Sheds light on the experience of the individual soldier by examining three battles which demonstrate the formation of the United States military that people know today and the traditions that have shaped the character of America's armed forces.

Bunker Hill, 1775 : The battle -- The redoubt, part one -- The beach -- The rail fence -- The redoubt, part two -- The wounded and the dead -- Aftermath ; Gettysburg, 1863 : Combat in the Civil War -- The machine breaks down : the reality of combat -- The battle -- Marching to Gettysburg -- Skirmishing -- Artillery versus artillery -- Artillery versus infantry -- Infantry versus infantry : the attack -- Infantry versus infantry : the defense -- The attack continues -- The critical moment -- Holding the line -- At close quarters -- Surrender -- The return to normal -- Sights, sounds, smells -- The dead -- The wounded ; Iwo Jima, 1945 : The nature of the battle -- The strategy -- The battle -- The landing -- The beach -- The nights -- The madness in the method -- Understanding hearts and minds -- The method in the madness -- The Japanese defensive system -- Adapt or die -- Minefields and antitank weapons -- Spider traps and snipers -- Pillboxes, bunkers, blockhouses -- The caves -- Surrendering and prisoners -- After the battle ; The great red god.