 United States Army presents the Big Picture. An official report produced for the armed forces and the American people. Now to show you part of the Big Picture here is Sergeant Stuart Queen. Today's Big Picture is very close to me personally. Because in a way what happened to private first-class Ed Griffiths happened to me and others assigned to the military district of Washington. We came here to fill particular jobs, saw the city and then because of our military duties came to know a side of the Capitol that the tourist seldom sees as he passes through. Here is Private Ed Griffiths on his way to headquarters USA. The Frank Chapman we will be landing in Washington in five minutes. Funny I've seen this place hundreds of times in pictures but this is the real thing and what a kick you get out of seeing it for the first time. Matt's military transport service lands a new group of service men and women in Washington. Some are passing through on their way to overseas stations and some carefully picked who have been overseas or have attended specialist schools are here to stay for a tour of duty. To Ed Griffiths and to many arriving here there is almost immediately a sense of something different about this American city. Very little manufacturing here major activity I guess is managing affairs of the people of the United States. Fort Mayer Virginia home of several units of the military district of Washington it was here that Private Griffiths was to report to join headquarters company United States Army. I'll keep these copies perfect. You keep that one. You might be interested to know that this is one of the most unusual companies there is. In fact it's one of the biggest companies in the United States Army. Still may I see you a minute. Right. These men work in the various offices in the Pentagon the officer chief of staff logistics and communications. That's my assignment that's right. Certain Queen meet PFC Ed Griffith Ed nice to know you hello Sergeant you'll be your platoon Sergeant. About to have your board. Thank you. Still also works in Sinfo Sinfo officer chief of information you've probably seen him on the big picture. I thought he was an actor. No I'm just a soldier like the rest of you regular training program Pentagon assignment revenue formation every Wednesday and don't forget to check the bulletin board and report over the Pentagon Monday morning. First time here that's right well I suggest that you go on downtown get on a bus and take the standard tour we're now approaching the most impressive building in Washington the capital symbol of the federal government up on top of the cast iron dome is the statue of freedom looking out over the city on your right now the oldest building in the city the White House moving around Washington you get to realize that the federal government is a tremendous business nothing like it anywhere as office buildings of the government of the United States I guess the architects meant them to look permanent strong and dignified I think they got their effect we passed the Department of Justice on our way to the statue of a man who has always seemed one of the most interesting heroes in American history Nathan Hale before he was executed by the British in 1776 declared I only regret that I have but one life to lose from my country in the capital gives you a feeling of what America's great men were like and what they stood for Jefferson calm and determined the leading author of the Constitution of the United States a man who believed passionately in democracy I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man the exact center of town the Washington monument at the base it's 55 feet square with walls 15 feet thick it was the tallest structure to build at the time and was meant to symbolize the lofty ideals of our first president from the top you could see the layout of the city the White House to the north to the east in a straight line the capital this is one city that was certainly planned south the Jefferson Memorial and the Potomac to the west the Lincoln Memorial a copy of the Parthenon in Greece the driver said but as you approach this memorial Lincoln seems to be on your mind more than classic architecture and then he is suddenly there and somehow because the statue goes beyond what you expect he seems almost alive sad wise humble and a quality of greatness that everyone seems to feel here the quiet is almost like in church the Pentagon headquarters of the Department of Defense the largest office building in the world on Monday morning Ed became one of the many thousands on his way to work there once built in record time the Pentagon is still an efficient building for carrying out the huge amount of office work involved in the business of modern defense his new job was in the staff communications office of the chief of staff major military messages flowing through this office keep the chief of staff in contact with troops in every area of operations Ed's work was in a room where a record of every message sent is kept on file so that if one is called for it can be quickly located if for example the White House requests a message this office has the reputation of finding and delivering it within 20 minutes Ed's previous experience had been in message centers at lower echelons when a new man was needed here he was chosen because of his background and an excellent record his job like many others filled by enlisted men in the Pentagon is essential work in a key area of our defense system working in the Pentagon you get a sense of the importance of what goes on here just down the hall for example is the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff where policy is determined for the defense of the country the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has the office of its standing group here this year it helps develop defense policies on an international level seeing NATO members in the Pentagon you realize how day after day the countries of the free world are working closely together it's a good feeling to see the international atmosphere and to know that if it's ever necessary we're ready to help each other with well planned military support beside being huge in size the Pentagon has just about everything within its walls this is a city in itself and well worth a tour with all kinds of shops and conveniences the concourse is really a sort of American Main Street a barber shop is for all service personnel here whether you're a PFC or a two-star general you receive the same treatment for the same price a more basic problem feeding all the people in the Pentagon is answered by several large cafeterias lunchtime during good weather is sometimes an occasion for a short concert by the United States Army band in the Pentagon's inner court the Army band and the Army chorus are the representative musical organizations of the Army performing at important ceremonies and concerts sometimes Army personnel well known in the entertainment world are featured soloist with the band for example one day I heard Steve Lawrence Washington a scheduled