Slate begins film reading: Sante Fe alongside to take off wounded. (Refers to the U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Sante Fe (CL-60) evacuating survivors from the aircraft carrier USS Franklin (CV-13) after it was bombed by Japanese aircraft during World War 2.) View of the Sante Fe starboard of the Franklin. Survivors are watching from the forward section of the Franklin as wounded are transported to from the Franklin to the Sante Fe by bos'n chair and similar means for transporting wounded on cots. Aboard the Franklin, sailors help an ambulatory wounded to a place where medics are giving first aid. They help him to a bed, of sorts that a medic quickly prepares on deck. Sailors passing a wounded to others who prepare him for evacuation. Back on deck, medics are tending to some wounded, bandaging injuries and preparing bed-ridden for evacuation. Intervening slate reads: Most terrific blast of morning.(Note; all explosions are made from ships distant from CV-13. Impossible to shoot film aboard during detonations.) (Indicates that subsequent scenes are filmed from other ships.) Distant views of huge fire ball and dense smoke coming from the USS Franklin. Slate reads: Sante Fe returns. Had been forced by explosions to shear off The Sante Fe seen starboard of the Franklin and closing with her fire hoses directing streams of water on the Franklin. Water running off the Franklin's deck. Small fire seen below decks. The Sante Fe inundating the Franklin with water from her hoses. View of aft deck of Franklin in pieces. Slate intervenes stating: Until dark Father O'Callahan, paying no heed to explosions and his own great peril attends the dying. Glimpse of sailors hauling lines on the Franklin flight deck. Then, Navy Chaplain, Father Joseph Timothy O'Callahan, is seen administering last rites to a dying sailor on the deck.
Freed Allied prisoners of war at OFLAG XIII-B, known as Camp Hammelburg, outside of Gemünden, Germany during World War II. A group of United States, Czech, Russian, Yugoslav prisoners of war standing together along with the liberating 14th U.S. Armored Division soldiers. Two prisoners talk to each other. The prisoners cheering, waving and laughing. Two prisoners walk down the road smiling; one waving a copy of Yank Magazine, the other a chunk of bread. U.S. Amry M-4 tank crashes through barbed wire fence of Camp Hammelburg. A group of freed prisoners gathers. Several prisoners stand and pose. Mass gathering of elated former prisoners. Freed prisoners of war dash toward U.S. soldiers and embrace them. (Note: This was the conclusion of the originally failed "Operation Hammelburg", initially attempted by "Task Force Baum," under Captain Abraham Baum, ten days prior. Inmates at the camp included the recently injured and captured Captain Baum, and Lieutenant Colonel John K. Waters, son in law of U.S. Army General George Patton. LTC John Waters was injured during the initial rescue attempt 10 days prior and was hospitalized and not seen in this film.)
14th Armored Division (United States) in Gemunden, Germany during World War II. Soldiers with rifles are in position. U.S. MPs rubber boats transport German Pow (Prisoners of war) from opposite side of river. U.S. soldier kicks German soldier to hurry him along. German prisoners standing with hands up. U.S. soldiers running through streets of town. Houses are in flames in the background.
14th Armored Division (United States) in Gemunden, Germany during World War 2. Soldiers move down street, break doors and windows of buildings in search of snipers. Buildings in flames and smoke rising in the background. Ruins of buildings and fire burns. Soldiers capture a sniper. Sniper is being walked under guard by U.S. Army soldiers.
14th Armored Division (United States) in Gemunden, Germany. Soldiers get out of rubber boats and move across field through farmyards to village. They move through streets of town. Debris seen, smoke rising. Soldiers walk down bridge and move through debris. (World War II period).
14th Armored Division (United States) in Gemunden, Germany. Views of burning town. Soldiers in rubber boats crossing river. Soldier on litter, is carried in rubber boat. They come ashore. Soldiers carry the litter from rubber boat and place it onto jeep. Soldiers on alert near tree. Soldiers standing beside truck. Soldiers standing, smoke in the background. (World War II period).
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