Saluting Service: Must-Watch Shows This Month
This month, Iowa PBS is commemorating members of the armed forces past and present with programs that honor and recognize their contributions, sacrifices and service.
My Grandparents’ War: Carey Mulligan
Follow actress Carey Mulligan as she travels to Japan to learn about her grandfather’s experience as a British naval officer during World War II.
Tune in or livestream Sunday, May 19 at 5 p.m. or watch it on PBS Passport
My Grandparents’ War: Kristin Scott Thomas
Follow actress Kristin Scott Thomas as she pieces together a lost chapter of her family history, learning how her grandfather, a Royal Navy officer, saved thousands at Dunkirk and survived some of World War II’s most devastating battles.
Tune in or livestream Monday, May 20 at 9 p.m. or watch it on PBS Passport
Two Wars: The Road to Integration
Since the earliest days of the Republic, Black Americans have been part of the nation’s fighting force, and Black service members in the United States military fought to defend the very freedoms they could not enjoy as citizens.
Tune in or livestream Sunday, May 26 at 3 p.m. or watch it on PBS Passport
Iowa’s WWII Stories
More than 276,000 Iowans went into military service during World War II. 8,398 never returned. Thousands more who remained at home also played major roles in winning the war. This program honors all of them.
Tune in or livestream Sunday, May 26 at 4 p.m. or watch it on iowapbs.org
The Forgotten War: Iowans in Korea
Hear from Iowans who fought in Korea in this documentary exploring their battlefield experiences and the long-term effects on their lives six decades after they came home.
Tune in or livestream Sunday, May 26 at 5 p.m., watch online or on the PBS App
Iowans Remember Vietnam
Examine one of the most turbulent times in American history from the perspective of those who were there.
Tune in or livestream Sunday, May 26 at 6 p.m., watch online or on the PBS App
National Memorial Day Concert 2024
For over 30 years, this television event has honored the military service and sacrifice of all our men and women in uniform, their families at home, and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Tune in or livestream Sunday, May 26 at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
A Final Landing on Iwo Jima
Follow a 100-year-old veteran of the 4th Marine Division who visit Iwo Jima for the final time, and a son who visits the island hoping it will help him piece his dad's wartime puzzle together.
Tune in or livestream Sunday, May 26 at 10 p.m. You can also watch it online or on the PBS App beginning May 15.
USS Iowa
A legendary battleship built to defend America during WWII, the USS Iowa has lived many lives throughout its existence. This symbol of naval power is intertwined with the stories of those who served through campaigns of triumph and tragedy.
Tune in or livestream Monday, May 27 at 9 p.m., watch online or on the PBS App
The Ghost Army
War, deception, art and glory come together in this documentary film that tells the astonishing true story of American soldiers who tricked the enemy with rubber tanks, sound effects and carefully crafted illusions during World War II.
Tune in or livestream Monday, May 27 at 10 p.m. You can also watch it online or on the PBS App beginning May 15.
The Tuskegee Airmen: Return to Ramitelli
Featuring interviews with many original Tuskegee Airmen, family members, and historians, this documentary also follows the daughter of a Tuskegee Airman back to Italy to visit what remains of the base at Ramitelli.
Tune in or livestream Monday, May 27 at 11 p.m. or watch it on PBS Passport.