THE NAUTILUS AND THE NUNS

[Music] [Music] [Music] I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M kite has retired welcome aboard the record of the United States submarines in action against the enemy during world war ii speaks for itself but because the prime purpose of the submarine is to sink enemy ships its function on special missions is less familiar in this regard submarine 'as have never earned more credit for the United States Navy then on 1 January 1943 aboard the USS Nautilus to the biologists Nautilus means a mollusk whose shell came is aligned with mother-of-pearl to the readers of adventure it means Jules Verne's fictional submersible in today's Navy it means the first nuclear-powered submarine to the Greek that means sailor but to a group of Solomon Islands vacu 'yes it will always mean this boat and this crew Sharleen visible bearing 3 to 0 Bougainville there's a hundred miles of jungle and malaria boya and Japanese things ought to start picking up they already have all ahead full come to chorus three to zero new orders from the Force commanders Bougainville we are to evacuate a party of American Women's American what sir women an Australian lieutenant named read victim of somewhere inland set up a rendezvous with T op Harbor clear the Chiefs quarters in the wardroom oz the Intel pots to get the medical supplies together alright [Music] did I hear right mr. Lynch are we really picking up women that's what he says that is that you think you can keep us on course me I like him short geez you're all around that way oh brother for a cook you sure I got lousy taste now that Damon's Fremantle bride and shine boys the captain's got new tenants to your suite we're gonna evacuate some American women from Bougainville women hey I mean [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] the message about through suspect the United States Navy will pick you up at your house and we have to leave right away being the light sister yes I'm afraid with another hard much of the business we've made them before lieutenant I'm sure we can manage another investor since this will be the last one now you didn't forget anything did you lieutenant Reid we can't thank you enough we aren't already assistant there are Japanese foretold if you're not on the harbor and there isn't much time well I know your chances would be so much better with one less to worry about him this is where I belong no sister Meera your bishop was willing to keep the mission open when my government wants to go back to aq last February so after what happened in Guadalcanal the master I'm afraid you have to leave but you cannot read to children I'll still be around what we better get started is everybody ready fine now remember single file no noise and try to keep up [Music] zero to 30 they've been gone over two hours and Lynch knows what he's doing they've got field zero for 30 I'll be asked are you sure they're American sir how do I look like another Valentino Timmons but you might as well forget it if I know popular yeah he bet me 5 bucks he'd have one of them beat it up before they left the fool that guy boat approaching the 4th floor that's our boat then by the big appendages captain those women are none [Music] well now we know what they were doing out here [Music] but what do you know welcome aboard sister I'm commander Brockman lieutenant Eckert will show you below thank you oh and thank you for being here javi have any trouble oh just the reefs lieutenant Reid figures we're in the clear you got the nun through the controls without any hitch get them all off read says he's scared of something okay let's get this show on the road this is the control room it's the brain of a submarine this is the mess hall it's a lot more popular than the control room we thought you might be hungry ladies so we fixed up a little supper for you please yeah help yourself it's sugar it's real sugar and salt you must excuse our manners gentlemen but we haven't seen anything like this for a long time help yourselves you owe me five bucks I know all right you'll get it [Music] you should have seen lieutenant Reid when we gave him those supplies I was a good at sending one of our 6-inch guns looks like a destroy sir all ahead standard for the rage dive dive [Music] this Redmond or coffee yes you submarine sailors must have something very special I was so frightened just a moment ago I could hardly think you'll get used to it sister but I'd never get used to those jungle missions of yours I wouldn't do what you do for a million dollars but neither would I mister there's nothing to worry about we're diving we're always run submerged in the daylight it's about that time now [Music] 150 feet sir I see screws bearing 295 to destroy edit Fatiha nothing like cutting it close she's passing over sir looks like we just beat the sheriff ozzie [Music] how long have you been in the Solomon sister since 1940 our first mission without booker island go ahead sister help yourself oh thank you no now I was thinking of the children that we left at our mission none of them have ever seen any white bread hope everything's all right sorry Frank well your quarters are ready for word I know you must be very tired when you're settled we'll be glad to show you through the boat except for the Brutes in the conning tower [Music] Valerius sir we haven't had quinine for months take it to my cabin [Music] how about the fine timmons you've got a cash register where your heart ought to be [Applause] [Music] is there any change missed practice the medicine won't take effect for a while now stay with until the fever breaks well sister Thomas will stay with you for fun thank you please let me know if there's any change [Music] mr. Potts said that he would stay with her he's a good man you better get some rest yourself yeah well captain did I hear you say that we just passed an enemy warship bound for TF Harbor we got out just in time sister don't worry about lieutenant Reed he'll stay out of sight I will be easy he inherited 40 children from our mission school through the day Brockman kept Nautilus down [Music] the cause of trouble with the air conditioning the temperatures climbed to close to 