The Giant Awakens

Men of Honor: The Story of the U.S. Army explores the growth and evolution of the U.S. Army over the course of the 20th Century. In The Giant Awakens, we examine the history of the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War.

1. The Giant Awakens

In the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Army found itself plunged into a global war. Within months the U.S. Army mobilized millions of men as it prepared to go on the offensive.

2. The Tide Turns

This episode describes the tactical operations of the U.S. Army during 1942 and 1943. Included are military operations in North Africa, the Pacific, the Aleutians, New Guinea and the Mediterranean.

3. Global War

In “Global War” we review the conduct of the war in 1943 and early 1944 in the European and Pacific fronts. Included are the liberation of Sicily, the landings on the Italian mainland, the successful completion of the New Guinea campaign, and the amphibious campaign in the Central Pacific.

4. The Noose Tightens

In this chapter, we examine the events that dominated the war during 1944: the Normandy Invasion on D-Day, the liberation of Paris and Rome, and the continuing air war over Germany. In the Pacific, the island hopping campaigns of MacArthur and Nimitz bear fruit, and the road to the Philippines is finally cleared.

5. Final Victory

This chapter depicts the events leading up to the surrender of Germany in May 1945, the demise of Mussolini, the liberation of the Philippines, and the final surrender of Japan in September 1945.