U. S. And south Korean Forces were badly outnumbered. This is war. War and its masses. War and its men. War and its machines. Together they form the big picture. Welcome to the big picture. Im captain carles immerman. The big picture is a report to your army, an army committed by you the people of United States to stop communism or it strikes. It will change the course of the Korean Campaign firsthand reports from combat veterans, and film taken by combat cameramen. These are the men who daily records on film the big picture as it happens where it happens. Today the big picture brings into focus the first 40 days in korea. It was the beginning of the fighting there. When every ridge was a heartbreak ridge. Lets go back to 19 fifties when our troops went across the first thrusts of this is best told by the language of the soldier that was there. This story is hard to tell. Painful because our outfit was in training a few weeks ago. Some of the boys hour with us arent around anymore. The
Elections held at the 38th parallel. The republic of korea, a sovereign democratic nation was born. His president. In may 1950, the citizens of this young republican went to the polls again to exercise their democratic rights. To choose their government under their democratic constitution. Even as the citizens of the korean republic voted in free elections, the north korean communist leaders were boasting of their intention to unify the country by force. And this was their target, a partly mountainous but peninsula and the 20 million peaceloving citizens of the republic of korea. The attack by the north korean communist came suddenly and without warning. The heroic Republican Army faced superior forces with all the advantages of deception and surprised, rally to the defensive of the public. Improvising quickly to react to the unprovoked aggression. Against a prepared enemy armed with modern tanks, planes and guns, the republican troops were ill equipped to meet the onslaught. Back in t
Korea. Call me no high and rhea meaning clear. It harbors over 4000 years of myth and history. But its claim to be the land of the morning calm is marked by tortured history of domination, war in a land divided. Still korea today both a dynamic 20 century momentum. There is throughout the republic of korea, a growing vitality, underscored by Technological Prowess an ever increasing self reliance. Yet in the midst of accelerating change, stark figures and shrines continue to recall long ago legends and dynasties. And the earth is still work by men who cling. Still mocking the legend of korea as the land of the morning calm, is the grim reality of beyond conflict which only two decades ago ravaged and scarred this divided country. Leaving permanent reminders, of the price paid to preserve individual freedom and national security. Here at pusan the United Nations memorial cemetery, more than 2000 markers. Eternally symbolized more than 94,000 the United Nations soldiers airmen and sailors
Next on American History tv, author kevin tyson talks about his book, when it mattered most, which tells the story of the seattle metropolitans who became the first u. S. Hockey team to win the stanley cup when they defeated the Montreal Canadiens in 1917. The story is set against the backdrop of president Woodrow Wilson mustering support for u. S. Entry into world war i while the conflict raged in europe. The u. S. Declared war on germany six days after the metropolitans victory. The National World war i museum and memorial in Kansas City Missouri hosted this discussion and provided the video. Thank you so much for being here. I appreciate you braving the weather, and kevin, i appreciate you being from seattle. Kevin i brought seattles weather with me. Time with the local abc affiliate. Ive worked a lot with the mavericks and the Museum Memorial here and i appreciate this opportunity. Im looking forward to chatting with you. I think you will get a lot out of this, whether you are a ho
Hopping in the central solomons. But, the battle for nazi held italy was only beginning. On the 3rd of september, two british divisions crossed the straits of messina to land on the toe of the italian boot. Six days later, American Forces struck the beach at solar no, 30 miles south of naples. Four days after the landings, the enemy launched a strong counterattack pouring in some of its best troops. For a time, our foot hold was precarious. Supported by a concentration of combined firepower from aircraft, naval guns and artillery, the allies held the beach head. The heavy pounding by land sea and air was too much for the nazis. They fell back as our own forces pushed on towards naples. By then, italy had surrendered unconditionally, now officially out of the war. October 1st, 1943, elements of general clarks army entered the city of naples. They were greeted not as conquerors but liberators. The citizens of naples knew that we and our allies were the only hope of driving the germans fr