Original subtitles

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IN THE UNPREDICTABLE PACIFIC,

EVEN THE BEST LAID PLANS \h\h\h\h\hHAVE A PRICE.

Man: THEY BEGAN SCREAMING \hAND MAKING AWFUL NOISES.

\h\h\h\h\hI WAS GLAD TO BE ALIVE WHEN I GOT OFF THAT DAMN PLACE.

Narrator: AMERICA FIGHTS FOR TWO ISLANDS AT ONCE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO CLAW WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF JAPAN.

[BOOM]

\hIF THESE NEW WARPLANES CAN GET OFF THE GROUND.

\h\hMan: CREWS WHO HAD GONE BEFORE US DID NOT COME BACK.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: WITH COLOR COMBAT FOOTAGE...

[EXPLOSION]

...AND A GENERAL’S \hOWN HOME MOVIES,

\h\hHEAR THE VOICES AND FEEL THE FIGHT.

\h\h\h\hMan: THE BEACH WAS A SHEET OF FLAME,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAS THOUGH THE ISLAND WAS ON FIRE.

♪

♪

♪

♪

Narrator: THESE ARE HOME MOVIES OF INDIA IN 1944.

\h\h\hTHE TRAVELER CAPTURES EVERYTHING FROM STREET KIDS

TO THE TAJ MAHAL.

♪

\h\h\h\hBUT THE FILMMAKER IS NOT A TYPICAL TOURIST.

THIS IS GENERAL CURTIS LEMAY OF THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES.

\h\h\h\h\h\hHIS PERSONAL FILMS FROM THE SMITHSONIAN ARCHIVES

\h\h\h\h\h\hHAVE NEVER BEEN BROADCAST BEFORE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY REVEAL HIS NEW CLASSIFIED ASSIGNMENT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCurtis Lemay: THE PROJECT WAS TOP SECRET,

AND I KNEW NOTHING OF IT

UNTIL I GOT ORDERS TO GO OVER \h\h\h\hTO INDIA IN JULY 1944.

Narrator: AT AGE 37,

HE’S ONE OF THE YOUNGEST \hGENERALS IN THE ARMY.

HE’S JUST BEEN SENT TO INDIA \h\h\hON A DARING MISSION--

BOMB JAPAN FROM HERE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hON PAPER, IT’S POSSIBLE, BARELY.

AMERICANS ARE SECRETLY \hDEVELOPING THE B-29,

KNOWN AS THE SUPERFORTRESS.

IT’S THE LONGEST-RANGE BOMBER \h\h\h\h\h\h\hEVER DEVELOPED.

IN THEORY, IT COULD BOMB TARGETS MORE THAN 1,500 MILES AWAY.

BUT THE AIRPLANE IS BEING \h\h\hRUSHED INTO SERVICE,

UNPROVEN AND UNPREDICTABLE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLemay: IT WAS IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE

INSOFAR AS BEING READY \h\h\h\h\hFOR COMBAT.

Narrator: B-29 CREWS WONDER \h\h\h\hIF THEY’VE SIGNED UP

FOR A CUTTING-EDGE AIRPLANE, \h\h\h\h\h\hOR A DEATH TRAP.

\h\h\h\h\h\hRaymond Halloran: CREWS WHO HAD GONE BEFORE US,

AND THERE WEREN’T TOO MANY, \h\h\h\h\hDID NOT COME BACK.

Narrator: DESPITE THE SETBACKS,

AMERICA IS DESPERATE \h\hTO STRIKE JAPAN.

\h\h\h\hCURTIS LEMAY WILL TRY TO MAKE INDIA THE SPRINGBOARD,

MORE THAN 3,000 MILES AWAY.

IT WILL BE, QUITE LITERALLY, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA LONG SHOT.

ANOTHER FLASH POINT \hIN THE PACIFIC WAR

IS FAR CLOSER TO JAPAN-- \h\hTHE MARIANA ISLANDS.

\h\h\h\h\hONE ISLAND IS ALREADY UNDER AMERICAN CONTROL--SAIPAN.

IT’S NOW BEING TRANSFORMED \h\h\hINTO A FORWARD BASE

\h\h\hTHAT COULD LAUNCH THE B-29 AGAINST JAPAN.

JAPANESE STILL OCCUPY \h\hTWO NEARBY ISLANDS

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT THREATEN AMERICAN AIR OPERATIONS.

TINIAN HAS FOUR AIRFIELDS, \hMAKING IT A KEY TARGET.

GUAM ALSO HAS AIRFIELDS,

\h\h\h\hBUT ITS VALUE IS MORE THAN TACTICAL.

IT’S PERSONAL.

BEFORE THE WAR, GUAM WAS A U.S. TERRITORY WITH A MARINE BASE.

THIS RARE PREWAR COLOR FILM

SHOWS LOCAL KIDS PARADING \h\hFOR MILITARY PERSONNEL

IN THE CAPITAL, AGANA.

GUAMANIAN NATIVES, \h\hTHE CHAMORROS,

ARE AMERICAN NATIONALS.

[MAN SPEAKING JAPANESE]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT IN 1941, THE JAPANESE OVERRAN GUAM

\h\h\hJUST THREE DAYS AFTER THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR.

♪

THIS NEWSREEL TOUTS THE VICTORY.

[MAN SPEAKING JAPANESE]

20,000 AMERICAN CIVILIANS

\hINSTANTLY BECAME JAPANESE SUBJECTS.

THEY HAVE BEEN FORCED \h\hTO LEARN JAPANESE

AND DIG DEFENSES AT GUNPOINT.

♪

\h\hNOW THE AMERICANS ARE READY FOR REVENGE.

♪

\hMORE THAN 800 SHIPS SURROUND THE MARIANAS,

\hTHE BIGGEST ARMADA YET GATHERED IN THE PACIFIC.

PRELANDING BOMBARDMENT \h\h\h\h\hIS RUTHLESS.

[ROCKETS ROARING]

[ARTILLERY FIRE]

THIS TIME, CAMERAS CAPTURE AGANA FROM ABOVE,

\h\h\h\h\hBEING PUMMELED BY ITS FORMER OCCUPIERS.

♪

[EXPLOSION]

\h\h\h\h\h\hAMERICA IS FLEXING ITS GROWING AIR AND SEA POWER,

BUT ITS MANPOWER IS ERODING.

THE BATTLE FOR SAIPAN \h\hTOOK A HEAVY TOLL.

\h\hNOW THEY PLAN TO FIGHT FOR TWO ISLANDS AT ONCE--

GUAM AND TINIAN.

REPLACEMENT TROOPS POUR IN, \h\h\hFRESH FROM BOOT CAMP.

THEY TRY TO GET A READ ON WHAT \hIT’S LIKE FROM THE VETERANS.

