1 00:00:02,270 --> 00:00:09,660 This program contains rare film of World War II originally shot in color, found during a two-year world-wide search 2 00:00:09,970 --> 00:00:16,470 Much of it has never been seen on television before. These films are presented now in high definition. 3 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:23,120 Some images are graphic in nature and viewer discretion is advised 4 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:33,580 In the Pacific, the mortal combat against the fanatic fall, the kamikaze corps 5 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:40,960 the Japanese pilot to rod their bind win to certain suicide, and possible devastation of our ship. 6 00:02:38,350 --> 00:02:45,140 "Grant us a common faith that man shall know bread and peace 7 00:02:47,250 --> 00:02:53,170 that he shall know justice and righteousness, freedom and security 8 00:02:54,020 --> 00:02:58,970 an equal opportunity and an equal chance to do his best 9 00:02:59,530 --> 00:03:04,060 not only in our own lands, but throughout the world." 10 00:05:02,300 --> 00:05:14,180 "The greatest generation would imply to my mind, people who really were involved and knew what was the stake 11 00:05:15,020 --> 00:05:20,220 and I think the majority of the greatest generation didn't have a notion of the stake. 12 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:32,510 When I had this young boy, a boy from Mississippi, a farm boy, he was in a foxhole next to me. 13 00:05:35,550 --> 00:05:41,890 And out of nowhere, through the mist, came a bullet to hit him in the head. 14 00:05:43,210 --> 00:05:49,250 And that was a kid who didn't know anything, he'd never been away from the farm in Mississipi, 15 00:05:49,850 --> 00:05:58,430 he didn't know where he was, what he did, why he was there... was he a part of the greatest generation? yes. 16 00:06:02,060 --> 00:06:11,130 There was nothing great about him, just a young boy who lost his life." 17 00:06:21,450 --> 00:06:25,520 "I arrived in New York in May of 1939. 18 00:06:26,540 --> 00:06:29,320 I was an American-lover from the war to goal. 19 00:06:33,570 --> 00:06:39,050 The first thing I do is change my name from Hans Werner to Jack Werner. 20 00:06:44,510 --> 00:06:47,490 Owl-eh-dee, I feel more like an American." 21 00:06:49,390 --> 00:06:57,130 It is May,1939, a 19-year-old immigrant, Jack Werner,is setting out on a drive accross the country to hollywood, California, 22 00:06:57,610 --> 00:06:59,720 where he hopes to break into the movie business. 23 00:07:00,090 --> 00:07:03,720 His home country of Austria is embrace Nazi extreminism. 24 00:07:04,130 --> 00:07:07,680 Now he's fled to America to begin a new life. 25 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:19,020 "It's a wonderful trip. Everyone here is so kind and generous. 26 00:07:30,490 --> 00:07:35,000 No one even asks me about what is happening in Europe, even after they hear my accent. 27 00:07:36,130 --> 00:07:37,910 I suppose they don't want to be impolite. 28 00:07:39,430 --> 00:07:42,810 They don't understand how lucky they are, not having to look over their shoulder. 29 00:07:48,740 --> 00:07:51,890 I suppose if it doesn't happen in your backyard, you don't know much about it. 30 00:07:55,350 --> 00:07:59,500 I can't blame them. Europe seems so far away. 31 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:19,430 I remember when I was in Austria, it was just after Hitler took over, all of his anti-Jewish laws were put into effect immediately. 32 00:08:21,420 --> 00:08:26,360 We were no longer considered citizens. Within a week my father was fired from his job. 33 00:08:27,810 --> 00:08:30,650 Our bank account was frozen. We have no one to turn to. 34 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:40,920 And then one morning I woke up early, and outside my window this man was singing a few lines from the Horst-Wessel-Lied. 35 00:08:42,050 --> 00:08:52,810 It was the Nazi party anthem. There's one like this: When Jewish blood flows for my own eyes, everything will be well... 36 00:08:53,540 --> 00:08:57,100 "There were people already walking on the street, nobody said anything. 