Schedule

During the Vietnam War, stealth, bravery, and a commitment to duty were attributes of the LRRPs--the men of the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols, the men with the painted faces. "Lurps" took risks far beyond conventional units, spying on the enemy in his own backyard. Sacrificing manpower for stealth, small groups of 4-6 men patrolled deep within enemy territory, gathering intelligence. Those who served in Vietnam know their legendary exploits--we'll introduce you to these "Silent Heroes".

During Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, one clear advantage the coalition forces had was special operations units consisting of Navy Seals, Green Berets, and Army Rangers. Even before the war began, Special Ops units were covertly gathering intelligence and doing surveillance work. As the Gulf War escalated, so did their tasks. This is the story of the units "in the storm"--the activities and adventures of the quiet professionals who became a dagger in Saddam Hussein's back.

Welcome to the Military Assistance Command Vietnam Recondo School--all volunteer, all on-the-job training, and all brutally real. Established by the 5th U.S. Special Forces Group, the teachers were Green Berets and the students included U.S. Army LRRPs and Rangers, along with indigenous forces from South Vietnam, Thailand, and Korea. Fail a test in Recondo School and you could end up dead! Take a journey to this "school from hell" and see what it took to survive and what kind of man volunteered.

The USS Laffey was in reality two great vessels with the same name--the first, DD-459, fought to the death in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942. The second, DD-724, was at the center of World War II's most intensely brutal kamikaze attack, where it earned the nickname "The Ship that Would Not Die." However, the crew casualties were high: over 30 perished and another 70 were wounded.

From the dawn of the atomic age, man's ultimate weapons have threatened the world with Armageddon. But there's another potent threat--accidents. Veterans, who survived America's most serious nuclear weapons accidents, known as "Broken Arrows", share their experiences. While the U.S. military insists that nuclear deterrent ensures peace, former Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara disagrees. Will the nuclear powers' luck hold out as the world awaits the first Broken Arrow of the 21st century?

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

It has now become nearly impossible to interview Iraqis, even in their homes. Watch as the Iraq war's horror, mayhem and horrific human price are shown from two very different perspectives: Iraqi taxi driver Fadil Kadom and American television cameraman Craig White. With the courage and skill of a war correspondent, Kadom, using a small video camcorder, documents the daily struggle of his family and his country amid difficulties that are unfathomable to most of us. White follows the U.S. 3rd Infantry on the frontlines in their quest to liberate Baghdad and stave off civil war. Correspondent Bob Woodruff (who was seriously injured in Iraq by an IED) hosts.

Brandishing the stealth and cunning of a modern-day Special Forces operation, the Los Ba os raid is regarded as one of the most successful airborne raids of all time. On February 23, 1945, a combined force of US paratroopers, Filipino guerrillas, and amphibious tanks liberated over 2,000 POWs who faced a potential massacre by their Japanese captors. In this 2-hour special, we return to the Los Ba os Prison Camp with four soldiers who took part in the rescue and one of the liberated prisoners.

Skilled fighter pilots Paul Speer and Phil Wood, tackles the fierce North Vietnamese MiG over the killing skies of Vietnam. They fly the U.S. Navy's top fighter, the F8 Crusader. In one of the longest, gut-wrenching dogfights on record, Lt. Commander Richard Schaffert--out of missiles and with his guns jammed--takes on a lethal MiG-17 and the best enemy pilot he's ever faced. His only chance lies with the amazing capabilities of the F8 Crusader, "the last gunfighter." Using state of the art computer graphics, viewers will feel like they're in the battle, facing the enemy.

In a blast from the past, marksmen fire the Browning M1919 from a rolling Army Half-track. Competitors call the shots in a game of horse, where one all-star fails to keep pace and is sent packing.

It has now become nearly impossible to interview Iraqis, even in their homes. Watch as the Iraq war's horror, mayhem and horrific human price are shown from two very different perspectives: Iraqi taxi driver Fadil Kadom and American television cameraman Craig White. With the courage and skill of a war correspondent, Kadom, using a small video camcorder, documents the daily struggle of his family and his country amid difficulties that are unfathomable to most of us. White follows the U.S. 3rd Infantry on the frontlines in their quest to liberate Baghdad and stave off civil war. Correspondent Bob Woodruff (who was seriously injured in Iraq by an IED) hosts.

Brandishing the stealth and cunning of a modern-day Special Forces operation, the Los Ba os raid is regarded as one of the most successful airborne raids of all time. On February 23, 1945, a combined force of US paratroopers, Filipino guerrillas, and amphibious tanks liberated over 2,000 POWs who faced a potential massacre by their Japanese captors. In this 2-hour special, we return to the Los Ba os Prison Camp with four soldiers who took part in the rescue and one of the liberated prisoners.

In October 1944, U.S. troops invaded Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. It was the opening move to recapture the Philippines, occupied by the Japanese after their Pacific victories in 1941 and '42. What followed was the largest clash of naval arms in history: 216 U.S. and 64 Japanese warships in a series of dramatic battles. The outcome rested on the shoulders of the aggressive and impetuous Vice Admiral William "Bull" Halsey and the determined but cautious Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita.

All submariners share a nightmare--being trapped alive on the bottom of the sea. Host Hunter Ellis takes an in-depth look at the history and technology of submarine rescue, and at famed treasure hunter Mel Fisher's search for the treasure of the Nuestra Senora de Atocha, which went down in 1622. Next, Hunter examines the history of dirigibles and their use by the military and for civilian exploration. Then, he explores military application of snow gear, and plays with cool new commercial snow toys.

It's 1943 and the skies over the Pacific are filled with the infamous Japanese Zero fighter. They are decimating all American aircraft; no allied plane can match Japan's deadliest fighter plane. The American Navy rushes to deploy a new fighter to take on the unstoppable Zero...the F6F Hellcat. The Zero has met its match. Now, you're in the cockpit with legendary dogfighters Robert Duncan, Hamilton McWhorter and Alex Vraciu, whose epic dogfights blazed a new chapter in the annals of aerial warfare. We recreate famous battles using state of the art computer graphics. Viewers will feel like they're in the battle, facing the enemy. Rare archival footage, first-hand accounts and original shooting will supplement the remarkable computer graphics.

An inside look at the secret protocols, elite security and hidden history of the world's most public of private residences. What is the most secret room in the White House and what makes it so powerful? What secret visitors have been to the White House--invited or not? What kind of background checks are needed to work at the White House? What security measures go into effect if the White House is under attack? For over 200 years, the White House has functioned as a Presidential residence, Executive Office and national command center. But more guarded than the White House itself--are its secrets. Secrets that have remained untold...until now.

It is the epicenter of America's military operations... a five-sided fortress with a single purpose--to defend the United States and its citizens. But behind the concrete walls and re-enforced windows are secrets. Enter the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense and explore the complex operations and top-secret business conducted at the largest low-rise office building in the world. How did the Pentagon get its unusual shape? How many people work at the Pentagon? What covert intelligence gathering organizations operate within the military compound--and how are their secrets protected? What top-secret information was compromised from the attack on September 11th? How quickly did the building and its tenants get back to business as usual? For seven decades, the Pentagon has been an icon of American strength and military excellence. But more impressive than the building itself are the secrets held there...until now.

In pitch-black skies, brave pilots put their lives on the line in an effort to gain the ultimate advantage...the ability to attack, kill, and withdraw without ever being detected. It's a risky mission that depends heavily on technology. Night fighters pioneer the tactics and technology and pave the way for the future of air combat. Famous battles are recreated using state-of-the-art computer graphics.