Roy Roush: THEY WERE TRYING \h\h\h\hTO ENGAGE SOME OF US

INTO A LITTLE CONVERSATION,

ASKING "WHAT’S IT LIKE HERE? \h\h\hWHAT’S IT LIKE HERE?"

AND WE DIDN’T SAY MUCH.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: JAPAN ALSO FEELS THE STRAIN.

\hON TINIAN, 9,000 TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED

BY THE AMERICAN NAVAL BLOCKADE.

JAPANESE TROOPS ARE ABOUT \hHALF NAVY AND HALF ARMY.

THEY LOATHE WORKING TOGETHER.

THEY HAVE DIFFERENT \h\hDEFENSIVE PLANS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND STEAL EACH OTHER’S PROVISIONS.

BUT THEY ARE STILL UNITED

\h\h\h\hIN THEIR FERVOR TO DEFEND THE HOMELAND.

ONE SOLDIER WRITES...

Man: WE HAVE SPENT 20 DAYS UNDER UNCEASING ENEMY BOMBARDMENT,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT EVERYONE IS FULL OF FIGHTING SPIRIT.

Narrator: NOW THEY WAIT FOR THE AMERICANS TO TEST THEIR METTLE.

[ARTILLERY FIRE]

[RADIO CHATTER]

\h\hSOME OF THE AMERICANS ARE ALREADY PLENTY TESTED.

VETERANS OF PREVIOUS INVASIONS

WONDER HOW MANY TIMES THEY CAN \h\hSTORM A BEACH AND SURVIVE.

\h\hWilliam Steele: BEFORE AN INVASION,

THEY FEED YOU STEAK AND EGGS \h\hAT 4:00 IN THE MORNING.

\h\h\h\hIT’S LIKE A GUY GOING TO THE ELECTRIC CHAIR OR SOMETHING.

WELL, I’D BEEN WOUNDED \h\h\h\h\h\hAT TARAWA,

BEEN WOUNDED ON SAIPAN,

AND THIS WAS MY THIRD TIME \hGETTING STEAK AND EGGS,

AND I JUST URINATED \h\hALL OVER MYSELF.

I MEAN, THAT’S HOW SCARED I WAS.

I WAS SHAKING.

Narrator: INVASION DAY ON TINIAN IS NICKNAMED JIG-DAY.

THE MASSIVE FORCE APPROACHES THE ONLY BEACHES WIDE ENOUGH

\hFOR A LARGE-SCALE AMPHIBIOUS LANDING.

HERE, THE JAPANESE ARE WAITING.

SHIPS RUN INTO THE TEETH \h\h\hOF THEIR DEFENSES.

[EXPLOSIONS]

THE BATTLESHIP COLORADO TAKES A DEVASTATING HIT

THAT KILLS 43 SAILORS.

SHE HAS TO LIMP BACK TO SAIPAN.

AMERICANS PRESS ON.

MARINES CLIMB DOWN NETS \h\hINTO LANDING CRAFT.

♪

THEY HEAD FOR SHORE.

THEN THEY STOP.

SHIPS BEGIN PULLING BACK.

\h\hA JAPANESE DEFENDER WONDERS WHAT’S GOING ON.

\h\h\h\h\hMan: IT BECOMES QUIET AFTER THE ENEMY WARSHIPS LEAVE.

MAYBE THE ENEMY IS RETREATING.

Narrator: THEY ARE NOT.

IT’S A LARGE-SCALE DIVERSION.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAT THE SAME TIME, MARINES ARE QUIETLY APPROACHING

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTINIAN’S NARROW NORTHERN BEACHES.

AMERICANS HAVE NEVER ATTEMPTED \h\hA MAJOR AMPHIBIOUS LANDING

ON SUCH NARROW BEACHES.

LEADERSHIP HOTLY DEBATED \h\hIF THEY WOULD WORK.

TROOP TRACTORS HAVE TO COME IN \h\h\h\h\hALMOST SINGLE FILE.

CHARLES PASE IS ABOUT TO JUMP ONTO AN EXPOSED PATCH OF SAND.

\h\h\hCharles Pase: THE BEACH WAS TINY.

\hIT WAS THE KIND YOU TAKE YOUR GIRLFRIEND TO GO SKINNY-DIPPING.

Narrator: PROTECTED ONLY \h\h\h\hBY STEEL HELMETS

AND COTTON UNIFORMS,

\h\hMEN ARE BOTTLED UP ON THE NARROW BEACHES.

[GUNFIRE]

\h\h\hIT COULD QUICKLY TURN INTO A SLAUGHTER.

BUT RESISTANCE IS LIGHT.

THE JAPANESE ARE FOOLED.

\hBY DAY’S END, MORE THAN 15,000 TROOPS ARE ASHORE,

ALREADY OUTNUMBERING THE ENTIRE JAPANESE FORCE ON TINIAN.

25,000 MORE ARE ON THE WAY.

IT’S A MAJOR TACTICAL VICTORY,

BUT THEY AREN’T RELAXING.

NIGHTTIME COUNTERATTACKS HAVE BEEN COMMON ON OTHER ISLANDS.

MARINES DIG INTO THE SAND,

FIGHT OFF THE URGE TO SLEEP,

AND WAIT.

THE JAPANESE DON’T DISAPPOINT.

THE FIRST NIGHT, THEY RACE NORTH TO MEET THE INVADING AMERICANS.

[GUNFIRE]

THOUSANDS RUSH THE MARINES

IN A BLOODY BANZAI ASSAULT \h\h\h\h\hIN THE DARKNESS.

IT’S A CLOSE-FISTED RUMBLE \hOF HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT.

[GUNFIRE]

DAYLIGHT REVEALS THE AFTERMATH.

\h\h\h\hRobert Neiman: YOU DON’T NEED TANKS.

YOU NEED UNDERTAKERS.

I NEVER SAW SO MANY DEAD JAPS.

♪

Narrator: IN ONE FRANTIC NIGHT, AMERICANS KILL 1,200 JAPANESE,

ONE SEVENTH OF THE ENTIRE \hDEFENSE FORCE ON TINIAN.

THE NIGHT ATTACKS \hARE TERRIFYING,

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT MARINES BEGIN TO HOPE FOR THEM.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY’D RATHER WIPE OUT THE JAPANESE IN WAVES

THAN DIG THEM OUT OF HIDING, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hONE BY ONE.

\hJAPAN ALSO LAUNCHES A FEW SURPRISE ATTACKS IN THE AIR.

[GUNFIRE]

THEY ARE DETERMINED, \h\h\hBUT DECIMATED.

[GUNFIRE]

IT’S HARD TO SNEAK UP \hON AN 800-SHIP NAVY.

[EXPLOSION]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hEd Harrell: IF THEY CRASHED CLOSE TO US,

WE SENT SOMEONE OUT TO RESCUE \h\h\hTHEM AND BRING THEM IN.

