 What was your company's mission? I don't know what you an uncommissioned officer. You don't know your company's mission You must be very stupid Well, I guess I am if you say so. Tell me really Do you ever expect to see your family again? Someday then just remember some prisoners are shot trying to escape United States Army 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 Stewart Queen The Korean War brought forth for the first time in the history of our country the need for a written code of conduct Delineating for the members of the armed forces a set of standards by which to govern themselves when in combat or when captured by the enemy Today the big picture shows you the kind of training which the army is giving its soldiers to prepare them for every eventuality on the field of battle The code of conduct was signed into law by President Eisenhower as commander-in-chief of the armed forces on August 17th 1955 The standards it embodies represent the official guide Which will give America's fighting men the security of knowing exactly what is expected of them in every situation There's a major enemy offensive that penetrated our lines and core withdrew to prepared positions in the rear But all units were not able to withdraw company a First battle group 64th infantry is captain Russell the company commander. He's in a tough spot Will he hold his position and fight or break out and return to friendly areas? As far as I can tell we've been bypassed and cut off. I Want each and every man to understand what's going on? I've decided to stay here and fight So he's going to stay and fight It's a risk, but in this case justifiable So warn your men not to waste any food water or ammunition Okay, move up I'll be around to check with each of you later. How you guys doing? Okay, Mike. How much ammo you got left that they are I'm down to three magazines Here's a couple of full bandal is better stop reloading those empty magazines now. Yeah, thanks I just know we're never going to get out of this alive. What kind of crazy talk is that you're flipping your letter something kid? Well, we're still a lot of ammo What are we gonna do if they attack again? We're gonna get captured for sure captured hell and nobody in this hole gonna get captured if we run out of ammo We'll fight those crud with our rifle butts Tenant Briggs. Yes, sir Got a cigarette. I wish I did I spoke my last one a couple hours ago Bearcat six I'll be right up Well looks like we're gonna get hit again go ahead with the plans. I outlined. I'll be up at the OP. Yes, sir Does every man understand he's to hold his fire until I give the signal? Yes, sir Here they come. That's just about close enough American soldiers duty to use every means within his power to escape if he is captured The best time to escape is during the first minutes or hours of capture for with each step the prisoner takes He is moving farther and farther away from his own forces I sure hope so now here's the scoop The captain's dead, but we don't stand a chance here So we'll break up into three and four man teams and work our way back to our own lines Here's how we'll do it Evasion by infiltration the very same plan captain Russell was considering before he was killed Weapon squad at 2115 Now remember we'll all be traveling the same routes be careful. So tell me how many men did you I don't know sir The enemy tries to gain information almost immediately after capture even as far forward as a company command post Here the commander is primarily interested in tactical information of immediate importance to his own unit But there was only one kind of information to give the enemy name Rank service number and date of birth nothing else this man goes to headquarters Next prisoner your mortar fire stopped. What happened? I? Have no idea sir Did they run out of ammunition? I'm sorry, sir. I really don't know My name is George Edwards private first class serial number one four six two three one seven five One January 31st 1933 et cetera et cetera et cetera. I know I know you will not talk that is all right It is not my job to make you talk. We have people at headquarters who will do that God take this one to Next what have we here a non-commissioned officer? Tell me how did you get captured? Did you run out of ammunition or did you well? Surrender or maybe you were disgusted with the whole business, huh? Look You can save your breath All you're getting from me is my name right serial number and date of birth period Oh a tough guy Well, my friend we have ways of handling tough guys You'll talk God this one also goes to headquarters You are private first-class Edward Hatterson Yes, sir, I Won't keep you long Listen to me Harrison the sooner you talk the sooner we'll take care of you sir I'm getting very dizzy How many men were in your company Harrison? I Can't answer that sir. What was the name of your company commander? I'm sorry, sir. I Can't answer that question you cannot answer or you will not answer which is it both Why? What difference could it possibly make now your company has been wiped out? sir According to the Geneva Convention, I am required to give only my name Rank serial number and date of birth We also want you to know that we did not start this war and that we only want peace and freedom Now we know that you are not fighting for a cause But that under your system of government you are forced to fight That is why we have no quarrel with the soldiers, but you must cooperate Is there any reason why you shouldn't yeah, there is I'm a soldier in the United States Army and Under the Geneva Convention all I have to give you is my name rank serial number and date of birth very noble sergeant But that attitude will get you nowhere. You must remember you are in our hands our prisoner That's right And as a prisoner of war I have certain rights under the Geneva Convention Let me give you a little piece of advice my friend Forget the