THE SILENT SERVICE

[Music] [Applause] [Music] I'm Rear Admiral Thomas MDOT has retired the story you're about to see was born of success the hard-won success of United States submarines which by 1945 had swept from the sea more than 6 million tons of Japanese shipping but success cannot come without a solid basic reason our story is built on that reason appropriately enough our story actually begins where the struggle itself had begun three years before Pearl Harbor one of the jumping-off places for the vessels that did the gigantic jobs these are some of the ones that bought and returned and fought again and this is a man who lived the story photographers made earnest cool goom's was not a submariner had never been in combat had in fact just arrived from the States and yet it is his story and it is only fitting that he should tell him Thomas made third-class reporting as ordered welcome to Pearl state schools yes sir sit down thank you you're a fine hand with the camera combs had a lot of practice it had your own commercial studio in New York didn't you five years makes you a feel for this kind of thing all the more amazing which I had you for customers who have how much were you told only that I should finish my last assignment fast and report here curious yes sir I don't believe in prolonging curiosity I'll take a look submarines Coons remarkable fighting force incredible record there's no way of telling how much they've contributed to shortening the war yes the public the least-known branch of the service we're going to change that the project is a documentary film everything that happens to the Submariner his life his routine is war all right it's something that should be known by everyone you'll be aboard a plane to Saipan than three hours and a crew member of the USS sea shark when she goes out in the next war patrol I won't tell you what to shoot you're a much better judge of that night I thought you'd be delighted you're not what I call enthusiastic what is it's just that I know so little about sub sir never been aboard one know anything about aircraft carriers when you shot this no sir there's so much for that excuse come on Coop's what is it I thought you jump at a chance like this those were my orders sir I could order any but I want the work of an eyeless I want crabs if a man has to force himself he's not going to give it to me all right who's forget it sure know your reasons own your own let's keep it that way but service sir I'll go I want to go look goes the job will be done right sir the way it should be done please [Music] less than an hour after sunrise next morning there it was siphoned a little late to change one's mind much too late I don't know what I expected the self to be like but I can tell you the impression big gray and business like it's a job pools what's so different about it go do the job close Raina's coochie pudding avoid sir photographers may third class I'm a little Thomas Stewart comoving expect yeah I'll take the papers you'll buck in the forward torpedo room big yes let's give a hand here right welcome aboard boom thank you [Music] you're gonna be a popular guy on this tub here's the thing it was me it's really that camera in there so there ain't any Santa Claus with Dame's I thought it was me found out it's this oh they like it most of them still worried about one of them though the Dame stateside still hasn't seen it say you you think the Grail show in the picture I tell you what maybe we can retouch it there was a pattern to it there always was this was the first part the unpacking the getting acquainted I remember a phrase that kept running through my head over and over again my home away from home I couldn't get rid of it do the job Koons that's what you're here for two hours later we'd shoved off at an hour after that there was what a huge open sea in a small steel fish but that was on the outside on the inside there was normalcy routine men and work and cards and this car game was no different from a hundred others I'd watched I love you how do you figure him stick just to be a stick man in Vegas slowest player we got Nate won a game yet how does it figure told you it's a thing with me dice bounce they got life cards just lay there no mercy - no life so it's a funny zooming did you ever I'll call you oh boy you'll never learn three bulbs all blue it's the first time you brought me luck Andy don't get off the boat huh yeah don't look like I got much a choice oh don't get me wrong I don't mean I don't like soaps oh sure it's on but it's no problem and I grow on you so you met the old man yet no you will being a guest at all captain Brackett huh what's he like well let's put it this way I'm glad he's on our side oh you just got a couple of Navy crosses few silver stars and a Unit Citation you know you don't get them sitting at a desk photographers make comb report to the wardrobe please sounds like you're gonna meet him real quick oh you know where it is Ernie you want to show you I'll find it I better start learning right now thanks anyway Oh and I want you to keep working around the clock if you have to him to let guns up loading perfectly well I'll come on income I just wanted to welcome your board sorry I didn't get the chance early thank you sir lieutenant rains are exec okay I've done it build storage you've already met violet him as chief of Fulford Swinson yeah by hell we'll get on that right away sir fine well combs I just want to get things understood we know what you're after and we'll be of all the help we possibly can thank you too but the boat and the job come first you understand completely sir I'll stay out of the way as much as possible I assure you I will make sure of that well make you part of the regular crew you would stand ready to watch it in the event of any service action I'll leave it up to your judgment to come topside for pictures there's just one thing when we dive don't get left on that bridge it's a big ocean to be swimming around in I understand Holmes your film any good at night no sir unless something goes up in flames well I hate to be called uncooperative wouldn't you Frank yes yeah we're trying to accommodate you Coombs will try rely thank you and now the mechanisms the putting together of the pieces slowly because there's so much to learn get it on film make it clear fabulous endless array of pieces that go to make the whole there was more much more and I got it all because that was the job I done it before many times in many places ships planes factories why was it so different this time why the constant feeling of waiting and yes I don't have to ask you guys if you want any ice cream how much of that film have you used up already here are you worried that you're gonna shoot the guys the way you're going the boats got the big part votes background I want the guys in action there'll be plenty of that just don't forget name your camera what's that supposed to mean he just means that it gets a little busy in