Guests arrive at Major General William S Graves's house for New Year Day reception in Quarry Heights in Panama. Guests greet each other. They eat and drink in the lawn.
Guests leaving the traditional Commander's New Year's Day reception, at home of Major General William S. Graves, in Quarry Heights, Canal Zone, Panama. General Graves is bidding guests farewell, as they leave the reception.
An outline of U.S. military canal defense and base security requirements and future requirements regarding proposed canal relocations in Panama. A U.S. officer conducts a JCS (Joint Chiefs of Staff) briefing in the United States. Maps of the Canal Zone and Panama shows military installations, communications facilities and training areas. An officer points out Quarry Heights, Fort Amador, Howard AFB, Fort Kobbe, Rodman Naval Air Station and Fort Clayton on the map of Panama. An aerial photograph of Quarry Heights which will provide operational support for United States Southern Command Headquarters. An aerial picture of a bridge in Panama City and Quarry Heights in the background. Aerial photographs of Bridge of the Americas, Albrook AFB, Rodman Naval Station, Howard AFB and Fort Amador. An officer briefs. Maps of Fort Sherman and Galeta Island. Aerial photographs of Fort Sherman and Galeta Island.
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.
Tourist attractions and sights in Panama City, the Republic of Panama. Tower in the ruins of the Cathedral of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción at Panamá Viejo (Campanario de la Catedral de Panamá Viejo, Panamá, Panama), destroyed by Buccaneer Henry Morgan. A broken bridge. A view of Panama City. Traffic on the streets. Natives on narrow streets in the main city. A church façade. The Golden Altar in the San Jose Church (Avenida A and Calle 8, Panama City, Panama City). The Canal Zone Administration Building on Balboa Heights. A garden in front of the building. Palm trees on either side of the entrance. An American flag flutters in the breeze.
Aviator Charles Lindbergh in Panama. Lindbergh takes President Rodolfo Chiari Robles, (President of Panama 1924-1928) for a ride over the Canal Zone. President Rodolfo Chiari strapped into the seat in Lindbergh's plane 'Spirit of Saint Louis'. The plane takes off. The plane in flight over Panama City and Balboa. Aerial views of Panama City, Balboa, buildings and the Panama canal zone. The President disembarks from the plane and talks to some officials.