Is anybody watching "The War"?

[tessler]

Is anybody watching the current PBS documentary, "The War" (http://www.pbs.org/thewar/) by filmmaker Ken Burns?

I am, and while I initially felt the first episode slow-going, it quickly came up to speed and now after two full episodes I'm really, really enthralled by it. I find the narrative thread of the "Four Towns" (http://www.pbs.org/thewar/the_witnesses_towns_luverne.htm) (the 4 U.S. towns affected by persons who were directly involved in military efforts) to be quite compelling. Both of my grandfathers, and at least 5 great uncles and one aunt served their country during this monumental event.

http://www.pbs.org/thewar/images/inline_pics/landing_at_war_03.jpg

[rgvilla]

I don't watch because I don't have TV at home, I will probably get it on DVD because I'm a great history buff. My dad and three uncles all served in WW2 and the experience changed their lives. Ken Burns is a good film maker, I enjoyed his civil war and jazz documentaries.

[BubbaZanetti]

as someone who specialized and studied almost exclusively WWII and Cold War history in college i can honestly say i've forgotten to watch every single episode of this so far

and tonight is House MD night

i prefer to do these sort of miniseries in one fell swoop, when i call in "sick" from work.

i did it with james mitchner's Centennial and it almost killed me

[SNC1923]

I'm watching it and really digging it. The story of this war and the generation who fought it never gets old, at least for me.

Last night there was a really compelling anecdote about a flyer who was to have his arm amputated, but instead the chief surgeon in the hospital inserted maggots into his cast to eat the infection--saving his arm in the process.

It's hard to imagine for us Boomers the sacrifices made by both civilians and military personnel in this war. I recommend viewing it.

[Pat Carol]

I was able to catch bits and pieces. My Dad and Uncles served in all the military branches during WW II. My Dad was a naval Aviator and flw at Midway. My Uncle George (Marine) Iwo Gima. My Uncle Tex was with the Flying Tigers in China and then was caught up at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. My Uncle Tony (Army Air Corp) was shot down and killed flying his B-17 over Nazi Germany.
I am so proud of what they did for me. My Dad was really proud when I came home on leave after completing my air assault training in 1982. After a three year hitch in the Army, I went into the Air Force/Air Guard. Then shortly after that I found myself in the sand box.
Before I left my Dad, Uncle George and Uncle Tex sat me down for a talk. They advised me to keep my nose clean, do not volunteer for anything and fight the enemy and not your fellow troops. It was a very interesting lecture. Three men that have always been and will always be my true heroe's.
I am now retired from the Air Force. Uncle George is still alive and doing well. His
granddaughter (my cousin) flies C-5 Galaxy aircraft out of Dover. My other young cousin is back in the land of sand (Marine). He is 20 years old and has recieved two Purple Hearts. One of my other cousins was killed in battle in Anbar Province.
I am proud to have a patriotic family and proud of the support from all of you. I miss being in the military. I just wish that the politicians would have listened to Colin Powell. I will not get into any details. You have heard only a fraction of the mis-management of the wars in the sand. I love my country but, I disagree with some of the decisions that have been made in regards to the current situation.


Take Care and Ride Safe
Pat Carol :usa

[grossjohann]

My father-in-law has been watching it. We had a 45 min conversation about it this evening before dinner. Sounds like a great series. He was happy to see some footage from inside Germany worked into the footage from the US to give some insight into both sides of the story... He was in the Coast Guard durring the war.

[wezul]

Yup, I have been watching, in fact, watching the episodes two or three times as time permits as in my opinion you cannot sit continuously for 2 – 2.5 hrs without a break (mostly business demands require me to take a pause).
Interesting to see both the impressions of the men and women involved in the conflict and also what was going on here.
World conflicts seem to have a cohesive effect on a national populous, while limited conflicts seems to splinter it.
That’s all I’m going to say about that.

