Two American veterans revisit the site of a secret Japanese invasion of Alaska during World War II

Red, White, Black, and Blue tells the story of Bill and Andy, the two toughest 85-year-olds you’ve ever met. Together, these life-long friends fought against 3000 Japanese soldiers in a secret Alaskan invasion during World War II. Now, 60 years later, these two forgotten heroes embark on an intense and emotional journey back to the remote Aleutian island of Attu, where they relive the brutal 19-day battle that America was never told about. The desolate, wind-swept island is not only one of the most dangerous places in the world, but also a living museum littered with crashed airplanes, unexploded bombs, and collapsed buildings from the war. As Bill and Andy retrace their steps over this untouched battlefield, the line between past and present begins to blur and long-forgotten memories resurface with moving force. Through intimate interviews with Bill and Andy, the film explores what it means to be a soldier then and now. And for Bill, that means continuing the battle—even at the cost of his own peace of mind.

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Running Time: 60 min
plus commercial breaks

Related: History, Life & Culture, Politics, ITVS, PBS

Availability: US Only

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Red, White, Black, and Blue tells the story of Bill and Andy, the two toughest 85-year-olds you’ve ever met. Together, these life-long friends fought against 3000 Japanese soldiers in a secret Alaskan invasion during World War II. Now, 60 years later, these two forgotten heroes embark on an intense and emotional journey back to the remote Aleutian island of Attu, where they relive the brutal 19-day battle that America was never told about. The desolate, wind-swept island is not only one of the most dangerous places in the world, but also a living museum littered with crashed airplanes, unexploded bombs, and collapsed buildings from the war. As Bill and Andy retrace their steps over this untouched battlefield, the line between past and present begins to blur and long-forgotten memories resurface with moving force. Through intimate interviews with Bill and Andy, the film explores what it means to be a soldier then and now. And for Bill, that means continuing the battle—even at the cost of his own peace of mind.

Comments

Posted 01/01/09 by Kate

I watched this film with fascination and horror—exquisitely made and very moving. My father was in the 151 Engineers Corp. and spent 22 months on the Aleutian Islands—he tried to suppress memories of that time and never talked about that episode in his life. But these two old-timers provided insight into the hell which was their world during this “campaign.” Thanks, Mr. Putnam and crew, for this tragic peek into the sadness of war ...