Virgil Pinkney & Robert Vermillion | GSMC Classics: Soldiers of the Press

Welcome to GSMC Classics, your gateway to the golden age of radio! Immerse yourself in the timeless allure of vintage broadcasts with our latest episode of "Soldiers of the Press," featuring the unforgettable exploits of Virgil Pinkney and Robert Vermillion.  

During its original run from 1942 to 1945, "Soldiers of the Press" captivated audiences with its gripping war drama series. Narrated by esteemed correspondents from the United Press, including the legendary voices of Walter Cronkike and Harrison Salisbury, the show provided a front-row seat to the latest news from the action-packed theaters of World War II.  

In this rebroadcast brought to you by GSMC Classics, we pay tribute to the brave journalists who risked life and limb to report the truth from the front lines. Virgil Pinkney and Robert Vermillion emerge as unsung heroes of wartime journalism, their stories weaving a tapestry of courage, integrity, and resilience.  

From the bustling newsrooms to the heart of battle, "Soldiers of the Press" offers a vivid portrayal of the challenges faced by reporters in the midst of conflict. Through their eyes, we gain a deeper understanding of the human cost of war and the pivotal role played by the press in shaping public perception.  

Join us as we journey back in time to an era defined by courage and sacrifice. GSMC Classics proudly presents "Soldiers of the Press," a riveting showcase of classic radio at its finest.  

Catch the rebroadcast of this iconic episode on our YouTube channel, Apple Podcast, JioSaavn, and Deezer, and experience the magic of "GSMC Classics: Soldiers of the Press."  

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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 g s MC

(00:25):
Classic Series on the Golden State MediaConcepts Podcast Network. Oh off this week

(01:03):
invasion. In ten seconds, wewill bring you an important announcement from Londom

(01:25):
Flash Supreme Headquarters. Allied Expeditionary Commandsunder the command of General Eisenhower. Allied
Table Forces supported by strong Air Forcesbegan landing operations this morning on the northern
coast of France. This is thestory behind the invasion you. It begins

(01:51):
in London with the telephone ringing inthe darkened departure. Oh about you,
Yes, Yes, you proceed immediately, the Ministry of Information, Yes,

(02:14):
let's call is confidential kill moment Tillwhile Virgil Pinkley, the European General Manager
of United Press, was driving toMcMillan Hall in London, things began to
happen at the New York offices ofUP, the official German news agency d

(02:35):
n B says it's forty three am. The entire coast between rob and
Sherwood is involved in what it's claimedas an Allied invasion. What do you
make of it? And I can'ttell. Might be a German propaganda,
might not and put it on themain country. Play at the rumor angle,
okay, And don't forget to addthere is no Allied confirmation, no
Allied confirmation. The German dn Bnews agency them heavy four ships and twenty

(03:07):
line destroyers alight before the same estuaryoff the coast of France. There is
no live confirmation. During that flurryof German rumors, Virgil Pinkley and his
assistant Edward Petey hurried to staff headquartersin London. Farmers were dropping overhead like

(03:30):
the rumble of distant elevated trains.American military police wearing white helmets, gloves
and lakings escorting the two up mento a large room where a fellow correspondents
received anything. I've been waiting,All right, gentlemen, your attention to
me. You all have observed andno doubt read the piece of paper placed
at the table before you. Thatis invasion communicating number one you may release

(03:53):
it from the entire world in exactlyfive seconds. Five four read one go,

(04:15):
No confirmation, no confirmation. What'sthe matter with London anyway? Listen,
kid, You've got one thing tolearn. The up is not verifying
any invasion, reports, falls orotherwise until are substantiated by Allied headquarters.
Three. The stuff came in,Break it up, all wires, splash

(04:36):
London. Under the command of GeneralEisenhower, Allied naval forces supported by strong
air forces began landing operations this morningon the northern coast of France. All

(05:01):
Right, you guys, so thisis what we've been waiting for. I'll
be over the target for five minutes. And if you ever scored a bull's
eye now at the time, didyou ever see so many plays in your
life? Sky's black with him andnot a single Jerry in Saint Say Frank,
did that courspond to get a board? Yes, Holly Small the United
Press. He's with me. Ohlotty Colly, how do you sell things?
Brokes are fast? About a chanceto make it, bobl glad to
have you with us, Small,Thanks glad to be I'm going to miss

(05:25):
this for the world. Eh.But that's about what it's for? Is
she right? Having it on thetarget him? All right, you guys,
now remember remember what that she toldus. We've got a particular job
to do, and we're going todo it right. Considering how we go
and get set everybody, and getthem all. We got what's out with
the black? The hell with theblack. Get that cost the fortification.