WHEN THEY CAME ABOARD OUR SHIP, MARINES STOOD GUARD OVER THEM

AND WOULD TAKE THEM IN \h\h\hTO INTERROGATE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: SINCE TAKING HEAVY LOSSES

\h\h\h\hIN THE BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA MONTH EARLIER, JAPAN’S AIR POWER IS WEAKENING.

ON TINIAN, AMERICA HOPES TO LAND THE KILLER BLOW.

TINIAN’S FOUR AIRFIELDS \h\hARE THE KEY TARGET.

THE ONE CLOSEST TO THE LANDING \h\h\h\hBEACHES IS USHI POINT.

\hAMERICANS EXPECT STIFF RESISTANCE.

INSTEAD, THEY FIND

\h\h\h\hAN UNDEFENDED, WINDBLOWN GHOST TOWN.

\h\hAMERICANS POKE THROUGH ITS RUINS.

♪

\h\h\h\h\hNOW BOMBERS GIVE WAY TO BUILDERS.

♪

A NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION LAYS DOWN A 4,700-FOOT RUNWAY.

\h\hWHILE SMALLER PLANES NOW COME AND GO FROM USHI POINT,

THE LANDING STRIP IS LONG ENOUGH

FOR AMERICA’S NEWEST PLANE, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE B-29.

ABOUT A YEAR FROM NOW, ONE WILL TAKE OFF FROM THIS VERY SPOT--

ITS NAME, THE ENOLA GAY.

WITH USHI POINT IN HAND,

AMERICANS HAVE YET ANOTHER AIR BASE IN THE MARIANAS.

\h\h\hPLANES BUZZ OVER TINIAN’S ORDERLY AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE.

Pase: IT WAS NOTHING \h\hLIKE THE JUNGLE

\h\h\h\hAT BOUGAINVILLE OR GUADALCANAL OR BORNEO

OR ANY OF THOSE PLACES.

Narrator: THE ENEMY STILL HAS \h\h\h\h\hMANY PLACES TO HIDE,

SO PLANES CUT ACROSS THE ISLAND AND TAKE PICTURE AFTER PICTURE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hROLLS OF FILM BECOME REAMS OF INTELLIGENCE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPHOTOS BECOME AS IMPORTANT AS FIELD WEAPONS.

\hEXPERTS TURN THEM INTO ACCURATE MAPS.

SOME ARE STEREOSCOPIC PICTURES.

\h\h\hA STEREOGRAM SHOWS THE LANDSCAPE IN RELIEF

\hAND CAN EVEN REVEAL A CAMOUFLAGED HIDEOUT.

PREVIOUS INVASIONS LIKE TARAWA

\h\h\h\hWERE MORE LIKE FUMBLING IN THE DARK.

\hFOR TINIAN, THEY HAVE THE CLEAREST PICTURE YET

\h\h\h\h\hOF ANY ISLAND INVADED IN THE PACIFIC.

\hBUT THERE IS ONE THREAT THAT REMAINS OUT OF SIGHT

UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE...

[EXPLOSION]

...MINES.

\hWITH AMERICA’S INCREASING CONTROL OF THE SEA AND SKY,

\h\h\h\hTHE JAPANESE TRY TO SLOW THEIR ADVANCE ANY WAY THEY CAN.

[EXPLOSION]

THEY USE ANTI-TANK MINES,

UNDERWATER MINES,

AND ANTIPERSONNEL MINES.

\h\h\hTHE INEXPERIENCED ARE THE MOST IN DANGER.

[EXPLOSION]

Thomas Baye: WE HEARD A BOOM \h\h\h\h\h\hAND LOOKED BACK,

AND ONE OF THE REPLACEMENTS \h\h\hHAD STEPPED ON A MINE.

NOBODY EVEN KNEW HIS NAME.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: TINIAN IS RIDDLED WITH THEM.

MARINES USE THEIR OWN EXPLOSIVES TO DETONATE THEM SAFELY.

[EXPLOSION]

MOST MINES ARE IMPROVISED.

MANY ARE DUDS.

THEY CAUSE MORE HEADACHES \h\h\h\h\hTHAN CASUALTIES,

\h\h\h\h\hBUT EACH ONE IS LIKE A SPEED BUMP.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNO ONE ADVANCES UNTIL IT’S EXPLODED SAFELY.

[EXPLOSION]

ALSO SLOWING THE AMERICANS \h\h\h\h\h\hIS SUGAR CANE.

FIELDS THAT LOOK ORDERLY \h\h\h\h\h\hFROM THE AIR

ARE DENSE THICKETS \h\hON THE GROUND.

THE ENEMY COULD BE HIDING

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hANYWHERE WITHIN THE 10-FOOT STALKS.

BUT MARINE VICTOR MAGHAKIAN \h\h\h\h\h\hTURNS THE TABLES

AND USES THE SUGAR CANE \h\h\hTO HIS ADVANTAGE.

\h\h\h\hVictor Maghakian: I WENT ON A RECONNAISSANCE

\h\h\h\h\hAND SPOTTED A LARGE ENEMY PATROL.

\h\h\hTHEY MOVED INTO POSITION ABOUT 50 FEET FROM MY PLATOON.

THEY WERE DIGGING IN, MAKING LOTS OF NOISE,

\h\hAND DIDN’T SUSPECT THAT WE WERE SO CLOSE.

\hI PASSED THE WORD DOWN TO FIRE UPON MY SIGNAL.

\h\h\h\hWE OPENED UP AND LET THEM HAVE IT

AS FAST AS WE COULD \hPULL OUR TRIGGERS.

[GUNFIRE]

KNEE-HIGH GRAZING FIRE \hINTO THE CANE FIELD.

[GUNFIRE]

\h\hTHEY BEGAN SCREAMING AND MAKING AWFUL NOISES.

\h\h\hNEXT MORNING, WE FOUND BETWEEN 35 AND 40 DEAD JAPS.

I DID NOT LOSE A MAN.

Narrator: IN THE QUIET INTERIOR OF TINIAN,

\hANY SOUND YOU MAKE COULD BE YOUR LAST.

[ENGINE RUMBLING]

BUT ON THE COAST, AMERICANS ARE MAKING AN INDUSTRIOUS RACKET.

[ENGINE RUMBLING]

Baine Kerr: WE HAD TO PUT \h\h\hTWO DIVISIONS ASHORE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hACROSS THESE ALMOST NONEXISTENT BEACHES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU HAD VERY LITTLE LANDING AREA.

\h\hNarrator: ENGINEERS COME UP WITH THE ANSWER.

THIS IS A PONTOON CAUSEWAY, \hA TEMPORARY FLOATING PIER.

SHIPS CAN PULL UP TO IT \h\h\h\h\h\hLIKE A DOCK

\h\h\h\hAND UNLOAD EVERYTHING FROM FOOD TO HEAVY MACHINERY.

