PETO PLUCKS SOME CHICKENS

[Music] [Applause] I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M doc has retired bringing you another true account of the silent service the USS pitot was the first submarine to be built far inland at Manitowoc Wisconsin they launched us sideways and she sure made a big splash but that wasn't the last big splash pito was to make as the enemy discovered this is a factual story of her tenth and last war patrol and of how it changed the whole future life of one of our offices our story opens in San Francisco at the hotel Fairmont [Music] Evan sorta please I [Music] [Applause] [Music] beg your pardon lieutenant yes ma'am I wonder if you'd mind down in my husband and me for a few minutes well yes ma'am I'd be glad to [Music] see honey I told you I wasn't afraid to ask the lieutenant over and I might just as well get to the point right away my husband just got back from the Aleutian Islands somewhere along the way they managed to lose all his luggage only uniform he's God is on his back well I have a spare uniform I'd be glad the lunges sir oh I know you just can't walk in and buy one off the rack not when you're our size that's mighty kind of you attend lagoon sir jack laboum my name is Carl well and you are two met mrs. Caldwell she have a seat thank you sir laboum the boom did you play football at the Naval Academy that's right sir I'm across what ship you attached to the pedo sir but major new CEO I just see my orders um they peter is news cover when you to get in the conning tower at the same time well I just hope the rest of the crew a early in july 1945 the USS pito now a seasoned veteran with nine successful combat patrols behind her was refitting at guam my next mission was to be a lifeguard patrol her first and her skipper captain Carl well had made a characteristic decision if Vito is to help Flyers Caldwell figured he ought to know what the job looked like from the other fellows point of view so he had taken off from Saipan on a bombing mission over Japan [Music] and believe me is a rough deal there's nothing between you and enemy flak for an aluminum skin it wouldn't stop a BB shot and crowded Oh couldn't pay me to go from one of those great nights I don't mind admitting it they just plain scare me the fly Boris you appreciate our subs on lifeguard duty Wyatt they were telling me how many our boots have already saved well just the same I wish we were going on another combat mission well there isn't enough enemy shipping left and make it worthwhile for once will be saving men instead of sinking them well we don't get on a refit finish food that will make our next patrol on 14 July pito departed from Guam and seven days later made her first recovery on 30 July pito surfaced at dawn to resume but had now become routine and somewhat dull and monotonous routine at that the captain and lieutenant frank a cook of rosemont pennsylvania came to the bridge but shortly after a fighter cover and checked in novel procedure was sharply interrupt radio cabin one chicken reported test time 0745 position 3413 north 138 36 feet just south of elias aki the right middle of a restricted area full of mine notify fighter cover we will proceed to area but will be unable to enter it request el Toro to send jukebox to drop bo2 ditched flier all ahead flank right full rudder cup of course 190 lifeguard 9 this is jukebox 22 do you read me over jukebox go to this lifeguard line we read you loud and clear over lifeguard 9 we dropped a lifeboat to the down chicken but it broke in half when it hit have notified el Toro and they're sending claim 8 26 / Roger do box wipe it out I can see the plate all right but not the guy who's down can you make him out the water's too rough that dumb book says got it a spotted wanna go lame a 26 this is jukebox 24 come to your right a little is it about one o'clock on your present course over jukebox you fallen playmate you sick relax we gotta sweat outside you box to fall this way mate just dick you got him a phone all the one piece over playmate this is jukebox nice going fella over gone ain't quite as nice it looks way you said son matter of fact we got a little problem we busted a hole in the home when we landed we're thinking right now slow but y'all don't take to our rap vocals lifeguard boy the handy hey life got nine you're still in the vicinity Oh my Philadelphia accent he's probably taking for unions five Grammy 26 this is lifeguard nine we're standing by about five miles east of you you're in a minefield we cannot come into closer over my brother you saw my home folks why are you proud Oh atlanta GA over well it's gonna be nine of us count us down chicken and some northerners that sneaked into my crew will be looking for you stay climb over head you eat will be waiting for you and good luck Roger not pay to get wet better be gone out [Music] life got nine is a jukebox 24 / go ahead to Fox over both of the boats