here sometimes camera hog photographers the bridge bring your gear oh yeah we got some business cold right full rudder steady on course one nine zero Holmes look out there floating mine we're going to explode it maybe not the action your laughter but it's a picture do you want it that's 500 pounds of TNT that isn't gonna bother anybody thank you for the shot that we're trying to run the next time great bearing 3 5 0 by day clear the range I said clear the break 190 feet [Music] so I had oh he sure came out of nowhere see you playing captain I think so hope we didn't bring any friends along now soon find out just like that no talk of what a depth charge could do how close it was they might just as well have been businessmen planning a job estimating a koschie widely logically well I could think of was the phrase men at work 190 feet we'll sit it out here a while let him make his move uh-huh half hour well that should be enough let's see what he's decided 60 feet up scope [Music] [Music] nice empty horizon down scope let's get on up there the white didn't stick around I don't know it might have been his last DC any of it I'm not gonna miss it you alright trumps oh yes sir sorry I got in the way topside sir I let's alright comes first emergency dive can be pretty startling yes sir but out here every situation is measured in seconds yes I understand captain it won't happen again I'll say - it at all stays this easy Ernie you ain't gonna have nothing to show be a trouble but oh the pictures well I have some pretty good stuff this afternoon not bad for style anyway you couldn't think of time from a plane what is all it takes from the way I hear it yeah we didn't have a chance oh man's a fox knows what he's doing every second well it gets really busy Fred what's amazing do see huh I'm gonna read why don't you take on Ernie I changed my mind guess I'll read too hope you're gonna get that picture of me soon Ernie I hear the bids the first thing to go gray bread hmm level with me what one of the guys got against me now what kind of jazz is that maybe one guy that don't like you go on name them oh come on red I got eyes it's the little things like a small portion of ice-cream the politeness of the guys but only politeness you know are you dreaming come on I play acey-deucey myself and beat the pants off of you now we should tell me ready look Ernie why don't you save your imagination for your pictures I got a hunch that we're gonna find action real quick now [Music] his hunch was good it happened less than three hours later mr. come on bridge Granath I didn't take over the watch again yeah captain getting a tip on the radar between us on the beach bearing two five zero range about ten thousand yards station the tracking party right full rudder new course three four zero all ahead standard radar make a sweep all around all clear all the radar captain nothing but the original contact target seems to be making about 12 knots on court three five zero check his cigs gin man I sure like to play you for a living where is your wandering mind tonight mother I said that's not with it red I hear your good friend [Music] we think they just practicing this is the captain we're tracking a sizable ship we have been doing an end-around when we're in position we'll make a submerged attack and when I get a hunch of you bet your rent money on it [Music] the moonlights too strong for a service attack bearing mark zero six two range mark-19 double Oh angle on the bow ducky boy make me to the forward tubes that depth of 10 feet forward tubes ready get set at 10 feet bearing mark zero to eight range mark one five zero zero fire one [Music] [Applause] photographer to the conning tower photographer to the conning tower we should show the did we have looks like you've got your picture cool she's on fire from stem to stern nice [Music] it was only a beginning less than 24 hours later there was more and the news was made known in the quiet tones the calm businesslike tones picking up pip sir four or five ships convoy about ten miles to the northeast bearing about zero three zero well it's always feast or famine as long as we do the eating and still more of it hours more the smooth procedure of trained men working is but a single unit speaking their language of digits and symbols plying the magic they understood so well and magic was needed now for the sea had roughened I can see the first ship in the convoy I'd give my eyeteeth for a small to see range 2,000 yards stand by to fire fire one over and over that deadly fish streaked out of their tubes sped on their way but the hunter for a double battle now the angry sea was his enemy murder to hit a target in a blow like this will get them this time we better last of the fish this Queens us fire three [Music] now let's check all of our Fishman was worth it downs go take her down 420 feet emergency escort vessel coming fast rig for depth charge attack tones collectively [Music] 120 feet sure which we had some real deaths as none to be had and they know it took a long night it was hour after hour just lying there taking it [Music] you got enough in that thing for a double feature try to make me shift at risk Ernie all right knock it off you know I'm scared Green well now look I can't help it right I can take it topside but down here I can't get it out of my head well that water pushing that - every second I get once in I guess frickin just something like that right so wish me but you never stop shoot good job so now you know about us huh Ernie you think there's one guy aboard that isn't scared right now the guys weren't plucking you they weren't cold they were just wait until you tasted this well he's either gone or he's playing possum well let's go up and find out [Music] he's given up it's all clear topside we're going to service and head for home on four-engine how about that Philo is there that kind of weight and gives me an appetite let's show it up chow down in 20 minutes how do you like that how many little cards while will we come on Ernie I'll save you a place you see what I mean you belong now Ernie you been there you know yeah no I know thanks we'll put that thing away and let's go get some of Styx money a submariner I'll bet you a buck that nobody can tell you apart from the rest of the crew not now no bet because there wasn't any sense throwing a dollar away but you know something a million of them couldn't have bought the way I toast [Music] I'll be back in a moment if you had to select a single reason for the efficiency the ability the great record of the submarine 'as the lessons learned by Ernest Coombs would have come high on the list because the men of the silent service have to fight hope and live in a steel world all of their own there is always a closeness of pride in each other and a fierce sense of belonging it is never spoken of but ever-present it has made them great be with us again when next we bring you another true and exciting submarine story [Music] Oh