Thank you all so much to everyone who came to the live premiere! I’m sorry the live chat cut out. It was awesome talking to you guys. 🎉 I’ll try and open up the chat for longer beforehand next time I do a premiere so we can chat more :) that’ll be so nice! Thank you again for supporting my channel. ❤
You, as most, are emotionally impacted by seeing what these soldiers go through. Your statement made me think of something I saw recetly that resonates with me (I am not a ver) - Vietnam MOH (Medal of Honor) recipient Roy Benavidez - "There is a saying among us veterans: for those that have fought for it, life has a special flavor the protected will never know. you have never lived, until you almost died. And it is us veterans that pray for peace most of all, especially the wonded, because we have to suffer the wonds of war". We cannot thank them enough. Thank you Kate!
You may have noticed the C-47's had Alphanumeric designations on their nose. The lead ship in the second wave at D-Day was designated W7. That aircraft is still flying and is home based at the National Warplanes Museum in Genesseo NY. Now lovingly restored and referred to as Whiskey 7. On the 75th anniversary of D-Day she flew back to England, then picked up a very special passenger. The last man in the stick who jumped out of her on that fateful day. He did a tandem jump with a current member of the 101st. I live about an hour from Genesseo and make the trip to the annual airshow they have.
Malarkey talking to the German-American soldier is even more astonishing if you realise they actually worked across the street from each other but the scriptwriters thought nobody would believe it so they changed it to '100 miles from eachother'
I either read or heard somewhere on the Internet, that a German soldier gave an interview after the war, and he stated that what really freaked the German troops out about the Normandy invasion, was how all the crickets and frogs in the area suddenly came alive after all the planes had passed. He indicated that it made the hair on the back of their necks stand up! What they eventually found out, was that it was not crickets and frogs they were hearing. It was the noise of all those little clicking devices that the Americans used to communicate with each other!
Thank god it was just the Americans at Normandy, I mean if the British, Canadians and French resistance had been involved, then it would have been over quicker, second World War eh 1942 till 45 for you, 1939 until 1945 for everyone else
@@simoncampbell3144Americans were fighting since 1942 as well. SE Asia and N. Africa with the Brits, Aussies, and other commonwealth allies. And since 1940 or ‘41 we were sending millions of tons of materiel, food, equipment, weapons, and ammo to our allies in Europe per month. The saying goes “British intelligence, American steel, and Russian blood won the war for the allies.”
He is right. Sadly, episode 1 has been taken down. Make sure you get it back up don't let them beat you. We are all here for your full journey & to support you through it.
13Bravo 101st 3/21 Charlie Battery 155mm 1983/1986. We sometimes trained to counter the assault and mostly failed, but since we were rapid deployment, we normally did the shoot and scoot! Can't kill what isn't there! The King of Battle always had your backs no matter what! Thanks buddy!
@@MovieDateWithKate Isn't it though? But it was brilliant so it stands to reason. BTW, I was surprised to find out the guy who played Winters was British, he's so good at doing a sort of upper midwest American accent that when I saw him in an interview and heard that British accent, well, I wasn't expecting it.
@@MovieDateWithKate They used those dime store clickers, they called them crickets, to find each other plus that flash-thunder thing you keep hearing them say, it was a pre-agreed on code.
@@MovieDateWithKate My grandfathers were both in WW2. The normal young men thing would not have sat well with them, that they were following tyrants is why Americans that just wanted to be in school or starting families were over there. In a later episode, