National Newspaper Boy Day Special Program 43-1002 Dimes for Invasion. Treasury Dept

Summary

National Newspaper Boy Day Special Program: "Dimes for Invasion"

Podcast Title: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host/Author: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: National Newspaper Boy Day Special Program 43-1002 Dimes for Invasion. Treasury Dept
Release Date: June 15, 2025

Overview

In this special episode of Harold's Old Time Radio, listeners are transported back to the Golden Age of Radio with the "National Newspaper Boy Day Special Program: Dimes for Invasion." This episode, produced in cooperation with the United States Treasury Department, honors the dedication of newspaper delivery boys who play a crucial role in supporting the war effort by selling war-saving stamps. The program features compelling storytelling, inspirational speeches, and spirited musical performances, all aimed at rallying public support for the troops overseas.

Introduction to National Newspaper Boy Day

The episode opens with Larry Elliott setting the stage for National Newspaper Boy Day, emphasizing the significant contributions of newspaper boys in selling war stamps and thus supporting the invasion efforts.

Notable Quote:

"Saturday, October 2nd is National Newspaper Boy Day... your local newspapers and newspaper boys... present an all-star radio program, 'Dimes for Invasion.'"
[01:02] – Larry Elliott

Highlighting the War Effort

Larry Elliott continues by showcasing the impressive achievement of newspaper boys, who have collectively sold $90 million worth of war stamps, a testament to their commitment and the community's support.

Notable Quote:

"But there are just a few short weeks left for lawmakers to act. Take action to protect kids like me@ flavorshookoregan.org/kids."
[01:02] – Larry Elliott

Feature Story: George Tucker’s War Correspondence

A significant portion of the program is dedicated to George Tucker, an Associated Press war correspondent who has recently returned from North Africa. Introduced by Lloyd Stratton, Assistant General Manager and Secretary of The Associated Press, Tucker shares his thrilling firsthand experiences from the front lines.

Notable Quote:

"You've got to see a battle to get the feel of it. You've got to get it in your blood to be able to tell about it."
[04:48] – George Tucker

Tucker’s Harrowing Experience

Tucker narrates a suspenseful story from April 19th in Tunisia, detailing an intense encounter with German bombers. His vivid recounting includes the fear, the chaos of battle, and the solidarity among soldiers as they collectively endure the relentless attacks.

Key Points:

• Battlefield Realities: Tucker emphasizes the necessity for correspondents to experience battles firsthand to authentically report them.
• Personal Risk: He describes falling into a hole during a bombing raid, the danger of anti-personnel bombs, and the camaraderie that kept morale high despite the constant threat.

Notable Quote:

"I fell into it just as the bombs came. There were anti-personnel bombs designed not for damage but for killing men."
[05:22] – George Tucker

Inspirational Message from the Front Lines

Tucker concludes his segment with an impassioned plea for continued support from the home front, urging listeners to purchase more war bonds and stamps to ensure a swift and secure victory.

Notable Quote:

"Friends, those men of yours are fighting a mighty hard, tough fight for a speedy and final victory... buying more and more war bonds and stamps so they can come back to a future of peace and security."
[08:25] – George Tucker

Musical Interlude: Morton Downey’s Performance

The program transitions to a musical performance by Morton Downey, a beloved radio song star. His rendition of "In My Arms" combines patriotism with a heartfelt yearning, resonating with listeners and reinforcing the program's motivational tone.

Notable Quote:

"Back up your fighting men with war stamps today... buy that extra dollar's worth of war stamps from your newspaper boy to celebrate National Newspaper Boy Day."
[09:13] – Morton Downey

Closing Remarks

Larry Elliott wraps up the program by reiterating the importance of every contribution towards war stamps and bonds, highlighting the collective effort required to support America's troops and ensure victory.

Notable Quote:

"When you buy war stamps and war bonds, you are investing in victory and the future security of this land of our fathers."
[11:19] – Larry Elliott

Production and Acknowledgements

The episode concludes with credits acknowledging the contributions of George Tucker, Lloyd Stratton, Morton Downey, the Paulist Boys choir, the treasury orchestra, and various directors and producers who ensured the special program's success.

