 the latest weapons coupled with the fighting skill of the American soldier stands ready on the alert all over the world to defend this country you the American people against aggression this is the big picture an official television report to the nation from the United States Army now to show you part of the big picture here is sergeant Stuart Queen in recent big pictures we have shown your army in action all over the world today we're going to tell a different story we're going to take you to Washington DC here in the nation's capital there are many thousands of important army activities let's take a look at some of them this is the Washington we all know and recognize the capital of our nation the beautiful city with its famous landmarks this is the visitors view of Washington but across the Potomac River there is another side to the story the military aspect its heart is the Pentagon building this is where the highest officers in your army perform the duties and make the decisions which will affect every soldier in uniform surrounding the Pentagon there are other military buildings this is T7 headquarters for the military district of Washington major general Stokes commanding let's go inside for a few words from the general ladies and gentlemen welcome to the nation's capital and the military district of Washington I hope you will enjoy your visit with us although we will not be able to show you all of the interesting tasks performed by our soldiers we have selected some of the highlights which we think will have a special appeal to our big picture audience you will find here in the shadow of the capital that the men and women of your army are daily performing a great variety of interesting jobs in some cases they are perhaps unique in the army you will see and become familiar with some of them and with the men and the women who perform them you will also see evidence that we have not lost sight of our more serious mission that of training our soldiers to peak efficiency to prepare for the defense of their country perhaps the most famous of all the military units here in Washington is the third infantry regiment whose origins go all the way back to the Revolutionary War today they are marching across the apron at the military air transport terminal welcome general Augustine muna's grand is minister of the army of Spain as the plane touches down the third snaps to attention whenever world figures come to Washington on affairs of state our government must always be a good hope on such occasions a great deal of the responsibility falls on this unique army unit for it is one of the many duties of the third welcome these important personages with honor and ceremony to greet them in behalf of the United States as the Spanish minister of the army steps from his plane general Ridgeway personally welcomes him there is a brief moment for a warm exchange of greetings before the formal military reception all the rifle butts slap as one and the third renders a salute to a military man from a friendly nation and the honor is returned with the exchange of salutes over the third prepares for inspection the United States Army band strikes up a lively march as the commanding officer of the reception detachment leads general Ridgeway and the Spanish minister around the ranks only hand-picked officers and men are to be found in the ranks of the third serving in this regiment is a high honor and it is not everyone who can qualify always in the public eye appearance and deportment must be letter perfect such things are taken for granted in the third to the foreign dignitaries who see them they represent the United States Army they must be the best the inspection over general grandis takes his leave of the detachment commander and heads for harlington national cemetery and the tomb of the unknown soldier here he is destined to encounter another activity of the third infantry regiment on the steps of the amphitheater leading down to the tomb itself there takes place a simple ceremony a detachment from the third serves as honor guard for the proceedings while the Spanish general pays tribute to an unknown American soldier who died in the service of his country the great of many nations have rendered such honor here a tribute to an American soldier known but to God the general departs but let us stay and meet the soldiers who stand guard over this hallowed ground situated directly beneath the amphitheater is the tomb guard room waiting is part of any guard mouth but of course there are always chores to do too shoes in particular get a treatment guaranteed to better the best shine in town one of the men is just now preparing to relieve the guard on duty a last minute check in front of the mirror all set let's go this changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier has become a Washington tradition it is such a simple ceremony and yet an impressive one there is a quiet dignity in the way commands are given there is pride in their execution because these men are constantly before the public they are carefully chosen from among volunteers of the third infantry regiment they must be between 5 feet 11 inches and 6 feet 2 inches in height they must have no physical disabilities or any disciplinary action against them on their record misconduct as trivial as a traffic violation in the city of Washington is sufficient to cause removal from the guard visitors from all over witness this changing of the guard some 4,000 a day during the summer months these are honored soldiers with an honor duty to perform with the changing of the guard completed the old century returns to the guard room for some well-earned rest while the new century begins his tour of duty at strict attention he walks his post at each end of the tomb plaza he executes the manual of arms and here is one spectator who is obviously impressed one hour on and three off 24 hours a day this single sentinel walks this post and considers it an honor to do so that's the way it is in the third this unique regiment has many duties and often participates in the varied activities of the nation's capital for a real parade there a must in inaugural parades they serve as the presidential honor guard to the men of the third Pennsylvania Avenue is as familiar as the drill field back at their home station or admire Virginia