37 00:08:58,010 --> 00:09:03,440 That was the moment when I decided, that's enough, I'm out of here." 38 00:09:06,230 --> 00:09:07,920 "In that very evening I left 39 00:09:10,030 --> 00:09:16,000 I knew what could happen to Jewish people like myself. I knew what was already happening, 40 00:09:16,140 --> 00:09:22,260 so I escaped to the Alps and I headed to America because I knew it wasn't going to stop." 41 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:36,070 Stunned by the sudden thrust of the Nazi drive into the north countries, troops rally around loyal officers defend their own land. 42 00:09:36,450 --> 00:09:41,080 The scene wasrepeated that hundreds of Norwagian villagers even as the enemy moved in were then killed. 43 00:09:41,410 --> 00:09:46,060 "We are shocked by the almost incredible eyewitness stories that come to us, 44 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:54,430 stories of what is happening at this moment to the civilian populations of Norway..." 45 00:10:44,910 --> 00:10:48,480 "I speak to you for the first time as Prime Minister 46 00:10:49,680 --> 00:10:59,930 in a solemn hour for the life of our country, of our empire, of our allies, and, above all, of the cause of Freedom." 47 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:09,430 "Hundreds die as 1500 fires burn historical landmarks into black and shells of debris. " 48 00:11:14,140 --> 00:11:18,220 "we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, 49 00:11:19,860 --> 00:11:27,160 we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, 50 00:11:27,670 --> 00:11:34,690 whatever the cost may be... we shall never surrender." 51 00:11:37,650 --> 00:11:46,390 British skies was scarred by brutal combat 52 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:56,660 "If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free... 53 00:12:04,110 --> 00:12:10,130 but if we failed, then the whole world, including the United States, 54 00:12:12,150 --> 00:12:19,880 including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss..." 55 00:12:30,350 --> 00:12:36,200 With a third of Europe now under Nazi control, America still sits on the sidelines. 56 00:12:40,690 --> 00:12:43,130 Many believe the war'd be europe's problem. 57 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:54,520 Recalling the horrors of WWI, the majority of Americans don't want to get involved in another european war. 58 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:59,720 President Franklin Roosevelt attempt to convince them otherwise. 59 00:13:00,300 --> 00:13:04,340 "There are many among us who in the past closed their eyes to events abroad, 60 00:13:05,390 --> 00:13:10,040 because they believed what was taking place in Europe was none of our business. 61 00:13:11,820 --> 00:13:17,400 We could maintain our physical safety by retiring within out continental boundaries. 62 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:25,580 Obviously, a defense policy based on that is merely to invite future attack. 63 00:13:28,100 --> 00:13:38,530 To those who would not admit the possibility of the approaching storm, the past weeks have meant the shattering of many illusions." 64 00:14:02,330 --> 00:14:08,160 On September 16, 1940, Roosevelt signed "The Selective Training and Service Act", 65 00:14:08,820 --> 00:14:11,700 the first peace time draft in the American history. 66 00:14:13,270 --> 00:14:18,220 All able-body men between 21 and 30 must register for military service. 67 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:24,330 Though Congress approves the bill, it is carefully called "national defense measure". 68 00:14:24,870 --> 00:14:28,490 The draftees may only be sent to defend American held territories 69 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:35,940 "I told my brother I'm gonna get grabbed in by this draft, 70 00:14:37,060 --> 00:14:40,030 and sure enough, I'm the first number in my town." 71 00:14:42,060 --> 00:14:48,180 In upstate New York, a soft-spoken farm boy named Archie Sweeney has just been drafted. 72 00:14:54,220 --> 00:14:57,900 "Things are already hard enough at home, especially since mama died. 73 00:15:02,170 --> 00:15:06,500 She made a promise we should stick together and we told her we would." 74 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:12,160 Sweeney is on his way to Fort Bragg in North Carolina. 75 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:16,950 He's never been outside New York state before or on a train. 