Notable Quote:

"This especially transcribed production was directed by Everett George Opie. This is Larry Elliott speaking for the United States Treasury Department."
[13:33] – Larry Elliott

Conclusion

This episode of Harold's Old Time Radio masterfully blends storytelling, personal accounts from the war front, and uplifting music to celebrate National Newspaper Boy Day. By highlighting the essential role of newspaper boys in supporting the war effort and featuring compelling narratives from correspondents like George Tucker, the program not only honors past contributions but also inspires ongoing support for national endeavors.

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Transcript

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[Billy]

Times FOR INVASION.

[Larry Elliott]

Saturday, October 2nd is national newspaper Boy Day. In cooperation with the United States Treasury Department, your local newspapers and newspaper boys who deliver and sell United States war saving stamps present an all star radio program, dimes for Invasion, starring Morton Downey. George Tucker, Associated Press war correspondent who has just returned from North Africa. You'll hear the Paulist Boys choir with David Berkman and the treasury orchestra and chorus. The program opens with Strike up the band.

[Morton Downey]

Let the drums roll up Let the trumpet call Let the people shout Right up the band in the simple swing Calling one and all to the marshall swings Strike up the bag There is work to be done, to be done There's a war to be won to be won Come you son of a son of a gun Take your stand with a flag of pearl For a brave new world daily the strike of the battle and in a strip of the battle.

[Billy]

Hello, folks. I speak for the newspaper boys, you know, Saturday, October 2nd is the big day for the newspaper boys who help Uncle Sam sell war stamps.

[Larry Elliott]

Well, how many war stamps have the newspaper boys sold, Billy?

[Billy]

$90 million worth.

[Larry Elliott]

$90 million? Well, that's really a marvelous record.

[Billy]

It sure is. Now, National Newspaper Boy Day want all our customers to buy at least $1's worth of extra war stamps. Yes, sir. These extra dimes for war stamps are dimes for invasion.

[Larry Elliott]

The newspaper boys of America present Mr. George Tucker, associated Press foreign war correspondent who will tell you one of his thrilling eyewitness stories of his experiences in North Africa. Mr. Tucker will be introduced by Lloyd Stratton, assistant general manager and secretary of The Associated Press. Mr. Stratton.

[George Tucker]

Ladies and gentlemen of the gallant Associated Press correspondents who have been reporting the war for you in the Mediterranean theater of operations, one has lost his life, two are prisoners of the enemy and two have been painfully injured. Of the two injured, one Wes Gallagher, with a steel brace on his back because of a fractured vertebra, is already on his way back to the front. The other who is pleading to be sent back just as soon as his physician will permit is George Tucker. He underwent a grave surgical operation in New york only last August 4th as a result of an injury in a plane crack up in Tunisia. Tucker was for 10 years an associated Press Broadway columnist. But Tucker wanted to give up the glitter of Broadway to report the danger and action of the battlefields. Tell us, George, why must a correspondent whose job is reporting rather than shooting take such risks?

Well, Lloyd, in the first place, you've got to see a battle to get the feel of it. You've got to get it in your blood to be able to tell about it. You've got to run the same risks a soldier runs. You've got to sleep in ditches and get bugs on you and go hungry. But don't misunderstand me. Correspondents don't take unnecessary risks. They're thinking every minute of getting a story, getting it written and getting it back to headquarters for censorship and transmission.

George, suppose you tell us. What do you think was your most thrilling experience?