but everybody has seen a parade let's go now and take a look at some of the more unusual activities of this unusual regiment our big picture cameras have now moved to historic Mount Vernon on the high bluffs just south of the city of Washington here you are about to meet the ceremonial colored sergeants of the third infantry regiment beside me is lieutenant David H. rumbo assistant operations officer of the third infantry regiment his family has been army all the way lieutenant I believe that your family is a matter of fact goes back to the revolutionary days and I can't think of anybody more qualified than yourself to explain the tradition behind this uniform which these members of the ceremonial color guard where today thank you sir the uniform worn by the members of the color guard of the third infantry is an exact replica of the uniform worn by enlisted men of the regiment in 1784 this is to remind the members of the old guard the long and proud history of the third United States infantry regiment you will notice a certain distinctive items of the uniform such as the powder box canteen on the man's left side the regimental crest of the third infantry is an infantry officer's cocked out of the period 1784 the knapsack strap worn on the left shoulder of the uniform is a holdover from the war of 1812 when the third infantry stood up before the regiments of British and remarked only by this color of buff and black which are perpetuated today in the knapsack strap a quarter inch strip of leather in the same colors of buff and black well thank you for describing the uniforms but what are some of the other traditions lieutenant that characterized the third infantry regiment while during the Mexican war the third infantry received the name of the old guard from general winfield scott after it had stormed the heights of telegraph or hill at bayonet point we were given the honor of marching every parade with fixed bayonets that's why today when you see the third infantry parade we always march with our bayonets fixed name old guard actually was given to us by general winfield scott when he said the members of his staff is the third infantry march by him gentlemen take off your hats there goes the old guard of the army well thank you very much lieutenant rumble and we must travel along to visit other activities here in the military district of washington now here is a job you wouldn't expect to find in our modern army and it's just about the only job of its kind left but here at fort mire it's a very important job for station here is just about the only cavalry left in the american army seven of these perfectly matched grays draw the case on in full-honored funerals at nearby all international cemetery the case on to gets its share of attention polish an elbow grease keep it in perfect order for it bears the casket of the fallen hero this is the comparison horse riderless with cavalry boots turned backwards in the stirrups of an empty saddle it follows behind the case on in the funeral procession we've now moved to a position immediately adjacent to allington national cemetery here at north post fort mire off to my left is the cemetery and we have asked the non-commissioned officer of a detail that has been on funeral duty over here in the cemetery to report to us at this position that we might be able to talk to him he's do along here any minute this is sergeant roger gregory section leader of the case on detachment here at north post fort mire virginia and this is big boy roger we have seen already some of the comparison horses here in the detachment but i'm wondering if you could explain in detail a little bit more about their significance it comes from the ancient times when it was believed that a riderless horse would follow his master to the grave back to today it's similar respect used in the funerals of cavalry officers and general officers uh-huh well how long have you yourself been with the detachment 14 months 14 months and specifically what is your job during the funeral procession well i write the lead horse i'm out right out in front of the uh section i'm going to wait to the grave side as big boy always been the lead horse right how long have you written him 13 months incidentally just how old is big boy it's been nine years old uh-huh well i've been wondering how well how long are these horses kept in service and what happens in the way of replacements for them later on some of them work is about the age of 18 some 20 years of age actually then these are the remaining few in the army today they are and so we have here today a living symbol in sergeant roger gregory and big boy of the mounted service it goes back to the early days and the founding of our nation every sunday on the drill field at fort mire the third infantry regiment holds a review and invites the public to attend the band that accompanies the regiment at these functions is the same band that welcomed general grand dis at the airport it is the united states army band it is another of the unique organizations in the military district of washington since its creation the army band has led a varied and distinguished career open-air concerts are given each summer in the city and are enjoyed by thousands it is the army band that leads the inaugural phrase besides these duties it has represented the united states army at many musical functions and celebrations throughout the world faced by the united states army band the old guard passes in review the troops in the washington area are stationed here for show and ceremony many fill jobs that are vital to the defense of the city let's visit with some of them in the suburbs surrounding washington there are many anti-aircraft batteries such as this ready for action 24 hours a day battery commander of charlie battery of the 14th anti-aircraft artillery battalion is 22 year old lieutenant david lacy lieutenant we have mentioned the overall picture of the army anti-aircraft command being our first line of defense but just where does your battery fit into this picture well sergeant queen i would say that we hear around washington on the last line of defense rather than the first i say this because i feel that if the enemy is able to penetrate our other defenses and get through then it would be up to us to protect the capital living here