European immigration to America from 1880 to 1914. Elderly European immigrants recall their experiences to interviewers in 1975, between montages of still photo images circa 1900: Pictures of immigrants after they reach America. Faces of immigrants with sad look. Old men with long beards. Large number of immigrants waiting for immigration check at Ellis Island. Immigrants walk with heavy luggage and crying children. Immigrants seek passage. Special officers hired to communicate with immigrants easily.
European immigration to America from late 19th Century to early 20th Century. Film begins showing closeup photographs of European immigrants at Ellis Island circa 1910. The segment involves difficulties dealing with various immigrants' languages. A man, who worked at Ellis Island early in the 20th century, recounts confusion about a Bulgarian interpreter's of an immigrant's answers to questions. Next, in 1975, an immigrant who went through Ellis Island in 1910, tells interviewer that in addition to normal questions, he was also asked if he was an anarchist. Closeups of Ellis Island Immigrant inspection officers. The former Ellis Island worker who spoke earlier about language confusion, is seen describing the way foreign Surnames were often misspelled and anglicized by recording officers. More closeup photographs of seemingly happy immigrants that ostensibly had been admitted to America. Views from and of an early type steam locomotive belching dense black smoke as it traverses open prairie land in America.
“Operation New Arrivals,” in 1975, at Eglin Air Force Base Vietnamese Refugee Center. Opening scene shows closeup of a clown in costume, standing among some Vietnamese refugee children who are gathered outdoors at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Closeup of two boys sitting on folding metal chairs, eating ice cream popsicles. Many more closeups of children eating their popsicles. Next the children are seen seated in chairs, applauding for some kind of entertainment. Camera then shows the aforementioned clown, in front of the children, shaking hands with some of them. He then fashions some balloons into the shape of a bunny rabbit and gives it to a small child.
Aerial view of temporary encampment for Vietnamese refugees at Eglin Air Force base in Valparaiso, Florida. View of the tents and barracks buildings, recreation areas, and roads in the camp, as seen in May 1975, soon after the fall of Saigon, near the end of the Vietnam War.
United States airlift of Vietnamese refugees during the fall of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam war, in April and May 1975. Vietnamese refugees clog roads as the walk south carrying their possessions. Some are seen leaving buses and boarding by the rear ramp of a U.S. Air Force C-141 aircraft of the Military Airlift Command (MAC), at Tan Son Nhut airfield (Than Son Nhat International Airport, Trường Sơn, Phường 2, Tân Bình, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam) in Saigon, Vietnam. Numerous boats arriving at southern port in Vietnam, carrying refugees. A MAC C-141 taking off with refugees, behind a Pan American World Airways, Boeing 747 jet airplane transport, contracted by MAC to provide additional airlift. A U.S. airman assisting refugees in the airport lounge. Glimpse of a MAC C-141 in flight. Refugees crowded, sitting on the floors, in the airport in the airport terminal.
Soviet military forces in massed formations at Red Square, in Moscow, Russia. Joseph Stalin stands on balcony above. Scenes of rebellion in Europe and Asia. A map of Korea. June 25, 1950, as Korean War war broke out between North and South Korea. Buildings burning. Refugees fleeing. View of United Nations building on East River in New York City, where American ambassador Warren Austin is speaking. View of the Capitol in Washington, DC. President Truman, speaking, committed U.S. forces to action. U.S. Reservists are recalled to active duty to fight in Korea. Some are seen getting off a bus at a military base reception center. Recalled reservists with full field gear, starting their journey overseas, and later seen in Korea. U.S. tanks moving over the road manned by soldiers with World War Two experience. Numerous scenes of heavy artillery firing, mostly at night. U.S. regular Army, National Guard, and Army reserve soldiers engaged in fire fights in Korean War using tanks, artillery, mortars, and rifles. Soldiers administer first air and assist wounded comrades. American troops slogging through rain and snow in Korea. Soldiers eating from mess kits, and reading the Stars and Stripes newspaper, during a lull in combat. North Korean officers arriving, in snow, for armistice talks. Following the truce, American soldiers are seen packed up and heading home from Korea.