76 00:15:17,290 --> 00:15:21,130 "Hopefully all this will blow over soon, and I can get back home." 77 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:38,430 After several failed attempts, Austrian immigrant Jack Werner abandon his dream of breaking into the movie business. 78 00:15:38,820 --> 00:15:41,570 Instead, he takes a job in a flower shop. 79 00:15:43,770 --> 00:15:49,260 "One day, out of nowhere, I ran into Ralph Lieben, a friend of mine I hadn't seen in years. 80 00:15:50,690 --> 00:15:53,800 Ralph is an American I met in Paris after I escaped Austria. 81 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:04,010 He sheltered and took me under his wing, helped me with my English. 82 00:16:08,810 --> 00:16:10,280 But that was long time ago. 83 00:16:14,150 --> 00:16:18,680 Ralph tells me the latest news from Europe. It's hard to imagine. 84 00:16:28,830 --> 00:16:32,080 Now those filthy Nazis are parading around like they own the place. 85 00:16:37,670 --> 00:16:40,010 The more often I talk about the Germans the angrier I get. 86 00:16:42,230 --> 00:16:45,770 Somebody needs to stop them before they take over the entire world. 87 00:16:49,620 --> 00:16:54,930 That's when I realized it's time to stop talking and start doing something about it, 88 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:57,870 taking actions instead of words. 89 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:02,610 I maybe have been living with that for years and years. 90 00:17:03,060 --> 00:17:07,240 You have to understand that my life and his life, they are really... 91 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:16,920 almost completely obsessed with Hitler and what Hitler was going to do, and the fate of the world. 92 00:17:17,660 --> 00:17:23,670 And we decided that it was about time to stop talking and doing something. 93 00:17:24,250 --> 00:17:33,980 That's when we took the critical action of going down to Fort Pigas and St. Petero and enlisted in the army." 94 00:17:37,730 --> 00:17:43,000 The military Archie Sweeney and Jack Werner join has only just begun to build up its arsenal. 95 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:53,190 2 years ago, United States had the 17th largest army in the world, smaller than tiny Romanian's. 96 00:17:57,070 --> 00:18:01,700 And almost two thirds of American recruits have never fired a rifle. 97 00:18:08,410 --> 00:18:15,750 At Fort Ord in Monterey bay, California, Jack Werner begins his basic training with the 7th Army Infantry. 98 00:18:16,210 --> 00:18:19,670 It is a sobering, even frightening experience. 99 00:18:20,990 --> 00:18:24,860 "It is shocking how unprepared we are, how naive everyone is, 100 00:18:25,510 --> 00:18:28,630 parading around with Springfield rifles and WWI steel helmets. 101 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:34,820 How can they expect in 21th century to fight a war against well-equipped enemy with this kind of gear? 102 00:18:41,090 --> 00:18:45,730 Do they think we can fight Hitler's panthers on horse back? I have no idea." 103 00:18:54,720 --> 00:19:00,690 By the spring of 1941, Hitler is the unchallenged master of most of continental Europe. 104 00:19:01,810 --> 00:19:08,270 His fighting forces have brought 11 countries and over 70 million people under the Nazi flag. 105 00:19:12,410 --> 00:19:17,510 In nearly every conquered country, Hitler's troops from the Nazi party's Waffen SS, 106 00:19:17,850 --> 00:19:23,060 and regular German army carry out a policy of oppression and mass murder. 107 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:37,940 In a small Yugoslavian town, German cameraman Gottfried Kessel, 108 00:19:38,910 --> 00:19:45,980 he's filming when German soldiers select 36 serbians from the population and lead them to a nearby cemetery. 109 00:19:51,170 --> 00:19:57,180 The previous night, unknown gunmen had fired on some German officers from this very spot. 110 00:19:58,170 --> 00:20:03,170 The Germans are sending a grim message to any Serbians thinking about resisting. 111 00:21:00,210 --> 00:21:05,560 By the summer of 1941, Hitler is ready to launch his forces further east. 112 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:14,170 In June his armies invade the Soviet Union. 113 00:21:15,690 --> 00:21:20,500 By September, They have captured over 1.4 million Soviet troops. 