Monday, May. 21, 1945

Last Roundup

The week's most unlikely conqueror turned out to be a softspoken, 37-year-old NBC newscaster named Roy Porter.

The veteran reporter (who saw Poland, the Low Countries and France invaded, and once rode in a 6-29 on a raid on Japan) flew with a U.S.A.A.F. captain to Saint-Nazaire to cover the scheduled surrender of some hard-to-convince Nazis. Landing at a likely-looking airstrip near the town, they were met by a heel-clicking group of German officers. One of the Germans identified himself as the "commanding officer," and promptly unconditionally surrendered the entire force of 27,000--including the Luftwaffe.

No novice at brass-hattism, Conqueror Porter cleared his throat, announced coldly that he would have to make an inspection of the area. In a staff car the Americans toured the district, "liberated" six towns to enthusiastic French cheers.

Later, so Porter assured his NBC listeners, the tardy Allied forces made everything official.

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