Call to Glory (1984)

Col. Raynor Sarnac is a pilot with the right stuff—he's flown missions in two wars and has risen to command a reconnaissance wing at Laughlin AFB, Texas, where he pilots his fliers and his family through the turbulent Cold War of the early 1960s. In October 1962 Sarnac's wing is ordered to fly continuous U-2 missions over Cuba—to obtain conclusive evidence that the Russians are installing offensive missiles. Meanwhile, Sarnac's wife Vanessa, who lives in constant dread of 'the knock at the door,' is baffled by her youngest son who won't speak to anyone but his sister; and has difficulty coping with a headstrong 16-year-old daughter who's taking flying lessons from her grandfather against her mother's orders.

Craig T. Nelson stars in this critically acclaimed, gripping two hour premiere presentation that launched the exciting weekly CALL TO GLORY, television series. The year was 1962. John F. Kennedy was president, Nikita Krushchev ruled Russia, and the world held its breath as the Cuban missle crisis pushed the two superpowers to the brink of war. Behind the scenes, Air Force pilots flew dangerous spy missions over Cuba to monitor the volatile situation. Many men answered the CALL TO GLORY and many of them never made it back. This is the story of those brave pilots and their families.

The entire Sarnac family is thrown into turmoil when Raynor receives a lucrative job offer in the private sector.

Raynor faces one of his toughest missions as he tries to prevent a bitter ex-pilot from exposing the details of a top secret mission.

The violence spawned by the Civil Rights Movement hits home when Wesley and a black friend are beaten by teenage racists.

A dangerous top-secret mission takes Raynor over Red China to see if the Chinese have developed an Atomic Bomb.

On a mission into the heart of Saigon, Raynor bears personal witness to the horrifying brutality of the government.

Raynor's involvement in a bitter political controversy could cost him a valued friendship...and ruin his military career.

Forced to bail out of a crippled plane, Raynor and a Japanese Air Force officer struggle to survive in a dangerous wilderness.

Raynor is torn between duty and friendship when an Air Force buddy suddenly develops a crippling fear of flying.

While testing a new flight system, Sarnec is hounded by an investigative reporter probing for revelations about defense spending.

Raynor and Vanessa are so involved in their friends' marital problems, they don't notice Carl is facing a crisis of his own.

Tension mounts in the Sarnac household as Raynor prepares for a mission that has already claimed the life of one of his best test pilots.

Raynor is forced to face the harsh truth that an old friend is really a spy for the KGB.

A flight over Vietnam turns into a journey of terror when Raynor is shot down and captured by the North Vietnamese.

Stiff penalties await a pilot who disobeys orders and brings a Russian defector back to America.

The news that a child is on the way puts a wedge in the Sarnacs' marriage as they both try to cope with feelings of doubt and guilt.

Raynor has to fly this top secret mission and go to Washington DC

Raymor meets with President Kennedy. The family goes with him.

This episode mainly concentrates on the relationship between Raynor and Jackie. Jackie is growing into womanhood and Raynor is comming to grips with it.

This episode had the return of Raynor home after the Viet Nam war. Every one had grown up Jackie had a baby. Wesley became a draft dodger and fled to Canada and at the end of the episode he came home to see his father. It was clear that this series was going into a different direction if only ABC would have stuck with it for another season.