Operation Big Switch: Prisoner Exchange at Panmunjom (Turkish, ROK/U.S., North Korean Prisoners of War)

1. Shot List # Opening scene. U.S. forces medics assist returning prisoners of war as they disembark from ambulances. Prisoners who climbed down from trucks walk through tents and pass under an archway bearing a sign that reads 'Welcome, Gate of Freedom.' Turkish soldiers follow; some are shirtless or wearing white cotton undershirts, having discarded the clothing they received from the Chinese. The Turkish soldiers then undergo medical examinations. After being examined in sequence, the soldiers sit at tables and drink coffee, eat ice cream, and drink milk. The prisoners' faces light up as they enjoy the ice cream. # Credit Roll 1 (2min 12sec). A helicopter lands carrying a wounded prisoner of war. A stretcher-borne prisoner is transported from the helicopter. According to the caption, the prisoner is Australian soldier Joe I. Smith. He is transferred from the helicopter to an ambulance. The scene shifts to U.S. personnel interviewing returning prisoners or typing their information onto personnel forms. # Credit Roll 9 (3min 21sec). A Black soldier sits on a truck. His movements are extremely labored, likely due to combat shock (a striking scene). A soldier beside him helps him down from the truck with difficulty. Ambulances line up and depart the exchange site. Several American and ROK forces prisoners of war are loaded into ambulances. # Credit Roll 10 (4min 26sec). Several ROK forces soldiers are transferred to ambulances. The more seriously wounded are carried on stretchers from ambulances to helicopters. Four Koreans wave white cloths and sing. One of them is blind in one eye with a bandage over it. Behind the soldiers, an archway reading 'Gate of Freedom' is visible (a striking scene). The scene changes to soldiers disembarking from trucks carrying guitars and various personal belongings. The caption identifies them as mainly British troops. A close-up shows blankets and equipment discarded by communist prisoners of war. # Credit Roll 12 (6min 35sec). Trucks carrying communist prisoners of war arrive at the exchange site. Large North Korean flags flutter on the trucks. The prisoners cover their faces with their hands and arms. Their faces are visible in close-up. After the trucks stop, the prisoners slowly climb down while North Korean forces officers assist them or check names on a roster. Shirtless North Korean forces prisoners of war have apparently discarded the clothing issued by the UN side. One badly wounded prisoner is carried on the back of a young North Korean woman soldier. In a long shot, trucks packed with North Korean forces personnel depart in succession. English-language propaganda signs are displayed on the trucks, reading 'You imperialist Americans! Go Away from our Mother Land.' Soldiers wave North Korean flags and shout cheers. Two more trucks stand side by side, also bearing propaganda messages: one denounces the South Korean government as a puppet regime, the other attacks Colonel Bottner. The soldiers continue chanting slogans from the trucks. After arriving at their destination, the soldiers are helped down from the trucks. # Credit Roll 15 (9min 51sec). North Korean forces prisoners of war are shown again in transit. They wave long white cloths, chant slogans, and sing songs. Banners bearing anti-American and anti-South Korean propaganda are draped on the trucks. Slogans include 'Long Live the Democratic People's Republic of Korea!' and other revolutionary statements.