ONE SHIP UNLOADS 30 TRUCKS \h\h\h\hIN JUST 6 MINUTES.

COUNTLESS BOXES CAN NOW MOVE \h\h\hFROM SAIPAN TO TINIAN

WITHOUT EVER TOUCHING \h\h\hANYONE’S HANDS.

FEARS OF THE SMALL BEACHES \h\hBECOMING A CHOKE POINT

ARE SOON DISPELLED.

WITH PONTOON CAUSEWAYS, SUPPLIES ARE FLOODING IN WITHOUT A HITCH.

ENGINEERS AREN’T JUST WORKING \h\h\h\h\hON THE SUPPLY LINE.

THEY’RE WORKING ON WEAPONS.

\h\h\h\hCONVENTIONAL BOMBS DEMAND PINPOINT ACCURACY.

[EXPLOSION]

BUT TARGETING BY SIGHT \h\h\h\h\h\hIS TRICKY.

AMERICANS OFTEN DROP \h\h\hSEVERAL BOMBS

AND HOPE ONE HITS THE MARK.

[EXPLOSION]

DURING THE BATTLE OF TINIAN,

OFFICERS GATHER ON SAIPAN \h\h\hTO WATCH THIS FILM.

IT SHOWS THE FIELD-TESTING \hOF A NEW TYPE OF WEAPON.

[EXPLOSION]

IT’S CALLED NAPALM,

A COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE OF STICKY GEL AND FUEL

DESIGNED TO SPREAD AND BURN.

AMERICANS HAVE NO PROBLEM \h\h\h\h\h\h\hUSING FIRE.

\h\hIT’S ALREADY POURING OUT OF FLAMETHROWERS AND TANKS.

BUT THIS IS A WHOLE NEW LEVEL \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF DESTRUCTION.

\h\hNOW AN AIRPLANE CAN BECOME A DRAGON.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWITH ONE BREATH, IT CAN SET A BRIDGE ABLAZE...

...SET WATER ON FIRE...

...OR TURN A FIELD \h\hOF GREEN EARTH

\hINTO A LIFELESS, CHARRED DEAD ZONE

WHERE NO ONE CAN HIDE.

\hAFTER WATCHING THIS FILM, THE BRASS ON SAIPAN DON’T HESITATE.

THEY ORDER 8,500 POUNDS OF IT.

INSIDE OF A YEAR, AMERICA’S USE OF NAPALM IN THE PACIFIC

WILL SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE.

♪

AMERICANS ARE MORE THAN HALFWAY THROUGH THE ISLAND.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE ENEMY COULD BE HIDING ANYWHERE

\h\h\h\hIN THE ISLAND’S TALL SUGAR CANE FIELDS.

\h\h\h\h\hTANKS OFFER A HIGHER VANTAGE POINT

AND EXTRA FIREPOWER.

[EXPLOSION]

CREWS LIKE TO NAME THEIR TANKS.

\h\h\h\hRUMBLING THROUGH TINIAN ARE "ILL WIND" AND "KING KONG."

\h\h\hTUCKED INSIDE, DRIVERS AND GUNMEN ROAM THE ISLAND,

SYSTEMATICALLY ENGAGING \h\hTARGET AFTER TARGET.

[EXPLOSIONS]

♪

\h\h\h\hTHE AMERICAN ADVANCE IS A STEADY, GRINDING PUSH,

\h\h\h\hBUT THE JAPANESE ARE ABOUT TO STRIKE BACK

WITH SUDDEN FATAL FORCE.

ACROSS AN EXPOSED LANDSCAPE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hJAPANESE OPTIONS FOR COUNTERATTACKS ARE LIMITED.

\h\h\h\hTHEY TEND TO FALL BACK TO MORE DEFENSIBLE POSITIONS.

ON TINIAN, THERE ARE FEW,

\h\hEXCEPT THE CLIFFS ON THE SOUTHERN COAST.

\h\h\hTHIS IS WHERE THE JAPANESE MAKE THEIR FEROCIOUS LAST STAND.

[GUNFIRE]

[EXPLOSIONS]

\h\h\hMORTARS RAIN DOWN WITH A MENACING WHISTLE.

[EXPLOSIONS]

AMERICAN CASUALTIES \h\hBEGIN TO SPIKE.

[EXPLOSION]

\h\h\h\h\hON PREVIOUS ISLANDS, CLIFF FIGHTING PROVED COSTLY,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSO ON TINIAN, THEY SHARPEN THEIR STRATEGY.

LEADERS ORDER GROUND TROOPS TO HUNKER DOWN IN THEIR FOXHOLES.

THEN THEY CALL IN THE NAVY.

[ARTILLERY FIRE]

FOR TWO AND A HALF HOURS,

FIVE SHIPS COORDINATE AN ALL-OUT FIRESTORM.

\h\h615 TONS OF SHELLS CRASH INTO THE CLIFFS.

[ARTILLERY FIRE]

PLANES LAUNCHED FROM SAIPAN \h\h\hDROP ANOTHER 69 TONS.

THE CONCENTRATION OF FIRE \h\h\h\h\hIS MORE INTENSE

\hTHAN ANYTHING SEEN ON TARAWA OR SAIPAN.

[EXPLOSION]

AS THE SMOKE CLEARS,

\h\hMARINES GET THE SIGNAL TO ADVANCE ON THE CLIFFS.

[EXPLOSION]

\h\h\hSOMEHOW, THE JAPANESE GUNS HAVE SURVIVED THE NAVY ASSAULT.

[GUNFIRE]

ONE KEEPS FIRING WITH IMPUNITY,

AND AMERICANS CAN’T FIND IT.

WITH MARINES ON THE CLIFF,

THE NAVY CAN NO LONGER \h\hUSE BLANKET FIRE.

SAILORS CAN ONLY WATCH HELPLESSLY FROM AFAR.

\h\h\h\h\h\hArt Anderson: WE WITNESSED THE FIGHTING

ON THE MOUNTAINS UP ABOVE US

AND THE CANNONS

AND THE FIRING

AND THE HOLLERING.

IT WAS TWO OR THREE MILES AWAY,

BUT YOU COULD HEAR IT \h\h\h\h\hOUT AT SEA.

\h\hNarrator: PINNED DOWN BUT SO CLOSE TO VICTORY ON TINIAN,

\h\hA HANDFUL OF MARINES TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.

ONE JUMPS UP, RUNS TEN YARDS, \h\h\hAND DROPS ON HIS BELLY.

\h\h\hANOTHER DOES THE SAME, LEAPFROGGING PAST THE FIRST.

AND WITHOUT A PLAN, \h\hWITHOUT ORDERS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY ZIGZAG TOWARD THE JAPANESE GUN.

