Big Picture: The Code of the Fighting Man

Year Published: ca. 1943

Creator: National Archives and Records Administration

Format: 16mm/video file

Description: National Archives and Records Administration ARC Identifier 2569693 / Local Identifier 111-TV-428 Big Picture: The Code of the Fighting Man DVD Copied by Timothy Vollmer. Company A is in a desperate situation. A major enemy offensive has succeeded in penetrating the front with such strength that the X Corps has been required to retire to the rear, leaving the company cut off and surrounded. There are many courses left to the company commander and the one he chooses is to stay and fight. So begins this episode from THE BIG PICTURE series. After two days and nights of continuous enemy attacks, he realizes that to remain will only result in the company's annihilation. The order is to divide into small groups and escape back to their own lines by infiltration, but before it can be carried out the enemy attacks again. Most of the company, including the company commander, are killed. Five men are taken prisoner. As they are marched off for interrogation they watch eagerly for some opportunity to escape. Finally, they take a chance and overpower the guards. During the pursuit two of the men manage to get away. For the three who are left another battle begins. They are separated and led through a series of interrogations, each more cleverly devised than the other. But they do not break and, like the men who succeeded in the escape, the victory is theirs. With this THE BIG PICTURE, the importance of the Code of Conduct which outlines the soldier's moral obligation to his country is made vivid and dramatic.