War and its masses. War and its men. War and its machines. Together they form the big picture. Welcome to the big picture. I am captain carl zimmerman. The big picture is a report to you from your army. By you themitted people of the United States to stop communist aggression wherever it may strike. Thebig picture traces causes and events in the korean campaign. From first and reports of our combat veterans and film taken by cameramen of the army signal corps. These are the men who daily record on film the big picture as it happens where it happens. Today are big picture brings into focus the turning of the tide. You will see our fight to hold perimeter. San you you will see in her support from our carriers and the march on soul. And you will hear a firsthand report from a lieutenant, the bows to of the 24th infantry division. Go back to august, 1950. On 10 august after 47 days of fighting in korea, the tide of battle as ebbing and slowing for both sides. United nations force it forces are dug in on the printer. Communist troops are numbering hours more than two to one have thus far failed in their offensive to drive u. N. Forces into the sea or destroy them before we can take the offensive. At the southern end of our neachhead, task force kea consisting of units of the 25th infantry, the fifth infantry and marine are driving toward chinj u, to throw back the reds were about to launch a major attack 35 miles from pusan, a key port for the entire beachhead. Gu u. S. Troopsae are reducing a communist bridgehead. South, u. S. Troops are containing another bridgehead. Gwan a cover attack pushes communist back across the river. Ng communist compel South Koreans to withdraw. Read troops have broken through the perimeter threatening that port city and its airfield. To the north South Koreans have ongduk. Red y in the year, air force, navy and marine players are giving support to Ground Troops along the perimeter. Toy last communications militaryindustrial targets to the North Koreans northern border. Guns of United NationUnited Nations ships also help. The struggle to defend the beachhead is a furious one but we are holding. On 24 august, on the central sector which is concerned with gu engineersof tae have built a pontoon bridge across the tributary. This bridge serves for the use of lighter vehicles and foot soldiers. With increasing supplies moving in, there is need for a heavy equipment bridge. South korean civilian labor is employed. Sections,n many primitive native tools are still used, and although u. S. Engineers depend on korean manpower, there is a change now since the early days of the war. Heavy Construction Equipment is becoming a familiar sight. An accumulation of this type of equipment necessarily second and priority to arms and ammunition is an indication of the vast ball close supplies that are now being received. The vast bulk of supplies that are now being received. On 29 august, the british Aircraft Carrier unicorn moves into pusan harbor. On deck are british troops. Within a week, they are rushed to fight alongside first cavalry troops to help stop of threatened breakthrough all along the river. These troops are the first infantrymen of a foreign nation to join in the United Nations police action. They are members of the argo and cumberland highlanders. And the of scotsman middlesex regiment, most of whom hail from the london area. Almost all of these britishers served in hong kong for six months where they underwent training in country similar to that of korea. Bazooka, u. S. 3. 5 supplied rations, these britishers will use their own weapons and supplies. Their uniforms are jungle green pipersly the regimental wearing the kilts that one this got the nickname the ladies from hell. Plane transplant train is loaded with leaflets. These drops are being made to counter enemy propaganda. The transports carry heavy loads of leaflets for long trips into north korea. 6s ourrter trips, t5 use. Safe conduct passes. If a leaflet is found on north korean soldier the penalty is death. Over Enemy Territory the packets are thrown out and the wind takes care of sorting and delivery. Enemy captives report these messages are often memorize to avoid the danger of having the leaflets found on a person. On 30 august, the reds are gaining in the south of the central sector but in the northeast, the United States and south korean units are holding their ground against heavy opposition. In this fight, the company of has a platoontry of tanks. They are moving forward to attack a rescue mission called 148. The communist drive in this area is is a free brawl and thrust along the 10 mile front. Ng is in alliedha hands. Three miles behind the allied line. Infantry in tanks coordinate activities as they approach the jumping off point. Intelligence has revealed that nge communist attack on poha is an attempt to fulfill orders given the localred commander to take the local red commander to take the city. It is a costly operation. 