Long tank columns of the U.S. Army in Europe. View of the two stationary columns from the air. A formation of four F-4D Phantom fighter bomber aircraft flying overhead.
A CH-54 helicopter of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne is seen in flight on a combat assault mission. Interior and pilot are shown. Control panel is seen. The helicopter moves over a water body. (Vietnam War period).
Film begins as Texas takes the field, wearing red warm-up jackets. Stadium appears filled to capacity. Numerous plays in the game are seen throughout the film. A banner draped over a front row railing, in the grandstand, cites 100th anniversary of the NCAA and reads:"Welcome President Nixon." Several police officers are seen in that vicinity. Scoreboard shows Arkansas ahead 14 to nothing (after third quarter). Numerous shots of the crowd in the stands, but none showing the President or his party. As the game nears the end, some spectators appear to be covering up because of a light rain. (Note: In the 4th quarter, Texas rallied to win the game 15 to 14.)
Film opens showing a U.S. Army soldier of the 3rd Infantry Regiment (the old Guard) leading a riderless horse along an avenue in Washington, DC, during the funeral of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Crowds line the sidewalks. Closeup of people watching from the sidelines. Members of the Old Guard, escorting a horse drawn Army caisson bearing the coffin of the former General and President. Voice of President Richard Nixon, is heard, delivering eulogy at the funeral, as the caisson is escorted toward the Capitol building. More closeups of people watching. The Caisson and escorts stop at the Capitol steps where members of the Old Guard form two lines defining a center path. Glimpse of military honor guard with the colors. An Army band assembled in the background. View from behind a group of U.S. Navy sailors standing near the casket. President Nixon with family and friends saluting. Pallbearers from all U.S. military services lower the casket from the caisson. Closeup of solemn observers at sidelines. The pallbearers slowly carry the casket toward the capitol steps, past President Nixon and his group, and begin to ascend the Capitol steps.
Scenes of Vietnamese people as they flee Hue during communist siege of the city in 1968 Tet offensive during the Vietnam War. Refugees with belongings run as city is bombed. Houses burned. Woman cries after crossing remains of a destroyed bridge over river. Scenes changes to one year later: Long line of Vietnamese on way to newly discovered mass grave on March 25, 1969. Vietnamese civilians dig and on March 27, 1969 they begin to uncover bodies in the sand which show signs of torture. Locals try to identify dead. Second mass grave uncovered. Dead bodies and body parts. Third mass burial uncovered. Men at local authorities meeting. Assembly point for hundreds of coffins. Incense burning. Mourners at coffin. Coffin opened and woman looks at remains. Flowers and incense burning on coffins. Buddhist ceremonies shows coffins prepared for procession. Women grieve. Shrine at cemetery.
Narrator Lee Marvin standing on a seashore. U.S. astronauts heading to their capsule for launch on mission to first man on the moon. Launch service structures falling away, as rocket launch is completing countdown in launch of Saturn V rocket carrying Apollo 11 mission to the moon. View of Mission Control operations center during Apollo 11. Glimpse of the earth from the moon and sound of Neil Armstrong on radio to Houston Control Center, "Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." View shifts to Houston Control Center. View of the Lunar Module, Eagle, descending and landing on the moon surface, July 20, 1969. Next, a view of Neil Armstrong descending ladder from the Lunar lander and taking the first step onto the moon by a human, and then moving about on the lunar surface, on July 21, 1969. View of seashore, again, where birds are walking on the wet sand. Flock of birds flying above breaking surf. Aerial view of Hoover Dam. A road being built in rugged wilderness. View of the Panama Canal. Aerial view from helicopter flying very close to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.