(05:46):
Let them have it, alms theway, nice bowing boy, Now past
them all. Look at boss.Wait, he's run Master ray thing Urgent

(06:10):
the United Press, New York byCollie Small. More than twenty three hundred
American and British heavy bombers beamed upin a shattering zero hour bomb partment of
northern France, sending an estimated seventhousand tons of bombs crashing on the network
of German gunham placements raiding the invasioncoats. It was the greatest single attack
launched against the single objective in thehistory of aerial warfare, and the battered

(06:33):
look Boffer took the beating without puttinga plane into the skies. The powerful
alive feet moving ahead of the invasionarmada. Cause I remember you, Leo
Dish of the United Freds. That'sright, Admerald you came along in the
bombing of the Turfis, didn't you, Yes, sir, But this is
the biggest show I ever expect,to cover nothing but ships as far as

(06:55):
I can see, battle wagons,cruisers, destroyer, corvette, LCT mightiest
feet ever assembled anywhere at any timein the world. This edition we have
e one of them, four thousandships together with several thousand smaller crafts.
Toto hard right golf playing those machineguns to starve it environ depth charges Why
the machine guns Emeralds called the tarpeeders. The only chance dep goods to the

(07:18):
rest joint position free to pay Topinowait to starve it thread. Here they
are two of them talking, notdarping bow high off blended home with the
ash gangs. How as they gocoming in on rad Sir, listen,

(07:43):
the German coastal batteries are opening upright, mister Disha, this is what
we've been waiting for, Keptain Allison, I s one pardon will started exactly
zero four hundred is now zero twofive Then by general alarm, Dick watched
all ships ten five ft jeneral alarmten seconds to go. Then by I

(08:07):
seconds down General cordyce all hands andyour helication, n your gas station,
that amned fats of fire and readygation Pisher They already sim and the order
is fire Urgent to United Press,New York by Leo Disher. The Allied

(08:39):
Navies poured tons of hot steel onthe invasion coast of Norman the early today.
The big Navy shells burst with terrificforce, sending off red sheets of
flame which subsided in billows of mushroomingdirt and smoke. The Germans failed in
their attempt to break up the fleet. With U boats and coastal fortifications.
Upwards of four thousand ships took partin the action. Behind this mighty battle

(09:01):
fleet, thousands of landing craft,each carrying one hundred and twenty men with
weapons and small tanks bed towards theinvasion shore. We's taking hot night and
hard making night. He wears thatUnited Quest coss bond and ain't Nick McMillan,
Yeah, hove up in the frontof the art back neck with me.
I want a waiter test the nightnothing knight alron man bore we get

(09:22):
out, don't forget the attack andcot bun shot right out. Come on
in kiss Urgency, United Press,New York by Richard C. McMillan.
Live troops have reached the invasion coastof Europe and are storming ashore on the

(09:46):
beaches. Each man was a walkingarsenal. Some carried their Garran rifles,
eighty rounds of ammunition and three grenades. Others pour grenade launching springfields. Others
had drowning automatics. There were bazukas, flames, rowers, TNT pot charges,
and all the other equipment necessary toreduce the enemy's fortified position. The
Germans opened a heavy fire when ourmen were about fifty yards off shore,

(10:09):
but most of the spear had reachedthe beaches, shouting the battle cry,
come on the cat, what's notlet's vaulting on? Come on? Urgent

