Ken Burns WWII Series Starts This Sunday

I watched the preview for the series last night and it was interesting as well. KB told about why he picked the four towns in the US to focus on and how they exemplified the war. Him and the other director also talked about how they realized in 5-10 years a film like this would no longer be able to be produced with the vets dying off so quickly. I really like the vet interview parts. I think they give the best insight. They also are responsible for adding the human element; the heartbreak, the triumph and the grief the nation as a whole was experiencing.

One neat thing I heard (I don't remember which installment it was or it even could have been the story of Ben Kuroki-- also a good story) but for every American POW Spain let go America had to give them a new Buick!

 

i can't watch a whole episode.....i get too choked up. words can not express the pride and gra***ude i have for those who fought......they truly are the greatest gerenration.

 

I DVRed all the episodes and I'm having a small procedure next week and will be off of my fee all weekend. I plan on watching all of them.

The best war story and Granpa ever told me was about how he was stationed on an aircraft carrier. He manned the .50cal under the flight deck. Anyway, after they had drank all of the booz that they smuggle on board, they would mix Coke and torpedo fuel. They called it "Torpedo Juice". He said that theres so telling how many torpedo's they shot that were duds.....

 

I too had a bit of a problem getting through an episode.One of the most inspiring parts to me was concerning Senator Inouye.I have never been a fan of his politics but I have gained a whole new respect for him as a war hero.I was not aware he had lost an arm in battle or won the Congressional Medal of Honor.

The hardest part I had getting through was about Glenn Frazier;the gentleman who survived the Bataan Death March but was also a POW for three years.

I guess the really sad part about the series is that it will probably never be seen by the people in this country who have no sense of history or haven't a clue as to why we enjoy the freedoms that we mostly take for granted.

I read a quote somewhere a short time ago about the true measure of a country can be related directly to the number of people seeking to come in versus the number of people wanting to leave. Words to live by.

 

A true work of art. That series could be shown in schools and colleges. I have always loved history and how can you not enjoy such a good perspective on something that effects the way we are now.

Thursday I was at the Houston VA and noticed an oldtimer with a WWII cap. All I could do was tell him thank you. Those guys and all others from every war were truely men of honor.

Too bad a regular station didn't show it instead of all the reality **** that gets shoved down peoples throat. A lot of people missed out by it being on PBS, but chances are, they wouldn't have watched it anyway. Kinda sad.

 

By far the best thing I've seen on TV. Period.