2000 North Koreans had been killed in the last two days. ,lthough u. S. Elements are here the weight of the attack is against the south korean armys hird and capital division. This is the 10th week of the war and the fighting has reached a peak of fury. Although at this Time Military spokesmen are mentioning early offensive leads, the present situation does not seem optimistic. Fire. [explosions] information goes back to the company commander. The orders come forward. The attack on hill 148 is about to begin. The attack gets underway slowly at first and then with an increasing firefight. This is one small action in the big fight that is raging along the entire 150 mile front in korea. A few miles of territory changes hands again and again. If the allies line corrects at any point, the beachhead could be lost. Those were trying times for all of us. Our troops jammed into the small area of the pusan perimeter defending against great odds and at the same time strength for the offensive. The lieutenant was there. M served with the armys 24th division. Tell us what the defense around the perimeter was like. The defense consisted mostly of a footing action, moving a toision into the perimeter fill a gap penetrated by the enemy. We did not have enough men to completely fill up a complete rectangle or a perimeter. Therefore, we had to plug up the gaps by moving men around. When trouble started, you move men right in there. Thats right. What are these attacks like . Constituted mostly by a preparation of mortar fire by the enemy. They were very good at mortar fire. And they outnumbered us. I would say approximately five to one. They had a mass of men. And also, they infiltrated in between our lines dressed as civilians and altogether just harassed us by movement. Tell us about the breakout. What with the preparations for it like . They consisted of getting ready, getting her ammunition and men ready and a briefing. The higher powers around that said they believe that the north our arearimeter around was made up of the thin crust and once we penetrated that we would can be able to continue up north. It worked too what about the teamwork as you moved north. How about our air support . The air support was very good. You called for an air strike and you get it almost immediately. One time i was taking with my platoon taking a village, and we received fire from a hill to our left. Called and asked for an air attack and within five minutes we had planes coming over giving us a tax within 50 yards to our front which is pretty close. That is really getting it in there when you need it. How about the artillery at that time the artillery was very good. The coordination was close. They gave us accurate fire. In the North Koreans were scared to death of the white which they fired. Actually it was good for us. The artillery was excellent. We hear a lot of talk about the the North Koreans. Can you give us any examples . Yes, i can. My platoon was taking a house several, which housed members of the communist party. We surrounded the house and had an interpreter asking them to come out and surrender and they refused to do it. Therefore, we had to fire on the house. As many of them ran out they shot themselves in the others pulled renans and blew themselves up. They just did not want to be captured at all. Tom, tell us about the weapons we used over there. How did our weapons compared with those used by the North Koreans . Our weapons were far so. , more dependable. All in all, they gave out more firepower. The browning automatic rifle for instant is my favorite and the North Koreans were afraid of it. It was a very good weapon. There was no comparison between it and the north korean firearm. They had a lot of respect for of ours. When youre in the line with your men moving for a long time to get to know them pretty well. Yes, you do. You eat with them, you sleep with them and every once in a while one of them gets shot. And you really feel bad. You get to know them very well. He was my platoon Sergeant Eddie was an old soldier. He was the type of man who knows his business. I a lot of credit to him for helping me and the platoon. We had younger man. I got to know those. Squad leaders. Freddie, smoky and those boys you get to know them fairly well. Back around the perimeter before we broke out, because of the fact we were shifting around an awful lot it was very hard to try to size up your men. But, regardless of this fact, i believe we did fairly good, and i got a good chance to more or less size up my men. We were moving around quite a bit at that time. Andom, with men like you your platoon that held back the enemy in the pusan perimeter against very gate out great odds. You cap the enemy from throwing us back into the sea. Watchatch now lets now as one of our chicks there often attack. September, the first marine grade helped throwback one of the main communist thrusts in their allout offensive along the river. Is anng a strategy attempt to achieve a major breakthrough between the seconds divisions southern flank and the 25th divisions northern flank. These are rains have been rushed year after a brief rest during which they regrouped these marines have been rushed year. The marines move up the high ground. They must retake to secure their sector of the counterattack. The enemy is holding its fire momentarily. The marine counteroffensive has been coordinated with the Second Division. Fiventire action being squats. One tank supported marine unit has moved up the main road leading west. While diagonally on the right and left, other marines flank the enemy. Father to the right and left, tank support in Second Division troops advance in circular movements. Marines rush forward as the enemy opens fire. [gunfire] a wounded marine runs back for aid. Other marines resume the attack moving slowly. Waiting for the enemy to reveal his flank and main position. , andte north korean tanks automatic weapons, the assault continues. This counterattack along the isthern bolts of the river almost a repeat of the assault the same marines launched two weeks previously when they took the same hill. The high ground in this sector has changed hands five times in two weeks. [gunfire] the marines form a base of fire to drive the enemy off. The line builds up, and so does the firepower. [gunfire] meanwhile, overhead, air force and marine corps plane support the Ground Troops. Carrier planes are ready for another strike on in land targets. Rockets are particular interest at this time. Three different types are being used. One of the first super explosive types to see service in korea was the five inch later the 11. 