Episode 1 – 1942:
This is the reason I’m starting this podcast, a found recording of a Grandfather I never met from 1942.
[Transcript]:
{Introd plays, music with various clips from episodes}
[Thomas Storey] “In 1942, after being injured during the way, my grandfather volunteered to help with the National War Labor boards scrap and savings bonds drives.
“As a part of these efforts he occasionally toured and appeared on the radio, telling war stories and encouraging citizens to help the war efforts through donating blood, scrap metal, or by purchasing bonds.”
[1942 Narrator]: “Every bit of heavy scrap metal is needed now.”
[Thomas Storey]: “Hey, this is Thomas Storey, you’re listening to episode one, 1942. Right now it’s the year 2020, seventy-eight years after some the audio you’re about to hear was recorded.”
[Radio MC (1942)]: “But I’d like to change the subject and tell you about two young fellas, these men regular army men mind you are Master Sergeant Raymond S. Storey, Jacksonville, Illinois.”
[Thomas Storey]: “Why am I starting a podcast? Because technology allows us, our stories to transcend time, space, and even life…”
Radio MC (1942)]: “Now maybe you think these boys haven’t been in the thick of things. Mast seargent Storey was awarded the silver start for gallantry in action. They both have just been released temporarily from an army hospital. Incidentally Sergeant Storey still has to walk with crutches.”
[Thomas Storey]: “This episode is a testament to that fact. My grandfather died when my dad was young. I’ve seen pictures of him, and as my Dad ages, he looks more and more like him with the genioune smile, clear eyes, and wrinkles, i’ve inheried my grandpas rough hands, so i feel apart of him when i pick up tools or give hearty handshake. I’ve read articles about him and his adventures, but still i never got to meet him, but then one day when I was a teenager, my aunt called us to her house to play a record and I’ll never forget what it was like, hearing it for the first time.”
[Radio MC (1942)]: “Here I’ve talked long enough, here they are to speak for themselves Master Sergeant Raymond S. Storey and Merian T. Shepard.”
{applause from live radio audience (1942)}
[Raymond Storey]: “Thank you Cal, Thank you. It certainly a far cry from the battlefront to be here tonight in the old hayloft. I certanly wihing i could take this cast off and do a dance for you but im a bit handicapped after a broken leg in about three places. Certainly glad to be a guest here on stage tonight. You probably like to know how i got this breken leg. it happened september 12th, 1942. We were out a Jap fleet and after leaving the target about 6 in the evening a little engine trouble, went down about 12 at night. Now, we knew an hour ahead of time we’re going down. Ladies and gentlemen when you know an hour ahead of time you probably won’t come out alive, it makes you think back of all the twenty-six years. Crashed in the water at 12:30 am September the 13th. Now this South Pacific is a pretty big place. In fact it’s so big that if you go down in it very far from an island you’re lucky to get back. We made a small island out of rubber boats, about three hours there. I had my leg broken in several places, and I still think that I’m lucky to be even alive. On this island we stayed three days. Now staying three days on an island seems like it’s pretty easy, but when you have no food, no water, pretty serious problem. But Uncle Sam’s navy is always around handy. Third day, a PBY came out, picked me up, my crew, took us into an army hospital. I think I’ve talked long enough on this…”
[Thomas Storey]: “That’s why I’m starting a podcast. To have our stories told in a way that transcends time, space, and even life. Join me next time on the Thomas Storey podcast.”
{Outro music plays}
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