(10:31):
to United Press, New York byVirgil Pinkley, The one hundred billion dollar
Alied invasion of Europe has just passedits first test to the battle cry of
they can't stop us. These fourwords from an unknown American sergeant were uttered
as the greatest military operation of historybegan. They transformed the coast of northern

(10:52):
France into a roaring, flaming,crashing inferno. The battle of battles has
finally been joined, but the jobhas owned begun. We shall have victory,
but only at the cost of bloodand sweat, courage and currents,
and the highest military skill. Youhave just heard the United Press Invasion staff

(11:30):
dramatic eyewitness story of the Aligned invasionof northern France. Other correspondents the world
over are prepared to bring you otherfirst hand accounts. We will present another
in this series soon. Be sureto listen. Meanwhile, remember to look
for you United Press dispatches in yourfavorite newspapers. Listen for you United Press

(11:52):
news on the air. It isyour guarantee of the world best coverage of
the world's biggest news. Ye dooff the fast this week the road to

(12:26):
row h conswer sir stop it?Will you stop it? Oh? Why
don't you die? Give missed alot of PA, given you a my

(12:50):
water. I tell you you thinkI'd like to listen to your dying?
Do here? Do you? Yeah? Oh? Roy? Should I feel
sorry for you killed my best friendshutting down like a dog out there on
the field like a dog. You'renot forgetting my chance my best friend to
you? Hear my best friend?Oh, sir, sir boy you can

(13:26):
talk all you want. Personally,I'll take a barrel of beer. Well,
you can have your barrel of beard. Brother. Personally, I'm gonna
get married when this war is over. To the sweetest little gale in West
Virginia. A. You're off yournut. It's hey, the mister Vermillion,
Jim uh Me and Vic here wegot Yeah, I heard you.
You know. It seems to methat's all you guys ever talked about,

(13:48):
mister Dmillion. You're corresponding for theUnited Press, aren't you. That's right?
Now? Come on, now,who's right near? Vic? Can't?
Well, I'd say you're both right. Hey, what do you mean
we both can be right? I'msure you can get married and have you
beer too. Hey, get downFlas the count German mortars put a temporary

(14:16):
end of that argument. We werestanding on a crag at our Taina,
at the tip of an American state. It pointed at the German defense line
on the road to Rome. TheLors was a quiet valley scented with locust
blossoms and poppies. At night itsparked with fireflies, but in a matter
of seconds it became a roaring battlefieldwhere men were bleeding and dying. Let's

(14:45):
get out of here. And yousaid it, brother, But where we
going? We're going down that priorgully into that house there. Well,
what are we waiting for? Comeon, come on, let's keep down.
We made the dash down the gullyacross one hundred yards of open road

(15:05):
into the house while shells burst onbuildings to our right. There we found
six soldiers waiting for the barrage tostop. From the house, we watched
the beginning of the battle Todd valmontoneon the road to Roam. Oh,
I'm glad to be out a mask. You won't ride listen to me,
just out of breath. That's allby you, fellas mind if we join

(15:26):
you? Hey, that was whatI said. That's our artillery opening up
on the Jerry's over there in thosehouses. See why listen to those babies?
Hey, no, tell me howto cleaning? See wrong from here?
I'd like to see it myself.I'm not from here. I would
be his wife. Didn't do thatone of these days I got down for

(15:50):
us. Down. I wonder wherewe're going after roll? Oh, my
hope, wrong to home? That'sme? What are you yelling for?
It's all over, boys, Wellguess where we move up again? Come
on, Vic, another day,another Germy, let's go. Jim and

(16:17):
Vick were the first out, withthe six Yanks in the house, veering
after the right. From all indications, it appeared that the Germans and the
houses across the field hadn't been knockedout. As my two friends advanced,
I saw other troops getting ready tocrawl out of the ditches to follow them.
Suddenly, from one of the housesahead, the German machine gun cut
loose on the six Yanks to theright of Bec and Gin. As they

(16:40):
fell too threw up their hands.The other four just crumpled and laced it.
Jim, we've gotta do something aboutthat typewriter com in a Grenadia carried
two coming you. I used upthe wrist doorm garnet. Well enough to
take care of that baby. Here, let me have what do you mean,

