(December 1941 - December 1942) Introduction to the American entry into World War II. Tells us about the four towns mentioned that Burns selected for its wartime experiences and of the residents of those places. By this time, they have already known of the early initial conflicts of World War II in Europe through newspapers and newsreels, but it was only through the attack on Pearl Harbor that roused an isolationist, unprepared country into mobilizing for war. But setbacks arose: The Philippines fell and with it the internment of Americans at Santo Tomas in Manila and the Bataan Death March. American shipping became easy prey for German U-boats along the American coast and in the Atlantic. But America succeeds in stopping the Japanese advances at Midway and Guadalcanal.

Starring:

Keith David , Katharine Phillips , Tom Hanks , Paul Fussell , Quentin Aanenson , Burt Wilson , Sascha Weinzheimer , Sam Hynes , Daniel Inouye , Rebecca Holtz , Glenn D. Frazier , Emma Belle Pelcher , Olga Ciarlo , Maurice Bell , Dwain Luce , John Gray , Sidney Phillips , Susumu Satow , Jim Sherman , Robert Kashiwagi , Kevin Conway , Burnett Miller , Ray Leopold , Earl Burke , Asako Tokuno , Tom Galloway , Jackie Greer , Josh Lucas

Genre:

Documentary, History, War