The Pacific

I appreciate the insight, Shark, but even if they are sticking to the source material, they should still do a better job of dramatizing whatever they're putting on screen. If the romances were blah in the book, it's up to the filmmakers to find a way to make it sing on screen.
 
Shark

Sounds like you have amazing insight. I'm really curious, and if you're ok with it- would you mind sharing with us your background? Were you involved with any of the Pacific battles, etc, military career?

Thanks!
 
That's really impressive! And what an awesome photo to have. After watching Black Hawk Down for a 5th time this weekend I would hate to think the feeling you must have had with blown hydraulics.

Thanks for both your service and your insight,

Regards,
 
There are some videos on the HBO sight that fill in the gaps and build the narrative. They help alot IMO. They are also available through HBO via your cable station, including an excellent piece on Guadalcanal which is not on the website. You should at least watch the one about Robert Leckie.

Leckie

Sledge

Basilone

Sidney Phillips
 
When I was 18 and signed up for selective service, I said "if my country needs me, I'll have to go." My dad, a very conservative WWII combat veteran told me there was no way in hell that would happen while he was alive. He told me I had no idea what I was talking about. That only people who have been in combat can understand how horrible it is, and that kids fight wars because most grown men are not going to. My grandfather fought in every major WWI engagement in which the US Army was involved. He earned a Purple Heart. My dad said that our family had done enough for awhile. I am glad that I did not have to experience those things, but I want to know what they went through. The closest I will ever come is seeing it on a screen, but I feel we need to understand what we ask our children to experience when we send them to war.
 
Re: The Pacific, I think the reason they show the night fighting is to illustrate quite accurately the horror and chaos of night fighting in the jungle.

The reason for the Hanks narrative is that unlike Europe, almost no one watching the show has ever been to any part of the Pacific theatre of war.

I have read a lot on WWII but I certainly appreciate a little helpful context.

So far I think it has been great and its a story that needs to be told. Its just not as tidy a story as the European theatre.

As to whether there have been enough battle scenes, I am pretty confident you will get all you want. The challenge is in showing enough for you to get the idea without being so disgusted by the carnage and savagery that you cant watch it. A tall order that.
 
One thing I (and a lot of others) find sad is that so many of these islands could have been controlled with far fewer American casualties. Some places, the pre-invasion bombardment was inadequate. In other places (like Peleliu), the Americans had enough control of the seas that once we captured the airfields, we could have set up a defensive perimeter on the ground and starved the Japanese out. We could have pounded the mountains to the point that the Japanese would have been more of an annoyance than a real threat. The Japanese could not resupply their troups on many of these islands, especially in 1944-45.
 
The strategy at the time was to minimize American casualties in the Pacific by "island hopping." MacArthur and Nimitz hoped to bypass certain strongholds in favor of key islands that would allow them to maximize air power.

One could argue with how well that strategy went but the fact remains that at some point if you want to take and occupy enemy territory there will be heavy casualties. My guess is that a lot of this was inevitable under the circumstances.

Island Hopping Pacific
 
First of all - props to Shark4. What a life!

I have taken a few weeks off from my previous post outlining my plan to document using video; my grandfather's reaction as a member of the 1st Division Marine during WWII.

Peleliu - 1st real reaction from my grandfather and was it ever revealing. 3 previous episodes were pretty light-hearted as he discussed what it was like on-leave (didn't go to Australia, dang) and having shell shock.

Much of this episode outlines what happended in With the Old Breed. Life on the island Pavuvu was exactly like he remembered (smelled of rotting cocnut, oil, and crab). Once they hit the island, Peleliu, the reliving of events really began. He started vomiting and was in tears. Very moving, in a very tragic way to know he was reliving exactly what he went through. He laughed at a few things - guys hitting their heads as they jumped from the gator (said it happened every time he went over the top,) hated the entry onto the beach because he did that a few times, cringes at the pulling of teeth.

Based on the reaction from the old vet, I would say this is spot on. Still partial to BOB, but will never let my grandfather in on this. He would disown me.
 
I'm "stuck" in NJ for work for a couple of weeks... saw this today, took a picture with my phone, and thought it was worth posting:

Basilone_Bridge_sign.jpg
 
Crossing that airfield was akin to the beach landing at Normandy. I am a little confused as to why they couldn't call in more air strikes before attempting to cross like sitting ducks, instead of waiting until half the division was slaughtered before they bombed the Japanese positions.
 
In Part 5 (I think), they had the scene where the new Marines were scrubbing out the oil barrels. The Marines delivered water to the island in those barrels, but the water was contaminated with fuel due to inadequate cleaning. I thought that point would be brought up given the emphasis on the lack of water for guys fighting in 115 degree weather. My guess is that part is somewhere on the cutting room floor.

Edit: Come to think of it, I think it might have been the Navy that delivered water in some of their uncleaned oil barrels. The Marines were pissed.
 
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