[Fritzc]

I was able to catch bits and pieces. My Dad and Uncles served in all the military branches during WW II. My Dad was a naval Aviator and flw at Midway. My Uncle George (Marine) Iwo Gima. My Uncle Tex was with the Flying Tigers in China and then was caught up at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. My Uncle Tony (Army Air Corp) was shot down and killed flying his B-17 over Nazi Germany.
I am so proud of what they did for me. My Dad was really proud when I came h<snip>

Take Care and Ride Safe
Pat Carol :usa

Hey Pat! Is your blood really olive drab?? Thanks for your service. :wave :usa

[John Brase]

Episode 3 included the Italian campaign and specifically the Anzio beachhead. My dad (45th Infantry Div.) went into Anzio in the first wave and spent four months pinned down on the beach till they were able to break out. He attributes his survival to an ability to hide really well.:)

In all my years growing up I can only recall him telling maybe four war stories, and they were all funny ones. In the last few years he has begun telling some of the real stories. I'd like to get them on tape for the Veterans History Project but it is difficult because he only talks about it when he wants to, not necessarily when I want him to.

John

[tessler]

I was able to catch bits and pieces. My Dad and Uncles served in all the military branches during WW II. My Dad was a naval Aviator and flw at Midway. My Uncle George (Marine) Iwo Gima. My Uncle Tex was with the Flying Tigers in China and then was caught up at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. My Uncle Tony (Army Air Corp) was shot down and killed flying his B-17 over Nazi Germany.
I am so proud of what they did for me. My Dad was really proud when I came home on leave after completing my air assault training in 1982. After a three year hitch in the Army, I went into the Air Force/Air Guard. Then shortly after that I found myself in the sand box.
Before I left my Dad, Uncle George and Uncle Tex sat me down for a talk. They advised me to keep my nose clean, do not volunteer for anything and fight the enemy and not your fellow troops. It was a very interesting lecture. Three men that have always been and will always be my true heroe's.
I am now retired from the Air Force. Uncle George is still alive and doing well. His
granddaughter (my cousin) flies C-5 Galaxy aircraft out of Dover. My other young cousin is back in the land of sand (Marine). He is 20 years old and has recieved two Purple Hearts. One of my other cousins was killed in battle in Anbar Province.
I am proud to have a patriotic family and proud of the support from all of you. I miss being in the military. I just wish that the politicians would have listened to Colin Powell. I will not get into any details. You have heard only a fraction of the mis-management of the wars in the sand. I love my country but, I disagree with some of the decisions that have been made in regards to the current situation.That's a great post, Pat.

Many thanks to you and the many members of your family for your service.

The one sentence that stuck out, to me, was your description of your Uncle Tony being shot down and killed flying his B-17 over Nazi Germany. A chilling segment in the second episode of the series (monday night), recounted air raids over enemy territory and the fates of bombers and their crews.

I remember the "World At War" series from the 70s, narrated by Laurence Olivier, with it's linear, timeline presentation, grainy black and white footage and still photographs. It was a phenomenal undertaking at the time, highly regarded (I watched it with my Dad, who served in Europe in the 50s) and well deserved of its many accolades. This new one, by Ken Burns, quite possibly goes beyond the achievement of the earlier documentary, with this incredible richness of material and anecdote: color footage; home movies; personal snapshots; frank recounting of the treatment of American minorities. It addresses the homefront and the battlefield like few films have done before with an almost 3 dimensional result.

[rinty]

I was only able to watch part of one episode, and I'm going to have to see the whole series, so hopefully they will re run it.



Rinty

[screwtop]

I've caught bits and pieces of "The War", but lately have been continuing my reading about the conflict. Just finshed a long book on Guadalcanal, and picked up another one called "One Square Mile of Hell" about the Battle of Tarawa Island.

For my next read, I'll go back to the ETO.

I am always awed by the sacrifices that were made by the men that fought in these wars. From what I've read so far, the Pacific theatre seems a bit more interesting. The Japs got the Hun beat when it comes to ferocity in battle, and it makes for more interesting reading, IMHO.

[sjbmw]

Every night. What a show. Of course, Burn's films are all outstanding, all the way back to his first one, "The Brooklyn Bridge".