outboards of conked out they can't get either motor started again they are hoisting their sale over well they'll never be able to beat the way out dead into this win will go in out of them out thanks lifeguard 9 out all engines ahead one-third come to course 270 [Music] we'll have to take a chance on that minefield put two men on the bow special look out riser for almost five endless hours pito crept slowly through the minefield meanwhile the nine down chicken their outboard motors swamped in their sale useless had taken to the paddles the best they could do against the violent headwinds was to hold their position let alone make any progress at 1700s promises made to the bridge bring out the bow planes rest your party and by ready with those lines [Music] stand by for word doc they didn't report any injured but they may have some hi Isaac [Music] my captain that's it bring a left 2090 all ahead one-third no injuries captain they're pretty well bushed and half frozen well give him a discharge apiece from the medicinal brandy yes I don't think radio tell el Toro that we have nine down a burn aboard request instructions I i I've the spine captain no sweat no strain of the Texas flat request permission to come to the bridge he and the others want to thank you sir not now jack tell them once we get of this minefield we'll all relax patty gel on the back but it was well past midnight before anyone aboard pito had much chance to relax by then she had successfully made her way out of the minefield and according to the order she had received had transferred nine grateful flies to the USS javelin message from Admiral Halsey sir well done my hat's off of the pitot Halsey put on a Baltimore Lawson that's one for all of us the next day the pitot was enjoying a ringside seat eight miles offshore for the job the Air Force was doing on Hama monster [Music] nice seeing ended up roughly in 1552 flame peeling off he's it looks as though he's ditching right full rudder all ahead flank [Music] the pedo race towards the down flyer and had him out of the water almost before he got wet I strong I've got nine ninety five minutes is he dead thank you for your welcome affairs my customers our best advertisement house captain did you come here a moment it's urgent my wingman had to ditch closer to the beach can you go after it was his position I can show you exactly on the charger [Applause] right about there he was swimming away from the shore within range of those coastal guns less than components [Music] listen come to course 2850 ahead spike how's the doc shot through the ankle service nothing I can't take care of well I had to ditch 20 millimeter got me I couldn't keep control all right take you below [Music] we draw gunfire most coastal batteries as those we get within range get above the main tank [Music] about three miles off the seat shall keep circling over did you tell me you spotted it Roger it out it'll be about another five minutes before we are within range I'm going to have a little take a look at flyer take over jack we're all done mr. Santa's and you'll be running around again a couple of weeks let me give you a shot it'll put you to sleep till the pain is worn on no thanks a week early to pick up Hugh I want to make sure they get in that well don't worry about that when our skipper goes after he gets did a great job on me doc thanks yeah well I guess they won't get a chance to practice on you though practice I don't get you I'm studying for the day when the war is over it'll be a doctor doctor no no I'm uh I'm going to business with my uncle he's an undertaking cuz I'm glad I can't oblige you oh hi how's it going flowing fine captain he's doing great Ken when I'd call well yeah yes Anders leave yet ready for from the Lexington I don't have to tell you I'm glad to see you and your ship one of your plane just reported to the legs done that we have you aboard you think you're gonna be able to get Donnelly sir well is in pretty shallow water I'm right on of those coastal guns if they open up on us we won't be able to dive but we'll do our best matters I don't know how many many of their on board captain 8a nine not counting yourself why I don't have to be very bright to figure out what this means citing to risk this ship lies of 89 men just to save one pilot Thanks well I guess it doesn't exactly make sense but we do it I gotta get back the bridge try to take it easy I save captain almost dead i had about a half mile off the port bow fighter this is lifeguard I we've got it spotted over good luck guys got him returning to carry almost out of fuel Bassam ascend to help gasp I cover for you [Music] I was over at least 5,000 yards I hope he doesn't do any better [Music] we'll have to put him in over side tie a lifeline to it we're trying to pick this one up on the fly [Music] I can't risk coming to a dead stop and making Tito or sitting target for the studs I'm going to ask for fall until do