Shows several aviation "firsts" accomplished by U.S. Army Air Service aviators in the period from 1918 through 1924. A close formation of biplanes in flight. President and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson chat with Major Fleet, Officer in charge, on the occasion of the first air mail flight, inaugurated on May 15,1918 between Washington DC and New York.The mail is loaded into the Curtis JN-4 aircraft. Pilot in the cockpit. The aircraft takes off and in flight. Air Service. Mention of aviators helping spot forest fires. Smoke rising from forest fires and mountain ranges. In 1920, U.S. Army Captain St. Clair Streett is seen with some of his Squadron who flew four De Havilland DH-4 aircraft 9,000 miles, from New York City to Nome, Alaska. Two of the men play with pet dogs. Their itinerary is painted on the side of one of the aircraft, along with the names of pilot and mechanic (C.E. Crumline and J.E. Long). In 1923 the first non stop coast-to-coast flight was made in the Fokker T-2 aircraft. . A sign on the aircraft reads 'Army Air Service non stop coast to coast'.First Lieutenants Oakley O.Kelly and John A. Macready board the aircraft, at Roosevelt Field, Long Island, New York, on May 2, 1923. Their Fokker T-2 in flight. Their arrival at Rockwell Field, on Coronado Island (San Diego) California. In 1924, Lt. Russell Maughan is seen boarding his P-1 Hawk airplane at Mitchel Field, on Long Island, New York, and taking off , bound for Crissy Field at the Presidio, San Francisco, California. His goal is the first dawn-to-dusk, coast-to-coast flight. Views of his P-1 Hawk airplane flying over Manhattan, New York City.
Animated map shows the course taken by Douglas World Cruiser aircraft of the U.S. Army Air Service in their round-the-world flight in 1924. It also highlights mishaps, such as the location of Major Fredrick F Martin's crash in mountains off Alaska and where Lt. Wade was forced down and wrecked near Iceland. Animation shows route from England to Newfoundland to Greenland to Labrador to east coat of United states and aerial route across states. The expedition was completed by 2 of the 5 original Douglas World Cruiser aircraft, namely: the "Chicago," crewed by Lt. Lowell Smith and Lt. Leslie Arnold; and the "New Orleans," crewed by Lt. Erik Nelson and Lt. Jack Harding. They are seen being congratulated by their Expedition Commander, Major Frederick F. Martin at the completion of the mission, on September 28, 1924, in Seattle, Washington.
Larry McKibben, Iowa representative for the Selective Service Youth Advisory Committee, interrupts the December 1969 draft lottery to read a statement. He claims his statement is written by 14 youth members protesting the removal of the Michigan and Alaska youth delegates after their refusal to draw birth dates for the lottery. The draft lottery continues after the statement is read.
Film opens showing illustrations of various warriors and soldiers in their miliary garb, from mideaval times, through the Nepoleonic wars, American Revolution, Civil war, American Indian Wars. The illustrations also show Army cadets, Medical officers administering inoculation injections to soldiers. Scenes shift to 20th Century showing American Uh1 (Huey) and CH-47 helicopters and U.S. troops during the Vietnam War. View from a helicopter directing fire from its side door at enemy troops. American soldeirs and jeeps in the Middle East. American Army ski troops moving across snowy terrain in Alaska. American troops assisting people with water supply and building activities in South and Central America. An American Army Captain working with a Republic of Vietnam officer counterpart. Other Amrican soldiers interacting with Asian allies.
Opening scene shows Headquarters, United States Army, Europe (USAREUR) at Campbell Barracks, Heidelberg, Germany. A line of U.S. 7th Army M48 Patton tanks contributing to NATO defenses. One backs out of position. A line of M113 Armored personnel carriers proceeding along a dirt field. A tank destroyer followed by M113 APC. M113s of a U.S. Armored Brigade drive in Berlin, affirming allied rights in the city. Bridge in Italy displays logo of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force (SETAF). A Sergeant Missile Battalion of SETAF provides nuclear capable support to NATO. One of its Sergeant missiles is seen maneuvering on its mobile launch platform. Two Italian soldiers are seen being trained in missile operations. A motorized tractor pulls several wheeled containers of military supplies stockpiled at one of NATO's European storage facilities. More supplies are seen being moved outside a warehouse. Army personnel using keyboards and computer tape drives to keep track of war materiel. Yards full of military hardware, including lines of jeeps, provide backup for military operations. A sign at the Headquarters United States Southern Command in Quarry Heights, Panama. A ship is seen moving through the Miraflores locks of the Panama Canal. U.S. and allied soldiers are seen working with ropes to traverse a river, during Jungle Warfare training. Soldiers seen moving through jungle underbrush during training at the Southern Command School of the Americas. Scene shifts to U.S. Army, Alaska at Fort Richardson, near Anchorage. A U.S. M113 APC is seen driving and firing its weapon on a snowy field. Its stops and soldiers in white arctic gear step from a rear hatch to take up positions. A Piasecki H-21 Army helicopter is seen flying low above the terrain. It is equipped with landing gear skis. Rear view of tank moving in snow.
A television program named 'It couldn't be done' hosted by Lee Marvin. Vocal band the 5th Dimension aboard a boat sings the song,"If I had a hammer". Series of brief images show amazing human endeavors underway: Split screen view of face of George Washington being sculpted on Mount Rushmore Memorial by Lincoln Borglum, son of lead sculptor Gutzon Borglum. Animated cartoon image of a bridge from Alaska to Russia and the man behind the idea. View of Golden Gate Bridge under construction and split screen of one of the men who helped build it. View of Hoover Dam and Alaskan Highway. Dam building workers rappel down cliff sides during construction of Hoover Dam. View of Golden Gate Bridge completed. Dam worker throws switch to set off dynamite explosion during Hoover Dam construction process. Alaskan Highway under construction. Worker on Mount Rushmore rappelling over nose on one of the carved faces. NASA Apollo 11 Eagle Landing Module approaching the moon surface and view of moon surface below it. Neil Armstrong walking on the moon during first walk on the moon by a human being. Show host Lee Marvin walks on the beach. Construction workers with hard hats scaling steel girders of a tall skyscraper building under construction in a city.
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