Band of Brothers on DVD

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Sven

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Got my long-time pal 'Band of Brothers' as a gift for Christmas - one of those 'give someone else something YOU want' gifts.

We watched the first episode together tonight... it is very close to the book, which I read a month ago. One really begins to have an idea of what these men FELT going into battle - nothing to be excited about, no matter what you might think would be cool about war. Dread.

-

I'm not sure if there is excessive dramatization going on that leads me to believe this, but my gut tells me that perhaps the men of two generations ago were cut of a different cloth than my generation, generation X... or was it Generation Y, "WHY".

I wonder what my young liberal friends here in N. CA would do if confronted with an advancing Hitler... and the opportunity to make a contribution for the freedom of mankind - albeit a contribution of their own lives....

Actually, I know the answer: They would choose not to fight, or they wouldn't have to fight, as dad could get them off, or they could just move to Canada, or someplace more in line with the United Nations party line....

...they'd rather put flowers in Hitler's gun.

Fortunately, there are exceptions to these nag champa burning, pachulli oil wearing friends... such as many of the people I've here online, as well as current or former military / LEO I've met.

One exception stands out: My friend is a SEAL instructor, currently stationed abroad in a very hot spot. He risks his own life to defend this nation, and I will always remember to thank him.

Band of Brothers is already raising my awareness of the price we've paid in the past to defend freedom... I can't wait to see the rest.
 
I’ve been thinking the same thing lately. The class of people, men, family in this country is not the same as it was years ago.

Sickening
 
I think it might surprise you if such a thing happened. The "keep quiet and do your duty" types would answer the call and they're not so easy to ID, since they keep quiet.

The loud and obnoxious types get all the press, but I don't believe they are a majority.

Got a letter in the mail,
say go to war to go to jail...
got a letter in the mail,
in the early morning rain.

Went to Canada to ditch the man,
Gonna stay as long as I can.
Went to Canada to ditch the man,
in the early morning rain.
.
.
.
Set of jeans and knappy socks,
they got me pounding on big rocks.
Set of jeans and knappy socks,
in the early morning rain.
(sang in the same manner as the other "in the early morning rain" cadence)
Click to expand...
 
The collection here in our Base Exchange is going for $75. Is it available any cheaper in the states? I know its tax free and no shipping if I buy it here but was just wondering what the series collection was going for over in the mainland.
 
I think its about $77 or so here at Campbell. I got it at the local Walmart before I looked for it at the PX and it was $80 something.
 
$75's a good price for it.
Everyone should own a copy, its an awesome series.

Kharn
 
Best price I have seen for "civilians" is around $89 in Greater Cleveland.

Sis-in-law gave me the set for Christmas. I watched the last 2 episodes yesterday....Sat in the chair with the M-1 across my lap, and 1911-A1 on the table beside me.


As to what would happen now if a Hitler-type was to inaved mainland US from the west coast... Instead of what the Japanese Admiral stated "...A Rifle behind every blade of grass..."

It would be more like "...A boiling hot Grande Cup of Starbucks thrown at us from every passing Mini-van..."
 
I think that there would be a big call to arms that would surprise most. It might not be as big of a calling as happend when WWII started, but I think there would be a lot of brave and honorable young men and women that would answer the call. Destructo6 has the right idea. Those kind of people are the quite ones, that love their country and would die for it need be.

And that's a really good price LennyJoe, so I'd pick it up while its still in stock.

The best part of the box set is the documentary on the last disc. Especially the part with Bill Guarnere and Eugene Heffrone when they go back to the woods overlooking Foy where Mr. Guarnere lost his leg. Its amazing to hear these men talk about the German soldiers and the actual respect they show towards them. Those men, to borrow from Sven, "were cut of a different cloth than my generation."
 
These were the mighty men of old, men of renown.

I think there is a tendency to mythologize our forbears, however it's prolly healthy. When the time arises, I feel sure some mighty men of renown will distinguish themselves today, just as they always have. Like others have said they are waiting in the wings, minding their own biness.
 
I bought the set for my husband's birthday last November, right after it came out. I foolishly didn't shop around, and got it at Best Buy for $89. I've since heard that it's available in the mid-70's range and Wal-Mart. :banghead: Oh. well. We've enjoyed watching it.

