Activities of U.S. ship yard workers and soldiers aboard USS Wakefield in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II. Scenes in May 1944 as ship yard workers repair the fire damaged ship. Workers weld parts of the ship. A stern view of the ship. The ship at sea carrying thousands of troops. Bags hanging in the quarters of the troops. Soldiers rest in their quarters. Men look through binoculars and see an aircraft. Mounted guns aboard the ship. The troops standing near railings wave at the aircraft. The soldiers aboard the ship attend religious services. Ration is issued to the soldiers. The ship is underway at sea. A Coast Guard officer makes an announcement for all army personnel. The army personnel seated and resting on the deck listen to the announcement.
American industrialist, Henry J. Kaiser appeals for donating clothing to war victims in China and Europe during World War II. Seated at desk in office, he addresses the nation and announces a drive, commencing April 1, 1944, to collect used clothing for war victims, all over the world. Scenes shows : War victims in food lines. Starving and wounded civilian victims of war. An American woman and a girl at home in America select clothing for donation. Mr. Kaiser shows a banner which reads "what can you spare that they can wear?"
Plans underway in the United States in 1944 for participation in the invasion of France during World War 2 by Allied forces. A U.S. Army sentry of the Army Service Forces (ASF) patrols a rail line, where military men and equpment are being transported abroad., during World War 2. ASF soldiers drive DUKWs (amphibious vehicles) up a ramp for loading into railroad box cars. A long line of DUKWs being driven for loading. Many men load 55 gallon drums of petroleum products into rail cars. An M3 Stuart light tank being driven on an open rail car. Soldiers loading motorcycles on a train. An Army M3 Half-track Amored Personnel Carrier (APC) driving onto a railroad train. (Narrator notes that it requires 75 trains to transport a single Armored Division by rail.) Men loading a 105 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M7 (Called Priest, by the British) onto a flat rail car and securing it in place with wooden supports. Army personnel that would participate in an invasion are shown. Paratroopers with their packs. Women's Army Corps (WACs) fill their duffel bags with clothing and other items, and are then seen climbing aboard an open stake truck. An Army band plays and marches giving troops a sendoff at a train station. U.S. soldiers board passenger railroad trains, carrying their field packs and weapons. A steam locomotive pulling a troop train. A train load of Sherman M4 medium tanks and other equipment, including a caterpillar tractor, is seen underway. Unidentified tanks being fastened to rail flat car. Many Army trucks and heavy equipment on train passing a town train station. Military equipment moving on trains over bridges. Two ladies under hair dryers at a salon, discussing boys in service going overseas. United States Army troops bound for the war front are seen boarding railroad trains and also changing trains, monitored by Army military police (MPs) at night. Soldiers inside a moving train car occupy themselves by playing cards; shooting craps; An African American porter watches a game. An Army chaplain talking with some of the soldiers. A soldier reading a magazine. His seat partner keeps falling asleep against him. American civilians at a newsstand. Newspaper headline reads: "London expects invasion of Europe at any hour."
A secretary, Helen Shaw, registers before polling officials during the 1944 elections. A man and a woman sign a logbook before voting. Hollywood actor, Lewis Stone, searches for his name and signs a logbook before voting. A matron signs a logbook. A farmer, wearing a fedora, filling out a ballot. Hollywood actress signs a logbook before voting. Americans of different occupations line up to sign a logbook before voting. An elderly shipyard worker fills out his ballot. During World War II, British-American stand-up comedian and USO Entertainer, Bob Hope, searches for his name on the voters’ index and goes inside the polling station. Man closes curtains to vote. View of man’s feet while voting. View of woman’s feet slightly crossed. View of voters’ feet behind the curtains. Man casts his vote in metal containers inside polling station. Ballot inserted in glass ballot box. Man enters polling booth. Election volunteer tally using a machine. A woman casts her vote in Precinct 7-A. Newspaper says “Millions at polls First Texas, North Carolina Reports”. Shipyard workers on top deck of ship end a day’s work to head to the polling stations to vote, walking through ship structure on their way out.
Germany and Japan defeated in World War II. The defeat of Germany is celebrated in United States. Scenes represent the life of a typical Japanese soldier: a flag is raised to celebrate his birth; boys in uniform play war; troops sack Nanking; and in1944 he is killed to attack over harbor in America. In a dramatization, a soldier with an American machine gun is killed. Dead Americans. American soldiers honor their dead comrades covered with United States flag.
50th Anniversary of cinema, in 1944, recalls historic footage and movies from the early 1900s. Thomas Edison with Henry Ford together using a motion picture movie camera to create a movie. Mrs Edison displays Kinetoscope. Close-up view of Kinetoscope machine operating. View of vintage film images of lower Broadway in New York City in 1896 with busy traffic on streets of pedestrians, horses, and horse-drawn streetcar. Next scene shows Theodore Roosevelt and the "Rough Riders" (1st United States Volunteer Cavalry) in parade in New York City on return from Cuba after the Spanish-American War in 1898. Next is seen the inauguration parade for President Theodore Roosevelt on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC in 1905. Next series of scenes shows American women in the early 20th century. Women workers punching time clock at an industrial factory in the 1910s or 1920s. Women in dresses emerging from a building perhaps after a work shift circa early 1900s. An early beauty pageant circa 1910 with participants in swim suits. Famous star actress and singer Lillian Russell in a movie scene. Film actor William S Hart appearing in an early movie. Two well dressed women sitting in an early automobile as a man starts it up and drives away. Busy scenes of car and pedestrian traffic, and horse-drawn streetcars on Market street in San Francisco, California circa 1910. Silent movie stars Clara Kimball Young and Sidney Drew together in a movie scene. Famous movie star actress Pearl White in a daring stunt scene, and Ruth Roland performing a stunt leaping from a moving railroad train onto a rope ladder suspended from an airplane, and then riding on a railroad car careening out of control down a mountain side in an early Hollywood movie.