My father arrived in France D-Day + 3 and fought under Patton at age 20.
There is a pic somewhere of him and a buddy on the balcony of Hitler's castle.
He received the Croix de Guerre from France for saving a bus full of school kids from a Luftwaffe air raid.
He never spoke about the war, I learned these things AFTER he passed.

This show is a MUST see for EVERYONE.

rinty, what channel is it on in Canada?

[rkasal]

The Sullivan brothers (five brothers KIA at once on a ship) were from Waterloo, Iowa and not the town in Iowa mentioned.

Regards,


Randy Kasal

[Bob_M]

With the story told by soldiers, and not historians or officers, the real character of the fighting rings very true. In that regard the horror and heroism is the same as in any war. Without being political, this retelling of the WWII history can shed light on the war the US is currently fighting . The American soldier can not be thanked enough.

[OfficerImpersonator]

The DVR is recording it for me, but I haven't started watching it yet.

Based upon the positive reviews, I'm looking forward to viewing the programs even more than I was before.

[ultracyclist]

I am catching bits and pieces. I will probably get the dvd set.

My father was a test pilot for Consolidated Aircraft (B-24's, PBY's, etc.) and has talked about his adventures often. He is lucky to be alive in that the military had some peculiar notions on what would fly.

My late uncle (father's brother) was in the Army on Saipan and Tinian and never really talked about it because he was uncomfortable.

[gpolakow]

I have watched each episode and am looking forward to tonight's, too. Like all of Ken Burns' stuff, this is truly excellent and well worth the time.

[tessler]

I am catching bits and pieces. I will probably get the dvd set.

My father was a test pilot for Consolidated Aircraft (B-24's, PBY's, etc.) and has talked about his adventures often. He is lucky to be alive in that the military had some peculiar notions on what would fly.

My late uncle (father's brother) was in the Army on Saipan and Tinian and never really talked about it because he was uncomfortable.

My great-uncle Mike was an Army photographer who was with the 28th Infantry for the Liberation of Paris. He took snaps of the Parade, etc. but one day came upon a scene of French women collaborators being beaten, head-shaved and lynched by angry mobs. His rolls of film were bought by Life magazine, but deemed too graphic to publish. He never kept copies; he didn't want them. That scene haunted him as much as any military combat had, till the very end.

[ultracyclist]

...on how the series will treat the liberation of the concentration camps.

[sjbmw]

The show also has a member of the crew of the Indianapolis. I am waiting for the tale he has to tell.

It is riveting filmaking.

This movie should be required for all US High Schools.

[StoneMason]

I am a new member & am just trying to figure things out. But my Aunt June was a nurse all the way through from north africa to the liberation of the concentration camps. She died last fall the day before her kid sister. She wrote a self published book "Bedpan Commandos", which while not great liturature is great window to the past & the trials & suffering people endured. I am not good with computers & can't find the spell check so give me some slack in that regard. I love every thing Burns has done for PBS.

[rinty]

Rinty what channel is it on in Canada?.....sjbbmw

Herb:

It's on PBS and PBSHD; 14 and 204 with our provider, Shaw Cable.

Caught most of tonight's episode and the rest is on going on PVR.

It's one of the saddest war shows I've seen.

Rinty

[tessler]

I am a new member & am just trying to figure things out. But my Aunt June was a nurse all the way through from north africa to the liberation of the concentration camps. She died last fall the day before her kid sister. She wrote a self published book "Bedpan Commandos", which while not great liturature is great window to the past & the trials & suffering people endured. I am not good with computers & can't find the spell check so give me some slack in that regard. I love every thing Burns has done for PBS.Welcome aboard and thanks for the recollection about your Aunt. :thumb

[Pat Carol]

Hey Pat! Is your blood really olive drab?? Thanks for your service. :wave :usa

It is a mix of olive drab and desert camo.

PC

[billp]

I grew up in a Catholic French-Irish home in Massachusetts. My parents had 9 children in 13 years. My Dad did not go to college so he had to work hard to take care of all of us kids. I remember he had 3 jobs, his day job, his night job and his weekend job.