(17:03):
lessened dope. Somebody's got a cover. Now, come on, give
him to me. Yeah, yeah, that's right, yeah, yeah,
okay, Now look yeah, I'mgoing around the side, and you keep
your eyes open. Come bitch,all right? Done turning? Look now
a chance, go ahead, I'llcover your boy. Okay, it's a
long kid. It's a long kid. Easy picture, easy, old lord,

(17:29):
take care of me, take care, won't you come? Let him
get killed. He's a good guy. Yeah, he's a good guy.
Oh god, no, no,they missed him, they missed him.
Oh, thank you, lord,thank you. Keep going, boy,
keep going. It's gonna run forit. Bick neick run, run going
run. Oh big. The fellfell just as he was within throwing distance

(18:10):
of the enemy machine. When Jimsaw his comrade fall, he sneaked his
way in swayne through the red poppiesand locust blossoms to the body of his
paddle and removed the free grenades fromhis poppets. Then he turned his attention
to the job. Don't worry,think I'll get him. I'll get him

(18:36):
if it's the last thing I everdo. Missed again. Huh. Now,
let's see how you like this andthis and this. From my lookout,

(19:02):
I watched Jim hurl the grenades oneafter another in quick succession. The
next moment, he dove into awindow of the enemy occupied house. Nobody
here must be in the next room. Cripe, swear the floor. God
shut well, it goes. I'llput your hands fog and keep them up.

(19:25):
You understand me, I understand Englishperfectly had bad that's just dandy.
Where's the rest of your pals pals? Yeah, pals buddies. Man,
where are they? See where yourfans? They're dead? Huh? Just
three of your hand? Yes,okay, you and me are gone back
to my I'm I played for notgoing anywhere, at least not for the
moment. I got plenty of timeand I played you along again. Listen

(19:47):
to me what you heard. It'sa German not killery by and that means
that go on. What are youtalking about deftly killing you? We are
caught between two fires, my friendand your friend me. You'll kill my
buddy, you'll get your swell hairpilt. Either kill or be killed.
No, try it. Shut himdown like a dog. H your neck
and shut us such a diady crowd. Don he got myself killed? I

(20:12):
that's your own thought, buddy?What did I get you? Uh?
Let's take a look. M hstomach can got a first aid kid around
here? Also, Private Jim mcgorefound himself and a curious you might say,

(20:41):
almost in the car, but particularlyown with two dead Germans a third
who was dying trapped in the crossfireof American and German artillery. The blast
from a gun was followed a splitsecond later by the whistle of the shell
and the explosion. Jim watched housescrumbling in the town, which he knew
held shivering citizens in their own barrenrooms, rooms as barren as his.

(21:07):
The only difference was that Jim hadcompany, dead company, hot times.
I don't know furset to midnight,I guess private, what do you want?
What do you want? Awesome?Ah? Stop it? Will you
stop it? Why don't you die? I've given you all my water.

(21:33):
I tell you you think I liketo listen to here? Die? And
do you do you? Why shouldI feel sorry for you? You killed
my best friend, shot a downlike a dog out there on the field,
like a dog. You never hada chance my best friend to hear
as come come trying to tell me. Please can't get any club? Why

(22:00):
you daddy, sweet? Not sayrat? That's the last run? You
don't play? Vic Victor got you. We did it, didn't my boy?

(22:21):
Sure? Yeah you know something?What's that? Yes? I'm not
let me get that bound up beinghalf the wrong? Yeah? Don know
you? Okay, So not gonnaget married. Yeah, they But they
can't say we didn't try. Theycan't say we try. And so two

(23:00):
pals who lived in peace and waron the Road to Rome, lived again
in death. It would be unthinkableat this moment that men of all nations,
hiding and working together for freedom shouldever allow themselves to forget men like
Jim and victory, because they diedtrying, because they knew that it is
only a victorious Allied army that willrestore the world, a world where human

(23:26):
beings can live in decency and peaceand happiness with their fellow men. Soldiers

(24:02):
of the Press,