[GUNFIRE]

FINALLY THEY GET CLOSE ENOUGH \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO POINT IT OUT.

A TANK BLASTS AWAY.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEN THE NAVY LAUNCHES BIG SHELLS AT IT.

♪

20 BODIES SURROUND THE BUNKER,

\h\h\hA CONCRETE DUGOUT HIDING A 47-MILLIMETER ANTI-TANK GUN

THAT FIRED OUT OF A NARROW HOLE.

IT’S ALMOST INDESTRUCTIBLE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hWITH THE LAST RIDGE FINALLY UNDER AMERICAN CONTROL,

THE BULK OF THE BATTLE IS OVER.

♪

THE CAMPAIGN FOR TINIAN \h\h\h\hTAKES NINE DAYS.

\h389 AMERICANS ARE KILLED, AND MORE THAN 1,800 WOUNDED.

TINIAN IS NOT AS DEADLY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAS SAIPAN,

NOT AS SHOCKING AS TARAWA,

NOT AS INFAMOUS AS IWO JIMA,

BUT FOR THE MEN LEFT HERE \h\h\hUNDER WHITE CROSSES,

IT’S THE END OF THEIR WAR.

\h\h\h\hRAISING THE FLAG IS A SYMBOL OF VICTORY,

BUT NOT THE END OF VIOLENCE.

AMERICANS WILL CONTINUE TO FIND JAPANESE TROOPS

HIDING ALL OVER TINIAN.

A MARINE REGIMENT PULLS

THE UNGLAMOROUS DUTY \h\h\hCALLED MOP-UP.

AFTER A BATTLE THAT OFFICIALLY \hLASTED LESS THAN TWO WEEKS,

THEY WILL SPEND FIVE MORE MONTHS

CRISSCROSSING THE ISLAND \h\h\h\h\hSEVERAL TIMES,

KILLING AN AVERAGE

OF ALMOST FOUR JAPANESE HOLDOUTS EVERY DAY.

Pase: WE HAD TO BLOW THEM OUT, \h\h\h\h\h\hEXPLODE THEM OUT.

NONE OF THEM WOULD SURRENDER.

[GUNFIRE]

\h\hNarrator: CHARLES PASE WAS ON THE JIG-DAY INVASION FORCE

AND STAYS FOR MOP-UP ON TINIAN.

Pase: WE HAD BIG LOUDSPEAKERS

\h\h\h\hUP ON THE CLIFFS OVERLOOKING THESE CAVES

AND INTERPRETERS TELLING THEM

\h\h\h\hTO COME OUT WITH THEIR HANDS UP.

\h\hNarrator: HERE, SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS FINALLY EMERGE

FROM A CRAMPED COASTAL HIDEOUT,

\hALMOST THREE WEEKS AFTER AMERICANS DECLARE VICTORY.

HIDDEN FROM THE WAR, THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHICH SIDE IS WINNING.

MANY ARE IN RAGS.

\h\h\hA FEW COME OUT IN BUSINESS ATTIRE.

BUT THEY ALL NOW SHARE \h\hAN UNKNOWN FUTURE

UNDER A NEW OCCUPIER.

♪

ALTHOUGH THE ENEMY STILL HIDES \h\h\h\h\h\hIN SMALL POCKETS,

\h\h\hTINIAN’S MAIN OBJECTIVES ARE FIRMLY IN AMERICAN HANDS--

THE AIRFIELDS.

IN 1941, JAPAN STAGED \hAN AUDACIOUS ADVANCE

ACROSS THE PACIFIC FROM THESE \h\hVERY AIRFIELDS ON TINIAN.

NOW AMERICANS WILL USE THEM TO PUSH BACK TOWARDS TOKYO.

MOST OF THE BURNED-OUT JAPANESE ZEROS HAVE BEEN SWEPT ASIDE

AND REPLACED BY LONG ROWS \h\hOF AMERICAN FIGHTERS,

\h\h\h\h\hWINGS FOLDED UP LIKE RESTING BUTTERFLIES.

THEY WON’T BE DORMANT FOR LONG.

THE MARIANAS WILL SOON BECOME \h\hTHE LATEST AND LARGEST HUB

\hOF AMERICAN AIR POWER IN THE CENTRAL PACIFIC.

GIVEN WHAT’S HAPPENING \h\hON MAINLAND ASIA,

\h\h\h\h\hTHE TRANSITION CAN’T COME SOON ENOUGH.

CURTIS LEMAY IS A RISING STAR.

IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER,

\hHE WAS PROMOTED TO MAJOR GENERAL,

ONE OF THE YOUNGEST \h\h\h\hIN THE ARMY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHESE ARE HIS OWN PERSONAL FILMS,

REVEALING HIS NEW TOP SECRET \h\h\h\hASSIGNMENT IN INDIA.

\hHIS MISSION--USE THE UNPROVEN NEW B-29 BOMBER TO STRIKE JAPAN,

MORE THAN 3,000 MILES AWAY.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE STRATEGY IS LITERALLY A STRETCH.

THE PLAN IS TO LAUNCH THE PLANES FROM INDIA,

FLY OVER THE HIMALAYAS, \h\h\hAND LAND IN CHINA.

THERE, THEY WILL REFUEL,

FLY OVER JAPANESE-OCCUPIED \h\h\h\hCHINESE TERRITORY,

AND STRIKE JAPAN.

\h\h\h\hNewsreel announcer: SOMEWHERE IN WESTERN CHINA,

THESE FARMERS TRANSFORMED \h\hSATURATED RICE PADDIES

INTO AIRFIELDS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AMERICAN NEWSREELS CAPTURE

SOME OF THE 10,000 CHINESE WORKING ON EACH AIRFIELD,

BUILDING RUNWAYS BY HAND

\h\h\h\h\h\hWITH STONES HAULED OUT OF THE RIVER.

Lemay: THERE WERE WORKERS \h\h\h\h\h\hPULLING WAGONS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWITH TIRES THEY HAD TAKEN FROM CARS,

WHICH WERE NOW USELESS

\h\h\hBECAUSE THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY GASOLINE.

\hNarrator: ROCKS ARE ABOUT THE ONLY RESOURCE AVAILABLE,

\h\h\h\h\hSINCE JAPAN CONTROLS THE SURROUNDING SUPPLY ROUTES.

THERE’S NO EASY WAY TO IMPORT ANYTHING,

INCLUDING AN AIRFIELD’S \h\h\h\hLIFEBLOOD--FUEL.

SO THE B-29s COMING FROM INDIA \hARE BASICALLY SUPPLY PLANES,

CARRYING FUEL INSTEAD OF BOMBS

OVER THE TALLEST MOUNTAIN RANGE IN THE WORLD,

NICKNAMED THE HUMP.

B-29 NAVIGATOR DAVID BRADEN KNOWS THE PROBLEM FIRSTHAND.