114 00:21:24,750 --> 00:21:29,250 One month later, American government agents intercept a secret Nazi map. 115 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:35,440 It outlines Hitler's plan to re-organize South America after he conquers it. 116 00:21:40,270 --> 00:21:45,360 In November, Germany, Japan and Italy renew their military alliance. 117 00:21:46,740 --> 00:21:49,830 All agree to safeguard their common interests. 118 00:21:50,630 --> 00:21:53,870 The excess powers are ready to carve out the world. 119 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:18,430 "We interrupt this broadcast to bring you this important bulletin from United Press. 120 00:22:19,050 --> 00:22:23,460 Flash: Washington: the White House announces Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour." 121 00:22:34,030 --> 00:22:41,670 ...news of the Japanese attack reach the president at 2:35pm, 7:35 this morning Hawaiian time. 122 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:50,260 ... President Roosevelt has been in almost constant session with the Secretaries of War and Navy. 123 00:22:52,620 --> 00:22:58,580 White House also announced that an army transport carring lumber has been sunk between San Francisco and Hawaii. 124 00:23:05,750 --> 00:23:10,910 Flash: a Japanese aircraft carrier has just been sunk. 125 00:23:10,940 --> 00:23:19,590 San Francisco, with the entire west coast on the verge of war basis, Mayor Angelo J. Rossi declare San Francisco on the state of emergency tonight... 126 00:23:24,970 --> 00:23:35,250 ... and the battleship Virginia was reported sunk.Also the battleship Oklahoma has been set on fire... 127 00:23:52,710 --> 00:23:57,870 Japan has made war on the United States without declaring it. 128 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:13,310 "December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in infamy." 129 00:24:21,030 --> 00:24:23,380 "Coach Albert comes in and says: I got bad news, 130 00:24:25,010 --> 00:24:27,510 the Japanese just bombed Pearl Harbour. 131 00:24:30,190 --> 00:24:33,570 "I doubted if any other students knew where in the hell pearl harbour was" 132 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:43,160 On Dec 7th, 1941, Charles Scheffel is a 21-year-old college senior playing basketball for oklahoma AandM. 133 00:24:43,630 --> 00:24:47,550 He is on a full scholarship playing under the legendary coach Hank Eiber. 134 00:24:49,740 --> 00:24:52,190 "And he said, how many of you enlisted military? 135 00:24:55,310 --> 00:24:58,050 so, 6 others raised their hands. 136 00:25:00,130 --> 00:25:05,070 And he said, well, I want you to know that we are at war. 137 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:12,920 We are so angry, all we can think is that the Jap basterds will pay for this sneak attack." 138 00:25:16,260 --> 00:25:27,430 21 U.S. ships are sunk or damaged. 188 aircrafts are destroyed. 2403 people are killed 139 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:37,110 This restored film of the immediate aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbour has never been shown in public. 140 00:25:42,820 --> 00:25:47,210 "Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. 141 00:25:48,790 --> 00:25:52,500 Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam. 142 00:25:54,150 --> 00:25:58,890 Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. 143 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:05,490 Last night Japanese forces attacked Wake Island. 144 00:26:07,660 --> 00:26:11,480 And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island. 145 00:26:12,330 --> 00:26:18,760 The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. 146 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:23,600 The people of the United States have already formed their opinions 147 00:26:24,550 --> 00:26:31,270 and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation." 148 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:40,860 "I am shocked and surprised and I have to admit I'm relieved that it finally comes to it. 149 00:26:44,910 --> 00:26:50,160 The next day we packed up and moved out to the northern part of California, 150 00:26:51,130 --> 00:26:59,470 and stationed ourselves from the coast, awaiting the invasion of the dreaded Japanese army. 151 00:27:02,050 --> 00:27:08,410 This is crazy. We have just one machine gun in placement to defend the entire beach with." 152 00:27:18,220 --> 00:27:24,020 4 days after the attack on Pearl harbour, Germany and Italy declare war on the United States. 