Boyd Lewis & Henry Gorrell | GSMC Classics: Soldiers of the Press

Welcome to GSMC Classics, where we transport you back to a time when radio reigned supreme and storytelling was an art form. Join us as we revisit the gripping narratives of "Soldiers of the Press," a war drama series that captivated audiences from 1942 to 1945.  

Narrated by correspondents from the United Press, including the iconic voices of Walter Cronkike and Harrison Salisbury, "Soldiers of the Press" provided a vital link to the events unfolding on the battlefields of World War II. Each episode offered a snapshot of recent news from the front lines, bringing the harrowing realities of war into the homes of millions of listeners.  

In this rebroadcast presented by GSMC Classics, we delve into the extraordinary lives of Boyd Lewis and Henry Gorrell, two journalists whose courage and determination left an indelible mark on the annals of wartime reporting. Through their eyes, we witness the triumphs and tragedies of the greatest conflict in human history.  

Boyd Lewis, with his unyielding dedication to uncovering the truth, and Henry Gorrell, with his unparalleled knack for capturing the human drama of war, stand as shining examples of journalistic excellence. From the chaos of the battlefield to the quiet moments of reflection, their stories offer a poignant reminder of the power of the press to bear witness to history.  

Join us as we pay tribute to these unsung heroes of the Fourth Estate and explore the enduring relevance of their work in today's world. GSMC Classics proudly presents "Soldiers of the Press," a timeless testament to the courage and sacrifice of those who risked everything to bring the truth to light.  

Experience the magic of "GSMC Classics: Soldiers of the Press" on our YouTube channel, Apple Podcast, JioSaavn, and Deezer, and embark on a journey through the annals of history like never before.  

We would like to thank our Sponsor: GSMC Podcast Network
Advertise with us: https://gsmcpodcast.com/advertise-with-us
Website: https://gsmcpodcast.com/gsmc-classics-soldiers-of-the-press/
GSMC Podcast Network YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@gsmcpodcastnetwork
GSMC Sports Network YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GSMCSportsNetwork. GSMC Entertainment Network YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GSMCEntertainmentNetwork GSMC News Network YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GSMCNEWSNETWORK

Disclaimer: GSMC Podcast Network presents these shows as historical content and have brought them to you unedited. Remember that times have changed and some shows might not reflect the standards of today’s society. The shows do not necessarily reflect the views, standards, or beliefs of Golden State Media Concepts or the GSMC Podcast Network. Our goal is to entertain, educate, and give you a glimpse into the past.

Episode Transcript

(00:03):
Golden State Media Concepts presents the GSMCClassic Series with episodes of some of your
favorites from a Day gone By,a Time gone By. Join us as
we time travel to some of yourclassic favorites from yesteryear. The GSMC Podcast
Network invites you to sit back,relax, and enjoy the GSMC Classic Series

(00:26):
on the Golden State Media Concepts PodcastNetworks. This week The Ghost Ghost War

(01:14):
Rogers Rogers Private, Fadius Rogers,where is that guy? I'm gonna give
any s coming? Look, Rogers, We're not in Great Lees, England
to say the sight seaway? Rogerand I know, well you happen to
be here Private to widen that narrowroad so we can drive our tents down
to the coast for shipping the frankway Dodge. Couldn't we getting that bulldoz

(01:34):
and shove that rock out of theway. Couldn't we do it tomorrow?
Sergeanty it's mighty dark tonight. No, hey, wait a minute, Rogers,
White a minute now, how comeyou're sir? Andnchester get ghosts?
Are what a ghost? You know? Maybe a witch? You see they
burned the witch at the steak heretwo hundred years ago and buried her under
that rock. I Heaven's sake,rogers, you know what I mean,

(01:55):
I tell you worried with the Lineyeshere say that if that rock has moved,
the ghost will escape from a graveand turn this town upside down.
Now, lock, private rogers,get in that bulldoze and shot that rock
right away. Are our hearts shin? Take pay for the rest of the
natural life? Start up? Okay, So come ahead, Well see if