I live in Nor. Cal, and sure get tired of people talking about "peace", "give peace a change". Now, I certainly believe that war isn't a good thing, but sometimes it's a vitally necessary thing. Do these peaceniks truly believe that we can somehow "negotiate" with terrorists and "understand" them, so they won't want to kill us anymore? Uh huh. Sure.
 
There are still men who answer the call even when things look hopeless. Here are the names of just two:

Master Sergeant Gary I. Gordon

Sergeant First Class Randall D. Shughart

First off, no one knows if the call for one's service will ever be made. Second, no one knows who will answer the call though many who think they would won't and some who didn't think they would do. Third, someone will answer the call, because this country can still produce the world's best servicemen as amply demonstrated in the past 10 years.

For my own part, I'd take my unprepossessing hunting buddy on my side in a firefight over 95% of the black rifle types I have seen. At least I know my friend can shoot to hit and kill something more than a gong.
 
BigG, while I agree with some guys today if and when needed will step up to the plate.

I believe it was Carwood Lipton who in the little intro before the first episode said that 2 men in his town that were 4F, committed suicide since they couldn't go out and defend this country. Do you think that would ever happen today...no way. A truely amazing generation.

Got it for $72 at Costco the second day it came out.
 
No question, they are the Greatest Generation.

But you must consider, the good ol' US of A was just coming out of the Depression in 1941-1942. The Army offered $ and meal. That was certainly a motivator for many.

Stinger
 
Looking at how everyone here hunts for the cheapest DVD set, it seems we haven't strayed too far from the original motivation for some to join the military or elite groups such as the paratroopers - extra cash.
 
Heroes

You guys should also check out "When Trumpets Fade," a movie by John Irvin (Hamburger Hill) about WWII on the Siegfied Line. He shows a hero emerging from the chaos just like I think it actually happens. YMMV
 
Don't count the current generation out....

Yes, we think of them as slackers and whiners and not having what it takes. I deal with a lot of kids the same age as the men in Easy Company were at the time it was formed on both jobs, National Guard and on the PD. You can get really negative opinion in both places because you are forced to spend most of your time dealing with the negatives.

Then came September 11th 2001. I was at home on leave that day. I slept in a bit and heard the news of the first ailiner hitting the Trade Center on the radio as I was getting out of the shower. I turned on FOx News and saw what was happening and immediately dressed and drove into the armory. When I got there things were in chaos...the phones were ringing off the hook, with soldiers calling in asking if they needed to report, leaving every phone number they might possibly be contacted at if needed...Now mind you, these were the same soldiers who didn't want drill to interfere with their lives the weekend before. The same ones that we had to call and remind about drill. The same ones who seemed to view their education benefits as an entitlement, not something they earned by being in the Guard.

The next few months went by and our unit wasn't called...things returned to normal. Fast forward to December 2002. The unit was alerted for a partial mobilization to provide security at Air Force bases....Guess what? When it was time to go do Soldier Readiness Processing (preparing for entry onto active duty) everyone was there...on time. Including a young man who had recently completed his enlistment and had been separated from the service.

Just last week we mobilized 15 more, involuntarily...to go do jobs they weren't trained for in a unit that may see action and was short soldiers...No one complained..one young man left his wife and new baby on the day he was to start the police academy. He had just turned 21 and is facing the possible loss of his lifetime dream...no complaints from him.

Destructo6 is right. I've seen it personally. The quiet, the ones you think are slackers will surprise you when the chips are down.

Jeff
 
Generations

Stinger is right. I know a WWII USN carrier pilot who grew up in a little farm town in North Texas. Part of the reason he joined up was cause his folks had too many mouths to feed. He gained 25 lbs in basic! We don't realize how tough it was in the good ole USA in the 1930's - more than a few folks were malnourished. The Depression was still bad in the late 30's. It took industrialization connected with the war to end it.

12.7x99mm wrote
I’ve been thinking the same thing lately. The class of people, men, family in this country is not the same as it was years ago.
Click to expand...

You're wrong.

It's easy to overlook that public sentiment, pre-Pearl Harbor, was _far_ from unanimous. Roosevelt was re-elected in 1940 on the promise to keep us out of war.

Historically, much of the US public has been against getting involved until the shooting starts - then we're in it all the way.

And there's no such thing as 'this generation' or 'that generation.' We talk like there is, and people write books and make movies based on the premise. But every generation is composed of individuals. There may not be as many of the same character - BUT THEY'RE OUT THERE.

