Band of Brothers verse The Pacific

[reklawd]

I've been on my yearly war kick (docs, series, books). I'm sick as a dog this last week (lost 10 lbs) and watched the Pacific again (on Netflix).

My grandfather was a 1st Marine in the Pacific.

The European WWII series and docs seem to dramatize war. Band of Brothers is easy to rewatch.

The Pacific is brutal and probably the most realistic. IMHO the worst place to be on the battlefield. Even over the trenches of WWI. Marooned on islands with no supplies fighting jungle diseases and an enemy that would not surrender.

It not as well known/estimated, but the Japanese probably killed 2x the number of Chinese than the Germans killed of Europeans and Soviets.

My grandfather died racist as **** of Japs. He was a golden glove champ and only person to survive his platoon, twice. I still have his Colt 45. It wasn't actually issued to him (it has someone else's initials on it, someone who didn't make it back) because my grandfather lost his in battle and had to take one off a fallen brother.

 

[reklawd]

Now I'm watching Band of Brothers. I do like the testimonials at the beginning and of course it has better charactor development. But not close to the gore.

 

[BillsCamino]

Skip Muck in Easy Co and the Niland Brothers in Saving Pvt. Ryan were from the same small town that I grew up in.
There's a Memorial in place next to the Niagara River

 

[MR3663]

I've been on my yearly war kick (docs, series, books). I'm sick as a dog this last week (lost 10 lbs) and watched the Pacific again (on Netflix).

My grandfather was a 1st Marine in the Pacific.

The European WWII series and docs seem to dramatize war. Band of Brothers is easy to rewatch.

The Pacific is brutal and probably the most realistic. IMHO the worst place to be on the battlefield. Even over the trenches of WWI. Marooned on islands with no supplies fighting jungle diseases and an enemy that would not surrender.

It not as well known/estimated, but the Japanese probably killed 2x the number of Chinese than the Germans killed of Europeans and Soviets.

My grandfather died racist as **** of Japs. He was a golden glove champ and only person to survive his platoon, twice. I still have his Colt 45. It wasn't actually issued to him (it has someone else's initials on it, someone who didn't make it back) because my grandfather lost his in battle and had to take one off a fallen brother.

The greatest generation…..
40 years ago I worked in a factory elbow to elbow with two guys that served in each theater. They rarely talked about it but when they did they convinced me…….war is hell.
They were young men forced to serve and some of the things they did……..just for meanness OMG
They have long since passed away and I suppose by today’s standards they’d be considered racists, but today’s standards didn’t have to live through the hell they did.
I know for a fact either would have walked rather than owning a Japanese or German automobile 😳😳

 

[LARGO9]

Love them both, watch them atleast twice a year

 

[Wile E. Coyote 5.0]

My grandfather was in the ARMY in Europe and was also a golden glove champion, lol. He didn't talk about the war but he brought home a German officers sword I was supposed to get but it magically vanished when my dad died

 

[reklawd]

My grandfather was in the ARMY in Europe and was also a golden glove champion, lol. He didn't talk about the war but he brought home a German officers sword I was supposed to get but it magically vanished when my dad died

My 1st cousins (his other grandkids) have a Japanese sword and flag.

 

[reklawd]

The greatest generation…..
40 years ago I worked in a factory elbow to elbow with two guys that served in each theater. They rarely talked about it but when they did they convinced me…….war is hell.
They were young men forced to serve and some of the things they did……..just for meanness OMG
They have long since passed away and I suppose by today’s standards they’d be considered racists, but today’s standards didn’t have to live through the hell they did.
I know for a fact either would have walked rather than owning a Japanese or German automobile 😳😳

I’m fortunate in that I spent some time around WWII vets and they have been gracious enough to tell me their stories.

Honestly, one of the most impactful ones was when I took a semester at Gainesville College to get some college credits and in a history class he brought in an ex Nazi youth who was enlisted in like 1944 or 45 at the end of the war when he was 14. This person never saw action, but was able to give me insight into what the Soviets did when they took over Berlin, including raping all the women in his family. Imagine growing up and being brainwashed into the fascist Nazi party, and then watching everything crumble around you, feeling guilt for something you were born into.

 

[MR3663]

I’m fortunate in that I spent some time around WWII vets and they have been gracious enough to tell me their stories.

Honestly, one of the most impactful ones was when I took a semester at Gainesville College to get some college credits and in a history class he brought in an ex Nazi youth who was enlisted in like 1944 or 45 at the end of the war when he was 14. This person never saw action, but was able to give me insight into what the Soviets did when they took over Berlin, including raping all the women in his family. Imagine growing up and being brainwashed into the fascist Nazi party, and then watching everything crumble around you, feeling guilt for something you were born into.

I feel like you probably have but if not All Quiet on the Western Front is a movie that might interest you. Empathy is a powerful tool……..or can be if one is willing.

 

[atscott]

My grandfather was a 3rd Marine Artillery Scout on Iwo and other islands afterwards.

He invited me and my wife to an Iwo Jima survivors reception hosted by Berry College many years ago. It was a fantastic experience and we got to meet many remarkable men, including 3 of the "Wind Talkers".

The production/publicist folks from The Pacific or HBO were there handing out merch. I've still got a hat somewhere. It took me several more years to actually see it but from what few stories I've heard it's the most accurate representation of fighting that occurred in that theater.