(02:15):
there's a dose around here, learnme, loarn me? And then what

(02:38):
happened? Mister macintld you clearly,I'm laying quiet, lay in my bed.
I bought the drop off to sleepsud here's the door slam here,
I'm in a polion. No,what did I tell you? Boys?
It was that breaking yankee bulldozer chapping? What's started on? Hold on,
mister s bouler Us, holding Andthere's a lump in the bed between me

(02:59):
and the moon light streaming through thewindow. My voice freezes on my windpipe,
and before I can summon the strengthto jump out of my bed and
get a shout, the long disappears. The big room door opens, and
the hear the front door slam ifthat ain't the ghost to scrap bag a
green white it comes a stranger,mister Sikes, mister Waller J. Sikes,

(03:24):
ask me, Walter J. Sikes, owner the old Queen Ann's Castle
in What can I do for you? Well, my name is Boyd Lewis,
the United Press. I just gotinto Great Lace from London, ah
an American newspaper man. That's right, sir, The United Press wants to
know if there's any truth of thestory about the ghost and scrap bag of
green here's the name throw why,sir and mister Lewis, and I'll fill

(03:45):
you in on background. A whichwas burned at the steak here at great
least two hundred years ago, andshe's been resting peacefully all these years until
last night. Last night, twelveAmerican soldiers used the bulldozer to push away
the stone on her gleeve a lownor spirit to escape, and of all
the people she had to call on, she picked on me for st I

(04:06):
don't like the looks of it atall. What do you think, mister
Lewis. I think I'll call onthose two American soldiers, mister Place the

(04:28):
sergeant. That's right, mister Lewis, we just pushed it away. Yeah,
I remember hearing a terrible sound likea screech owl. Yeah, I
remember that too, but I cutup in the wind. Will not tell
me did you see anything? Not? I think. All I know is
the folks around here are blaming thisghost business on us. Yeah, and
we don't like the idea of aghost messing up this war. See it's
sergeant, what about you spending thenight with me at the end we might

(04:49):
find out something about this ghost andscrapped back at green. Wow that suits
me, mister Lewis, I'm readyfor anything. H might as well closed

(05:12):
the window, sergeant. Yeah,three o'clock and nothing's happened yet. Yeah,
all Man's Sykes. This room isnext hour, is ain't it?
That's right? I bet you he'ssleeping like all Man's Sikes. Yeah,
yeah, let's go Sikes. MisterSikes, are you all right? I'm
going in Okay? What are youall right? Mister Sikes? What happened?

(05:36):
Oh? I'm all right. Iwas in bed suddenly I heard a
noise over by the bookcase. WhenI got up, somebody screamed, annoy
hit the floor. Miss the lords. Uh, take a look at these
books were there. Let's seem that'sfunny. All the jackets have been changed.
It was the ghost of scrap faggotGreed. Hey Shakespeare, it's on

(06:00):
the gallons waiting at Somerset. Morn'son the tall start. I tell you
nobody, but the ghost could havecourse that it was at Brinking Yankee Bulldoze
and what started all this? Say, what are we gonna do, mister

(06:21):
Lewis. That may sound funny,but the repretation of the American Army is
at stake here. We can't affordto be blamed for tind of a ghost
loose on our lives. The nextmove is all set, Sergeant. The
United Press is sent for Professor HarryPrice. Yeah see, Professor Price is
a member of the London Council onPsychical Research the Supernatural. Yeah yeah,

(06:41):
I get you. The professor approvedbrother is really a ghost of scrap back
at Green and great Lee's Hey,better prove it. We can't have a
ghost messing us up in this war. Giot's boy silent. The Professor is

(07:02):
going to Mikey's report. Gentlemen,I am convinced that the spirit of scrap
Packett Green has key giant everyoney silt. We must lose no time in inducing
this ghost or spirit to resume herposition in the green. Excuse me,
professor, how do you propose todo that? It's quite simple, mister