75 tiny tim grew highly effective on bridges and similar large targets. The most recent arrival is the navys 6. 5 inch ram. Activity has not dampened their sense of humor. It is noteworthy that the ram rocket set a speed record for production. Conception to its appearance in combat it took only 24 days. Area omissions of the navy and marines often include strategic and tactical action in the same strike. Of the relatively small area Korea Targets of opportunity count heavily. Cameras record targets of the carrier planes. Japan. Of the 26 is in preparation during the week of six september bead 26 is armed with 1650 caliber machine guns. A single gunner can bring many to bear on the same target at once. B26 in care of 5000 pound bomb loan. With these bonds plus napalm was the heavy firepower of the 26 is a guns, a b formidable attacking unit. They have seen constant use. Their targets raining from an strategic Industrial Areas in the north to tactical areas along the battle lines in the south. This plane is classified as a life bomber. The speed of 350 miles an hour. After their final briefing, crew members had for the field. This has become a familiar scene and United States air bases in japan from which sorties flown on an aroundtheclock schedule. Douglas invaders were formally called a26 bombers. They differ from the marauders used in world war ii. Is an adaptable plane which is often revamped for different purposes. Canon may be substituted for the nose guns. The plane can be adapted to carry a variety of explosives. B26 is designed primarily for lowlevel bombing. It is seldom used for high b29s. Of the [engine idling] these targets are in the area of seoul during the first week of september. The flashes of light are traces from their machine guns. Occasionally enemy flak comes up. On seven september, the u. S. Air in 24flew 625 sorties hours. 625 sorties in 24 hours. On 15 september dawn breaks out the islands. Ships of ships of the u. N. Flute fleet fire pointblank at the island. Rockets join the softening up process. General macarthur watches from the bridges of the flagship. This is a calculated risk. The general is using many of his forces from the south. The first wave hits the beach. Fall,e of the 30 fed tied the landing path of the first wave runs one hour before high tide and two hours after. The first troops will have to stick it out alone until the next tied 11 hours later. 11 hours later. A bulldozer smothers the dugout. A firefight begins. Reds have not been given off by the monk bartman. Captives are stripped by the bombardment. Others are little more formal. On 16 september, the First Marine Division moves through. This city is recaptured against relatively light resistance. Allied casualties are few. Hnd these men move through im inchon, seoul their objective is. There are two allied moves on seoul. Another from the south and one from the north. Across the river. The river is cross. The village is taken and the marines move on towards seoul, but there is bitter fighting ahead. Seoul is heavily defended. As these vehicles move on towards seoul, the marines have ds. Essage for the res enjoy yourselves. It is later than you think. During the six weeks between 10 august and 20 september, there were three main phases in the korean fighting. On 10 august, reinforced United Nation forces were dug in to defend at all cost the beachhead perimeter. We could withdraw no farther. Could no longer trade space for time if we were to hold the beachheads and the vital supply for pusan. Communist forces were threatening many cities and their drive to pusan. We launched our first counterattack to stop the most dangerous communist drive. On one september, the communists launched their biggest drive of the war. All along our beachhead perimeter. It was an allout effort to take pusan, eliminate our beachhead in korea and destroyed United Nations forces. We were being pushed back again pohang was being taken and retaken. By 20 september, the site of battle had changed completely. Five days previously, u. S. Marines had made an amphibious landing. 150 miles behind enemy lines. The enemies still pressing his allout drive for pusan was suddenly cut off from his supplies. On 20 september, u. S. Marines were entering the outskirts of seoul as Seventh Division infantrymen fanned south to head off communists retreating from the southern front. On our southern beachhead, United Nations forces were crossing the river and moving ahead everywhere. They were advancing south of west. Rth of taegu and of masan. E had held our beachheads now we were on the offensive and it was the beginning of the end for the communist invasion of south korea. Those were the events that comprise the big picture from august 20 two september 20, 1950. Our thanks to our lieutenant for being with us today. Next week are big picture will show the United Nations forces on the offensive. You will see our recapture of the city of seoul, the fall of the north korean capital upon yang. And airdrop by the regimental combat team. And you will see the missouri, action, giving support to our Ground Troops. And with us again will be a combat veteran who saw a part of the big picture. This is captain carl zimmermann. Inviting you to be with us then