Watch The Big Picture - Okinawa -- Keystone of the Pacific

Experience the American Journey through our country's visual heritage in this historical recording provided by the National Archives of the United States. From the U.S. Army's "The Big Picture" television series, 1950-1975. A little over a hundred years ago Commodore Matthew E. Perry landed on Okinawa. He was so impressed with the strategic location of the island that upon his return to the United States he urged Congress to negotiate with the islanders in the hope that Okinawa might become a United States possession. At the time Congress was uninterested. Now a century later, Okinawa is a possession of the United States, ceded to us in the Japanese Peace Treaty. Through the eyes of THE BIG PICTURE camera, the story of our Army and what it is accomplishing on this island is brought into focus. Depicting an outpost in the Pacific whose stategic location gives the Army an advance base on the threshold of Asia, viewers will learn how recent events have proven Commodore Perry correct--Okinawa is the keystone of the Pacific.

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The content summary for this video is adapted from an historical description provided by the government agency or donor at the time of production release.