\h\h\h\h\hDavid Braden: FOR EVERY GALLON OF GAS

\h\h\h\h\hWE COULD HAUL OVER THE HUMP IN A B-29,

\h\hIT TOOK TWO GALLONS OF GAS FOR THE PLANE TO FLY IT OVER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE MATH ISN’T SUSTAINABLE,

BUT THE ENTHUSIASM TO BOMB JAPAN OVERRULES THE LOGISTICS.

THEY PROCEED WITH THE PLAN.

\h\h\hTHE RAIDS BEGIN IN THE SUMMER OF 1944.

AFTER SO MUCH TRIAL AND ERROR,

\h\hTHE B-29’S PROMISE IS FINALLY IN THE AIR,

AND CURT LEMAY’S STRATEGY \h\h\h\h\hIS ON THE LINE.

\h\h\h\h\hLemay: WE BELIEVED THAT IF STRATEGIC AIR POWER

WERE PROPERLY APPLIED,

AN ENEMY COULD BE DEFEATED \hWITHOUT HAVING TO EXPEND

AS MANY AMERICAN LIVES \hON THE BATTLEFIELDS.

Narrator: A SQUADRON OF B-29s

\h\h\h\hFINALLY MAKES IT INTO JAPANESE AIRSPACE.

AMERICA HAS HIGH HOPES.

[EXPLOSIONS]

THESE ARE THE FIRST AIRSTRIKES \h\h\h\h\h\hON MAINLAND JAPAN

SINCE THE DOOLITTLE RAID \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF 1942.

THAT RAID DIDN’T DESTROY MUCH.

NOW, TWO YEARS LATER, AMERICA \hRUNS INTO THE SAME PROBLEMS.

TARGET INTELLIGENCE IS SPOTTY.

CLOUDS PREVENT GOOD SIGHTING.

WINDS BLOW THE BOMBS OFF COURSE.

SOME MISS BY 20 MILES.

IN NINE SEPARATE RAIDS \h\h\h\h\hFROM CHINA,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hONLY FIVE PERCENT OF THE BOMBS HIT THEIR TARGETS.

[EXPLOSION]

Braden: A LOT OF IT DIDN’T WORK,

AND THEY JUST HAD TO FIND OUT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE HARD WAY.

\h\h\hNarrator: THIS IS JAPANESE FOOTAGE OF ONE RAID’S AFTERMATH.

IT’S NOT BOMB DAMAGE.

IT’S A FALLEN B-29 IN EASTERN CHINA.

THIS IS THE PRICE OF TESTING \hA NEW AIRPLANE IN COMBAT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLemay: IF WE LOST HYDRAULIC FLUID,

THE PROP WOULD FLY OFF.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSOMETIMES THE WHOLE DAMNED ENGINE SEIZED

\h\h\h\h\hAND TWISTED RIGHT OUT OF THE WING.

Narrator: IN RAIDS FROM CHINA,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNEARLY 100 B-29s ARE LOST TO MECHANICAL FAILURE.

PIECES OF THIS PRECIOUS \h\h\h\hSECRET AIRPLANE

\h\h\h\h\hARE NOW STREWN ACROSS ENEMY TERRITORY,

ALONG WITH THE REMAINS \h\h\h\h\hOF ITS CREW.

THIS IS THE STATE

OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE WEAPONS \h\h\hPROGRAM OF WORLD WAR II.

RIGHT NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE

A $3 BILLION INVESTMENT \h\hIN WISHFUL THINKING.

\h\h\h\h\hCURT LEMAY’S JOB IS TO TURN THINGS AROUND SOMEHOW.

Lemay: IT WAS GREAT TO FINALLY \h\h\h\hBE ABLE TO BOMB JAPAN,

BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO BETTER, A LOT BETTER.

Narrator: HE HAS SOME IDEAS,

BUT FIRST HE NEEDS TO MOVE \h\h\h\h\h\hHIS OPERATION

FROM THE DISTANT AIRFIELDS \h\h\h\h\h\hOF SOUTH ASIA

\hTO THE MARIANA ISLANDS, RIGHT ON JAPAN’S DOORSTEP.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHE CAN’T UNTIL AMERICANS TAKE BACK GUAM.

\h\h\h\hTHE BATTLE FOR GUAM IS NEARLY SIMULTANEOUS TO TINIAN.

THE LANDING IS CALLED W-DAY.

WHEN THE JAPANESE TOOK GUAM \h\hMORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO,

LESS THAN 500 AMERICAN TROOPS \h\h\hWERE THERE TO DEFEND IT.

NOW 54,000 ARE COMING ASHORE \h\h\h\hTO WRESTLE IT BACK.

JUST AN HOUR AFTER LANDING, \h\hMARINES TAKE HEAVY FIRE

\h\h\h\h\h\hFROM THE TOP OF A 1,000-FOOT BARRIER

CALLED CHONITO RIDGE.

[GUNFIRE]

\h\h\h\h\h\hBilly Sherrill: I COULDN’T SEE ANY JAPANESE,

BUT THE FIRE WAS JUST SUSTAINED,

REALLY HEAVY FIRE.

Narrator: MARINES GET PINNED ON THE SLOPE FOR TWO STRAIGHT DAYS,

\h\h\h\h\hBARELY 100 YARDS FROM THE ENEMY AT THE TOP.

[GUNFIRE]

\h\h\h\h\hALL THEY CAN DO IS THROW LEAD BACK UPHILL

AND HOPE IT HITS SOMETHING.

[GUNFIRE]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hONE COMMANDER FINALLY GETS OVER THE RIDGE.

HE NEVER COMES BACK.

ANOTHER MARINE TUMBLES DOWNHILL, SHOT THROUGH BOTH LEGS.

[GUNFIRE]

\h\h\hTHE JAPANESE HAVE EVERY ADVANTAGE, INCLUDING GRAVITY.

THEY BEGIN ROLLING HAND GRENADES DOWN THE SLOPE.

[EXPLOSION]

FOR 50 STRAIGHT HOURS, \h\hMEN PICK FORWARD,

\h\hUP THE UNFORGIVING TERRAIN AND THROUGH UNRELENTING FIRE.

[GUNFIRE]

FINALLY, THE DECIMATED MARINES

GLIMPSE THEIR OWN COMRADES \h\h\h\h\hON THE RIDGETOP.

ANOTHER UNIT HAD SCRAMBLED UP THE BACK SIDE OF CHONITO RIDGE

AND FINALLY WON IT OVER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAFTER TWO DAYS OF FIERCE FIGHTING ON GUAM,

THE VIEW FROM THE TOP \h\hIS NOT COMFORTING.

THE LANDING BEACHES REMAIN \h\hIN SIGHT BEHIND THEM,

AND THE REST OF THE ISLAND \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLAY AHEAD.