(07:23):
Lewis, by replacing the stone inthe exact spot from where it was pushed
from her greed. That shouldn't behard. We're working against time, gentlemen.
I trust you realize that tomorrow isFriday the thirteenth. I fear to
think what mischief this ghost might causeif she were allowed to remain at large

(07:44):
on that day of dark omens.You'd better get her under today, and
we'll be in for it tonight,Lord, mister Lewis, I don't know.
Well, gentlemen, here we arenow. The stone must be placed

(08:09):
so that its four foot length.He's pointed you north and south. All
right, boys, let's all pushedtogether? Right? Everybody all said,
why a little more? A littlemore? The perfect thanks the lord that

(08:31):
troubles her own. Yes, gentlemen, I am confident that the good people
of Great Leeds will have no furthercause for worry about the ghost of Scrapbaggett
Green. She is once again safelylocked in her Gravemen, the drinks are

(09:01):
on the out strip. Paggett Greenis very forever. In addition to thanking
the professor, we our detacratitude tomister Boyd Lewis at the United Dress and
the sergeant Robert Marx are the UnitedStates little sticks and did not like it?

(09:22):
What did you say, mister Macintosh? Yeah you heard me, and
I'm warning your the ghost of scrapPaggett Green, a norse Taimbury Robbie.
Why do you say that, misterMcIntosh, because the blumine on the sideways.
What are you driving it? WalterSikes, I've been past that stone
every day for forty four years andthe A has always pointed up. Lime

(09:46):
Macintosh is right course, or misterLewis here we go again. There's nothing
to be alarmed about, sergeant,nothing to be alarmed about the professor.
Where's the professor? Professor as returnedto London. But just to make sure
this mystery is cleared up, theUnited Press is having another expert on the
supernatural here in Great Leaves tomorrow.Who is he? Doctor d G.
J. McSweeney of County Cork Island. Now, gentlemen, I think we

(10:09):
should all retire good morning, Goodmorning with Sykes. Morning. Apparently the
ghost of scrapped back of Green issafely buried the sergeant and I never heard

(10:33):
a peabody all night. Yeah,that's right. No, that's wrong.
The ghost is on the loose again. It's impossible, impossibly well out of
you explain the fact that mister Chippinsfound his rabbit sitting on eggs in the
chicken coop. No, yes,he might flock a geaese disappeared. They
found him just now at the gravewhere the ghost to scraplagged Green. Doctor
McSweeney should have arrived long ago.He's already here, he said he was

(10:54):
going out to investigate. Investigate whatyou can't catch a ghost, doctor McSween.
My name is BOYD Lewis. Havebeen out of press, Oh yes,
mister Lewis. Yes. Any newson the ghost of scrap flagg of
Green, Yes, but I'd liketo announce it in mister Sykes. Okay,

(11:18):
let's go in, gentlemen. Gentlemen, there's nothing to be alarmed about.
I have just completed a thorough investigation. In might I ask, what
is your solution you, mister WalterJ. Sykes, are the solution?

(11:39):
Yes? I find that all ofthe witnesses to the unusual happenings caused by
this god are customers of the pubhere owned by the principal witness, mister
Sikes. You have an eye forbusiness, mister Sykes. In fact,
since this ghost scare, your businesshas increased considerably, hasn't But yeah,

(12:01):
you faked the switch of the bookjackets. And as for your geese swandle
away, well, I have neverknown geese to stay in one place.
The rest of the happenings for theproduct of well known shall we say,
habitues of this pub, mister Seissmerely stimulated your imaginations, and you unwittingly
cooperated with him admirably Well gentlemen,Am I right? Am I wrong?

