From Radio Diaries: Orson Welles and the Blind Soldier

Summary

HISTORY This Week: "From Radio Diaries: Orson Welles and the Blind Soldier"

Release Date: March 12, 2026
Podcast: HISTORY This Week (with material from Radio Diaries)
Main Theme: The story of Isaac Woodard, an African American WWII veteran blinded by police brutality, and how Orson Welles' radio broadcasts turned a small-town crime into a civil rights flashpoint.

---

Episode Overview

This episode recounts a harrowing incident of racial violence at the end of World War II—the brutal blinding of Sgt. Isaac Woodard, a Black soldier, by a white police officer in South Carolina. The show explores how Orson Welles, famed director and then-radio commentator, used his influential national platform to demand justice and thrust this little-known case into the national consciousness, helping spark early momentum for the civil rights movement.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

[02:44] "Orson Welles Commentaries" & the Context of 1946

• Orson Welles (02:44): Introduces his radio commentary show, pledging to discuss stories and speak candidly about the news:

  "Hello, this is Orson Welles. I've come to visit with you for a few minutes... I'll try to have a story for you each time, and I'm going to speak my mind about the news. You know, we don't have to agree on everything to be friends."

• The episode highlights Welles’ prominence in the post-war era and his unique willingness to address controversial topics.

[03:15] The Crime & Initial Secrecy

• Narrator: Sets the scene—late WWII, racial tensions still high, and an unknown Black soldier beaten by police in a small Southern town.
• Eyewitness Corrine Johnson (04:07): Offers first-hand memories of the attack, emphasizing the silence and secrecy around the event:

  "I saw a man by the drugstore. He was down on the street there being beat up by the police. I didn't know who it was... I'm the only witness living that can tell it, and I ain't never forgot it."

[05:20] Isaac Woodard’s Backstory

• Historian James L. Felder Sr. (05:20): Describes the attack occurring on Woodard’s discharge day, while he was still in uniform.
• Richard Gerkel, Author (05:55): Frames it as a classic whodunit, with the police officer and the town remaining anonymous.

[06:04] Woodard’s Own Words

• Orson Welles (reading Woodard's affidavit) (06:04): Details Woodard’s military service, honorable discharge, and the start of the incident.
• Richard Gerkel (06:26): Recounts the chain of events—Woodard and fellow soldiers drinking on a segregated bus; Woodard asking to use the restroom and being refused by the driver.

[07:00–08:15] The Assault

• Orson Welles (07:00): Recounts Woodard’s perspective, with direct quotes from the affidavit:

  "About one hour out of Atlanta, the bus driver stopped at a small drugstore. ... When he cursed me and Isaac Woodard, I cursed him back."

• Richard Gerkel (07:14): Explains the bus driver’s escalating anger and the police overreaction.
• Orson Welles (07:47): Describes the violent assault:

  "The policeman struck me with a billy across my head and told me to shut up. ... He started punching me in my eyes with the end of the Billy."

• The beating in the jail leaves Woodard permanently blind.

[08:28] Aftermath & the Challenge of Finding Justice

• Laura Williams (Woodard’s niece) (08:28): Shares the family’s confusion and frantic search for Woodard:

  "Immediately after the attack, there was so much confusion because my family didn't know where he was. Isaac didn't even know where he was."

• Richard Gerkel (08:48): Highlights how activist and reporter John McCrae brought the story to the NAACP’s attention.

[09:06] The NAACP & Orson Welles’ Involvement

• James L. Felder Sr. (09:06): Notes the NAACP’s outrage over the attack on a decorated uniformed Black veteran.
• Richard Gerkel (09:23): Details how the NAACP reached out to Welles, knowing his civil rights sympathies.
• Orson Welles (09:44): Delivers a searing condemnation on national radio:

  "There's a price for everything. There's nothing that does not have its cost. What does it cost to be a Negro in South Carolina? It cost a man his eyes."

[09:53] The Power of Public Narrative

• Beatrice Welles (Orson’s daughter) (09:53): Comments on the rarity of addressing such issues on air in 1946.
• Orson Welles (10:06): Expresses solidarity with Woodard:

  "The blind soldier fought for me in this war. The least I can do now is fight for him. I have eyes he hasn't. I have a voice on the radio he hasn't."