Geneva Convention What we do here is our business We can do anything we want with you Even have you shot Who will find out We haven't informed anyone yet that you are a prisoner as we're supposed to under that convention At this level of interrogation the threat of death is sometimes used But this will not be carried out because the interrogator knows that he must send sergeant Riley to higher headquarters For more formal questioning So you see sergeant Actually, you are all alone In fact right now you are about the loneliest man in the world So let us be sensible about this whole thing Now what was your unit? I can't answer that question All right Riley You continue this and you will be hungry for a long time. I have tried to reason with you I have tried to make you understand and now I'm going to send you to some people who are not as understanding as I am Before I continue Edwards, would you mind stepping forward so I can see better? You seem to know quite a bit about the Geneva Convention at once Not too much sir, but I can give you the paragraph to which I'm referring Really in which paragraph is that section one article 17? How long have you been in the army? My name is George Edwards private first-class serial number one four six two three one seven five All right, which I have no more questions. I'm sending you along for further interrogation Where they will not be as lenient with you as I have God. Is that all you have to say? Yeah, I know my rights rights what rights as far as I am concerned you have no rights Can't you understand Riley that you are a prisoner of war and is such a must abide by the rules and regulations of the detaining power? As far as you are concerned the war is over and there is nothing you can do to affect its outcome So be smart cooperate You'll be much better off in the end. Believe me Now once again, what was your unit? My name is Michael Riley Sergeant serial number one two one two two six one three on February 15th 1928 You know Riley? We can make life for you as a prisoner very easy on the other hand we could make it very very difficult. I Think it's about time that you and I got to understand each other Riley Why don't you sit down? No? On the floor once again What was your company's mission to close with and destroy or capture the enemy and how wide of front did your company occupy? I'm sorry, sir. I don't know. I'm only a pfc. They don't tell us those things We are now at enemy higher headquarters at this level the interrogators are more highly trained and have more tricks up Their sleeves than their counterparts at lower levels Take this two-way mirror for instance Behind it another interrogator studies the prisoner and monitors the interrogation If it appears that a different approach is required to break down the prisoner He will take over a tape recorder can be extremely useful to review a prisoner's answers and to determine whether he is lying or It can be used to splice together Unrelated words and sentences to manufacture statements and confessions which in fact the prisoner did not make The doctored tape is then broadcast for propaganda purposes I'm sorry, sir. I can only give you my name rank serial number and date of birth Very well. I have no further questions You'll fill out that form will be finished What's it for the regular Red Cross form you fill it out and we will forward it to a neutral power They will send it to your people at home and your army advised them to show our prisoner of war and safe Sometimes the enemy's efforts to obtain information appear innocent and legitimate But they are usually fakes like this Red Cross form which asks for more information than the prisoner's name rank service number and date of birth Use that pencil if Edwards falls for this trick He will not be the first prisoner of war to do so I was under the impression that all your men had arrived safely and we're all present and accounted for That's right, sir. Every man is present and accounted for Lieutenant Winters, do you know a sergeant first-class Mitchell Levine? Yes, sir. He was a squad leader in the first platoon. I believe he was among those taken prisoner Well, Sergeant Levine's not a prisoner anymore. He made contact with the second battle group a half hour ago They're bringing him over here now. I Knew they couldn't hold him. What a guy Now once again sergeant, what battle group are you from? I can't answer that question You wouldn't expect your own soldiers to give out that information. Would you ever remind our soldiers? There's no comparison Our soldiers are fighting for glorious cause Yours are being reduced to fighting for a rotten system. That's a matter of opinion Edward Harrison George Edwards Michael Riley Wherever they go, we can be sure they will continue to resist Paul who's there? Paul who's there? Those guys they told us to watch out for Keep him covered. I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces which guard my country in our way of life. I Am prepared to give my life in their defense. I will never surrender of my own free will If in command, I will never surrender my men while they still have the means to resist If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means available I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept any of the parole No special favors from the enemy. If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades If I am senior, I will take command if not I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way When questioned should I become a prisoner of war? I am bound to give only my name rank service number and date of birth I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their courts I'll never forget that I am an American fighting man, responsible for my actions and dedicated to the principles which made my country free I'll trust in my God and in the United States of America A 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