Lifeline: Pearl Harbor’s Unknown Hero

1941 | War in Pacific

THE FILM:

Narrated by Gary Sinise. Joe George is probably a name unfamiliar to almost every American, but on December 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor, Joe George was every bit a hero in the opening moments of America’s violent entry into World War II. George, a crewman on the USS Vestal, which was moored alongside the USS Arizona on Battleship Row in the harbor, ignored orders from a superior officer and helped save the lives of 6 USS Arizona crewmen, the last Arizona sailors to get off the battleship alive.

CLASSROOM RESOURCES:

Each of our documentary films has a corresponding quiz or essay question for use in the classroom by teachers and educators.

We encourage you to choose one of the PDFs below that is the best match for your students. It’s up to each educator if you would like to offer either the exam or the one-question essay. An answer sheet corresponds with each quiz.  Our goal is not to overwhelm students with dates, treaties, and strategy. Instead, we would rather focus their attention on the individual stories of the subjects of our documentaries. We find these visual stories to be inspiring, impactful, and educational.

We hope that after viewing one of our films, students will want to learn more about the personal stories of World War II generation. Maybe they do this by reading a book, watching another documentary, or perhaps a full-length film.  Maybe our films will inspire your students to ask an older family member about their role, or inquire about another relative’s story, in World War II.

We recommend the below curriculum for grades 7-12 and college.

TEACHER MATERIALS

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