\hFROM THE RIDGE, AMERICANS FAN OUT.

SOME APPROACH GUAM’S CAPITAL, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAGANA.

THIS RARE PREWAR COLOR FOOTAGE \hREVEALS AGANA AS A TIDY TOWN

WITH OLD SPANISH ARCHITECTURE,

OVERLOOKING A PEACEFUL SHORE.

♪

NOW IT’S A DEBRIS FIELD.

♪

CENTURIES OF HISTORY \h\h\hLIE IN RUINS.

♪

FOR MARINES STATIONED ON GUAM \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSINCE 1898,

THIS WAS HOME AWAY FROM HOME.

AGANA HAD MORE THAN 40 YEARS \h\h\hOF AMERICAN INFLUENCE

WOVEN INTO IT.

♪

\hNOW IT’S LIBERATED, BUT ALSO OBLITERATED,

MOSTLY BY AMERICA’S OWN BOMBS.

♪

AWAY FROM THE FRONT LINES,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAMERICANS TRY TO ESCAPE THE DESTRUCTION

WITH A LITTLE CONSTRUCTION...

...LIKE TURNING A FOXHOLE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hINTO A HOME.

AMERICAN CAN-DO CULTURE IS CROSSING THE PACIFIC

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hALONG WITH ALL THE BATTLE HARDWARE.

TROOPS TAKE PRIDE IN MAKING \hTHE BEST OUT OF THE WORST.

\h\hONE EVEN BUILDS HIS LIVING QUARTERS

UNDER A WRECKED LANDING CRAFT.

\h\h\h\h\h\hOTHER FOUND OBJECTS, LIKE THIS JAPANESE DIVING SUIT,

BRING LAUGHS TO THOSE \hWHO NEED THEM MOST.

♪

[LAUGHTER]

\hA STRAY PUPPY BRINGS A WELCOME DISTRACTION.

THEY CALL HER SAKE,

\h\h\h\h\h\hA NAME INSPIRED BY THE DEEP STASH OF LIQUOR

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTROOPS FIND IN A CAPTURED SUPPLY DEPOT.

IT’S PROBABLY THEIR FIRST TASTE OF JAPANESE CULTURE.

BUT THE ESCAPE FROM REALITY \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS BRIEF.

♪

[EXPLOSION]

AS THE BATTLE MOVES NORTH,

BOTH SIDES KEEP TRADING VOLLEYS.

[ARTILLERY FIRE]

THE NASTY BUSINESS OF FLUSHING \h\h\h\hTHE ENEMY OUT OF CAVES

BRINGS OUT PACKS OF RAW DYNAMITE.

[EXPLOSION]

MERLE HATCH SNEAKS UP TO A CAVE WITH JAPANESE HIDING INSIDE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMerle Hatch: WE COULD HEAR ’EM TALKING.

OUR GUY FIRED HIS FLAMETHROWER \h\h\h\hIN FOR A FEW MINUTES,

AND THEY WERE ALL DEAD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AMERICANS LEAVE THE BODIES

BUT TAKE THE CRATES OF JAPANESE WHISKY.

JAPANESE ARE DYING BY THE SCORE,

BUT THEY’RE MAKING AMERICA PAY \h\h\hFOR EVERY MILE OF GUAM.

♪

\h\h\hON THE SAME BEACHES THEY STORMED AT THE START,

\h\h\h\h\hWOUNDED AMERICANS ARE HEADING BACK OUT TO SEA.

\h\hINVASION WAVES COME IN, AND EVACUATION WAVES GO OUT,

AS INEVITABLE AS THE TIDE.

\h\h\h\hRalph Ketcham: I WAS GLAD TO BE ALIVE

WHEN I GOT OFF THAT DAMN PLACE.

\h\hNarrator: THE LUCKY ONES CAN LEAVE WITH A CLOSE CALL

AND A GOOD STORY.

\hTHE UNLUCKY ONES WILL NEVER LEAVE.

THE DEAD ON GUAM AND TINIAN \hCREATE A BLEAK LANDSCAPE.

\h\hDECOMPOSING BODIES BRING RISK OF DISEASE,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THERE IS NO ESCAPING THE STENCH.

\h\h\h\hRichard Williams: WE HAD TO COVER THEM QUICK

BECAUSE OF THE STINK.

IT WAS BAD.

Narrator: AMERICANS BEGIN \h\h\h\hA GRISLY ROUTINE.

DOG TAGS WILL BE SENT TO FAMILY.

FINGERPRINTS WILL BECOME PART \h\h\h\h\hOF A GRIM DATABASE.

THERE IS ONLY AS MUCH HONOR \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND REVERENCE

AS CIRCUMSTANCES ALLOW.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE END, SPEED AND EFFICIENCY WIN OUT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWilliams: SOMETIMES THERE WAS NO WAY

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU COULD KNOW WHOSE BODY WAS GOING IN WHERE.

ONLY GOD KNOWS.

Narrator: AMERICANS TRY TO GIVE EVERY ONE OF THEIR OWN

A MARKED BURIAL SITE.

BUT THE JAPANESE BODY COUNT \hIS OFTEN TEN TIMES HIGHER.

FACING THOUSANDS OF CORPSES \h\h\h\h\h\hON EVERY ISLAND,

AMERICANS RESORT TO MASS GRAVES.

♪

HERE, THEY MAKE JAPANESE POWs

GATHER THEIR OWN WAR DEAD \h\h\h\h\hFOR PIT BURIAL.

IN THIS RARE CASE,

\hAMERICANS GIVE A JAPANESE OFFICER A MILITARY FUNERAL.

\hTHEY IDENTIFIED HIM AMONG THE OTHER BODIES

AND HONOR HIM ACCORDINGLY.

\hBUT MOST OF THE MEN WILL REMAIN NAMELESS.

EVERY ISLAND IN THE PATH \h\h\hOF THE PACIFIC WAR

IS BECOMING A KILLING FIELD,

AND AMERICANS WILL SOON DECIDE \h\h\h\hWHICH ISLAND IS NEXT.

♪

Officer: TEN-HUT!

Narrator: ON AUGUST 10th,

\hOFFICIALS DECLARE GUAM BACK IN AMERICAN HANDS.

COMMANDER OF ALL FORCES IN THE CENTRAL PACIFIC,

\h\h\h\hADMIRAL CHESTER NIMITZ IS THERE FOR THE FLAG RAISING.

\h\h\hNIMITZ WILL SOON MOVE HIS HEADQUARTERS

FROM PEARL HARBOR \h\hHERE TO GUAM.

\h\h\h\hHE IS CONFIDENT THAT THE AMERICAN PUSH ACROSS THE PACIFIC

IS UNSTOPPABLE.

