Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Band of Brothers

I was bought this Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg epic for Xmas. Just finished watching the final episode. Have to say it's one of the finest war documentaries/ series I've seen. The filming, acting, effects and attention to detail are amazing. IMO it really captured what it must have been like to be there, very sobering. I'm not a war freak by any means but am glad that I was given this present. Makes you realise and not forget what a sacrifice these guys made and indeed still make for our freedom and security. Totally recommended viewing for those who haven't already seen it.

I agree. An oustanding series. I watched it when it first came on HBO over here and catch it as often as possible on the History Channle re-runs.

This is based on a true story although I'm sure some details were changed for artistic reasons. The books are just tremendous as is the video. Another great story is Tom Borkaw's Greatest Generation.

The people who fought in WWII went through hard times during the depression and then fought a brutual war-although I guess all wars are brutal. My hat is off to all of the people who have served this country-regardless of the politics behind it. "Hate war-respect the warriers."

A tip of the hat to one of my favorite authors, the late Stephen E. Ambrose.

History trivia --

After defeating the world's most powerful army with a greatly outnumbered group of civilian soldiers, General George Washington said during his retirement speech:

"Who, that was not a witness, could imagine that the most violent local prejudices would cease so soon, and that Men who came from the different parts of the Continent, strongly disposed, by the habits of education, to despise and quarrel with each other, would instantly become but one patriotic band of Brothers, or who, that was not on the spot, can trace the steps by which such a wonderful revolution has been effected, and such a glorious period put to all our warlike toils?"

Quoted from
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mgw:@field(DOCID+@lit(gw270250))

Two errors I know of is that Blith (sp) the trooper who had the hysterical blindness epidsode, did not die in europe. He survived to fight in Korea. But did die of the wound he received in europe in the 1960's after giving the bullet that wounded him to his son.

In an interview I read on Major Winters. He said the whole flash back episode of the smiling german soldier he shot on the dike was fictional.

Although Major Winters used to autograph letters sent him and books. He no longer dose. He has parkinsons and wishes to live his old age out in peace.

Larry

I'm an Ambrose fan, but he has had his 'problems'

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&s...ism&spell=1

Was very well done movie/series.....but I still feel that although not as realistic "The Longest Day" is all time best WWII epic.

In this vein, has anyone seen "In the Shadow of the Blade"?

It is about Vietnam vets, a Huey flown cross-country and reconciliation. It runs on the various Discovery channels( Disc, War, History,etc). These are 100% true stories of brave men and women who did their duty for their country and never got properly thanked.

Sorry, but I have to brag because my daughter and her husband filmed and produced this documentary. It is an excellent story with beautiful photography. Check it out if you get a chance.

My son-in-law is a helicopter cinematographer and does the wildest stuff I can think of but his wife doesn't want him to have a motorcycle.

Agreed. After watching the series on HBO, I got the audio book. HIGHLY recommended.

-brent

Many in my family fought in WWII. Heck, many served as far back as the French & Indian War. I have relatives who fought on both sides of the Civil War/War of Northern Aggression. I have relatives serving in Iraq right now. There was/is no "greatest generation." The sacrifices and service of each generation of warriors is no more or less than that of any other generation of warriors. Those who faced the British in 1776 and 1812, each other in 1861, the WWI & WWII warriors and those who today battle Islamofacists in Iraq are of the same mettle and quality. The technology of war may change but the character of our warriors remains the same through the generations. While I honor the sacrifices made by our fathers I believe those serving today are the equal of any who have come before them. The youngsters fighting in Baghdad today are the equal of their grandfathers who fought at Anzio and Iwo Jima. They are as deserving of honor as their forebears who died, on both sides, in Pickets Charge and they bring as much honor to us as those who battled at Bunker’s Hill and Yorktown. Despite spending the majority of my service in combat units, I have never been in combat. The opening moments of Saving Private Ryan scared the hell out of me and gave me some tiny appreciation of the terror my uncles must have experienced in 1943-45. From what I’ve heard our youngsters are getting a taste of that today while facing an enemy even more determined to destroy our society. I hope that when you meet these young warriors you remember that they are but the latest in a long line of heroes by whose grace we enjoy the freedoms and privileges they have earned for us.

Well said Larry, and I agree 100%

Totally agree also lads. There's a lot of controversy at the moment over here in the press. There's quite a few reports that some of our units are under supplied with less than adequate equipment and apparently a lot of barracks housing are in serious disrepair. I love this government, prisoners now have more rights and live in better conditions than our army it would seem!

Larry, outstanding post.

A common misconception. The term "the Greatest Generation", taken from the book by Tom Brokaw, does not apply exclusively to those who served in the military during WWII. It applies to all of those born roughly around the time of WWI, those who came of age during the great depression, fought WWII and sacrificed at home in the way of rationing and working towards keeping things going at home. Those who went on to build the industrial might of the USA. Those who through their efforts built the modern middle class and restructured society through union activism and hard work. In fact, the whole course of our nation was irreversibly changed in the way of civil rights and women's roles in the workforce and home by that generation.

