The Pacific

[FN Phat]

http://www.hbo.com/#/the-pacific/epi...-episode.html/

That's right, they're streaming it.....for free.

Thank you, wuap. This will fill the void until it comes out on Blu-Ray.

[wuapinmon]

Thank you, wuap. This will fill the void until it comes out on Blu-Ray.

My fear is that they give it away for free at first, and then after say, three episodes, then they stop it, forcing people to either go cold turkey or subscribe. In a lot of ways, it's not unlike marriage.

[Babs]

My fear is that they give it away for free at first, and then after say, three episodes, then they stop it, forcing people to either go cold turkey or subscribe. In a lot of ways, it's not unlike marriage.

I was guessing one, but then I might be projecting.

[wuapinmon]

I was guessing one, but then I might be projecting.

I knew you'd bite.

[FN Phat]

My fear is that they give it away for free at first, and then after say, three episodes, then they stop it, forcing people to either go cold turkey or subscribe. In a lot of ways, it's not unlike marriage.

So true. Unfortunate, but true.

[wuapinmon]

Ok, just finished it.

I feel like we're into it very quickly. In order to feel as much empathy for these characters as I did in Band of Brothers, I was hoping, truly, for a Curahee-type special intro.

Both of my grandfathers served in the Pacific theatre; my mom's dad was a mechanic on the Burma road, and my dad's dad flew Martin torpedo bombers, though, thankfully, he never saw combat (he graduated high school in 1944). My mom's dad was a lifer (he joined in 1929, ret. 1952 as a Mast. Sgt.). I asked him once when I was a teenager if he had ever killed anyone, and he said something like, "I just did what I had to do."

He saved his own money and bought Colt 45 peacemaker (I think it's an 1886 model) at a Seattle pawn shop before being stationed in China (Tientsin)--we still have it. He even kept the pawn ticket. He carried it as his sidearm throughout his service. For some reason, he was able to get out of the Philippines when war broke out, and he was a drill sgt at Stanford for a little while before they shipped him out to Burma via India. He explained to me that he had 30 mins from the time he got to a truck to fix it, otherwise he was supposed to push it off the road, letting it fall into the jungle. They sometimes had to work while they were under fire. Can you imagine the pressure?

From his years of service in China (I think he was there from 1930-1936) he could speak Chinese (not sure which dialect). When he was in his 80's and 90's, he would often just randomly break into speaking Chinese or Burmese. One day, we're sitting the table and he yells, suddenly, "Tianjin dungfong bong wa dent thai, X I 3 K." Startled, my littler sister asked him, "Grandpa, what was that?" He responded, "that was the call sign of my favorite radio station in Tianjin."

Damn, I miss him. Master Sgt. Raymond Vines Buckner, USA-Retired (1912-2008).

[SteelBlue]

http://www.hbo.com/#/the-pacific/epi...-episode.html/

That's right, they're streaming it.....for free.

Wow, great find Wuap. Thanks brother.

[Colly Wolly]

Ok, just finished it.

I feel like we're into it very quickly. In order to feel as much empathy for these characters as I did in Band of Brothers, I was hoping, truly, for a Curahee-type special intro.

Both of my grandfathers served in the Pacific theatre; my mom's dad was a mechanic on the Burma road, and my dad's dad flew Martin torpedo bombers, though, thankfully, he never saw combat (he graduated high school in 1944). My mom's dad was a lifer (he joined in 1929, ret. 1952 as a Mast. Sgt.). I asked him once when I was a teenager if he had ever killed anyone, and he said something like, "I just did what I had to do."

He saved his own money and bought Colt 45 peacemaker (I think it's an 1886 model) at a Seattle pawn shop before being stationed in China (Tientsin)--we still have it. He even kept the pawn ticket. He carried it as his sidearm throughout his service. For some reason, he was able to get out of the Philippines when war broke out, and he was a drill sgt at Stanford for a little while before they shipped him out to Burma via India. He explained to me that he had 30 mins from the time he got to a truck to fix it, otherwise he was supposed to push it off the road, letting it fall into the jungle. They sometimes had to work while they were under fire. Can you imagine the pressure?

From his years of service in China (I think he was there from 1930-1936) he could speak Chinese (not sure which dialect). When he was in his 80's and 90's, he would often just randomly break into speaking Chinese or Burmese. One day, we're sitting the table and he yells, suddenly, "Tianjin dungfong bong wa dent thai, X I 3 K." Startled, my littler sister asked him, "Grandpa, what was that?" He responded, "that was the call sign of my favorite radio station in Tianjin."

Damn, I miss him. Master Sgt. Raymond Vines Buckner, USA-Retired (1912-2008).

Cool story. My mom's dad served under Patton in Europe and hated the guy with a passion. Got one of his testicles shot off, in fact. The doctors told him he'd never have any children, but he went home and fathered four daughters. Guess they got the "boy" nut. I didn't know him very well; he passed away when I was five.

