Operation Mercy - The Big Picture

National Archives and Records Administration

ARC Identifier 2569633 / Local Identifier 111-TV-364

Big Picture: Operation Mercy

Hungarian freedom fighters dramatically filmed on Army's "THE BIG PICTURE," "Operation Mercy" -- From the bloody streets of Budapest, through the border escape routes into Austria and finally to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, "Operation Mercy" as shot and documented on THE BIG PICTURE becomes a most compelling story. In this film presentation, the "human side" of the Army is identified in the contributions of the American soldier assigned to "Operation Mercy." Not so long ago thousands of Hungarian Freedom Fighters and their families were helped toward sanctuary in the United States. For them the gates of Camp Kilmer represented the end to a way of life they had found oppressive and the beginning of a new life of hope and opportunity. The action moves from the early street fighting in Budapest through the last days in October when the thunderous roar of Russian tanks was stilled and the smoke cleared over the ruined city to a ship moving out of Bremerhaven toward a pier in Brooklyn. Here all Americans -- along with the United States Army -- did not turn their backs, but pitched in to do a job for the valiant men and women of Hungary. Depicted in "Operation Mercy" are the many volunteer workers of the American Red Cross and other agencies working together at Camp Kilmer and at the American Embassy in Munich.