Now, understand that I very much respect and support those who serve in the military and lay their lives on the line as their duty. (Regardless of my feelings as to why).
But, the uniform does not make a hero, one's actions do that. Just as one's action can disgrace that uniform. There is the full spectrum of human foibles in every group. Including the military.
To refer to every one of them as "heroes" is inaccurate and does a disservice to those who deserve the title.

Well said, Bill. All should be considered as individuals, not the group they find themselves in.....

-----------------
Hank

Ladis,

Want to start off by saying I agree with the honor and respect of ALL of our warriors from all times. Being a vet that served through a peacetime stint, I too only got a small touch of the horror that our boys on the beach must have felt that day. WOW!

I just want to say that I do not think that when we refer to the "greatest generation" that we only refer to the service men and women. The sacrifice made by our society in general during the war is referred to as well. There was much controversy about entering the war in Europe. Not too much after that fateful day in December when we now had two major theaters of battle on our hands. Agree or disagree but as as a whole our people pulled together to ensure that our service members had what they needed to get their job done. How they reacted when folks came home and the war was over mattered too. We took care of our vets. We made do so that we could get them housing, better education, job support etc. Stuff this "all about me" generation we now live would not have a clue about doing. That is what I think the "greatest generation" refers to. I do not think it is meant as a slight toward any other generation that sacrificed and made a tough struggle through conflict. I think this is just a kind description of a generation that is still with us for a very, very short time. For those that still have folks of that era present, please learn and enjoy from their experiences.

I have been a huge fan of BofB's since it came out on HBO. I watched it religiously while the series played out. Awesome docu-drama. Will gladly watch and re-watch and re-watch reruns of this series.

It is quite true that the term "Greatest Generation" as is described by Brokaw refers to the civilian population that supported the war in terms of supply and manufacturing and the supply chain thereof. As well as the sacrifices that went into putting up with WW2.

I think that generation was and is still unsurpassed in every category across the board in that overall respect.

As to referring to military people as "heroes" I do not feel the term is overused in this day and age simply because they are all volunteers and remain a select few in terms of our complete population. In this era it is still the majority who never dream of entering military service.

In the US today there is still a large untapped resource of young men and women who simply do not care to serve and of course those who view themselves as always headed for college and a future in the professions who consider the military to be low class. (Yes, sadly there are those who view it thusly)

So for the sake of levity we often refer to those who do view military service as an honor and indeed a duty or those who did choose the military as a viable career option to be "heroes"

There are many across the board who would not dream of military service unless it was mandated by a draft.

An idea whos time has come in my humble opinion. (a draft)

WW2 saw hundreds and hundreds of thousands who simply saw the need to volunteer as opposed to being drafted. The manpower needs were humongous.

In that respect many of our current generation are lacking in terms of being considered equals to their forebears.

I do not speak of those who do serve but the great untapped resource of everyday Americans who consider themselves too good to serve.

The closest thing to "Heroic" that I ever did whilst I wore this countrys uniform. Was drag a drunken buddy out of a Honolulu strip joint before the Samoan bouncer broke him into small pieces.

Haha funny! and big of you to admit it! Hopefully he was grateful?!

The one episode of BOB that I'd be interested in knowing the full truth of is the episode where Winters blows off his commnding officers order to lead another patrol across the river. It must have happened more or less like that.

Thats good old American common sense in action there. A lesser man would have been afraid to disobey the order. But Winters saw the lack of a need for the patrol at the ground zero macro level and did the common sense thing probably at some risk had his superiors found him out at the time.

Band of brothers is one of my favorite war productions as well. Now I heard that the BBC is planning a minni series of their own showing the exploits of the British sixth airborne or the British first airborn(don't remember which one). Has any one (especialy you Brits) heard of this?

I thought that series was the best I'd ever seen as far as war movies go. That set are the only DVD's I own. Great series.

I saw Clint's "Flags of of Our Fathers" and I look forward to seeing the movie that is the representation of the other sides view (Japanese) of the same battle. "letters From Iwo JIma tells the story of Iwo from the Japanese perspective. Word has it that the film is well received in Japan so Clint must have got it right.

The lead actor in that film playing the role of the commanding officer of the Japanese garrison on Iwo is ken Watanabe who also played the Japanese samurai in the Tom Cruise film "last Samurai"

Well complete list of favorites.

Bridge over the river Kwia
Kelleys Heros
In Harms Way
The Blue Max
Patton
The Haratio Hornblower series.
And of course "The Great Escape"

Most disturbing would have to be

The Young Lions
Two Women
Empire of the Sun
And a docudarma Called "Culloden" I believe.

Worst ever made IMO and with all due respect to "The Duke"

The Fighting SeaBees