i am convinced from that deduction that in this room are some of the best drivers in america. [applause] >> c-span takes you on the road to the white house and into the classroom. this year our students cam contest lets students tell us what issues they want to hear from the presidential candidates. follow c-span's road to the white house coverage and get all the details about our student cam contest that www.c-span.org. >> during the cold war in the 1950's and 19 60's, the u.s. army communications own europe or comz was headquartered in france straight was a vast logistical network needed to keep several army divisions supplied in the unanimous soviet union invasion of europe. next american history tv's "reel

america," a 1962 u.s. army picture episode detailing the operations of comz in france. >> how do you do? as you see, i'm indulging in a favorite frenchman's pastime. and where else but paris? since i spent so much time in hollywood and new york, i have grown to love america. so much so that i like to call america and france my countries. i just finished a picture here and i'm glad i delayed my return to hollywood, for i've just seen something -- an excellent are who believes a free way of life has made me very proud. it is the story of comz, the

united states army communications own europe, -- zone europe, the very lifeblood of the power of the american defense network in europe. the moment i would like to show it. >> my acquaintance with comz

began with a visit to its headquarters in france. it was here during my first force with the commander that i began to realize for the first time how vast is the job of equipping and supporting a modern army. the commander arranged for me to see force had -- firsthand how comz does this massive job so it can be brought to you with understanding. there was much to see. when i was asked to tell the comz story to the american people, i had no idea what the potentially dramatic stories were.

it is a story which begins with the needs of combat units stationed in france, germany and in italy. getting the right weapon ammunition, supplies, the equipment to the right men at the right time. this, in simple terms, is a vital mission of comz. it is not a question of any one weapon or one type of ammunition. comz supplies every system in the u.s. army. the m-60 fires 700 to the minute. they are can -- or consider the

small but deadly hand grenade. the powerful 4.2 inch mortar using high explosive shells. the guided antitank missile s.s. 11 directed by its upgrader with deadly pinpoint accuracy.

105 millimeter armored hull, mainstay of artillery firepower must be supplied, along with yet another kind of ammunition. larger still, the 280 millimeter canyon -- cannon. and still there is more. this stream of jelly petroleum, when delivered to an enemy, is highly effective. ♪ the delivery of liquid flame by air as an extension of the flamethrower technique. under the supply responsibility of comz.

the new m-60 tank provides increased range, speed firepower. together with the ammunition parts are supplied by comz. the means of swift movement delivery of the right kind and right amount of firepower to the proper place at the proper moment, all these essentials our success in combat and depend upon a variety of equipment, supplies, ammunition, weapons, food and services which make that success possible. this is power, only power the supply mission of comz.

the next stop on my itinerary -- i recently arrived from the united states, these men were not left in doubt as to why they were in france, what their mission with comz would be. they were now part of a working team. >> you have been assigned to an organization known as a communications zone, a vital part of the united states army in europe. we are here to fulfill our commitment as part of the nato team. you are in france primarily to do one thing stop the spread of communist aggression. if war should come, comz supply lines and american troops would be the mainstay, the forward of

the nato forces. many battles have hinged upon the ability of material. the job of the troops stationed here, your job is to see the united states army throughout europe get this material. it takes men, competent men to operate the trucks and the ship and the barges, to move the millions of tons of military equipment through comz channels each year. your work is cut out for you. yes, your job. to move the weapons, ammunition, fuel, tanks, and missiles. this is the task of the united states army communications zone europe. >> yes, france is a logical

place for comz. with good people such as here, in bordeaux. la pallice. france also offers the event of excellent railway facilities, for the overland transport of heavy equipment. also good roads for truck transport, though there may be at times a rather tight squeeze in some picturesque village. and of course, there are modern superhighways, direct, high-speed links to the key

areas of europe. and finally, a number of excellent airfields able to handle the largest of cargo aircraft. all of this combines to make france the logical setting for the story of comz an organization preoccupied with movement, logistics, the military science of putting the right supplies in the right place at the right time. the fighting men has a very specific requirement. no substitute is excepted. -- accepted. nor can the crew of a m-60 tank replace broken track blocks with the one designed for the m-113

personnel carrier. so it goes. a million and one items. each item a problem in itself and each handled smoothly, with disciplined efficiency by the united states communications zone europe. one of comz's more effective innovations in solving problems of supply is a new method of fast delivery called roll-on roll up. truck trails roll off the ships specially designed. compare the economy, efficiency of best he can make it -- with this technique with the more money consuming method of unloading cargo at the dockside.

this technique saves thousands of man-hours and tens of thousands of dollars when delivering vital military cargo faster than ever before. another time-saving aspect of this technique is the relay action which gives the metal wheel moving without delays. at relay points, one tractor is exchanged for another quickly smoothly. a system of quick connect fittings reduces the time required by several minutes. in moments, the trailer is on its way to the people who need it. these relay points form as fast

and specialized network across free europe. a general depot where vehicles of every type or processed for delivery. shipments. moving onward into germany.