I know: My nephew is a USMC Corporal. He enlisted in May of 2000, just before he graduated from high school - way before 9/11. He's a Christian and an Eagle Scout. He worked the last two years of school in order to drive his own truck (an old S-10 pickup) and still lettered three years straight in varsity wrestling (134 lb class).

He made Corporal this January, and stands a good chance of making Sargeant before his hitch is up. He was on the Roosevelt when it left in September 2001. He hung ordnance on Hornets that took it to the Taliban. As I write this, he's in Kuwait, with a whole bunch more of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children. These young men are in harm's way _now_ and are ready and willing to do what they signed up to do.

Semper Fi, Cody!

His sister, my 16-year-old niece, has been in AP classes since the third grade and has decided on a career in nursing. She teaches a Sunday School class for pre-schoolers and works for my sister in her business.

Their older half-brother is married, works full-time, and auto mechanics on the side so he and his wife can pay off the land they bought and build their own house. She holds down a 30-hour per week job as a Physical Therapist in addition to caring for their two yougsters. They are debt-free - if they don't have the cash, they don't buy it.

None of these young folks is perfect. My sister and brother-in-law would be the first to tell you so! But they were raised in strong, loving, church-going families and are fine people.

They're still out there, and if you can't tell, I'm proud to know some of 'em.

NetLar
 
Band of Brothers is some of the best Television ever produced. Ever since I first read Steven Ambroses book of the same title I have held men like Dick Winters, Garwood Lipton, Bill Guarnere and all the men of units like Company E as hero's of the highest order.

A few months ago I was directed to a web page from a link on TFL about a reunion of men from the 506th PIR of the 101st. It showed some pictures of the gathering and mentioned that they were raising funds to purchase, as a birthday gift for Maj. Winters, a copy of the 506th Regimental Colors with battle streamers. I sent a small check as a token of the regard that I hold men like these old soldiers, Particularly Maj. Winters as his is a story familiar to me.

A few days ago I was stopped in my tracks when I received a thank you note from Maj. Winters with a picture of him in his office showing the Flag now hanging among his other memorabilia.

The note now hangs framed on my wall along with the picture. It is somthing with a value to me that I cannot measure.

Forget professional athletes and movie stars. They are nothing compared to the men who saved this nation during that pivotal point in history.
 
The signifigant difference that you revisionist historians are forgetting is that World War 2 was considered a Just War, and NUMEROUS Allies of the united states were not only in harms way (France, England, Spain) but had already been decimated by the Nazis (Belgium, Amsterdam, Basically France).

In our current situation no one but Israel is in even POSSIBLE harm by Saddam Hussein and Israel will always be in harms way as long as it's a bastion of democracy in an autocratic monarchistic area of the world.

The U.S didn't support Korea, and it definitely didn't support Vietnam. Neither of those wars drummed up moral support by the majority of Americans because the Government could never fully explain why we were there. Sentiment and theories don't make a just war fellas.
 
In our current situation no one but Israel is in even POSSIBLE harm by Saddam Hussein
Click to expand...

So Prof? How should I remind you of this when in a few years, after not going to war to remove Saddam and freeing the Iraqi people, a nuke is detonated in NY or LA harbor after being slipped into the county in the belly of a container ship by Iraqi intelligence services? Killing a few million

Or how about when a VX bomb sold to Al Queda by Iraqi Intelligence is set off in downtown Chicago on a bright 4th of july afternoon during the height of the festivities? killing 100,000 or more

Or when a dozen or so Hammas operatives release military grade Anthrax, produced in a lab outside Bagdad, into some of the larger stations of the NYC subway, and kill 60,000 or so innocents?

For evil to thrive it only needs good men to do nothing.
 
Iraq has never attempted to harm the U.S now. What do you think is more likely to make them attack us? Attacking their country or leaving their democratically (Smirk) elected leader in power? The U.S isn't the harbinger of justice that you imagine it to be. There is absolutely no proven connection between Iraq and Terrorism.

Terrorism=Activism
Activism=Change
Change=Democracy

That is something that no king or dictator wants, that's why none of the leadership in the middle east would support terrorism.
 
Forgive me, perfesser, but fanatics do not operate by the same rules that govern rational beings. SH and others provide safe haven for terrorists and must be dealt with now or later. Time to take out the trash in Iraq.
 
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