(12:26):
Doctor McSweeney? It looks as ifyou're right. I believe in ghosts,
mister Lewis. But I have arrivedat reluctant conclusion that the ghost of scrap
Baggett Green is to be blunt oHawks, you have been less to The

(13:00):
ghost goes to war. The storyof a ghost on the loose in England,
as reported by United Press correspondent BoydLewis. We will present another in
this series soldiers of the press soon. Be sure to listen. Meanwhile,
look for United Press dispatches in yourfavorite newspaper. Listen for your United Press
news and the air. They areyour guarantee of the world's best coverage of
the world's biggest news. Soldiers afterpress, this week our of decision?

(13:56):
What claims of Colonel ten fifty general? A word from the enemy are laser
hold out post acided? All right? They're asking for it and they're going
to get it. Colonel, thehour of decision has arrived. We attack
Achan. This is United Press correspondentHenry Garrel reporting on the hour of decision

(14:22):
at the doomed German city of Achen. The day broke gray and cold.
A white chili mist shrouded the elevenhundred year old city of German emperors.
But the German troops in Achen werenot worried about the chili mist. Their
concern was a more lethal pole overhangingthe city, A poll of tough American
troops encircling the entire area except forso called suicide carriter less than a mile

(14:46):
wide to the east. That wasthe situation when the commanding American general told
me at his headquarters. Few Germansmight get through, but I don't think
many will want to risk our artilleryfire. Isn't there a possibility of the
Germans from the the outside attempting towiden that corridor and reinforce the Germans at
Achen. They'll never get through,Garrel. The German garrison and civilians in

(15:07):
Akhen placed two alternatives, surrender ordeath. Take that call, Private Katie,
Yes, sir, Hello, Kingfour Conning red Hot, King four
coning red Hord. It's one ofus cout planes over the corridor. I'll

(15:28):
take it. This is red Heart, King four. Go ahead. Enemy
tanks and half tracks approaching from theeast. Looks like they're going to try
and widen the corridor. That isall message received, King four. Hello,
Hello, get me headquarters. HurryHello Connor Forbes Copplanes. Report enemy
from the east that fancied on corridorwith heavy armor right right, Hell Garrel,

(15:56):
you're going to see something now,no for yes, sir, batteries
A to F get the range andfire along the line, yessir, and
don't let up, you understand,yessir. Entries A to F range two
thousand, twenty five hundred and threethousand range, two thousand, twenty five

(16:22):
hundred and three thousand affliction, zerodeffliction, zero ten rounds, high explosives,
steady ten rounds, steady, steadyfire fire. And we stood on

(16:52):
a hill with a general and watchedthe American longtim cannons cutloose with a murderous
barage that split the advancing German armoredcolumn, and half the tail of the
column withdrew the forward elements race tothe outskirts of the narrow carr to join
the hard pressed German infantry. Again, our artillery opened up, and in

(17:18):
a few minutes the germans last attemptto reinforce Achen had been smashed back.
At the American commander's headquarters, welGerrell, it's now or never, Colonel
Forbes. Yes, a fetch methree of your best men. Make it
two officers and one enlisted man.Make sure one of them speaks German.
Yes that general? Well, Girrel, can you guess the next move?
Well, i'd say that you're aboutto send the German commander at Achen an

(17:41):
ultimatum. And I would say,Garrel, that you are correct. Gentlemen,
I have called you here to deliveran notamatum to the commander of the
German garrison at Achen, which oneof you speaks German? Lieutenant William baumser
you're acquainted with the military formalities,Yes, sir, good now are you,

(18:04):
Lieutenant George Matthew Sir you, Maviewill deliver my ultimatum, and Private
Kenneth katingson you. Private Kenneth Katingwill carry the flag of truce. Yes,
sir, Lieutenant Mavie, here's yourmessage. That's all, gentlemen,
and good luck. I accompanied thosethree American soldiers Matthey, Bowman Kating to

(18:32):
our last out post, and thenwatch their backs grow smaller in the distance
as they approached the German lines.Glanced at my watch. Time was ten
minutes to eleven in the morning.Ten minutes to eleven. What this in
the melicana? You'll have mine andthe pasture. If you're here in commandant,
I can speak English. Message foulcommander, did you say? Yes?

