Photo By Capt. Gary Grantham | Show poster for “The Hello Girls” Musical, performing April 17-18. Photo courtesy...... read more read more
Subscribe
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – For 1st Lt. Jared Eddy, a U.S. Army Reserve officer, the sentiment to “answer the call” resonates on multiple fronts. By day, he instills a passion for the arts in the middle and high school students of Silverdale Baptist Academy’s Theatre Department. On weekends, he leads Soldiers at the 678th Personnel Company in Nashville, TN. This spring, these two responsibilities converge in “The Hello Girls,” a musical that brings a forgotten piece of military history to life, demonstrating how his service in uniform directly enhances his leadership on the stage.
The play tells the remarkable story of the bilingual American women who served as switchboard operators in France during World War I. These pioneers, known as the "Hello Girls," were sworn into the U.S. Army Signal Corps, facing not only the dangers of war but also the challenge of earning their place in a rapidly changing military.
"What stood out to me was that it was just kind of a story I'd never really heard before," said Eddy, who commissioned from Carson-Newman University in 2021. "It's a really compelling WW I story, which I think sometimes gets overshadowed by WWII. These were high-speed women who had to speak French, run a switchboard, and navigate a lot of uncertainty. We have a lot of young women in theatre class this year, and we thought this would be a great pick for them."
Eddy finds that his own military experience adds a layer of authenticity to his directing, helping his students look beyond the script to understand the complex realities of military life—from “hurry up and wait,” to the logistical hurdles of large-scale troop movements to the internal conflicts the Hello Girls faced.
"The script of the play has a saying of, 'remember who the real enemy is,'" Eddy explained. "Because in preparing for the deployment, there was a lot of conflict within the ranks on the best way to integrate both men and women in a conflict zone.”
This perspective allows him to translate the gravity of a soldier's experience. He draws on his understanding of pre-deployment planning to help the cast appreciate scenes depicting the agonizing wait for orders and the grueling 11-day journey across the Atlantic ocean. It’s not just a trip; it’s a movement of soldiers into uncertainty and into potential danger.
The leadership skills honed over his five years in the Army Reserve are principles he applies directly to his role as a director. "Ever since I was a cadet and up until now, three words that have stuck with me are purpose, direction, and motivation," Eddy stated. "It's the little things that mean a lot. I also really love the quote, 'Your actions speak so loud that nobody hears what you're saying.' It's those little actions of getting there on time, doing everything with a purpose, and being motivated no matter where you are in the chain of command- motivated when leading, but also motivated when following."
By instilling these values of discipline, respect, and shared purpose, Eddy fosters a professional and collaborative environment that mirrors the teamwork essential for any successful military unit. Beyond the leadership parallels, the play itself serves as a powerful history lesson, exploring themes that remain strikingly relevant today. The production delves into the societal debates of the era, taking place at a time when the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote, had not yet reached the Senate floor. "It raises a lot of great questions," Eddy reflected. "The show reminds us that not even 100 years ago, there were groups that did not have the right to serve. It's interesting to go back in history and see where our country has come from. I think it reassures that whatever challenges we are facing, we can overcome it, because we have in the past." The central message of the play is encapsulated in its title song, "Will You Answer the Call?"—a question that Eddy believes is a running theme throughout any soldier's life. Through this production, he hopes to honor the women who answered that call over a century ago and to inspire his audience and students to learn more about their legacy.
As the production's run approaches, its impact is already being felt. The granddaughter of the unit chief of the original Signal Corps Switchboard Unit is scheduled to attend a performance, a testament to the enduring significance of her grandmother's service.
For Eddy, this project has been a powerful fusion of his two passions. He encourages other service members with artistic aspirations to pursue them, noting that the qualities of a soldier—respect, determination, and dedication—are invaluable in the arts. While he is considering future military-themed projects like "A Few Good Men," his current focus is clear: to ensure the story of the Hello Girls is heard, loud and clear.
| Date Taken: | 04.06.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 04.16.2026 22:13 |
| Story ID: | 562687 |
| Location: | CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, US |
| Hometown: | CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, US |
| Web Views: | 17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Answering The Call In Uniform and On The Stage, by CPT Gary Grantham, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