♪

\h\h\h\h\hMEN AND MIGHT WILL SOON POUR INTO GUAM

\h\h\h\h\hAND TRANSFORM IT INTO A THUNDERING U.S. MILITARY BASE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFAR LARGER THAN IT WAS BEFORE THE WAR.

THE LOCALS WILL NEVER RETURN

TO THE SIMPLER LIVES \h\hTHEY HAD BEFORE.

♪

BUT SMILES REVEAL THAT FREEDOM IS ALL THAT MATTERS RIGHT NOW.

♪

\h\h\hWITH AMERICANS FINALLY IN CONTROL OF THE MARIANAS,

THE B-29 WILL MOVE OFF MAINLAND ASIA.

CURT LEMAY’S EXPERIMENT IN INDIA AND CHINA HAS LARGELY FAILED.

Lemay: CHINA HAD PROVED TO BE

A HORRIBLE, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE \h\h\h\hLOGISTICAL SITUATION,

AND WE KNEW IT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: NOW HE’LL BRING HIS OPERATION

AND HIS HOME MOVIE CAMERA \hTO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC.

\h\hLemay: AS SOON AS AMERICAN FORCES CAPTURED THE MARIANAS,

WE MOVED OVER TO GUAM.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE MARIANAS WOULD BE THE BEGINNING

OF THE END OF THE ROAD \h\h\h\h\h\hTO TOKYO.

\h\hNarrator: FROM HIS NEW BASE, LEMAY WILL BECOME THE MASTERMIND

OF THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE \hBOMBING RAIDS TO DATE

IN THE HISTORY OF WARFARE.

[EXPLOSIONS]

THE AMERICAN AIR STRATEGY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS EVOLVING,

BUT THE GROUND STRATEGY \h\h\h\hREMAINS BLUNT--

SEND WAVE AFTER WAVE OF MEN \h\h\h\hACROSS THE PACIFIC.

\hHERE, TROOPS IN HAWAII TRAIN FOR A LAND INVASION OF JAPAN.

THEY RUN TROUGH A MOCKUP \h\hOF A JAPANESE TOWN.

[GUNFIRE]

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT IS ON HAND.

\h\h\h\hHE’S IN HAWAII FOR A CRUCIAL MEETING

TO PLOT THE NEXT STEPS \hOF THE PACIFIC WAR.

HE HAS SUMMONED HIS TWO PRIMARY COMMANDERS IN THE FIELD,

\h\h\h\hADMIRAL NIMITZ AND GENERAL MacARTHUR.

THE TRIO FIRST MEETS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBALTIMORE.

EACH PLAYS TO THE CAMERAS--

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNIMITZ IN HIS BRILLIANT DRESS WHITES,

\h\h\h\h\h\hMacARTHUR IN HIS DISTINCTIVE LEATHER JACKET,

DESPITE THE HEAT,

AND ROOSEVELT, SEATED TO HIDE \h\h\h\hHIS INABILITY TO WALK.

\h\hAS THE MOTORCADE PROCEEDS THROUGH MILITARY CHOREOGRAPHY,

\hEACH MAN’S MIND IS SURELY TURNING.

THE PENDING MEETING IS LACED WITH LONG-SIMMERING TENSION.

ROOSEVELT ONCE CALLED MacARTHUR

"ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS MEN \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN AMERICA."

\hMacARTHUR WOULD LATER DESCRIBE FDR

\hAS "A MAN WHO NEVER TOLD THE TRUTH IF A LIE WOULD SUFFICE."

WITHIN THE LUSH SURROUNDINGS OF THE HOLMES ESTATES IN WAIKIKI,

THE MEN CONCLUDE A DAY OF POMP \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWITH DINNER.

THEN THEY FINALLY RETIRE \h\hTO THE LIVING ROOM.

\h\hNIMITZ ARGUES THAT PUSHING FARTHER UP THE CENTRAL PACIFIC

\hWILL CHOKE OFF THE JAPANESE MAINLAND AND FORCE SURRENDER.

MacARTHUR ALL BUT DEMANDS

THAT AMERICANS RETAKE THE PHILIPPINES FIRST.

THE MEN ARE CORDIAL, \h\hBUT OFF CAMERA,

\h\hMacARTHUR ISN’T SHY TO RAISE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ARGUMENT.

\h\h\hROOSEVELT LATER CONFIDES THAT NOBODY EVER TALKED TO HIM

THE WAY THAT MacARTHUR DID.

THE MEETING SETS THE TABLE

\hFOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THE PACIFIC WAR.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNIMITZ WILL CONTINUE ISLAND-HOPPING

TOWARD THE MAINLAND,

\h\h\h\h\h\hINCLUDING A ROCKY NO-MAN’S-LAND CALLED IWO JIMA.

THE PHILIPPINES IS FINALLY \h\h\h\h\h\hON THE AGENDA.

\h\hMacARTHUR’S INVASION IS PLANNED FOR OCTOBER.

NEARBY THERE’S AN ISLAND WITH A JAPANESE AIRFIELD

THAT MIGHT CAUSE TROUBLE.

THEY DECIDE TO TAKE THAT FIRST.

IT’S CALLED PELELIU.

♪

COMPARED TO BIGGER TARGETS,

PELELIU IS ALMOST \hAN AFTERTHOUGHT.

ONE GENERAL THINKS IT WILL BE, \h\h\h\h\hQUOTE, "A QUICKIE."

\hSOME JOURNALISTS PEEL OFF LOOKING FOR BIGGER STORIES.

BUT FOR SOME OF THESE MEN,

\h\h\h\h\hPELELIU WILL BE THE STORY OF THEIR LIVES.

Fred Fox: I WAS 18 YEARS OLD.

I WAS ONLY IN ONE BATTLE.

\h\h\h\hBUT THE TWO DAYS THAT I FOUGHT AT PELELIU

\h\h\h\h\hMARKED MY LIFE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

[GUNFIRE]

[ARTILLERY FIRE]

Narrator: FROM THE TERRAIN \h\h\h\hTO ENEMY STRENGTH,

\h\hAMERICANS DO NOT HAVE A CLEAR PICTURE

OF THE ISLAND THEY’RE INVADING.

♪

\h\h\hFOR TROOPS ON APPROACH, THE PICTURE IS ALL TOO CLEAR.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hEugene Sledge: THE BEACH WAS A SHEET OF FLAME

BACKED BY A HUGE WALL \h\h\hOF BLACK SMOKE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAS THOUGH THE ISLAND WAS ON FIRE.

[GUNFIRE]

Man: ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY OUT!

♪

\h\hNarrator: AMERICANS ARE FRESH OFF VICTORIES

AT GUAM AND TINIAN,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWHICH HAD A CLEAR SENSE OF PURPOSE

AND WENT ACCORDING TO PLAN.

♪

BUT THE PACIFIC WAR FOLLOWS NO ONE’S PLAN FOR VERY LONG.

♪

[EXPLOSION]

♪