(18:56):
Right? A message for your commander? Give it to me. Give
you a receipt sketch down at passage. I'm sorry, better keep that flag
high that you blend is your receipt. I must plan for you and take
you to my lieutenant come on.Twelve hours passed still with no reply from

(19:23):
the German garrison. Then on radioB this is are your belieon. American
commander has called them the German garrisonand a can to surrender within twenty four
hours will face destruction. Our answeris that we reject. That's what I
martom. The city with a coronationof thirty seven German air Force took place.

(19:45):
Cannot be asked to surrender. ColonelForbes, will you come in please,
Well, girrel, there's nothing todo but show them that our planes
and guns will We're knocking into amass of ruin and rubble, an example
of the fate that a waste everyGerman city resisting Allied arms. Colonel,

(20:07):
I want you to put every planein this area on the alert, ready
for immediate takeoff. Yes it Inspectall artillery batteries and see that sufficient and
sendy areas and high explosive shelves areonhand. By the way, say one
thing more, order all sound trucksout the first thing tomorrow morning. I'll
prepare the proclamation I want broadcast tomorrow. That's all, Colonel. Hurry those

(20:30):
night hours on the front before chenwith the longest I've ever spent in my
life. I watched mechanics scramble overa dive bombers, watch them move up
heavy bombs ready for instant loading.Watch the artillerym and check their giant guns,
while scout planes flew over the city, dropping thousands of leaflets containing the
surrendered terms and calling up from thecity to give in. The answer was

(20:52):
silence. When daylight broke, theGeneral ordered out the sound trucks to broadcast
his final warning to the garrison andcivilians. You prevent it. What time

(21:36):
is it? Colonel ten fifty?General ten fifty a m No word from
the enemy or no sir, holdout post a sidon. All right,
they're asking for it, and they'regoing to get it. Colonel Forbes.
The hour of decision has arrived.We attack Hawking, Order all planes to
bomb up. Alert the artillery.Tell a couple of Robertsons. Affliction zero

(22:21):
affliction zero, twenty rounds high explosives, twenty rounds high explosives. It fly

(22:49):
from the hills before the encircled city. I watched off and go to its
faith. That deadly hail of fireand hot steel was more than any human
could stand, and soon from theoutskirts peered a great mass of German civilians
and soldiers, their screams and hoarsecries echoing across the battlefield. Gazed and
sobbing, their faces contorted with fear, they streamed into our lines by the

(23:12):
hundreds behind them. The terrified civiliansleft the ancient city of Achen, dining

(23:34):
under a bright blue sky, heavingunder the dreadful symphony of bombs and bullets.
Colonel Forbes, after surveying this dreadfulscene, summed it up when he
said to me, this is theway every town in Germany should look.
Then there wouldn't be any more warfor a while. You have just heard

(24:22):
United Press correspondent Henry Gorell's dramatic storyof the death of Aakan, based on
the famous American ultimatum surrender or die. We will present another in this series
in the near future. Be sureto listen, and meanwhile, remember to
listen for United Press news on theair. Look for United Press dispatches in
your favorite newspaper. They are yourguarantee of the world's best coverage of the

(24:47):
world's biggest news. You've been listeningto the GSMC Classic Series part of the
Golden State Media Concepts Podcast Network.Follow us at www dot gsmcpodcast dot com
and find all of our timeless programmingby typing GSMC Classics into any podcast app

(25:11):
including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts,SoundCloud, Stitcher, and more. Remember
to subscribe to the GSMC Classics Seriespodcasts of your choice to stay up to
date on new episodes, and ifyou could take a minute to give us
a nice review, that really helpsus to get this ageless programming out to
others who would enjoy it just asmuch as you have. Check out all

(25:34):
of our GSMC Classics Series podcasts.Whether you're in the mood for comedy,
romance, adventure, history, sciencefiction, horror, or anything in between.
The GSMC Classics Series has you covered. Thank you, and we hope
you've enjoyed today's program on the GoldenState Media Concepts Podcast Network.