "before the war" or "after the war."

  “For those of us who experienced World War II, it became the dividing line. Things were dated simply before the war or after the war.” — Narrator [16:06]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war. For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace.” — FDR [02:56]
• “We are now inside the screen of warship… Nothing except a few amphibious craft that are on the beach. Just gorge their tanks.” — NBC War Correspondent [06:58]
• “The drums are wrapped in black crepe and are muffled… And behind them, these are Navy boys…” — Arthur Godfrey [09:33]
• “We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing, but let us not forget for a moment the toils and efforts that lie ahead.” — Churchill (via announcer) [12:21]
• “The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima…” — Radio Correspondent [13:11]
• “This, ladies and gentlemen, is the end of the Second World War.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt (as reported by Bob Trout) [13:39]
• “For those of us who experienced World War II, it became the dividing line. Things were dated simply before the war or after the war.” — Narrator [16:06]

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Conclusion

This episode harnesses the evocative immediacy of vintage radio to encapsulate World War II’s legacy—broadcast by broadcast. The authentic sounds, voices, and emotions create a time capsule of America’s greatest generation, making history palpable for listeners and commemorating radio’s golden, unifying power.

Transcript

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[Narrator]

Geography was no longer just a schoolboy study. North Africa, the Coral Sea, Leyte Gulf, Stalingrad. And then the moment the Allies had waited for occurred. On June 6, 1944, the Allied Commander, Dwight David Eisenhower, spoke to the world people of Western Europe. A landing was made this morning on the coast of France by troops of the Allied Expeditionary Force. This landing is part of the concerted United nations plan for the liberation of Europe, made in conjunction with our great Russian allies. And FDR spoke from the United States.

[Franklin D. Roosevelt]

My fellow Americans, last night when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far. And so in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer. Almighty God, our sons, pride of our nation this day have set upon a mighty endeavor. A struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight and cruel. Give strength to their arms, stoutness to their heart, steadfastness in their faith. They will need thy blessings. They will be sore tried by night and by day without rest until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war. For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise and tolerance and goodwill among all thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home. Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servant, into thy kingdom. And for us at home, fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters and brothers of brave men overseas whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them. Help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice. And let our hearts be stout to wait out the long travail to bear sorrows that may come to impart our courage unto our Son. Wheresoever they may Be.

[Radio Correspondent / Announcer]

Sam.

[Narrator]

But at the same moment the leaders were speaking in history was being made by men in landing ships and radio was on the spot. Listen to George Hicks as he rode in with the first assault waves to land on Fortress Europe.

[Radio Correspondent / Announcer]

Our own ship has just gave its warning whistles and now the flak is coming up in the sky. Looks like we're going to have a night tonight. Give them to our boys. Another one coming over. Cruise right alongside of us. Foreign enough. Something burning is falling down through the sky and circling down. Maybe a hit plan. They got one.

[Narrator]

And this same surge of power was being felt in the Pacific. On February 19, 1945, the United States Marines landed on Iwo Jima. An NBC newsman was with them in this bloody battle.

[NBC War Correspondent]

We hear this gunfire going on all around us now. We are now inside the screen of warship. There's no more warship between us and the beach. We look out to the stern of us now and there are hundreds of craft flying out there between us and the beach. Nothing except a few amphibious craft that are on the beach. Just gorge their tanks. They're still beast in there as the water's being churned up quite a bit in between us and the beach now with a bursting of these shells. It looks like chains burning in there on the shore. Looking through our glasses now, we're just a couple hundred yards off the beach. We can see these Amtraks pull up along the beach and dozens of marines around each one of them. You see those terraces along on the seaside of those terraces, the COVID they offer is a line of line of Marines taking protection from those covers. There must be a group of police who have just recently landed. You can see lots of fresh material over there on the beach. And you can no doubt hear the bursting of these ships bursting all around it. Goo isn't going to get much use out of this island from here on in. Get a better look at that little fire we saw on the beach.

[Radio Correspondent / Announcer]

It is indeed a jeep that has been hit and burning.

[NBC War Correspondent]

We were going to hit the beach in just a couple of seconds. So we're going to be quiet and brace ourselves for a shot. And there we've hit the beach just simultaneously with that, with that shout break that you heard, we hit the beach.

