During World War II, Walter Cronkite became a preeminent war correspondent and covered many major military engagements up close and personal. However, he did not always content himself just to be an observer and reporter of the conflicts. At times he would take over the firing of a fifty caliber anti-aircraft machine gun to repel German fighters while on board a B-17 on bombing raids over Germany.

After the cessation of hostilities, Cronkite was chosen to cover the trials of top Nazis for war crimes at Nuremberg. For more that a month he sat just a few feet from such infamous personalities as...