the job who's the best room for Jackie well you'll have to ask for a volunteer captain you've got one all right well you wanna know the line for you let's give it to a pedo man strong as an ox all right step on it aye sir if we're forced to we'll have to cut the line and leave you both good luck jack you take care of the ship captain I'll take care bring her left two degrees all ahead one-third [Music] there you go look at the request permission to come talk time with this jacket cele- Wyatt nobody up here that doesn't have to be you [Music] Jack's got him [Music] [Music] come over they to convert the Lawson [Music] Malone who god I've disclosures gentlewoman either none of them knew it then and all they cared about it the phone was getting the pitot out of their four bells in a jingle but the Silver Star medal was to be awarded to captain Carl well until a tenant laboum and the Bronze Star medal to talk Peterman first class James Keeley for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity well the next few days life is comparatively quiet aboard the pitot if you don't count the enemy plane that dropped the bomb they're failing this and similar hazards they took in stride things were routine until the morning of 15 august when with a pitot again on lifeguard duty rich am radio we just received word that this morning strike is castle mother is cooking a lot of activity on the circuit Roger radio wonder what's coming off this is the captain we have just received official word the war is over this is no time for us to get lacks some enemy planes might not get the word or decide to go on the kamikaze first of glory and take us with him so all normal routine will go unchanged that'll be no splicing on the Mainbrace but I guess we can at least blow off a little steam [Music] hi jack hey Warren the whole piece as yours a strange feeling it takes some getting used to Bobby uh no thanks I want to talk to you about something hi ray what would you say captain if I told you that as soon as we get back home I'm going to resign from the Navy you're kidding no you've got a great future in the service jack with your comeback record and your background why your honor way to top well you know I'm a Catholic don't you captain well those three things I never asked or care about it man's politics is religion or whether or not easy reservists or a regular the thing I want to know is how will they can do his job now what's being a cali got to do with this well quite a lot captain you you see saving lives in this patrol is finally made me realize something I've never quite been sure of before I love the Navy even I've decided I want to become a priest you certain you thought this hangout it's not a sudden impulse uh no sir I I'm quite certainly i'll give it a great deal of thought for a long time well if this was for any other profession I'd say you being a fool but as it stands you have nothing but my admiration all the one not a Catholic I'll be proud to approve your request thank you sir you I'll be back in a moment with my special guest and now it gives me great pleasure to present to you the former lieutenant lagoon of the pitot now the reverend father john the boon of the society of jesus Admiral your reenactment of pitos 10th Patrol has brought back a lot of memories I'm very glad we were able to tell the story for the lagoon and I've been curious to know whether you saw answer Donnelly again after saving his life under fire I haven't seen him but i received a wonderful letter from him he's lieutenant commander Donnelly no and he wrote me from the naval air station at Corpus Christi Texas where he's seen the news of my ordination in the paper when way you are Dane father in 1956 after 10 years of study at Woodstock College 10 years why that's more than twice as long as it's across the Naval Academy I don't mind telling you it's more than twice as tough to I know you've seen and correspondent with most of your former submarine comrades father Lagoon don't you ever miss the Navy I can best answer that Admiral by telling you that I'm now a lieutenant JG in the naval chop core reserve so you'll be going to see again well as you know sir I'll have to have been ordained for three years before i'm eligible for sea duty but I'm certainly looking forward to it when I told your former skipper captain hugh call well that you were going to be on our show he wrote me nothing's changed about Jack Lagoon but his uniform well Admiral at least you called well won't borrow this uniform the way he did my other one the first day I met him we can be certain of that and I'm sure that all our viewers join me in extent to you every good wish in your new calling we've been honored to have you aboard with us on this show thank you Arden please be with us again when we bring you another exciting story of the silent service [Music] ha I bill [Music] run [Music] Oh [Music] and the [Music] No [Music] I [Music]