[Narrator]

The smell of victory was in the air as the Allies swept back the enemy in Europe and in the Pacific, news bulletin after news bulletin spoke of another step toward peace. Listen to John Daly On April 12, 1945, the world and the nation were shocked.

[Radio Correspondent / Announcer]

We interrupt this program to bring you

[Narrator]

a special News bulletin from CBS World News.

[Radio Correspondent / Announcer]

A press association has just announced that

[Narrator]

President Roosevelt is dead. The president died of a cerebral hemorrhage. All we know so far is, is that the president died at Warm Springs in Georgia. With the victory he had helped to engineer so close at hand, FDR did not live to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Arthur Godfrey, the old redhead, himself, talked of FDR as radio again demonstrated its unique ability to transmit sorrow and loss on a very personal basis.

[Arthur Godfrey]

The drums are wrapped in black crepe and are muffled as you can hear. And the pace of the musicians is so slow. And behind them, these are Navy boys. And now just. Just coming past the treasury, I can see the horses drawing the case on. And most generally, folks having as tough a time as I am trying to see it. And behind us, behind us is the car bearing the men on whose shoulders now bore the terrific burdens and responsibilities that were handled so well by the man to whose body we're paying our last respects now. God bless him. President Truman, we return you now to the studio.

[Radio Correspondent / Announcer]

Almighty God has things that perfect from us. A great man who loved and was beloved by all humanity. No man could possibly fill the tremendous void blessed by the passing of that noble soul. No work can ease the aching hearts of untold millions of every race, creed and color. The world knows it has lost a heroic champion of justice and freedom. Tragic fate has thrust upon us grave responsibility. We must carry on. Our departed leader never looked backwards. He looked forward and moved forward. That is what he would want us to. To do. That is what America will do. With great humility, I call upon all Americans to help me keep our nation united in defense of those ideals which have been so eloquently proclaimed by Franklin Roosevelt.

[Narrator]

Less than A month later, May 7, Winston Churchill spoke on VE Day. The German war is at an end.

[Radio Correspondent / Announcer]

We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing, but let us not forget for a moment the toils and efforts that lie ahead. Japan, with all her treachery and greed, remains unsubdued. The injuries she has inflicted upon Great Britain, the United States and other countries and her detestable cruelties call for justice and retribution.

[Narrator]

The war in the Pacific continued. Fierce, bloody, with mounting casualties. Strange new words like kamikaze became part of our vocabulary. Landings on the home islands of Japan were imminent when this news broadcast changed the face of world history forever.

[Radio Correspondent / Announcer]

The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base.

[Arthur Godfrey]

We won the race of discovery against the Germans.

[Radio Correspondent / Announcer]

We have used it in order to shorten the agony of war, in order to save the lives of thousands and

[Arthur Godfrey]

thousands of young Americans.

[Radio Correspondent / Announcer]

We shall continue to use it until we completely destroy Japan's power to make war.

[Narrator]

It was just. Just a matter of time.

[Franklin D. Roosevelt]

7pm Eastern. War time. Bob Trout reporting. The Japanese have accepted our terms fully. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the end of the Second World War. The United nations are united and are victorious.

[Narrator]

General Douglas MacArthur stood on the deck of the veteran man of war, the USS Missouri, to sign the official document of surrender with the rulers of Japan,

[Radio Correspondent / Announcer]

representative of the major growing powers, to conclude a solemn agreement whereby peace may be restored. The issue involving divergent ideals and ideologies have been determined on the battlefields of the world and hence are not for our discussion or debate. Nor is it for us here to meet, representing as we do, a majority of the peoples of the earth in a spirit of distrust, malice or hatred. As Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, I announce it my firm purpose, in the tradition of the countries I represent, to proceed in the discharge of my responsibilities with justice and tolerance, while taking all necessary dispositions to ensure that the terms of surrender are fully, promptly and faithfully complied with. Of the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese government. On the Imperial General Headquarters define the instruments of surrender at the places indicated.

[Narrator]

The end of the war marked the beginning of a new era for Americans. For those of us who experienced World War II, it became the dividing line. Things were dated simply before the war or after the war.