• Welles as Investigator: Pledges to uncover the perpetrator’s identity, naming the unknown officer "Officer X" and addressing him directly:

  "Officer X, I'm talking to you. ... You won't blot out the blood of a blinded war veteran." (10:29)

• James L. Felder Sr. (10:50): Emphasizes the unforgettable impact of Welles' tone.

[11:07] Demanding Accountability

• Richard Gerkel (11:07): Welles demands white Americans confront racial violence and their responsibility.
• Orson Welles (11:17): Vows to relentlessly pursue the perpetrator's identity and justice:

  "You're going to be uncovered. We will blast out your name. I will find means to remove from you all refuge. Officer X. You can't get rid of me."

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Orson Welles (09:44):

  "What does it cost to be a Negro in South Carolina? It cost a man his eyes."

• Orson Welles (10:06):

  "The blind soldier fought for me in this war. The least I can do now is fight for him."

• Orson Welles, addressing 'Officer X' (10:29, 11:17):

  "Scrub and scour. You won't blot out the blood of a blinded war veteran. ... You're going to be uncovered. We will blast out your name."

• James L. Felder Sr. (11:01):

  "It's not something that just hits you and bounces off. It just kind of sears itself into your brain."

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:44: Orson Welles introduces his radio show and approach
• 04:07: Eyewitness Corrine Johnson recounts the blinding incident
• 05:20: Historian summarizes the event’s brutality and its context
• 06:04: Welles reads Isaac Woodard’s affidavit
• 07:47: The assault and its aftermath in Woodard’s own words
• 08:28: Family struggles to find Woodard
• 09:44: Orson Welles’ powerful radio appeal for justice
• 10:29: Welles targets "Officer X" on national radio
• 11:17: Welles vows to unmask the perpetrator

---

Episode Tone & Style

The episode skillfully blends documentary narrative with archival audio and contemporary interviews. The tone is sobering, urgent, and deeply human. Welles’ original broadcasts—relentless, rhetorical, and confrontational—still shock and inspire. The voices of historians, family members, and eyewitnesses add gravity, memory, and emotional resonance, underlining the tragedy and significance of the Isaac Woodard case.

---

For Further Exploration

• This is episode one of the "Orson Welles and the Blind Soldier" series from Radio Diaries.
• Additional episodes found on the Radio Diaries Podcast.
• Further reading: "Unexampled Courage" by Richard Gerkel.

---

Summary
This episode powerfully illustrates how one voice—armed with a platform and moral conviction—can draw national attention to injustice and help galvanize the struggle for civil rights. The intersection of personal tragedy, public outrage, and a celebrity’s sense of responsibility helped ensure that Isaac Woodard’s story would not be forgotten.

Transcript

[History This Week Host]

One thing you learn pretty quickly making history this week is that the quality of work lives or dies with the people behind it. Research, editing, sound design. Every role matters, and hiring the wrong person slows everything down. If I had to hire someone for the show tomorrow, I wouldn't want to dig through a pile of resumes that sort of fit. I'd want someone with the right experience who actually understands what we do and can jump in right away. That's why I'd use Indeed Sponsored Jobs Hiring Indeed is all you need. Sponsored Jobs help your posts get seen by quality candidates who meet your specific criteria skills, certifications, location so you're matching with people who can actually drive results. And here's a stat worth paying attention to. Sponsored Jobs posted directly on indeed are 95% more likely to report a hire than non sponsored jobs. Plus, with Indeed Sponsored Jobs, you only pay for results. It's a smart boost. Wherever you need to find quality talent, spend less time researching and more time actually interviewing candidates who check all your boxes. Less stress, less less time, more results now with Indeed Sponsored Jobs and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help get your job the premium status it [e-mail] htw just go to indeed.com htw right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com HTW terms and conditions apply. Hiring do it the Right Way with Indeed. If you've ever wondered what it takes to make History this week happen, it's basically like running a small business. You're building something from scratch, trying to make it feel real, professional, and memorable without losing what makes history this week special. And that's why, as a producer, Vistaprint is one of those tools I keep coming back to. Because once you start imagining the world around your show, Vistaprint is where the ideas get dangerously easy to picture. Embroidered hats, stickers, mugs, clean printed materials. All the stuff that makes a podcast feel like a brand you can actually hold. And lately we've been thinking about what it might look like to do our first live event. Should have more info on that soon, and I'm already imagining Vistaprint being the place where we can go for the whole setup. Signage, banners, posters, table cards, even little giveaways people actually want to keep. Because when you're building a show like History this week, the little details matter. And Vistaprint makes it feel possible to turn those details into something real. Vistaprint Print your possible Right now, new customers get 20% off with code [e-mail].