My step-grandfather served in North Africa and Europe as well. He drove a tank and was terribly deaf. You'd have to scream at him: "GEORGE!!! DINNER IS READY!!!" He came to live with us after my dad's mom passed away. Joined the Church when he was living with us in Taiwan. One Sunday morning after we had been herded into the minivan by my dad before church, but were still waiting on my mom, he muttered "This is just like the army....hurry up and wait". I miss him too.

[wuapinmon]

Cool story. My mom's dad served under Patton in Europe and hated the guy with a passion. Got one of his testicles shot off, in fact. The doctors told him he'd never have any children, but he went home and fathered four daughters. Guess they got the "boy" nut. I didn't know him very well; he passed away when I was five.

My step-grandfather served in North Africa and Europe as well. He drove a tank and was terribly deaf. You'd have to scream at him: "GEORGE!!! DINNER IS READY!!!" He came to live with us after my dad's mom passed away. Joined the Church when he was living with us in Taiwan. One Sunday morning after we had been herded into the minivan by my dad before church, but were still waiting on my mom, he muttered "This is just like the army....hurry up and wait". I miss him too.

I wonder if the deafness was from the engine or the cannon. Thanks for sharing these stories.

[FN Phat]

Cool story. My mom's dad served under Patton in Europe and hated the guy with a passion. Got one of his testicles shot off, in fact. The doctors told him he'd never have any children, but he went home and fathered four daughters. Guess they got the "boy" nut. I didn't know him very well; he passed away when I was five.

My step-grandfather served in North Africa and Europe as well. He drove a tank and was terribly deaf. You'd have to scream at him: "GEORGE!!! DINNER IS READY!!!" He came to live with us after my dad's mom passed away. Joined the Church when he was living with us in Taiwan. One Sunday morning after we had been herded into the minivan by my dad before church, but were still waiting on my mom, he muttered "This is just like the army....hurry up and wait". I miss him too.

This made me laugh.

These stories remind me of my grandpa. It seemed that generation had a great sense of humor when dealing with major issues. At least my grandpa did. Although it was obvious that it was a coping mechanism. He served in the Pacific Campaign as well. His experience was much like The Thin Red Line. I also miss my grandpa. Truth be told, it is a major reason why I want to watch this series.

[Flattop]

This was my favorite book as a young teenager. I read it 3 times before I turned 15. I"m excited to see this someday.

Amazon.com: Strong Men Armed: The United States Marines Against Japan (9780306807855): Robert Leckie: Books

I just finished reading this last week. Leckie is one of my favorite writers and historians. I've loved all of his books that I've read, such as

Conflict: The History of the Korean War
Delivered From Evil: The Saga of World War II
None Died In Vain: The American Civil War
George Washington's War
From Sea to Shining Sea (about the War of 1812 and the War with Mexico).

And, of course, Strong Men Armed.

[Flattop]

Ok, just finished it.

I feel like we're into it very quickly. In order to feel as much empathy for these characters as I did in Band of Brothers, I was hoping, truly, for a Curahee-type special intro.

I think the reason is that the three main characters were in different regiments. Basilone was already in the service, and we meet him just before Chesty Puller' speech near the beginning. Leckie joined up after Pearl Harbor but managed to beat Basilone to Guadalcanal. Sledge still had to wait a couple of years before he could join.

Band of Brothers, of course, followed the same company from training days to VE-Day.

Additionally, I think they have a lot more to cover in just 10 episodes. I heard that Peleliu alone required three episodes.

Anyway, the 1st episode was great and I'm looking forward to the next one.

[old_gregg]

they're streaming the whole series, no? i watched the first episode last night and thought it was ok, but had a long way to go to be band of brothers comparable.

[wuapinmon]

Thinking back to Band of Brothers, David Schwimmer really impressed me. He was always a good pratfall comedic actor, but the intensity in his eyes when towards the end of the series, he runs into Major Winters, and he says, "Capt. Sobel, you salute the rank, not the man" was impressive. Good solid acting. There's also some scene at the beginning when he walks into a room eating an apple that conveyed everything about his character, even though you didn't quite know it yet.

I also thought that Colin Hanks did a good job as the wet-behind-the-ears Lt.

But, by far, the best acting in the whole miniseries, in my opinion, was by Scott Grimes as Sgt. Malarkey.

[woot]

Thinking back to Band of Brothers, David Schwimmer really impressed me. He was always a good pratfall comedic actor, but the intensity in his eyes when towards the end of the series, he runs into Major Winters, and he says, "Capt. Sobel, you salute the rank, not the man" was impressive. Good solid acting. There's also some scene at the beginning when he walks into a room eating an apple that conveyed everything about his character, even though you didn't quite know it yet.

I also thought that Colin Hanks did a good job as the wet-behind-the-ears Lt.

But, by far, the best acting in the whole miniseries, in my opinion, was by Scott Grimes as Sgt. Malarkey.

I also loved Lt/Capt/Maj Winters, the guy who played Bill Guarnier, Doc Roe, and of course Nixon, the guy from Office Space. I'm now immediately drawn to the characters that any of those actors play because of the connection I feel with them from Band of Brothers. Hanks and the gang used the 10 hours to great effect in making us love and understand the characters.

I therefore have extremely high hopes for the Pacific, but will wait until I can watch them all at once.