100 degrees it was Mark Twain who said everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it he would have loved Ozzie Lynch never play cribbage exactly take a PhD to play this game help when the boat surfaces will we be permitted outside top side of it right not yes of course would you like to see the torpedo room yes I'd like that very much all right follow us and don't forget the duck I'm mystified at the time that you got some rest you haven't moved in this morning you've been here all that time sister I've been on this boat for six months all I ever do for these gorillas is hand out salt pills and you're my first patient bless you I'll check on you later you need anything you call me sis sister Mary was Archangel Michael a soldier or a sailor [Applause] [Applause] lieutenant Lynch's refresher course for mission school teaches who's teaching the course captain Oh how's our patient much better thanks to mr. Potts captain I need to ask you earlier can you tell me where we're going I'm sorry sister I can't quite yet but I can tell you the chief skipper has prepared quite a banquet in your honor after you during the Battle of Midway yes sir do you know what that CPM stands for on the back of his shirt no I'm sorry I don't chief posting mate he's the best in the Navy chow down that means dinner's ready pleasures our Lord for these thy gifts which we are about to receive through thy bounty and through Christ our Lord amen and through the bounty as an artisan [Music] chief skipper the man asked me to assemble you passengers here for a special reason they gathered that your Christmas wasn't Mary and they want to do something about it okay well it's too late to play Santa Claus so uh Happy New Year nope you said you had a pair that with too small for you Oh a very nice present I've ever had [Music] you'll have more use for it than I do I know you had to leave most of your stuff behind Paul please take a sister from me to you skip save me a piece of that cake your party sister [Applause] an aircraft contacts are passed well astern all these planes are on the Tokyo Express must be pulling out well just so few the big ones come our way how's the party oh great those nuns they're so appreciative so unworldly they're an inspiration and I know what you mean an inspiration all right they inspired me to give up Trebek [Music] come in well as you always say starve a fever sister but not when you have a Christmas party on New Year's Day Merry Christmas now I know st. Michael must have been a sailor Thank You mr. Potter well I I mean we didn't know if that was regulation for your outfit you know but well you got to keep warm on a trip back to the states a regulation or not thank you very much well you got to try some of this system chief skipper is mighty sensitive about his cake thank you sister you mind if I ask you something you always wear all that uniform ever since I was sworn in doesn't it get uncomfortable does your eyes oh you rest well well I have some good news for you lieutenant Reid got back in the mountains all right oh thank god did you say anything about our mission children sister Mary your mission will be there waiting for you when this war is over I don't know that captain then at least this way you know one thing you can't go back on the finishing rate of our battery charge captain anymore flame contact negative I think it were too far west with regular of all traffic aircraft bearing zero to zero she spotted us sir die time [Music] 150 feet rig for depth charge 150 feet die [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] mr. Edmund I'll teach you a better game of cribbage what is it gin rummy why is it better than cribbage well you don't need as much equipment just ten cards turn up the eleven fifty feet sir you still figure we're too far west for enemy aircraft Hill [Music] for a minute sister I couldn't remember the word [Music] early English ballots so I'd be wounded I am NOT Snape I lied me down to bleed a while then I rise and fight again did that book belong to yes this is commander Bachmann's book [Music] sister if I had your luck I'd quit the Navy and play the horses it's the PC boat sir they're ready to take our passengers aboard break out the rubber boat Ozzy quicker we get this over with the sooner we'll get back on Patrol nice [Music] I'd always be very much [Music] this day that's a that's an appointment [Music] here's your five bucks cheap you couldn't win but you sure didn't lose [Applause] I remember it just fine every day and people walk I'll be fine they filled up their yeah that's it I've been promoted demanda bit more help to us and you'll never know now I am especially indebted to you I'm glad you enjoyed the ride system Oh Simmons this book is a little smaller than the one who gave to me and I thought they'd have to find it easier to use for me to you [Music] [Applause] I'll be back in a moment with our special guests tonight we are fortunate to have with us one of the Nautilus evacuees this is the styrene of the congregation of st. Joseph did our dramatization bring back any memories sister indeed it did Admiral although none of us will ever forget the four days we spent on the Nautilus it was a wonderful experience did you know beforehand that you were to be evacuated by a submarine no so you can believe we were amazed at our first sight of the Nautilus another sister and I had relatives in the submarine service at the time so it was really like coming home I know the whole experience of moving your mission back into the mountains and hiding for almost a year must have been unforgettable sister but what especially stands out in your memory commander Brockman and the men of the Nautilus they simply couldn't do enough for us we have never forgotten their kindness what are your duties now assistant I returned to our mission on bucha Island in 1946 and I'm presently enjoying a visit at our mother house in Orange California and the future I expect to return to the Solomons very soon may I wish you and your mission all success thank you for vesting with us Thank You Admiral I hope you will be with us again for another true and exciting story of the silent service [Music] Oh [Music]