in the backyards of some of our neighbors in the residential area of our nation's capital have you had an opportunity to become acquainted with them yes we have even though as you know we have to stay only a few minutes away from the guns we've found time to become quite acquainted with our neighbors we have have open house here at least once each year where we invite the folks in and show them around the area and we have a couple ball teams were practiced on our diamond down here during the summer you mean the teenagers have come over and joined some men here at the battery and playing ball that's right they have good and even some of the young fellows across the road have come over and play football with the guys here and i think we are fortunate having some very fine neighbors this constant alert status more or less must keep the men pretty much on their toes and i've been wondering do they ever get an itchy trigger finger during these battle stations no they don't we realize that that's a problem however so we have a schedule whereby each unit can go up to the firing range which is in Delaware and up there the men can actually fire the guns and as you might say give that trigger finger a good workout well i won't take up any more of your time lieutenant but thank you for coming by for just a minute and filling us in on the details of your battery now i think we'll just stand by and take a look at some of the activities that take place here in a typical gun site of charlie battery of the fourteen thirty aircraft artillery battalion firing tactics up on the range are necessary but football tactics are important to especially when you've got to spend all your time on that same little piece of real estate then it's the neighbors that count and kids especially are always good for a fresh approach here's some new tactics that are bound to succeed and there's the payoff though the city of washington may be only a few minutes drive away these soldiers seldom get the chance to enjoy it they must find their recreation right here at the battery and as the lieutenant said it's the neighbors that make it enjoyable but all good things must come to an end somewhere on the screen of an early warning radar set an unidentified aircraft has been picked up it is probably friendly but it could be an enemy bomber the a a command can take no chances to these men alert such as this our routine they happen every day so far they have always proved to be only an alert but men and guns are ever ready but what are those other washington soldiers those proud men of the old guard what would be their mission in time of emergency here in a third infantry orderly room the duty sergeant receives a phone call this regiment has been called out on a practice alert at the barracks the men hop to off the locker tops come feel packs and combat gear this will be as close to reality as training will allow over at battalion headquarters the co briefs his officers this particular mission is carefully explained then the alert orders are given this regiment the third infantry regiment has been ordered to execute plan able this battalion will move without delay two positions as directed in the defense plan back at the barracks the men take their rifles and then the heavier stuff too bazookas recoilless rifles mortars and machine guns everything has been carefully planned for this moment in an emergency as on parade split second timing plus teamwork pays off in performance these are the same man the ceremonial troops the color guards the centuries and the case on detachment and those qualities that made them the best ceremonial soldiers make them the best combat soldiers to down at the tank park the alert is also sounded and third infantry tankers prepare to move out if this were a genuine attack the third infantry's primary duty would be defense of the capital and protection of the nation's leaders and so today they follow a prepared alert plan simulating this mission heavy caliber machine guns are mounted engines revved up and communications tested all guard tanks get ready to roll while the tanks rumble to their destinations trucks pull up to receive the infantry there is an attitude they've got here in the old guard you begin to feel it after you've been around them for a while they are determined to be the best at anything they tackle that's what makes them good soldiers that's why these men are in the third and that's why the third is in Washington with so many important duties to perform including the defense of the city with a Pentagon for a backdrop tank elements race down the main highways to establish roadblocks a critical intersection no tickets for speeding today in the real thing swiftness of movement would be essential only minutes after the alert was first sounded the various elements of the third have carried out their respective assignments as given in the prepared alert plan able tanks are eased into their positions for effective fields of fire and now with the nation's capital under the guns of friendly forces the alert is over you have seen only a glimpse of what goes on here in Washington you have visited only a few of the many military installations around the city and now every evening the people who work in all these places go home to rest and recreation but elsewhere there are others who will not rest tonight at the anti-aircraft batteries the watch is kept the guns point into the evening sky they are still now but always ready the Pentagon is quiet too the offices are empty the day's work is done at the tomb of the unknown soldier a solitary bugler sounds taps the anti-aircraft but all these are a part of the Washington scene a part of the military life that gives the nation's capital its color and vitality a part two of the nation's defense now this is sergeant steward queen inviting you to be with us again next week for another look at the big picture the united states army in action the big picture is a weekly television report to the nation on the activities of the army at home and overseas produced by the signal corps pictorial center presented by the u.s. army in cooperation with this station you can be an important part of the big picture you can proudly serve with the best equipped the best trained the best fighting team in the world today the united states army