Film begins showing closeup of the American transport ship, USS Anne Arundel (AP-76) anchored off shore at Slapton Sands, England. A landing ship (LCI-590) passes by her and several Higgins boats maneuver in waters nearby. Stern view of the Anne Arundel from an LCI. Closeup of an LCI pulling up next to the transport ship. Next, troops of the 16th Infantry Regiment are seen descending rope net from the transport ship and boarding the LCI. Closeup from the LCI of the troops reaching the deck of the LCI and walking forward. The number on the LCI is "88." Several views from different angles of the troops descending the rope net from the transport ship. View of the USS Anne Arundel with Higgins boats moving all around her. Closeup of LCI moving away from a transport ship. More views of troops descending from a transport ship to a Landing Craft Infantry.View from an LCI headed for the beach, where many troops have already landed. The LCI continues and beaches. Troops and various exercise markers are seen in the background Troops leave the LCI via her side ramps and join many others already ashore.
American troops of the U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division, eating lunch aboard a Landing Ship Tank docked at Weymouth, England, three days prior to D-Day. As they finish, they rinse their mess kits in hot water. A number of troops seen eating lunch as they sit on deck of large landing craft infantry LCI(L) number 88, which belongs to Flotilla 10, operated by the U.S. Coast Guard. (Note: Slate has wrong month. It is June 3rd)
Several landing craft mechanized (LCM) outbound from shore. One has USSM 536 painted on bow. U.S. Coast Guard officers and men seen on bridge of a Landing Craft Infantry (Large). American soldiers strapped in and resting on top of cargo and jeep in LCM. Several resupply task force ships underway, with Barrage balloon overhead. Large Landing Craft Infantry, USS LCI(L)-522, headed for shore. (There is no noticeable combat because this is resupply and reinforcement activity on June 25th, after the Normandy beachhead was established.)
U.S. Coast Guard Captain Roger C.Heimer of the Samuel Chase (APA-26), steps down to the main deck, where crewmen are assembled. They honor Captain Heimer, who will be leaving the ship in Norfolk, by presenting him with a plaque, that appears to chronicle the major campaigns in which the Chase participated. The Captain thanks them and speaks to the crew. He then climbs a ladder down the ship's side. Other officers follow him. Soon, the captain and officers are seen climbing back on the main deck, where they converse. A Consolidated PB2Y Coronado flying boat is seen flying overhead. The American flag flutters from the ship.
Opening scene shows Vietnamese refugees, including women, children, and aged persons, being assisted by ARVN (Army of Vietnam) soldiers as they slowly proceed from their homes. One person weeps, while crouched beside pile of belongings. Vietnamese carrying belongings, including one with a child sitting in a cauldron, on poles across their shoulders. ARVN soldiers are seen burning buildings. Closeup of an M60 machine gun being fired on full automatic from door of a U.S. Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter (unseen). U.S. marines in a trench surrounded by sandbags. One is looking through binoculars toward a ridge where white smoke is rising. A C-123 of the U.S. Air Force 311th Special Operations Squadron (Tail Code WV) out of Phan Rang Air Base, lands at dirt field and soldiers hurry to board it. Partial glimpse closeup of pilot in cockpit of a U.S. Navy or Marine Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft in flight. Aerial views from above, of ordnance being dropped on Viet Cong positions from U.S. warplanes. Explosions in trees on the ground. Small part of an aircraft seen from onboard camera, as it flies over cultivated part of South Vietnam, dropping bombs. U.S. soldiers walking into a wooded area where smoke is rising, and taking a blindfolded Vietcong prisoner.
U.S. Marines in action in the Northern Provinces of South Vietnam, near the DMZ. They are seen in full combat gear, carrying small arms, including recoilless weapons, as they move across green fields where smoke is rising. Next, they are seen spread out and moving across muddy rice paddies. A U.S.jet fighter streaks across a shoreline at low altitude. Views from a Marine jet fighter bomber dropping bombs on Viet Cong targets from low altitude. Explosions on the ground are seen from behind the aircraft as it passes. Brief view from ground of bomb striking and black smoke rising. Closeup (in 1969) of two McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms from U.S. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 (with Red devil insignia on their tails) flying in tight formation. View of pilot in front cockpit an F-4. Aerial view from below of the pair of F-4s. Closeup view from below, as an F-4 releases ordnance in flight. A huge explosion fills the screen as film title slate appeared reading: "Counterpunch." (narrated by Jack Webb). Sign at Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, California, is shown. Marine sentry at entrance checks identifications of persons arriving at the gatehouse. Marines seen firing mortars, during training. A C-47 transport airplane airdrops supplies to Marines on the ground. Marines in jeeps drive across sand where a bulldozer is working on an airfield under construction. Front view glimpse of a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft taking off. A pair of Marine Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters in flight. Group of U.S. Marine Corps officers looking over a model of terrain while being briefed by a Lieutenant Colonel during training "Operation Alligator Hide" in 1967, at the White Beach Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California. Closeup of the detailed mockup of the terrain. Another officer briefs about the use of F-4 and A-4 aircraft support prior to a helicopter assault. Bombs exploding near a bridge. Marines using small 4-wheeled self-propelled open vehicles as they move along a hillside during the exercise. A Captain at a field command post states he will mark a target with white phosphorus (Willy Pete). A tank is seen maneuvering. Pilot is seen responding from cockpit of an A-4 Skyhawk aircraft. An M48A3 Medium Tank is seen on the ground and two F-4s of Squadron 232 in the air. The tank crew fires a white phosphorus round into the hillside, where it generates white smoke. An F-4 is seen flying low toward the area and a bomb explodes on the marked target. Amphibious training is seen, with Marines charging a beach from a landing craft; a tank wading ashore; Marines hit the beach from an LVTP-5 (Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Personnel); Fighter bomber dropping a bomb from offshore; glimpse of Douglas A-4 Skyhawk.
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