Ken Burns, "The War"
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A lot of WWII soldiers were just kids. When the U.S. was desperate for enlisting more soldiers, any 17 yr-old over 5-foot tall with no major disability was eligible. At first, reading and writing were required, but then too many had failed that requirement, it was dropped.
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From: USSA
I read a book on the Bataan Death March....it was insane. Some of the most horrific, viscious, medievel figthing occured in the Pacific Theater. Like I said...WWII Vets that saw action....balls of ****ing steal.
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Been watching the series on and off the past several days. WW2 is often shown as a glory ride for a given group or man in a given event. The show reminds one of the hell that a war was really was for both sides.
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From: Dirty Dena
Originally Posted by Gymkata,Sep 26 2007, 12:57 AM
Loved Ken Burns's documentary on American Civil War. I'm sure this one will be good as well 
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From: La Crescenta, CA
Originally Posted by Nin009,Sep 22 2007, 09:31 AM
My mom just reminded me that my Great Uncle Simon Velasquez will be extensively featured at some point in this series. He was a turret gunner in a B-17 until his plane was shot down in April of 1943. He was captured and spent just over two years as a POW until he was liberated in May of 1945.
The Minnesota Historical Society has written a book about him. I haven't read it yet, although my mom says she has a copy to loan me.
The Minnesota Historical Society has written a book about him. I haven't read it yet, although my mom says she has a copy to loan me.
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From: MAHT-O-MEDI
Good show but a little slow.
I have had the priveledge to talk to two vets about the war. One was a former boss who was in the battle of the bulge. If you saw Band of Brothers the episode where they were outside of Bastogne with the airburst shell going off, he was there.
The other guy survived the Bataan death march. He was put into a slave ship to be sent to Japan and be put to work when the US sub sank the ship. When the ship broke open and the US soldiers were able to get out, the Japanese were already in the lifeboats and were bayonetting the US guys in the eyes who were trying to overtake the lifeboats. He and a few other guys were able to overpower one lifeboat. They were the six or eight guys out of 1500 that survived from that ship. They also were extremely lucky to bumb into something in the middle of the night at sea which he described as a "keg" of drinking water which must have been from the ship which kept them alive until they floated into Chinese waters and were found by some fishermen.
AMazing stories they have to tell. I did hear someone on the radio recommneding this documentary and he quoted some story he heard the other day saying some recent survey found that about 40% of high school students thought that the US fought WITH the Germans against the Soviet Union in WWII. Sad.
I have had the priveledge to talk to two vets about the war. One was a former boss who was in the battle of the bulge. If you saw Band of Brothers the episode where they were outside of Bastogne with the airburst shell going off, he was there.
The other guy survived the Bataan death march. He was put into a slave ship to be sent to Japan and be put to work when the US sub sank the ship. When the ship broke open and the US soldiers were able to get out, the Japanese were already in the lifeboats and were bayonetting the US guys in the eyes who were trying to overtake the lifeboats. He and a few other guys were able to overpower one lifeboat. They were the six or eight guys out of 1500 that survived from that ship. They also were extremely lucky to bumb into something in the middle of the night at sea which he described as a "keg" of drinking water which must have been from the ship which kept them alive until they floated into Chinese waters and were found by some fishermen.
AMazing stories they have to tell. I did hear someone on the radio recommneding this documentary and he quoted some story he heard the other day saying some recent survey found that about 40% of high school students thought that the US fought WITH the Germans against the Soviet Union in WWII. Sad.