Dramatic WWII hero stories in History

MANILA, Philippines - History delves into the remarkable and action-packed stories of heroes from WWII to present day.

From Military Special Forces to Special Crime Fighting units, Delta Force Operators to CIA Field Officers, SWAT teams to bomb squads, SAS Commandos to Navy SEALs, Heroes Under Fire centers on the individuals and small teams that have distinguished themselves in perilous situations of combat, rescue missions, covert assignments, drug wars and hostile intelligence operations.

Each episode of the explosive series plays like a mini-movie, blending dramatic interviews with historic footage, exotic location shooting and cinematic recreations, all set against epic historical backdrops from the mountains of Afghanistan, to the deserts of Iraq, to the jungles of Panama. Catch Heroes Under Fire on Histoty Tuesday nights at 9.

The first of this month’s episodes trains its sights on the Philippines and on one of the greatest missions carried out in the territory. The Great Raid showcases the most audacious rescue operation during World WarII. Viewers can relive the exciting true story as History airs The Great Raid again on Oct. 5 at 9 p.m. and Oct. 6, 3 a.m., 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The action then moves to Vietnam, 1975. When Cambodian pirates seized an American merchant ship, US Marines fresh out of boot camp are sent to rescue the hostages. Deadly Reckoning is the inspiring story of the men who made it, and the men who did not — the last 41 names engraved on the wall of the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial.

In Jungle Ambush, three Vietcong companies attack a SOG outpost in Da Nang. Vastly outnumbered the SOG team, a special unit of the Green Berets miraculously repels the invasion but not without the loss of 17 Special Forces soldiers, the most ever killed in a single incident.

It’s 1981 and the Soviet Union has invaded Afghanistan. President Reagan sends in a small, potent team of undercover CIA officers to train Afghan rebels. Aided by a devastating new weapon, America’s Shadow Warriors fight the Cold War’s last battle even as a greater threat lurks in the background.

The White Tigers uncovers the story of unknown soldiers fighting unknown battles in a forgotten war. Their covert mission was to annihilate communist forces in North Korea, and for the first time, the details of this top secret army code-named “8240” have been declassified.