The Nation Salutes story of John L. Barkley - n.d.
Transcript
"The Nation Salutes-" (Sound: Music- rumble of low drums- bugle call "Assembly", not too loud) Announcer: THE NATION SALUTES-! (Follow the above by 5 seconds of silence) (Sound: Low music, occasional shot of artillery, broken machine-gun fire-) Announcer: Ladies and Gentleman, the story you are about to hear is of outstanding bravery, woven around an American soldier who laughed at death, when called upon to act above and beyond the call of duty-we now take you to the front lines near Cunel, France. It's October 7th, 1918.--Company K- of the 4th Infantry are in trouble-- Two men are talking, one Sergeant Nayhone, the other Private 1st Class, John L. Barkley-- (Sound: Occasional sound of artillery firing-- broken machine- being fire. Note: Sounds are not sharp- they are heard from inside of the dugout where men are talking) Sergeant Nayhone: Now listen, Barkley, pull yourself together, I', going to post you on the northeast slope of Hill 253 for observation duty. Private Barkley: Hill 253? Say, that's behind the Jerry lines, and the place is full of them. Sergeant Nayhone: Gosh Almighty, Barkley! Can't you get it through your head that this is serious? The Germans are massing along our front. The Seventh hasn't been able to get up. Ther's a gap between us and them. We've got to have information. Private Barkley: Listen, Sergeant, if you want to bump me off, why dont you do it here?---- But, if you think getting a gap blown in me is going to close that gap for you, tell me
Transcript
[page 2] more. I'm listening! Sergeant Nayhone: It's the only way out, soldier, I cant think of any other. Here take a look at this map. This is the point on the ridge where I want you to go. You see, Barkley, the aviators havent been able to find out a darned thing.- The situation is serious. We need information. Somebody's got to go. Private Barkley: Okay, Sergeant Nayhone, I'm waitin'- what's your orders? Sgt. Nayhone: Great Stuff, Barkley! I know you'd go. Shake! I know you'll do the best you can----- and "NO HARD FEELINGS" Pvt. Barkley: All right, "NO HARD FEELINGS!" But write a nice letter home to my folks---- Sgt. Nayhone: I've sent for a Signal Corps. Here they come now. There's three of them. They will accompany you, install you phone and stay with you untill you and I have tested it out. (Sound: Three men walk up in dugout.) Sgt. Nayhone: Here you are men. You will go with Private Barkley. He understand exactly where I want him to go. Now dont lose any time men. Start right out and get him located as soon as possible, and keep under cover. Sound: Music- rumble of drums- broken artillery and machine-gun fire Announcer: Leaving their dugout the four men led by Private Barkley circled their own lines, crossed the valley and soon reached the northeast slope of Hill 253. They are now in the center of enemy territory. They Halt. Private Barkley is speaking.
Transcript
[page 3] (Sound: Broken artillery and machine-gun fire) Private Barkley: this is close enough, fellows. The three of you lie low while I do a Little scouting around for a good spot for an observation post, - I won't be long. VOICE OF ONE SIGNALMAN: Okay, Barkley we'll keep ouw ears open. Take is easy. ANNOUNCER: In a few minutes Private Barkley returns. He has found a shell hole in a fringe of trees on the edge of a forest. The Signal Corps quickley installs his phone which we now hear them testing. Private Barkley: Hello! Hello! Sergeant Nayhone! Sergeant Nayhone: Hello, Barkley, this is Nayhone. The phone is working fine. Now listen carefully to what I tell you, Barkley. I'll call you at short intervals during the night to make sure our connection is not broken. Don't talk to me unless you have something of importance to tell me or I ask you a question. Instead, just scratch the mouth piece of your phone with your fingernail. You are too close to the enemy. They may hear you-- and Good luck soldier! Private Barkley: Well fellows the phonr's okay. I guess there isnt anything more you can do. Better get back to our lines. Be careful on your return and good luck. Voice of Signal Corps; S'long Barkley, and good luck to you. (another voice) You're doing a brave thing, Barkley, shake. Good luck and Goodbye! (Sound: of the three men leaving) (Sound: Music -low rumble of drums- broken artillery and machine gun fire) Announcer: Throughout the night, with the receiver of his phone
Transcript
[page 4] Announcer continued; clamped over his ear, and almost light-headed from hunger and want of sleep, Private Barkley stuck to his post. After hours that seemed ages of darkness, daybreak came. From his position, Private Barkley could see in all directions. The spot he had picked was the highest point of the ridge. He soon took advantage of this. He could plainly see the German Officers moving among their men on the opposite hill. They had ceased firing for the moment and were moving about with the utmost caution. Private Barkley knew at a glance that the enemy was massing for a surprise attack. He picks up his phone. (no sound--) Private Barkley: Hello! Sergeant Nayhone- Hello! Sergeant Nay--- Sergeant Nayhone: Hello Barkley! What's up? Private Barkley: The enemy is massing at the top of their hill. I'm sure they are planning a surprise attack-- There's plenty of them. Can't tell the exact number, but ther are least--- (sound: At this point a barrage of heavy artillery fire-machinegun and rifle fire) Private Barkley: (Loudly) There it goes. They've started the attack. The're laying a smoke screen between them and this hill! Sergeant Nayhone: (Loudly) Stay with it as long as you can Barkley! Take care of yourself. If anything------ (sound: At this point, two second silence) (sound: Soft music- low rumble of drum - as the sound of distant firing) Announcer: Under the terrific fire of enemy guns, their line has been cut. The phone was dead. Knowing that he was finished as far as observation was concerned, Private Barkley could
Transcript
[page 5] Announcer cont.-- do one of two things, -return to his own lines, or fight it out where he was. He made a quick decision --- finding and reparing a captured enemy machine-gun, he mounted it in a disabled French tank near his post. Under of the smoke screen he gathered many rounds of ammunition, then climbed into the tank and waited. Shortly afterward when the enemy launched a counter-attack against out forces, and the enemy line was abreast of him, he opened fire, -completely breaking up the counter-attack and killing and wounding a large number of the enemy. Five minutes later, an enemy 77-millimeter gun opened fire directly on the tank, one shell striking the drivers wheel but Privat Barkley bravely remained at his gun and after the barrage ceased, broke up a second enemy counter-attack, which enabled our forces to gain and hold Hill 253. Reunited with his company after the drive, his fellow soldiers were astounded to think that he had come out alive-- at which this plucky soldier remarked-- “Heck! I'm not good lookin' enough to be an angel, am I?”
Details
| Title | The Nation Salutes story of John L. Barkley - n.d. |
| Creator | The Nation Salutes |
| Source | The Nation Salutes. Story of John L. Barkley. n.d. John Lewis Barkley Collection, 1918-1976. 1996.19. The National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | In this undated transcipt of "The Nationa Salutes", the story of John L. Barkley's military experience was told. |
| Subject LCSH | United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 4th; United States. Army. Division, 3rd |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | 1996.19 |
| Contributing Institution | National World War I Museum and Memorial |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the National World War I Museum and Memorial: (816) 888-8100. |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. |
| Date Original | n.d. |
| Language | English |