153 00:27:24,470 --> 00:27:29,060 It is the first and only time Hilter actually declares war on another nation. 154 00:27:30,250 --> 00:27:35,270 The wars in Europe and Asia now merged into a single gigantic world war, 155 00:27:36,490 --> 00:27:38,450 the largest war in History. 156 00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:07,830 "...and citizens are urged to remain calm and avoid all unnecessary confusion because of hysteria" 157 00:28:08,770 --> 00:28:14,750 Accross the US, panic spreads as American realize they have enemies off both coasts. 158 00:28:17,020 --> 00:28:21,360 Surging above the fear is a wave of patriotism and outrage. 159 00:28:22,130 --> 00:28:28,390 Within 30 days of the attack, over 134,000 young men enlist for service. 160 00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:33,730 They want to fight back, but still must undergo months of training before deploying. 161 00:28:34,180 --> 00:28:40,900 In the meantime, America's current military force of just under 500,000 will do what it can. 162 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:50,830 After months of fighting to prevent the Japanese from taking the Philippines, 163 00:28:51,010 --> 00:28:54,300 US military leaders realize the situation is hopeless. 164 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:58,280 Their navy is outmatched, powerless to deliever reinforcements. 165 00:28:58,690 --> 00:29:03,560 Back in February, they ordered the commanding general, Douglas MacArthur to evacuate by night 166 00:29:03,900 --> 00:29:05,490 and leave his troops behind. 167 00:29:05,930 --> 00:29:13,140 And now more than 74,000 of American and Filippino soldiers are taken prisoner by the Japanese on the Bataan Perninsula. 168 00:29:18,140 --> 00:29:20,910 In May, 2 American naval task forces, 169 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:26,680 including 2 of our precious aircraft carriers engage Japanese task force in the Coral Sea, 170 00:29:27,370 --> 00:29:30,610 one American carrier sunk, another damaged. 171 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:40,730 One month later, our remaining carriers ambush the Japanese fleet near Midway Island. 172 00:29:41,510 --> 00:29:45,430 It is an arousing victory, 4 enemy carriers are sunk. 173 00:29:46,330 --> 00:29:48,340 But the Navy loses the York Town. 174 00:29:49,350 --> 00:29:52,240 It now has only 3 carriers left in the Pacific. 175 00:30:09,270 --> 00:30:15,100 It's amazing and eery to be here in the exact place where the whole war began for us. 176 00:30:25,340 --> 00:30:30,380 24-year-old Richard Tregaskis is a cub reporter for the International News Service. 177 00:30:30,670 --> 00:30:34,040 After months of lobbying his bosses for a combat assignment, 178 00:30:34,420 --> 00:30:40,210 he's finally arrived in Pearl Harbour with orders to cover the expanding American war in the Pacific. 179 00:30:41,700 --> 00:30:44,210 The navy's been busy trying to repair what ships they can. 180 00:30:44,980 --> 00:30:48,580 From the looks of it it's gonna take a long time before the fleet is fully restored. 181 00:30:52,660 --> 00:30:54,840 7 months after the attack on the Pearl Harbour, 182 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:59,340 repairs are underway on 5 of the 8 battleships damaged in the assault. 183 00:31:00,710 --> 00:31:05,090 The likelihood is high that they would return to service,but not right away. 184 00:31:06,220 --> 00:31:11,820 For the time being at least, the navy will be fighting at nowhere near full strength. 185 00:31:13,540 --> 00:31:16,140 "When I first got here I expected the mood to be bleak, 186 00:31:16,660 --> 00:31:21,890 but more than anything, peolpe seemed energized and angry." 187 00:31:24,910 --> 00:31:32,170 In May of 1942, Charles Scheffel graduates from college and immediately become a 2nd lieutenant in the US Army. 188 00:31:33,750 --> 00:31:39,200 "With all that's happening, I'm ready to serve my country, I'm more than ready." 189 00:31:40,310 --> 00:31:43,790 He knows it is only matter of time before he will deploy. 