♪ ♪ washington crowds gather

for the inauguration of franklin roosevelt. among the guests are wounded servicemen from nearby military hospitals.

before the south court of the white house, an inauguration is held here in the president's own backyard for the first time. from the steps 13 grandchildren of the president watched the ceremony. the bottom of the steps is the presidential advisor and aid. secretary of navy. secretary of the interior. chief justice of the united states. admiral of the fleet, earnest king. secretary of state and his

wife. general of the army and his wife. now in a grim year of war, the shortest and simplest inaugural on record begins. former vice president wallace swears in harry truman, new vice president. president roosevelt takes the oath of office. >> i, franklin roosevelt solemnly swear i will faithfully execute the office of the united states and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the united states. >> so help you god. >> so help me god. >> the president delivers a brief inaugural address.

>> we americans of today together with our allies are passing through a period of supreme test. it is a test of our courage, of our resolve, of our wisdom, of our essential democracy. if we meet that test successfully and honorably, we shall perform a service of historic importance. of historic importance which men and women and children will honor throughout all time. as i stand here today, having taken the solemn oath of office, in the presence of my fellow countrymen, in the presence of our god, i know that it is

america's purpose that we shall not fail. in the days and the years that will come, we shall work for its just and honorable peace, a durable peace as today we work and play for a total victory in war. (music) (music) >> over lake michigan a coast guard demon sfrags of a new technique of rescue by helicopter especially meant for aviators forced at sea. the airman is taken aboard. the helicopter then proceeds to

chicago where the rescued flier is lowered to the ground. the flying machine without ever coming down has taken him from far out on the water to a destination on land. liberator bombers cracked down on an airfield, japanese base in the philippines. knock knockout blows preceded. they dropped 500 enemy bombs on enemy installations. enemy airstrips are battered into uselessness. unceasing support from land and carrier based aircraft in the battle for the philippines.

ships and men against the elements. through the frozen great lakes the new united states coast guard ice breaker cuts a vital path behind her cargo vessels from duluth to chicago in the earliest mid winter crossing on record. it grinds through 20 inches of solid ice at 8 miles per hour. urgently needed in the war effort, these newly built ships would normally be marooned on the great lakes for two more months. now they are delivered on time.

infantry landing craft in atlantic seas on the way home from sicily and normandy. these are small ships, but seaworthy. veterans of landing missions throughout europe, they are still fit for new assignments in the pacific. typhoon off the philippines, an american carrier plowed through raging seas in a grim 48-hour fight with a savage tropical storm. battles winds tie down planes which have broken loose. wind velocity reaches 75 miles per hour at the climax of this storm. the carrier is safe. ships and men win a battle with weather. the road back, a tough and bloody road as troops go against the japanese.

nearing strategic bomb are troops of the chinese 38thdivision. they cross a river junction. chinese and american officers plot the attack as chinese artillery opens up. during 28 days of fierce fighting, the ring around bombo is steadily tightened. dive bombers pave the way only

a few hundred yards ahead of advancing infantry. japanese resistance begins to counter. yard by yard the chinese push forward. artillery and fighter bombers have devastated the city. the united states commander in burma and india inspected the city. the chinese flag flies.

>> my name is kim mccarthy, i security here at washington historic park and pennsylvania. today is a very special day. we are doing a reenactment of george washington crossing the river in 1776. what happened here is one of the most unexpected and daring military maneuvers of e