That's not such an easy question. I can think of a good many experiences. As we drove Rommel across Libya, I spent some time with British sappers digging out landmines and other diabolical death traps left by the Nazis. But I think I'll tell you about one night in Tunisia. It was the night of April 19th. I had been out with the British fleet and had heard of the remarkable accomplishment of the 57th American Fighter Group the day before. You may recall, they shot down 76 Yonkers 52s in 15 minutes and damaged or destroyed 28 others. These were the big Nazi transports with which the Nazis were trying to escape. From Cape Bon, I came ashore and caught a ride on an army truck about 40 miles up the road to the 57th headquarters. I got there about 11:30 at night. The men were intense and were just turning in, but. But I scrambled around and managed to get my story. Within a few minutes, I was told I could use a trailer, which was actually the 57th Operations Office, to write my story. It was a bright, moonlit night with low, scattered clouds. I was all alone in the trailer, writing. Suddenly I heard that distinctive wom of a German bomber coming from the clouds. If you've ever heard it, you never forget it. The next thing I knew, the sky burst into light. The Germans had dropped flares to light up the target. I started to move. I thought I could sort of back away from that light. Then it occurred to me that flares spread for a couple of miles, not just a couple of hundred yards. So I ran. I came to a hole about 4ft deep that had been the foundation of an ack ack gun. I fell into it just as the bombs came. There were anti personnel bombs designed not for damage but for killing men. It was all over, I thought instantly. I went back to the trailer and started riding again. And then they came back again, flying low and fast. They had merely ducked into the clouds and turned around and come back. I ran for the hole again. This time several soldiers joined me and. And it sounds a little fantastic to tell about it now, but those bombers came back every 15 minutes from midnight to about 4 o' clock in the morning. I would go back to the trailer, write a paragraph and they'd come again. And then I'd have to run for that hole and wait for them to drop their bombs. Soon there were 30 or 40 of us crowded in that hole. Officers, pilots, members of ground crews.

How did they take it, the those men, George?

Swell, Lloyd, good naturedly. Those men knew what they were up against. They were joking all the time. Of course, some of us prayed. Some mighty fine pilots were killed that night.

George, do you have any final message from those boys over there? Those boys you are aching to rejoin?

Yes, I do. Friends, those men of yours are fighting a mighty hard, tough fight for a speedy and final victory. I hope I've given you just a glimpse of what they're going through. They're doing their job and they're not complaining. But they expect you to do your part to keep up the effort on the home front to the limit. That means working harder and sacrificing more, buying more and more war bonds and stamps so they can come back to a future of peace and security.

[Larry Elliott]

Thank you, George Tucker and Lloyd Stratton and the Associated Press. Now here is one of America's popular radio song stars, Morton Downey.

[Morton Downey]

Hello, folks. And to all the newspaper boys, a special high. Fellas, you did it before and you can do it again. Back up your fighting men with war stamps today. And you folks keep on buying war stamps and war bonds for speedy victory and peace. Now David Brookman and the orchestra and chorus join me in a popular war song. In my arms, in my arms, in my arms. Ain't I never gonna get a girl in my arms? In my arms, in my arms. Ain't I never gonna get a bundle of charms? Comes the dawn I'll be gone. I just gotta have a honey holding me tight.

You can't keep in it, man, you're Perlin. If I'm gonna go to Berlin Give me a girl in my arms tonight.

In my arms, in my arms Ain't I never gonna get a girl in my arms in my arms, in my arm Ain't I never gonna get a bundle of charms Comes the dawn I'll be gone and I thank you for the many letters you write as for something nice and cute and female I'll never get it in the female Give.

Me a girl in my arms tomorrow in my arms in my arms in.

My arms Ain't I never gonna get a girl in my arms in my arm, in my arm Ain't I never gonna get a bundle of charms Underdog.

I'm to the dawn I'll be gone.

I'll be gone now does anybody wanna please be right? You can keep your shaving cream and lotion. If I'm gonna cross the ocean Give me a girl in my arms tonight.

Give me a girl in Give me a girl in Give me a girl in Give me a girl in Give me a curl in my arms to die.

[Larry Elliott]

Yes, friends, every dime counts. Your dimes for war stamps are dimes for invasion, for victory and peace. This is Larry Elliott speaking for the United States Treasury Department and a salute to your local newspapers and newspaper boys who sell and deliver war stamps. When these boys call to ask you to buy at least $1's worth of extra war stamps, remember they are doing their part to help you. To help you, the 20 million newspaper subscribers to continue your full share in support of America's war efforts. Make your dimes count. Buy that extra dollar's worth of war stamps from your newspaper boy to celebrate National Newspaper Boy Day. When you buy war stamps and war bonds, you are investing in victory and the future security of this land of our fathers.

[Morton Downey]

Christ. The familiar death glory of symbol of their pilgrimage.

[Larry Elliott]

The United States Treasury Department thanks George Tucker and Lloyd Stratton of the Associated Press. Morton Downey and the Paulist Choir under the direction of Fred Becker. Also this station for the use of its facilities. The Treasury Orchestra in chorus were under the direction of David Brookman. This especially transcribed production was directed by Everett George Opie. This is Larry Elliott, spe.

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