190 00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:49,600 "So I pick up the phone, I call my girlfriend Ruth and I ask her to marry me, 191 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:53,420 me, next week if she'll hail me, and she says yes. 192 00:31:55,420 --> 00:31:59,290 When orders come for me to report to Camp Kelmer for debarkation, Ruth travels with me. 193 00:32:00,110 --> 00:32:02,600 She's gonna stay at a hotel in New York until I go. 194 00:32:03,710 --> 00:32:08,340 Within 3 hours of my arrival, our group is completely outfitted and sealed in holding area. 195 00:32:11,850 --> 00:32:13,760 So much for goodbyes." 196 00:32:20,630 --> 00:32:26,610 The New York port of embarkation has been helping to keep England in the war by sending food and ammunitions. 197 00:32:28,730 --> 00:32:34,270 Now hundreds of outgoing ships are packed with American men ready to take the fight to the enemy. 198 00:32:37,380 --> 00:32:42,260 But the enemy is already at America's door for months. 199 00:32:42,620 --> 00:32:45,540 Hitler's U-boats have been terrorizing the Atlantic seaboard. 200 00:32:47,040 --> 00:32:53,090 In 1942 alone, U-boats sink over 1000 ships bound for England and Soviet Union. 201 00:33:01,790 --> 00:33:07,050 So when Charles scheffel and the troops ship out, they must do so under the cover of darkness. 202 00:33:07,750 --> 00:33:11,400 There's no fan fare, no throngs of waving love ones. 203 00:33:12,830 --> 00:33:15,400 America is sneaking off to the war. 204 00:33:19,620 --> 00:33:21,630 "Our life boats can only hold 250 men. 205 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:26,550 So if we're hit, the rest of us would just jump into the Atlantic." 206 00:33:30,110 --> 00:33:38,880 Halfway around the world, combat reporter Richard Tregaskis has joined a far larger military convoy cutting through the vast Pacific Ocean. 207 00:33:42,530 --> 00:33:46,350 "All around this there're transports, cruise ships, destroyers. 208 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:53,000 The navy onlyhas 4 aircraft carriers, and 3 of them are perched right on the rim of the ocean." 209 00:33:56,320 --> 00:34:04,740 The depleted American navy is using old cruise liners converted into transports to carry more than 10,000 untested marines. 210 00:34:06,760 --> 00:34:12,110 Their objective, a remote jungle island of the southern tip of the Solomon Islands, 211 00:34:12,570 --> 00:34:14,590 it is called Guadalcanal. 212 00:34:16,310 --> 00:34:20,060 There, the Japanese are building an air field that once finished, 213 00:34:20,520 --> 00:34:25,140 will allow their bombers to threaten the vital sea lanes that connect America to Australia. 214 00:34:25,810 --> 00:34:31,790 If they succeed, our England in the Pacific will be isolated, ripe for Japanese invasion. 215 00:34:32,440 --> 00:34:36,040 The fate of the entire Pacific War hangs in the balance. 216 00:35:10,950 --> 00:35:14,650 What the young marines and sailors on their way to Guadalcanal don't realize 217 00:35:15,230 --> 00:35:21,990 is that amphibious landing against defended beaches are the most desperate and dangerous of all military operations. 218 00:35:22,610 --> 00:35:26,150 America has not attempted one since 1898. 219 00:35:51,070 --> 00:35:56,410 we've been told that we are to land in 5 days, making this the last Sunday for communion. 220 00:35:59,700 --> 00:36:03,960 A lot of guys want to settle themselves and be prepared for at least the possibility of death. 221 00:36:09,470 --> 00:36:15,620 On deck, everyone's cleaning and oiling their rifles, their machine guns and their mortars with motherly care. 222 00:36:26,500 --> 00:36:34,920 It seems amazing that people can relax like this,when they are heading for the unpleasant realities of danger and bloodshed. 223 00:36:38,250 --> 00:36:43,090 Intelligence estimates that only 1 in 3 landing boats to reach shore safely, 224 00:36:43,840 --> 00:36:47,270 and that 1 in 4 marines will not survive the initial assault. 225 00:36:51,630 --> 00:36:56,410 But I came here to see some action, and I intend to go in with the first assault wave." 226 00:37:11,860 --> 00:37:17,440 After 7 days at sea, the marines close in on Guadalcanal. 227 00:37:20,040 --> 00:37:25,080 "A cool tropical air envelopes the ship as we penetrate the inner harbour. 228 00:37:27,010 --> 00:37:29,270 Where's the Japs? 229 00:37:29,880 --> 00:37:32,070 Their shore guns are eerily quiet. 