The second annual mobilization and review of U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Division Two, in the 13th Naval District, during World War 2. The first thing seen is a portion of a letter from a Coast Guard SPARS woman to someone at home. She mentions having spoken to Mrs. F.D.R. Scene shifts to The mobilization and review event on Lake Washington, in Seattle, Washington which involves some 300 boats belonging to members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, that parade in review. Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox (not seen) along with high ranking naval officers, and the First Lady, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, are part of the reviewing party, as guests of Mr. O.D. Fisher, aboard his yacht. (The Coast Guard Auxiliary identification, CGA 2444, is seen clearly painted on its bow.) It is anchored off the north shore of Madronna Park Beach in Lake Washington. Views of the yacht with Mrs. Roosevelt and several admirals aboard. A woman officer, in the Coast Guard SPARS, is invited to chat with Mrs. Roosevelt. She sits down next to her. At one point, they both wave toward the camera. Later, two women SPARS stand on shore and converse with Mrs. Roosevelt, as she stands aboard the yacht.
A building burns during race riots in Washington, DC following assassination death of Martin Luther King, Jr. A fire truck arrives and firemen douse the fire with water hoses. Letters "D.C.F.D." standing for District of Columbia Fire Department, seen on jackets of firemen. African American citizens on sidewalks and streets outside buildings. People looting stores and stealing goods from stores with destroyed entry ways. Three men stand near a car and they open the trunk of the car.
American aid to South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, speaking at a Gettysburg College commencement, on April 4, 1959, notes, among other things, that the cost of defending freedom must be paid in many places. And he mentions Berlin,Vietnam,and the Middle East. Scene shifts to South Vietnam where recruits are being signed up for its armed forces. Glimpse of a U.S. Army Lieutenant advisor, in sunglasses, smoking a pipe, on a crowded street. Local people in the area. Scene shifts to 1960. Two U.S. Army Ranger advisors, in full brim hats (3214D-M41), stand near as a contingent of Montagnard troops boards a train. View from armed guard standing on front of train as it travels along a single rail in deserted area. A sudden explosion occurs on the train track about 100 yards ahead. Next machine gun fire is seen coming from an armored gun turret on the train. View from inside the armored compartment, as the gun fires, spraying the surrounding area with bullets, creating two explosions nearby. South Vietnamese soldiers (ARVN) pursuing enemy in wooded areas. One, down deep in underbrush, is firing a machine gun. Several others are engaging enemy with small arms. Huts being blown up. ARVN troops returning from an engagement, carrying wounded on stretchers. Year, 1961, and an official American Government airplane is seen. It carries General Maxwell Taylor (in mufti) who was sent by President John F. Kennedy. Taylor is seen being interviewed on the airport ramp. A U.S. Air Force officer training young Vietnamese pilot trainees. A Vietnamese student pilot in a T-28 training airplane.
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and defense team at Pentagon in Virginia. U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and group posing in Secretary of Defense, Wilson's office. Among those present: U.S. Army General Matthew B. Ridgway, USAF General Nathan F Twining, U.S. Navy Admiral Robert Bostwick Carney, U.S. Navy Admiral Arthur W. Radford, U.S. Secretary of Defense Charles Erwin Wilson, U.S. Army General Omar Nelson Bradley, USAF General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, U.S. Army General Joseph Lawton Collins, U.S. Marine Corps General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Admiral William Fletcher and others. President Eisenhower stand by Secretary of Defense Wilson and General Omar Bradley. Admiral Radford stands on the President's right. Line of Defense officials and officers identified by name. President Eisenhower seated with David Kyes, Harold Talbott, and Defense Secretary Wilson. Standing directly behind are: General Nathan F Twining, Admiral Radford, and General Omar Bradley.
Film opens with shaky views of Japanese Kamikaze airplane attacking and being shot down by gunners on a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier of Task Force 58, during the Okinawa campaign of World War 2. Burning wrecked aircraft seen on the carrier flight deck. Firefighters run across flight deck with hoses. A landing F4F fighter plane number 59 runs into the flaming wreckage on the deck, and explodes. View from the side of F4F number 58 engulfed in flames as it sits in a pool of firefighting foam. Black flak clouds in the air. A Kamikaze aircraft crashes harmlessly into the sea. Deck crewmen help a pilot out of the cockpit of a fire scorched F4F. View of sailors standing next to a pair of heavy gun barrels on a U.S. warship. Parachuting U.S. pilot seen touching down in the water after bailing out of his aircraft. Sailors running across the flight deck of a carrier. View of the pilot in his life vest being helped aboard the carrier. More views of flak filled sky and a flaming Japanese airplane diving straight down to crash harmlessly in the water. View of American flag at half mast on a U.S. Navy warship. It is April 12, 1945 and President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) has just died. View of sailors on deck in a memorial service for the President. Closeup of mourners singing with hymnals open. Closeup glimpse of FDR. More views of mourners. Scene changes to Japanese Kamikaze being blasted out of the air in pieces, by anti-aircraft fire from a U.S. carrier. The remains fall into the sea. View from U.S. ship, of a Japanese Nakajima L2D transport aircraft with flames coming out of its right wing, as it descends close to the water near the ship, with its landing gear down. View from a more distant ship of the transport plane exploding in the water near a U.S. Escort aircraft carrier. Twin Bofors anti-aircraft guns firing from a U.S. ship. Tracer bullets fill the sky aimed at a Japanese Kamikaze plane. Slates overlay the scene announcing Japanese aircraft shot down: "April 6th: 277 aircraft; April 12th: 100; May 3rd: 97;" Film ends showing more anti-aircraft fire from ships against attacking Japanese aircraft.
United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Tunisian President Bourguiba at the Presidential Palace in La Marsa near Tunis, Tunisia. United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of Tunisia Habib Bourguiba and party leave front entrance of the Presidential Palace. Guards stand outside the entrance. They walk along a walkway. President Eisenhower examines a horse. He looks at the gazelle in a cage. The Presidents enter official sedan. Sedan moves. President Eisenhower removes his hat and waves to the crowd. Motorcycles lead and escort motorcades. Presidents seated in lead sedan.
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