[Orson Welles]

Hello, this is Orson Welles. I've come to visit with you for a few minutes, and with your permission, every week at this time, we'll have a little conversation about people and the things they're doing all over the world.

[Narrator]

In 1946, Orson Welles, the director of Citizen Kane, was at the height of his fame. At the time, he had a national radio show called Orson Welles Commentaries on abc.

[Orson Welles]

I'll try to have a story for you each time, and I'm going to speak my mind about the news. You know, we don't have to agree on everything to be friends.

[Narrator]

After a year on the radio discussing politics and Hollywood, Wells heard of a shocking crime. It was the end of World War II. A black soldier heading home was brutally beaten by a white police officer in South Carolina. No one knew the identity of the police officer. No one even knew the town where it had happened. And Wells pledged to solve the mystery. On air. Today, we're bringing you a special episode from the Radio Diaries podcast and their new series, Orson Welles and the Blind Soldier. It's the story of a crime in a small Southern town that became a spark for the budding civil rights movement. And we begin at the scene of the crime.

[Eyewitness / Family Members (Corrine Johnson, Laura Williams, Beatrice Wells)]

I'm right here at the spot where the theater was, right across the street here. But all these trees weren't there then. My name is Corrine Johnson. I'm 98 years old. When I was 18 years old, I had just got out of high school. I was working at the theater. One of the fellows that worked at the theater came over and he said, corey, some police over there beating up a man. I left the ticket box. I said, what I want to see. You see that space right over there? That's when it happened. And I stood on the railroad track and I saw a man by the drugstore. He was down on the street there being beat up by the police. I didn't know who it was. Well, that's what I saw. I'm the only witness living that can tell it, and I ain't never forgot it.

[Expert / Historian (James L. Felder Sr.)]

On February 12th of 1946, an African American soldier in uniform on the day he is discharged is brutally beaten in South Carolina.

[Eyewitness / Family Members (Corrine Johnson, Laura Williams, Beatrice Wells)]

This horrific event happened to this young soldier, but we didn't know how and we didn't know who was responsible.

[Expert / Historian (James L. Felder Sr.)]

This story could have easily have been just a footnote if you did not have Orson Welles lifting it up to public attention.

[Author / Commentator (Richard Gerkel)]

Orson Welles immediately recognized that this was a story. It was a great whodunit.

[Orson Welles]

This is abc, the American Broadcasting Company. Good morning. This is Orson Welles speaking. I'd like to read you an affidavit. I, Isaac Woodward, Jr. Being duly sworn to depose and state as follows that I'm 27 years old and a veteran of the United States army, having served for 15 months in the South Pacific and earned one battle star while I was in uniform.

[Author / Commentator (Richard Gerkel)]

I'm Richard Gerkel. I'm the author of Unexampled Courage, about the blinding of Isaac Woodard. Here is the story. Isaac Woodard and a group of soldiers, black and white, who had been that day discharged from Fort Gordon, were heading home on a bus. They were sharing a bottle and talking and laughing. I'm sure they were a bit loud and a little rabunctious, and some of the white folks on the bus didn't like it. The bus driver didn't like it.

[Orson Welles]

About one hour out of Atlanta, the bus driver stopped at a small drugstore. As he stopped, I asked him if he had time to wait for me until I had a chance to go to the restroom. He cursed and said no.

[Author / Commentator (Richard Gerkel)]

The bus driver cursed him.

[Orson Welles]

When he cursed me and Isaac Woodard, I cursed him back.

[Author / Commentator (Richard Gerkel)]

Cursed him back. He is in the first hours of his return to America. This is a man with battlefield medals on his chest, sergeant stripes on his shoulders, and he is treated like he's nothing. And he spoke up. The bus driver was now seething with the impudence of this black man, and he left his bus in search of a police officer. And Woodard tried to explain that all I was trying to do was go to the bathroom. And the response to that was to be hit over the head with a blackjack.

[Orson Welles]

They didn't give me a chance to explain. The policeman struck me with a belly across my head and told me to shut up. After that, the policeman grabbed me by my left arm and twisted it behind my back.

[Author / Commentator (Richard Gerkel)]

And a moment later, he was being led away and the bus left without him. And on the way to the town jail where he was being arrested, he was beaten repeatedly by a police officer, eventually driving the end of the baton into both of Woodard's eyes.