230 00:37:32,550 --> 00:37:36,000 Everyone is silent and nervous as we move close to shore. 231 00:37:37,890 --> 00:37:44,030 It is as if we're unwelcome guest walking through the front door of a waiting and armed host. 232 00:37:47,130 --> 00:37:51,990 There didn't seem to be much to say, although a few leds come up with inevitable. 233 00:37:52,650 --> 00:37:54,660 Well, this is it. 234 00:38:14,190 --> 00:38:19,070 At 09:00 hours the order is given: land the landing force. 235 00:39:49,860 --> 00:39:51,490 On shore it's absolute silence. 236 00:39:52,070 --> 00:39:55,010 It's eery. There isn't a single Japs to meet us. 237 00:39:55,940 --> 00:39:59,270 One of the Lieutenants says: I wonder the Japs can be this dumb. 238 00:40:05,550 --> 00:40:08,010 Either they're dumb, or it's a trick. 239 00:40:12,780 --> 00:40:15,640 "May, they got us busy drilling, camping and marching, 240 00:40:16,460 --> 00:40:18,810 what a farmer works hard is nothing compared to this. " 241 00:40:20,890 --> 00:40:25,720 Upstate New York farm boy Archie Sweeney is farther from home than he has ever been before, 242 00:40:26,110 --> 00:40:29,410 now assigned to the 39th Infantry Regiment, H company. 243 00:40:32,560 --> 00:40:35,910 "They got us practicing something called 'amphibian operations'. 244 00:40:36,690 --> 00:40:39,630 Lucky for me, there's no swimming. But you do get awfully wet. 245 00:40:45,100 --> 00:40:47,120 we all then wait for word and wonder we gonna ship out, 246 00:40:48,460 --> 00:40:52,510 when it finally comes, we're told to head up to Norfolk prepare for deployment. 247 00:40:54,490 --> 00:40:55,300 But nobody says where to." 248 00:41:02,690 --> 00:41:11,780 On October 23rd, 1942, now corporal Archie Sweeney and 39th Infantry Regiment are on a ship sailing out of Norfolk naval base. 249 00:41:15,190 --> 00:41:18,020 "When I've gone to the Army, I guess I never figured on going to sea. 250 00:41:19,700 --> 00:41:23,490 It's a huge convoy, we have battleships and destroyers escorting us, 251 00:41:23,830 --> 00:41:26,800 zigging and zagging to keep the U-boats from picking up our trail. 252 00:41:27,820 --> 00:41:29,440 Now I wish I had learnt how to swim." 253 00:41:32,560 --> 00:41:36,440 They are the first American ground troops dispatched to fight Hitler. 254 00:41:38,210 --> 00:41:47,990 Out of gigantic amphebious force of 100,000 men and 1200 vessels of all kinds departing simulteneously from ports in both America and Britain. 255 00:41:48,270 --> 00:41:53,980 sailing out of Liverpool, England is 2nd Lieutenant and former college basketball player Charles scheffel. 256 00:41:54,460 --> 00:41:59,970 After surviving his transit-landed journey, he's spent 3 months training with British in the UK. 257 00:42:01,290 --> 00:42:03,130 "Everyone is guessing about our destination. 258 00:42:03,900 --> 00:42:05,660 You know, soldiers would gamble on anything. 259 00:42:06,600 --> 00:42:10,650 So we form a pool and we start a bet. I'm thinking Norway. 260 00:42:11,790 --> 00:42:15,470 But after 3 days of sailing, I went to see the British ... 261 00:42:16,400 --> 00:42:24,670 I said, Sir? My meter down here in this hole,that been on deck for 3 days. 262 00:42:25,440 --> 00:42:28,100 I've got to know what's happening. 263 00:42:30,430 --> 00:42:34,380 He said we were going to make the invasion of North Africa." 264 00:42:42,450 --> 00:42:49,640 For over 2 years, Hitler's troops have been battling the British in North Africa, struggling for control of the Suez Canal. 265 00:42:50,930 --> 00:42:52,860 If the Germans can take the canal, 266 00:42:53,230 --> 00:43:00,590 they will have a secure passage way to the middle east and its rich oil reserves to fill their mechanized army. 267 00:43:08,160 --> 00:43:12,060 "The Brits taught the American boys in our unit everything they could about combat against Germans, 268 00:43:12,710 --> 00:43:14,620 now it's the time to see if I've learned enough." 269 00:43:25,070 --> 00:43:32,100 8 months to the day after Pearl Harbour, combat reporter Richard Tregaskis is with the First Marines on Guadalcanal. 270 00:43:32,780 --> 00:43:34,650 There are still no sign of enemy. 271 00:43:35,700 --> 00:43:39,730 The men move out cautiously to the untracked jungle towards their objective, 272 00:43:40,140 --> 00:43:42,580 the unfinished air field less than a mile inland. 