The only time we would see him for any length of time was Sundays. That when we would have Sunday dinner after mass. We did not have any money but we ate well. My Dad made sure of it. He did all the cooking. My Mom could not cook, she must of had other attributes. (Don't go there). During the meal there was wine served and perhaps after dinner cordials. Some times war stories would come out.

He served 3-4 years in WWII. First they trained him to fight Rommel in Africa by sending him to the Mojave Desert for 6 months. When he went overseas they sent him to England. Makes sense right? The funny story he told was about the time the GI's were in a bar and it was time to get back to the base. So the GI's piled into the top of a double decker bus. The driver said" I'm not going to bring you Bloody Yanks anywhere." So my Dad being the feisty type grabbed him out of the drivers seat and attempted to steal the bus. (Think right hand drive and shifting). While he was grinding away at the gears the Driver found a Bobby and they started chasing them on a bicycle blowing a whistle.
Finially they make the gate at the base and everyone on the bus jumps off and runs inside. Including the driver, Dad. The main gate guard was shocked to see that there was no driver left on the bus.

He got away with it because the Lt in charge called him out and asked him if he had anything to do with the bus last night. Well, he was told to get lost for the afternoon because the driver and the Police were going to be on base today looking for the guy who stole the bus.

Other times my Fathers mood grew dark and he said" Pray to God that you never have to see war in your own country." We knew what he meant.
He fought on the ground in France, this was after being a side gunner in a B17.
Now he is 86 yrs old. He is at the YMCA almost every day. He worked very hard most of his life. He is my hero.

[FatChance]

This movie should be required for all US High Schools.
I agree with you 100% and have been saying the same thing in other forums. This history isn't taught in schools anymore and we all need to know what happened (good and bad) back then to appreciate what those people did and went through.

My dad was in Holland and received a Silver Star, Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts and lost a leg before coming home. I don't remember him ever talking about the war all the way up until his death 30 years ago. He was a true hero.

[billp]

I agree with you 100% and have been saying the same thing in other forums. This history isn't taught in schools anymore and we all need to know what happened (good and bad) back then to appreciate what those people did and went through.

My dad was in Holland and received a Silver Star, Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts and lost a leg before coming home. I don't remember him ever talking about the war all the way up until his death 30 years ago. He was a true hero.

+1

[Bob_M]

This series shows that sacrifice was given and effort was put forth not just by the soldiers, but by every member of society. The country was unified by the common goal and it was a mighty force.
The twaddle that currently occupies the nightly news hardly sounds like it could be coming from the same country.

[650pilot]

He died 1-1/2 years ago. He flew B-26's & B-25's in the 15th AF, 319th Bomb Grp off the islands of Corsica & Sardina 6/44-2/45. He had about 25 missions in B-26's & about 20 in B-25's, bombing bridges & railroad junctions so the Germans couldn't retreat up into Germany. The Germans knew they were going for the bridges & RR yards so that's where they set up thier flak guns. Needless to say the Germans got to be pretty good shots after they set up on their bomb runs. You had to fly straight & level for about 60 seconds to line up on the target & the Germans knew it. One time they got hit in the nosecone & the navigator/bombadier was hit & bled to death because my dad (the pilot) & the co-pilot couldn't get down into the nose to help the guy cause it took both of them to keep the plane under control. His unit was and still is the only combat unit to take off 6 abreast, in B-26's no less. I could tell more stories because he did tell me alot of his experiences but I would take up too much space. We own alot to that generation that's for sure. He was only 20 years old when he was overseas. His CO was an "old guy" at 26! they called themselves Colonel Randy's Flying Circus. An amazing time.

[wuli959]

We're losing some our finest every day.

My folks live in Hendersonville, NC and a gentleman there organized a super recognition for WWII vets by flying them to DC to visit the memorial there.

I was honored to be able to join them for a flight to escort two of the finest gentleman I have every met.

