Pacific on HBO

[Captain Caveman]

Originally Posted by chud

I guess I'm trying to compare this to Band of Brothers and it's falling short. It's not that i don't like it, i just find my self spending most of the time trying to figure out who's who. BOB was much easier to follow.

I find myself thinking the same thing. It's not a bad series.... it's just that BOB is better. BOB felt more focused and forthright, if that makes sense. BOB always stayed with the men. With "The Pacific" you're always going back to the US...

[Hawkeye]

I understand that these men deserve to have this story told, but I have to say, it's been tough to watch. There have been moments, especially tonight, where I've had to turn away. I wonder how these men who survived the Pacific Theatre could ever be whole again after what they went through.

My Dad is a WWII vet. He fought in Germany. I wonder sometimes, if he had been through the hell of the Pacific, if I would be here.

[HOOK'EM]

I think it's a Great story that needed to be told. I heard about the Pacific theater from my CB Grandfather 50 years ago. I'm pretty sure that had a lot to do with my brother joining the Marines too. Anyway, these shows make me proud to be an American.
HOOK'EM

[luv2luv]

I went to Marine Boot Camp in 1960 when I was 17. Retired 31 years later in 1991. But, in 1960, on the Marine Corps birthday, a buddy and I were in California getting smashed and decided to call General Puller. Of course, it was 3 hours later in Saluda, Virginia where Puller lived, but we were drunk. By the time we called it was like 5 AM there. But he answered the phone and we talked for about 15 minutes. Six years later, I went to OCS. My buddie was also in OCS with me. On a fluke, one weekend we went down to Saluda and met Puller. He was just about as profane and egotistical and don't-give-a-shit as anyone you ever met. In other words, the perfect combat Marine and a terrible peacetime Marine. His son, Lewis Puller, Jr., lost both of his legs in Viet Nam; believe he stepped on a mine. That pretty much destroyed the General.

Puller was awarded 5 Navy Crosses, beginning with the Banana Wars in the '30s. His men loved him because he loved his men and wouldn't ask his men to do anything he wouldn't do himself. He kept his medals in an old cigar box.

By the way, the name was "Manila John" Basilone. He was awarded the Congressional MOH and refused to go home on a war bond tour. He was subsequently killed and awarded another Navy Cross posthumously. The main north-south road through Camp Pendleton is Basilone Road.

The Palaus, Marshalls, Carolinas, with their islands of Tarawa, Tinian, Saipan, Peleliu, and others, were all campaigns leading to forward basing with an eye towards taking Okinawa and eventually mainland Japan. I have been to most of these islands; stationed on Okinawa 3 times. Went there in the 80s looking for appropriate sites on which to train for special operations. It is hard to believe that so many men died fighting for such god-forsaken tiny places.

I haven't seen this series; don't get Showtime or HBO. Band of Brothers, Private Ryan, and those movies did not bother me, but when I saw "We Were Soldiers", I couldn't really talk or get out of my chair for about 15 minutes.

Semper Fi, Marines!!

[TBONE]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

I understand that these men deserve to have this story told, but I have to say, it's been tough to watch. There have been moments, especially tonight, where I've had to turn away. I wonder how these men who survived the Pacific Theatre could ever be whole again after what they went through.

My Dad is a WWII vet. He fought in Germany. I wonder sometimes, if he had been through the hell of the Pacific, if I would be here.

My Dad was on Guadalcanal and I've wondered the same thing......
I find myself breathless after watching some of the battle scenes.

[Hawkeye9]

The battle scences in episode 5 thru 9 are way above BoB. The story is hard to focus on at times, but in general the battle scenes tell the story they want told about the Pacific Theatre IMO. By the way read the book by EB sledge, its excellent, follows alot in episodes 5, 6, 7, 9

[yaddayadda]

I wonder what they are trying to prove by pointing out that front line Marines did not take prisoners. Maybe some kind of ware crimes statement? I have read a lot about the China occupation by the Japanese and we could of never come close to what they did. Glad we dropped the bomb when we did, the invasion of Japan would of been a million or more dead. Truman should of gotten the Nobel for that decision.

[Captain Caveman]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye9

The battle scences in episode 5 thru 9 are way above BoB. The story is hard to focus on at times, but in general the battle scenes tell the story they want told about the Pacific Theatre IMO. By the way read the book by EB sledge, its excellent, follows alot in episodes 5, 6, 7, 9

Agreed. The war scenes are WAY more intense then what we saw in BOB. They also appear to be more chaotic and the storyline feels the same way. I still like BOB better because it feels like a more linear story to follow.

[Hawkeye]

I thought "The Pacific" was outstanding tonight.

I thought I'd share a quick story. Last Thanksgiving, I went to visit my father in a small town in the Midwest. On Saturday morning, He took me to the all you can eat pancake breakfast at the senior center. It was full of seniors. My Dad introduced me to two of his buddies. As we sat and chatted, the subject of The War came up. One man had flown a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter, one was a bombardier on a B-24 Liberator bomber, and my Dad served on the ground in Germany. These men discussed their experiences as casually as you and I would discuss mowing the lawn. They are humble and they don't seek recognition. Instead they are grateful. Shows like this remind me how my own perceived hardships pale in comarison to what these amazing people experienced and endured.

[Hawkeye9]

Tonights show was humbling to watch. As the college lady pushed Sledge on what the marines taught him and he said, "to kill japs and I did it real good".

Most will say BoB was better cause they could follow the characters, I will argrue Pacific was better due to the reverse. State of confusion and we won!!

[daveindallas]

I thought it was excellent. Something all Americans need to watch.
My dad was at Iwo Jima and Okinawa,and i often wondered how those men coped with life after the war. I did shed a few tears watching,not only for the 17 yr olds who did not get a chance to live their lives,but for the ones who came home to a public that had no idea what they went through.

[TBONE]

Tears were flowing!

Extremely moving at the end when they showed the small bios of the men.

BTW for all who missed it they're showing it again over Memorial Day weekend.

Fitting!

[Whirlaway]

I didn't care for this series; but the producers redeemed the story with the very hearfelt end....if this series inspired you on any level you may want to check out the National Museum of the Pacific War in Frederisburg, Texas. We are fortunate to have this treasure in our backyard....here is a link to a recent WSJ article on the museum..

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...996337094.html

and the museum web site: www.nimitz-museum.org

[Hawkeye9]

Originally Posted by Lounger

I didn't care for this series; but the producers redeemed the story with the very hearfelt end....if this series inspired you on any level you may want to check out the National Museum of the Pacific War in Frederisburg, Texas. We are fortunate to have this treasure in our backyard....here is a link to a recent WSJ article on the museum..

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...996337094.html

and the museum web site: www.nimitz-museum.org

Been there!!
Great place

one side Note after reading the book the series is based off, Nimitz could of halted the invasion of Pelileu when he found out it really was no strategic reason for it. he opted aginst it cuz they were almost there and we wasted over 8 thousand men.

[Captain Caveman]

I saw the final episode on Monday night. I would saw it was the finest episode of the series. There is just something about the homecoming episode that gets to me.

Still, I liked BOB better. Not that The Pacific is a bad series... it was often confusing and all over the place. Just... BOB was better.