273 00:43:44,460 --> 00:43:48,170 Tregaskis follows, armed only with a notebook and a pen. 274 00:43:53,180 --> 00:43:59,090 "The jungle is a pestilential hell-hole, the air is sick, oppressively hot and humid. 275 00:44:00,110 --> 00:44:06,390 rainforest block out the sun and the undergrowth gives off a strange kind of vile smell. 276 00:44:15,200 --> 00:44:16,110 ...get down! 277 00:44:17,980 --> 00:44:20,780 It soon becomes apparent that marines are not alone. 278 00:44:21,480 --> 00:44:27,270 Japanese snipers expertly camouflage in the dense brush, take shots at the marines. 279 00:44:28,270 --> 00:44:30,520 "Snipers are everywhere and nowhere. 280 00:44:31,770 --> 00:44:35,490 A man falls after being shot in the leg and no one sees who shot. 281 00:44:36,610 --> 00:44:42,580 One grump comes up to me and says: I wish those god-damned Japs would come out and fight, all they do is running to the jungle. 282 00:44:45,550 --> 00:44:49,990 But now we have another unavoidable hell: night time. 283 00:44:52,010 --> 00:44:54,630 This is the Jap's island and they know it well. 284 00:44:56,420 --> 00:45:00,170 Will they slip inside our perimeter and slit our throat in the middle of the night? 285 00:45:01,260 --> 00:45:05,230 attack on entire group? or just pick us off one by one? 286 00:45:06,180 --> 00:45:10,490 We dig foxholes in the ground. Everyone is jittery. 287 00:45:12,120 --> 00:45:14,140 The sentries are firing at every noise. 288 00:45:20,970 --> 00:45:22,900 Who knows what's out there." 289 00:45:29,810 --> 00:45:35,970 Early on the second day, the marines push through the jungle towards the crushed coral airstrip. 290 00:45:49,690 --> 00:45:55,740 As they close in on the field, they are met once again with silence. 291 00:46:02,040 --> 00:46:07,900 The Japanese, the masters of surprise warfare, have themselves been caught by surprise. 292 00:46:09,530 --> 00:46:12,680 Panicked by the previous day's bombardment and aerial bombing, 293 00:46:13,160 --> 00:46:16,440 their units have fled inland, abandoning the unfinished air field. 294 00:46:18,490 --> 00:46:22,420 By 18:00 hours, the marines declare it secured. 295 00:46:33,310 --> 00:46:35,700 But the enemy is not ready to surrender. 296 00:46:45,060 --> 00:46:51,330 From their naval base at Rabaul 600 miles to the north, the Japanese launch a massive counter-attack. 297 00:47:04,300 --> 00:47:08,720 That night, the Japanese navy delivers a devastating blow to out fleet. 298 00:47:18,740 --> 00:47:25,760 As an immense battle erupts off-shore, the marines on Guadalcanal can do little but take cover and wait the outcome. 299 00:47:37,040 --> 00:47:44,260 "We hear the booming of the guns, it occurs to me that fate of all of us hangs on that sea battle. 300 00:47:45,080 --> 00:47:48,590 If our navy loses, the Japs will be ashore before morning. 301 00:47:49,640 --> 00:47:53,050 It's terrible to feel so dependant. 302 00:47:55,840 --> 00:48:04,520 I get the awful feeling of being pitifully small, just a tiny particle caught up in the gigantic whirlpool of war." 303 00:48:10,830 --> 00:48:16,530 Come morning, the marines can see the smoke the twisted wreckage of 4 heavy cruisers 304 00:48:16,870 --> 00:48:22,180 and burnt oil-soaked bodies of American sailors floating in the waters of Guadalcanal. 305 00:48:25,150 --> 00:48:31,940 And when they search the horizon for the aircraft carriers that have covered their landing, they see nothing but empty ocean. 306 00:48:40,420 --> 00:48:46,350 The American naval commander has left one day earlier than planned to protect its irreplacable carriers. 307 00:48:46,990 --> 00:48:51,030 Left without air cover,the transports in the bay has also withdrawn 308 00:48:51,600 --> 00:48:58,100 taking with them the rest of the supplies and nearly 2,000 additional men that were supposed to be landed. 309 00:49:02,360 --> 00:49:05,840 The marines on shore are alone, isolated and abandoned. 310 00:49:08,080 --> 00:49:14,230 Without adequate food, ammunition or medicine, and without naval or air cover, 311 00:49:14,790 --> 00:49:17,440 they are at the mercy of enemy attacks. 312 00:49:23,540 --> 00:49:28,500 "The officers are jittering, they talk like magpies far into the night, 313 00:49:29,220 --> 00:49:31,530 wondering when Jap counter-attack will come. 314 00:49:38,260 --> 00:49:40,120 It's like Bataan all over again.