Amazing folk, they are.

http://www.honorair.com/

support it or similar actions in your state. :thumb

partial list

Honor Flight Tennessee Valley - www.honorflight.net

Memorial Flight, Tarboro, NC - www.memorialflight.org

Honor Flight South Georgia - sgamoaa.org

First Coast HonorAir, Clay County, Florida - www.firstcoasthonorair.com

American Warrior and Connecticut Honor Flight - www.AmericanWarrior.us

[KGT1200]

This series shows that sacrifice was given and effort was put forth not just by the soldiers, but by every member of society. The country was unified by the common goal and it was a mighty force.
The twaddle that currently occupies the nightly news hardly sounds like it could be coming from the same country.

Since I was not born yet, I merely guess here. I think everyone was without doubt that the enemy was real and had to be stopped, so coming together for a common goal or defense was a natural progression in "The War"

I have never read anything dealing with the long range lunacy Hitler had planned if he was to take the Americas, but we as Americans tend to forget the sacrifice Americans made to lead the charge in stopping him, and what would of happened if Nazi panthers had not ran out of gas and his Nazi mezerschmidts would of razed London and New York.


The War series reminds me of the size and scope of WWII, and then referencing today’s Iraq and Afghanistan as only the small beginning in a potential war. WWII should never be allowed to happen again at any cost. That’s what I bring home by this show.

[Bokrijder]

The War series reminds me of the size and scope of WWII, and then referencing today’s Iraq and Afghanistan as only the small beginning in a potential war. WWII should never be allowed to happen again at any cost. That’s what I bring home by this show.


redclfco,

England took the path of doing anything to prevent WWII from happening.
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain led the charge.
His leadership came within a hair's width of sacrificing England to the Nazi fire.

Motard

[sjbmw]

I never checked the schedule, and was I disappointed last night. No show!

Have to wait until Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday...
I need my fix!!

Here is the PBS 27 minute trailer, about the making of "The War"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEItXS35g8o

[KGT1200]

redclfco,

England took the path of doing anything to prevent WWII from happening.
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain led the charge.
His leadership came within a hair's width of sacrificing England to the Nazi fire.

Motard

Do historians figure that if Hitler's forces would of met a group of nations force earlier that Nazi Germany, could he been halted before spreading to Eastern Europe and Africa? If a group of nations would of punched his lights out after Poland went down, could of the war been avoided?

[PHMarvin]

Hi, Redclfco,

Do historians figure that if Hitler's forces would of met a group of nations force earlier that Nazi Germany, could he been halted before spreading to Eastern Europe and Africa? If a group of nations would of punched his lights out after Poland went down, could of the war been avoided?

A group of nations DID try - England and France, to name 2. It took a few years, with a lot more help. What I've read speculates that if England and, especially, France, had stood their ground and forced Hitler to retreat when he remilitarized the Rhineland in 1936, WWII might have been averted, at least in Europe. But WWII DID happen and the BMW R75M was developed and saw much action in the war (obligatory BMW content).

[rinty]

I think it was the period during the campaign into the Rhineland that Hitler later said was the tensest 24 hours of his life. He expected that England and France might intervene.

I just read part of a biography of Lord Londonderry (Hitler's friend) which gave me a new perspective of the Brits' attitudes toward Hitler's government before the war. Chamberlain has always been tagged as the ultimate appeaser, but that sentiment was very prevalent in the country at the time, with the Lord trying to foster close relations between the Reich leadership and the British government.

Rinty

[Red100RT]

Bring back the draft:thumb Only one member of our esteemed congress has a son or daughter taking part in today's war (fiasco) or should I say illegal invasion of a sovereign country which is exactly what it is.:banghead

[Bokrijder]

Ken Burns' current film and this thread focus on the personal experience of the war rather than the war's history. In that light, we are a bit off topic here.

