Needle in the Haystack

Originally Aired: November 9, 1953

Suspense #525, "Needle in the Haystack," presents a gripping true story from the Korean War, as Commander Don leads a dangerous minesweeping operation in Wonsan Harbor. In October 1951, 250 ships wait helplessly at sea while 20,000 Marines steam in circles, unable to land until the harbor is cleared. Captain Spofford assigns just ten sweepers to a job that would normally require hundreds, facing an unknown number of contact, magnetic, acoustic, and pressure mines. William Holden stars as the commander who must find answers about what kinds of mines lie in wait and where they're positioned so the fleet can finally reach shore.

As conventional sweeping methods fail and experimental aerial bombing proves disastrous, costing the ships Pirate and Pledge, Don takes increasingly desperate measures. With the fleet commander demanding answers and time running out, he makes the perilous decision to swim through the minefield himself, his legs brushing against mines moored just two feet below the surface. When he finally reaches shore, exhausted from his half-hour swim through the deadly waters, a group of Korean fishermen awaits him on the beach.