♪ a thousand severed activities each designed to fit -- separate activities each designed to fit technique.

still more of comz's boats are on the move. although roots which are often picturesque -- routes which are often picturesque. one of the main supply centers in italy. of course, transport by truck is only one of the methods used by comz in its supply mission. through a vast network of pipelines built by comz flow millions of gallons of gasoline, aviation gas diesel fuel. one that demands a fuel distribution system of tremendous complexity and fully -- massive capacity. huge control centers to direct the pipeline flow.

tank framarms to provide working reserves. pumping stations. distribution points. and automation to coordinate the routing of fuels to destinations all across free europe. comz take nothing for granted. here in its petroleum laboratory all petroleum products are pretested for quality and performance. it is only one of many quality control laboratories. fast and operated by comz.

petroleum distribution begins at dawn in france. tankers from the united states unload their liquid cargo. there are emergency facilities for offloading. from the central point, the pipeline goes underground. then across france, and ultimately underneath the line going to link up with nato pipelines which lead into holland, belgium, and west germany. comz's pipeline network saves the united states government

millions of dollars each year and commercial storage charges. it moves petroleum products to 1/10 the cost of shipment by rail or water. so effective is this pipeline system that it is able to meet all the requirements of both the united states army and air force , as well as supplying canadian and german lines in europe. and cities of western europe i found yet another aspect of comz 's supply mission. from busy ports such as this one in germany.

construction machinery, tanks, armored personnel carrier. the equipment is loaded onto river barges. this presents at times an interesting contract, the modern weapons of the army testing the ancient vessels of another era. >> to handle the desert of fight fields required by the new complex army, comz is introduced highly specialized troops and units, such as the united states army in normandy. >> the aerial support center user license c-13 aircraft0. the fields of everyone and saint andrew are at our disposal. anytime, anyplace, with anything

these troops might need. at saint andre the store and main thing cargo, personal, parachutes in support of the army in europe. comz's parachutists jump with the loads to assist in the recovery of critical equipment. >> at comz's aerial support center, skilled personnel use the latest techniques in rigging and airdrop techniques which have been developed and perfected, many of them by comz personnel. comz parachute soldiers are trained to parachute in the item of combat equipment and to go with it, to ensure a safe arrival in support of united states ground forces all over europe. working with the united states air force, this specialized elements of comz makes certain that priority cargo gets to the men who need it and gets there in a hurry.

today, the demands of preparedness take many highly specialized forms. for example, at key points throughout europe, comz operates equipment with installations whose versatility is remarkable. the skilled personnel of these comz plants can and do repair anything military. some of these installations even show a respectable gold profit as well through repair work made for other nato nations.

virtually nothing is discarded here. comz maintains its efforts. in germany, one discovers an unexpected aspect of the comz responsibility. here two specialized talents are called for as comz soldiers take up the role of handler teacher, and leader of the force of the k9 corps. the dogs are carefully selected for qualities of health, intelligence, and strength, since their work and the training that prepares them for it requires an abundance of all three. these dogs are also a considerable cost saving item in the comz scheme of things. this is an area where hundreds

of border points and security installations must be guarded day and night. a single well-trained dog with his handler can do sentry work of several soldiers. these dogs are well-trained indeed. they learn to negotiate obstacles far more serious than likely any they will encounter in the real world. comz provides both the training and the dogs in pursuit of its basic objective, to meet every need, large or small, of the united states army corps. the result is a large reserve of highly trained dogs, from which can be drawn the keen eyes and sharp ears sentries. together with their handlers they continue to stand watch at key installations.

after considerable reading of the subject i can say that comz operates a complex larger than any in the world and does it with the speed and efficiency. a precision, a depth of control which men may direct, but only the electronic banks of the computer brains can encompass. this is automatic data processing, the very core of comz's ability to respond instantly. in seconds, with automation, skilled operators can complete a bookkeeping job which not long ago took days to accomplish. and at night when the workload

is lighter, the same equipment produces documents known as the stages report. two inches in thickness it is a complete, detailed evaluation of the entire comz supply int ventory. routing equipment by the fastest means possible to with limited time we've touched on only a few of the functions, vehicles stories, seaports, and specialized installations of comz, which form a strategic network of supply and service across western europe.

these are the facilities which collectively make it possible for comz to supply everything necessary to the massive united states army establishment, from the fall -- from the smallest part two heavy equipment construction supplies. the mountains of material which go to support and sustain the allied effort in europe. ♪ the tangible means of ensuring the strength and the survival of freedom. the operation of supplying were materials to our armies everything from tiny springs to giant tenants, is a logistical problem of the highest order, a problem well met by the people of comz.

the side that can first recoup from an attack is the side that will win. our side will win. for today, helping maintain the security of the world's free nations is the modern forward-looking military creation known as the united states army communications zone europe. ♪ or you see the strength of an army division assembled in a single formation. thousands of men tanks self-propelled guns, an impressive array of mobile firepower. yet only one of several divisions included in the united states army stationed in europe. every weapon, every vehicle every round of ammunition, every

button on every uniform, throughout this massive depends on our logistical specialists the dedication and know-how of the men of comz. ♪ >> american history tv, from the national museum of american history, a discussion in -- on diversity in historical films.

a panel argues that there's a lack of diversity in historical films and this affects how history is presented to the viewing public. the group also talks about how and why this issue should be addressed. thisthis 90 minute discussion as part of the film forum, a joint venture between the smithsonian institution and national endowment for the humanities. >> welcome to the forum. [applause] i am chris wilson, here from the national museum of american history, along with our earners the national endowment for the humanities. we are so happy you decided to join with us in this four day exploration of history on the screen. we came up with the idea to do the history film forum about two years ago.