As mentioned, many did agree with Chamberlain and France is often taken to task for its actions, but we must be hesitant to pass judgement. WWI had a devastating impact on these countries and their civilian populations. Numbers vary, but France lost 25 to 30% of its male military age & qualified population as casualties in WWI. In those days, contrary to today, a very large number of the non-fatal casualties did not return to society. 1917 to 1936- not many years to recover. WWI was a war of 5 thousand unknowns to each mass grave. England shared a near equal calamity. France lost huge areas of fertile land to battle field waste.
The populations and leaders of both countries had a difficult time getting the stomach up for any more conflict until it was kicking them in the face.

I do wish that Ken would produce a film highlighting personal experiences of WWII on both sides of the pond: and in fact, both sides of the conflict. Such a work would help take our understanding of the conflict beyond the stark and sterile observations of many historians.

Maybe another thread if members would like to discuss history [edit] or present day politics.

Motard

[rgvilla]

[QUOTE=Statdawg;243054]Too much violence, I am watching the Striking Viking on the National Geographic Channel at 9 PM. It is about an adventure rider captured by Rebels in Columbia. His time with them, his torture, starving, denying death and his release. His true adventure was on a KLR but in the TV version he is on a F650 GS so the Germans won this one. :)

, the one year duty in an exotic land under fire didn't exist. Those that came home put their uniforms in a cedar chest and went to work instead of going to the VA looking for PTSD compensation, handicapped parking, and a accommodating government career.

I take issue with some of your assumptions here Chris. Not all of us went to the VA looking for compensation. I am diagnosed PTSD and never took a dime in disability. I know many Vietnam Vets who did the same and I don't begrudge the disability benefits to those that get it. I'm not going to debate whether or not getting shot at during WW2 was better or worse than getting shot at in Vietnam. to me getting shot at is getting shot at. It was statistically safer to be a Marine in the pacific than a B-17 crewman over Europe but I'm sure that was cold comfort to the guys on any of those Islands. As either Willie or Joe of Bill Mauldin fame said "the hell this isn't the most important foxhole in the world, I'm in it" when the invasion of the mainland was getting all the news and army units were still slugging it out up the boot of Italy. I don't have the stats in front of me but a good percentage of the casualties in field hospitals during the war were battle fatigue. It was common knowledge that a man could only take so much time on the front before he just broke. In his book beyond band of brothers. Richard Winters talks about this. Some men could take more, some less. My dad underwent electro shock therapy after flying 33 missions as a tail gunner on a B-17 with the 95th group of the 8th air force. He wasn't a coward, he just couldn't take it anymore. He won the DFC and was confirmed with 6 enemy fighers downed. He also confessed to me that he shot down one of his own planes in the heat of battle, we were both drunk at the time. He said he used to dream he was standing on a hill looking down at the bombed out german cities and someone was saying to him, "I sure wouldn't want to be responsible for that." Another uncle who was in the infantry in the pacific was an alcoholic and died of that disease. Vietnam infantry vets were in combat on a daily basis for most of the year in country. I flew combat missions every day and got a good up close look at the evil of war, justified or not. REMF'S need to be careful of there criticisms. When you've walked a mile in my combat boots then you can criticize me for PTSD, or battle fatigue or shell shock or whatever it is you want to call it. Until then I'll enjoy my cushy government job.

[Fritzc]

My Dad was my hero! He tried to enlist in 1942 at age 37, had no teeth and suffered from severe asthma. He stood around naked in Fort Wayne in Detroit for seven hours then was sent home to serve out the war as a pharmacist in a drug store.
I think he should get a medal. He tried!! :clap I was too young for Korea and too old for Viet Nam and my grandpa was too old for WW I. It seems the men in my family were all in skip generations. My son served proudly in the Marine Corps and was discharged just before desert storm. His buddy who enlisted in the USMC for six years, got to ride around in a Bradley Fighting Machine (I think that is what it was) during Desert Storm and never saw anything but could hear all the fighting going on around him. Then he spent the rest of his time guarding a lot of very happy Iraqi prisoners of war. They were happy because they thought it was over. Little did they know.

[Hodag]

I watched part of it last night, pretty decent. I really enjoyed the Vet Interviews. The story of the last Plains Indian War Chief was a really neat story.

