Combat!

[Browns Fan]

I'm probably revealing my age here, but, any of you guys remember a great tv show in the '60s called "Combat!" that starred Vic Morrow as SGT Saunders? Is it still showing anywhere on cable? I really loved that show as a kid!

 

[Holiday]

It was a little before my time(born in '70!), but I watched it in re-runs. You're right, it's a great show. I saw some on AMC on satillite the other day. Not sure if it is a regular, though. Or it might have been on the Stars Action channel, hard to remember.

 

[Kimber45]

It has been on lately on one of the cable channels I get, at about 6 am on either Saturday or Sunday morning. I have watched it early morning on the last two weekends but can't remember either the cable station or which day of the weekend it was.

 

[oscar]

I use to watch that while in college, was in Vietnam the next year. Have seen reruns a time or 2 in the past several years, but dont remember where.

 

[4v50 Gary]

As a kid I loved Combat! but as I grew older, I noticed that they always fought at the same village (in Universal City) that McHale's Navy ran around in (when they were in the Med) and the eucalyptus trees that gave away the CA location. Gotta love Sarge's Thompson though.

 

[45R]

I remember watching re-runs of Combat and Black Sheep Squad!!

 

[hansolo]

I like "Combat!" too

My Dad, Robert Pirosh, created the show: he wrote the pilot, "A Day in June," and continued as "creative consultant" for a few seasons. He won an Oscar for his screenplay to "Battleground" (released, 1949)based on his experience in the Battle of the Bulge....this served as a template for the TV show. I met Vic Morrow once: very cool, salt-of-the-Earth gentleman.

 

[Sunray]

It was on the History Channel up here up until a year ago last Fall. That's the show that inspired me to buy a Garand, Carbine and a .45. Nearly had an operational BAR long ago (had the money, but had just been laid off. I've cried ever since) and a semi'd M1 Chopper(The way it was semi'd meant you couldn't field strip it for cleaning. Has to be put on FA to get it apart. Bought a semi'd M-14 instead.) Still need the Chopper and the BAR.

 

[Quartus]

Cool, hansolo! Your dad helped convince me to go into the Army! If he's still around, thank him for me! Vic Morrow was the closest thing I ever had to a childhood hero. (I've never been much for the 'hero' thing. I just don't get impressed with celebrities.)

the eucalyptus trees that gave away the CA location. Gotta love Sarge's Thompson though.

All can be forgiven for a Thompson!


But I think they have eucalyptus in Europe - at least I've seen a European study done on radiofrequency energy absorbtion by trees and the eucs were the worst.

 

[Crom]

"Checkmate King-Two this is White Rook, over".

One of the best T.V. shows of the 60's IMO, and my all time favorite. Great cast and outstanding writing and directing. There is even talk of making a movie based on the TV show.

Re-runs air on Good Life TV, a cable channel.

If you are a fan you will enjoy this discussion site dedicated to the TV show. Almost all your questions answered by knowledgeable fans, ever wonder why Sgt. Saunders wore a marine camo helmet?

http://www.jodavidsmeyer.com/forums/combat/

 

[BradN]

Yes, a great show. I watched it as a kid in the 60's. I watched it last week on the Good Life network. My wife enjoys it as well.

 

[HABU]

I always enjoyed watching Combat as a kid. I'll have to see if it is on locally.

 

[M2 Carbine]

My wife and I never missed Combat.

I think she would have left me for Vic Morrow.

 

[Valkman]

Still love it today just as much as when I was a kid - it's on the Action Channel around here about 1am.

 

[BluesBear]

It's on everyday on the Starz Action Channel.

I loved it as a kid, I even bought all of the books and read them over and over.

I always wondered when i was watching it as a kid where Sgt Saunders carried his extra ammo. He had no thompson mag pouches on his belt. Most of the time his Thompson was loaded with a 20 round stick yet he never ran out of ammo.

At least Lt Handley has the double mag pouch on the stock of this M1 carbine.

 

[jdkelly]

60s war shows

As a kid, I loved that show. It was always the Sargent (Thompson), Kage (M1), Kirby (BAR), Little John (M1), the Lieutenant (Carbine), and the new guy who was going to die.

The Gallant Men was good too, as was the Rat Patrol.


jdkelly

 

[critter]

Yeah, RAT PATROL!!!

 

[OH25shooter]

Never missed an episode as a kid. My dad spoke German so he would tell me and my friend what the enemy was saying. Pretty neat. Here is the Combat website. Enjoy: www.CombatFan.com.

 

[12-34hom]

Combat.

Great show, some excellent story lines, great portrails, pretty realistic.

My favorite while it was aired. Hansolo, wow.. very cool.

12-34hom.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I loved that show!

We used to run out in the yard after watching it and play combat.

Even went out into the woods with our bb guns and played combat. Just had one rule. Cant shoot anyone on the ground and you had to aim below the waist. Silly kids.

 

[Swamprabbit]

Really enjoyed it as a kit in the late 60s and early 70s when it was still showing on lots of re-runs.

As for "Battleground", it is one of my all-time favorites! Great to hear that your dad was a big part of that hansolo!

 

[jdseven1]

Its on Mon thru Fri on comcast cable at 12 oclock. Ever notice Kirby never uses the B.A.R. with the bipod. In the 60s we had the program on armed forces tv and we all got a kick outof it.

 

[uglymofo]

Rat Patrol! Christopher George, Eric Braeden, Justin Tarr...I can still hear the theme song in my head. A great series.

Vic Morrow used to carry a wooden Thompson prop painted correctly, until he had to be in a scene firing the weapon, then he'd swap out. Hell, I won't hold it against him; he was only acting. By all acounts, a fine gentleman off the screen, and he could hold his mud.

But why did he have that Marine camo cover? I allus wondered.

 

[George S.]

I remember watching Combat! as a kid. I even remember watching it when AFVN-TV broadcast the show in Saigon back in '68!!

Some of the later shows did an excellent job in the screenplay and the story lines.

 

[hksw]

Didn't see it in its first run but saw all the shows in syndication on a local channel. My favorite was the one where they had to go up against a pillbox. (2 parter)