[Orson Welles]

He started punching me in my eyes with the end of the Billy. He pushed me inside the jailhouse and locked me up. I woke up next morning and could not see. I was blind.

[Eyewitness / Family Members (Corrine Johnson, Laura Williams, Beatrice Wells)]

Sergeant Woodard survived, but he was blinded permanently. My name is Laura Williams, and Isaac Woodard was my uncle. Immediately after the attack, there was so much confusion because my family didn't know where he was. Isaac didn't even Know where he was?

[Author / Commentator (Richard Gerkel)]

A reporter, a guy by the name of John McCrae who was also very active in the NAACP, heard the story that there was a black man at the VA South Carolina hospital who had been beaten by a white police officer and was now blind.

[Expert / Historian (James L. Felder Sr.)]

The brutality of beating a veteran like that, still in uniform, coming home from fighting a war, that was enough to really galvanize the support of the naacp. My name is James L. Felder Sr. I was executive director of the NAACP from South Carolina.

[Author / Commentator (Richard Gerkel)]

The NAACP is looking for a way to reach a larger audience. And they knew that Orson Welles was a friend of the civil rights movement. They believed it would capture his imagination. And they were right. He heard about it, I think on a weekday. And that Sunday he was on the national radio.

[Orson Welles]

There's a price for everything. There's nothing that does not have its cost. What does it cost to be a Negro in South Carolina? It cost a man his eyes.

[Eyewitness / Family Members (Corrine Johnson, Laura Williams, Beatrice Wells)]

My name is Beatrice Wells and I'm Orson Welles daughter. Nobody talked about this kind of stuff in 1946 on the radio about a

[Narrator]

black man being beat by a white man.

[Orson Welles]

The blind soldier fought for me in this war. The least I can do now is fight for him. I have eyes he hasn't. I have a voice on the radio he hasn't.

[Eyewitness / Family Members (Corrine Johnson, Laura Williams, Beatrice Wells)]

He wanted America to know who the culprit was.

[Author / Commentator (Richard Gerkel)]

Nobody knew who had beaten Isaac Woodard at the time. And no one knew what town it had actually happened in.

[Orson Welles]

Not seems the officer of the law who blinded the young Negro boy of the affidavit has not been named till we know more about him. For just now, we'll call the policeman. Officer X. He might be listening to this. I hope so. Officer X, I'm talking to you. Wash your hands, Officer X. Wash them well. Scrub and scour. You won't blot out the blood of a blinded war veteran.

[Expert / Historian (James L. Felder Sr.)]

Even his tone caught your attention.

[Orson Welles]

Wash a lifetime, you'll never wash away that leprous lack of pigment. The guilty pallor of the white man.

[Expert / Historian (James L. Felder Sr.)]

It's not something that just hits you and bounce off. It just kind of sears itself into your brain.

[Author / Commentator (Richard Gerkel)]

He was demanding accountability for white people for inflicting violence against black people.

[Expert / Historian (James L. Felder Sr.)]

He was right on the case. That was the beginning. That was the beginning.

[Orson Welles]

You're going to be uncovered. We will blast out your name. I will find means to remove from you all refuge. Officer X. You can't get rid of me.

[Narrator]

This was episode one of Orson Welles and the Blind Soldier. You can find the rest of the series on The Radio Diaries Podcast this story was produced by Micah Hay Hazel, Nellie Gillis and Joe Richmond of Radio Diaries, with help from Elisa Escarce. It was edited by Deborah George and Ben Shapiro and mixed by Ben Shapiro. Music from Stellwagen Symphonet. To find out more, go to RadioDiaries.org. Oh, could this vintage store be any cuter?

[Author / Commentator (Richard Gerkel)]

Right?

[Eyewitness / Family Members (Corrine Johnson, Laura Williams, Beatrice Wells)]

And the best part? They accept. Discover.

[Narrator]

Accept Discovery in a little place like this? I don't think so.

[Eyewitness / Family Members (Corrine Johnson, Laura Williams, Beatrice Wells)]

Jennifer oh yeah, huh? Discovers accepted where I like to shop. Come on, baby, get with the times.

[Narrator]

Right. So we shouldn't get the parachute pants.

[Eyewitness / Family Members (Corrine Johnson, Laura Williams, Beatrice Wells)]

These are making a comeback, I think.

[History This Week Host]

Discover is accepted at 99 of places that take credit cards nationwide. Based on the February 2025 Nielsen report.