[dlearl476]

I watched part of it last night, pretty decent. I really enjoyed the Vet Interviews. The story of the last Plains Indian War Chief was a really neat story.


+1

I heard on one episode that this is the first time a lot of these guys are even talking about the war. I know my uncle, now deceased, would never talk about his time as a Marine pilot, except in the framework of his love of flying. I know from my dad, a Navy pilot, that my uncle witnessed his best friend cut to pieces by a P 41 Thuderbolt prop, but he never talked about it, or any other of the multitude of horrors I'm sure he witnessed.

My dad was a Navy flight instructor, my mom a Wave Link Trainer instructor so this history has always fascinated me. Dad never saw combat, but had the distinction of being the only bomber pilot slated for the invasion of japan that hadn't seen combat. When the war ended, we was training with the other pilots for carrier take-offs a la Jimmy Doolittle "30 Seconds over Tokyo" for that invasion.

I think the thing that has impressed me the most with this telling of the story is how EVERY American was at war, from 8 year old kids to grandparents.

[FatChance]

Bring back the draft:thumb Only one member of our esteemed congress has a son or daughter taking part in today's war (fiasco) or should I say illegal invasion of a sovereign country which is exactly what it is.:banghead

I don't think this thread about WW2 and the heroes who helped give us the freedoms we have (including your freedom to post this elsewhere) is the place for this sort of crap.

[tessler]

I don't think this thread about WW2 and the heroes who helped give us the freedoms we have (including your freedom to post this elsewhere) is the place for this sort of crap.
One of the interviewees, in last night's program, recounted how the public treated them as heroes, but they, themselves, felt like "regular guys, just doing the job we were supposed to do".

Ken Burns himself has publicly stated that this (his) film, the actual subject of this thread, draws parallels to the current debacle in Iraq.

From an interview on the Chris Wallace Show on Fox:

"Every thing sort of becomes draped in this bloodless gallant myth and what I think we have to remember is this is the worst war, it’s responsible for the deaths of 60 million people. We understand why people call it the good war because the country was more or less united, our causes were unambiguous. We didn’t debate it every night—whether we should be in or whether we shouldn’t…

As the decades have come, as we’ve removed ourselves from it, we’ve begun to see it as a safe black and white war. It’s exactly what’s happening on the streets of Baghdad. It was horrible and these young men had experiences common to all wars. I was scared, I was bored, I was hot, I was cold, my officers didn’t know what they were doing. I didn’t have the right equipment. I saw bad things, I did bad things. I lost good friends.—Now we have a separate military class that suffers its losses apart; alone from the rest of us. We are disconnected. We weren’t asked to do anything after 9/11"

I think that's a rather intelligent quote.

[crazydrummerdude]

I'm afraid of where this thread might go.

My grandfather was on Iwo Jima. I've got all the letters he wrote home (that we know of) during the war, and this coming winter (when I have free time), I plan on making an electronic version of all of them to share with people interested. It's interesting to read through them and watch someone grow up/evolve.. through such an event.

...and I haven't seen a single episode. Probably should.

[KGT1200]

"He awoke to feel the warm blood running down his face, and he was surprised at the saltiness of it and how he felt no pain, just a stillness that seems to settle in around him".

The shadows of many men still running by him was without sound, and the flash of exploding mortars around him seemed distant and he was no longer afraid”

Which war did this quote come from? Was it WWI, WWII, Korea, Afghanistan (Russian occupation) or Afghanistan (American occupation) or Kuwait, or Iraq?


It don't matter because the tragedy, the courage, the loss and sacrifice , all is real, and so was the blood running down his face. It was written by an unknown author about Korea, but could have been written about any war.

[Fritzc]

I watched this battle on Ken Burns documentary. The summary at the end said
the result was not strategically important! I wonder if the thirteen thousand thirty one men who died there knew that? War is Hell!!!!!!!!

"On November 25, 1944, after weeks of brutal fighting that killed 2,336 Americans and 10,695 Japanese, Peleliu was declared secure."