amount of time is given over to just plain soldiering tied to a desk during the week a man doesn't mind being untied during physical training periods once a week headquarters company United States Army falls out in formation brought together as a unit very good this morning thank you sir I'll each as a specialist all share in the mission of protecting the Capitol of the United States a mission appropriately symbolized by their patch a sword across the Washington monument serving at the nation's most important ceremonies is an organization that also wears the patch of the military district of Washington first battle group third infantry during such visits as that of Queen Elizabeth the third the oldest active regular Army infantry unit often referred to as the guard is the organization in the Capitol representing the United States Army in every ceremony the third participates with something beyond precision there is pride in having been chosen for moments of international importance here the laying of a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier the mission of perpetually guarding the sacred shrine 24 hours a day every day of the year this too is an honor for which the first battle group third infantry has been chosen today beside the grave of an unknown soldier of World War one lie in unknown service man of World War two and another who fell in the Korean War in the guard room beneath the amphitheater at Arlington Cemetery men of the honor guard company of the third wait their turn they carry out duties essential to the tradition of perfection surrounding every aspect of the tomb guards mission the time comes to change the guard the new man is ready in every detail for the assignment young men of the old guard are conscious of the tradition of their unit and the traditional ceremony that holds such deep meaning to all Americans for this assignment each man must be a volunteer besides meeting certain physical requirements the record of each man who guards the tomb must be of the highest caliber highly esteemed responsibility of the first battle group third infantry begins a tour of duty that keeps alive the meaning of this symbol of sacrifice Arlington Cemetery is the final resting place for great military leaders outstanding individuals from nearly every walk of life the third participates in full honor funerals a flag draped casket resting on a case on is brought in solemn procession to the place of burial a riderless horse accompanies the body of a general or flag officer prior to these ceremonies are preparations for which men of the old guard are responsible the case on is kept clean and polished and the horses are carefully groomed these are about the only ones left in this modern army and here is the last blacksmith in the ranks of an army that once had many like the old village blacksmith sergeant Burgess likes some of the old-fashioned methods for example a hand method of fanning the flames instead of an electric motor available for the purpose better control that way he says no chance of forgetting to turn off the motor and burning up the shoe some of the old ways survive in this fast changing army who is given the finishing touches by an expert the military district of washington has within its command many units and services how did fort mcnair besides troops including elements of the first battle group third infantry are some high-level military schools for senior military officers the national war college the industrial college of the armed forces under the supervision of the joint chiefs of staff these schools prepare men of all three services for command and staff duties in the highest echelons of the armed forces there's walter reed army medical center world renowned for its achievements on the frontiers of medicine as well as for the expertness of its hospital practice at the white house itself is an army unit which though not within the organization of the military district of washington serves the president of the united states the white house army signal agency a small group of communication specialists make certain that the president is never out of touch with the nation or the world coded messages are sent and received by radio teletype a switchboard is always ready in case of emergency direct lines are kept open from the white house to the most important agencies of government a precaution aimed at continued operations during emergency television facilities are operated by the white house army signal agency today the work of soldiers in the capital is infinitely varied and highly specialized sometimes it is difficult to realize that all of the tasks here relate in some way to the basic mission of defense seeing what defense of the capital meant 100 years ago is one of the reasons why our company's information program includes a trip to a famous civil war battlefield manassas or bull run there is something to be learned here something to give a soldier of today perspective on his present mission a stone bridge on the way to washington here was the beginning of the first great battle between north and south on a bright sunday july 21st 1861 the federal troops opened the attack but the confederates were finally to win on these fields under brilliant leadership in the area we stopped to look at a diorama and listened to a description of a moment during the fighting here is one of the truly dramatic incidents in american history the moment during the first battle of manassas when thomas jonathan jackson earned the nickname stonewall general b desperately attempting to rally his men has just seen jackson's brigade drawn up along the ridge south of him inspired by jackson's determined stand b points toward the general sitting calmly on his horse at the top of the hill and shouts there is jackson standing like a stonewall rally behind the virginians stonewall jackson thus won his immortal nickname no one can leave here without feeling that something beside guns is needed to win battles the determination of fighting man is still essential along with the weapons of modern defense here and around the washington area are nike hercules sites man night and day during a practice exercise one can see that behind these missiles must be man determined to carry out their work swiftly and efficiently in this practice alert the signal is given to clear the area at other sites around the city other missiles are as ready as this one for possible enemy attack ready to arm in at the first battle group third infantry in addition to their ceremonial duties these combat troops are in active training eight months of the year during an alert they show their atop flight fast moving outfit an exercise within sight of the nation's administrative and military headquarters at the heart of the nation are soldiers of the military district of washington protecting and serving the people of the united states the big picture is an official report for the armed forces and the american people produced by the army pictorial center presented by the department of the army in cooperation with this station