About Battle Ready

Seventy-five years ago, America was drawn into World War II and the Pacific Northwest answered the call with lumber, hydroelectricity, even a secret plutonium factory to arm atomic bombs. Soldiers trained here. Cities were transformed by shipyards and airplane assembly lines. Victory was the priority and little thought went toward the environmental toll these efforts would take.

This special report explores the hidden history of the military, the Northwest and the environment. The series also looks at the military’s presence in the Northwest today, including its impact on wildlife that depend on the same habitats where soldiers, sailors and pilots train for war.

Battle Ready: The Military’s Environmental Legacy in the Northwest is an EarthFix and KCTS 9 Digital Studios production built in collaboration with partner stations Oregon Public Broadcasting, Idaho Public Television, KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio, Northwest Public Radio and Television, Jefferson Public Radio, KLCC and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Series Contributors

Digital Development: Joseph Liu
Digital Design: Joseph Liu, Nicole Stanton, Ben Hastie
Producers: Ashley Ahearn, Jes Burns, Katie Campbell, MacGregor Campbell, Ken Christensen, Cassandra Profita, Tony Schick
EarthFix Editor: David Steves
KCTS 9 Digital Director: Patty Lindley
EarthFix Video Managing Editor: Katie Campbell
Copy Editor: Rory Graves

Battle Ready Video Production Credits

The B-17 Credits

Producer/Writer: Katie Campbell
Reporter/Narrator: Ashley Ahearn
Editor: Amy Mahardy
Photography: David Owen Hawxhurst, Michael Werner
Graphic: Lucy Woodworth
Archival Material: The Boeing Company Archives, The Prelinger Archives, U.S. National Archives, U.S. Army Air Forces, Oregon State University Archives, U.S. Office of War Information, National Broadcasting Company, Encyclopedia Britannica Films
Music: FirstCom

Chainsaw Credits

Producer/Writer: Jes Burns
Narrator: Jes Burns
Editor: Kerin Sharma
Photography: Kerin Sharma, David Owen Hawxhurst, Michael Werner
Graphics: Tony Schick
Production Support: Jared Rusk
Additional Research: Carolin Jones, Katie Nelson
Additional Photography: Prelinger Archive, Seattle Municipal Archives, U.S. Forest Service, National Archives, Library of Congress, archive.org, bquad
Music: FirstCom

Shipbreaking Credits

Producer/Writer: Cassandra Profita
Narrator: Cassandra Profita
Photography/Editor: Chris Nolan
Production Support: Carolin Jones
Research: Katie Nelson
Archival Material: Zidell Companies, NorthWest Ecosystem Services, Inc., Oregon Historical Society Research Library, The Oregonian, City of Portland Archives, Kaiser Permanente Heritage Resources, KOIN Phonodisc Collection, Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Music: FirstCom

Toxic Legacy Credits

Producer/Writer: MacGregor Campbell
Narrator: MacGregor Campbell
Animator/Editor: MacGregor Campbell
Videography: John Rosman
Reporters: MacGregor Campbell, Robert McClure/InvestigateWest
Archival Material: Department of Energy, Prelinger Archives
Music: Audio Network

Culture of Silence Credits

Producer/Writer: Ken Christensen
Narrator: Ken Christensen
Editors: Ken Christensen, Amy Mahardy
Photography: Ken Christensen
Graphics: Madeleine Pisaneschi
Additional Photography: Prelinger Archives, U.S. Department of Energy
Music: Daniel Pemberton, Chris Zabriskie, Bob Holroyd

The Growlers Credits

Producer/Writer: Ken Christensen
Narrator: Ken Christensen
Editors: Ken Christensen, Amy Mahardy
Photography: Ken Christensen, Jared Rusk
Graphics: Lucy Woodworth
Additional Photography: Katie Campbell, Charles Nelson, Defense Video Imagery Distribution System, Department of Defense, NAS Whidbey Island, Boeing

Unlikely Refuge Credits

Producer/Writer: Katie Campbell
Narrator: Katie Campbell
Editor: Amy Mahardy
Photography: Ken Christensen, Katie Campbell
Graphics: Madeleine Pisaneschi
Graphics Research: Tony Schick
Production Support: Carolin Jones
Additional Photography: Center for Natural Lands Management, Boland and Parish

This project was made possible in part with funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.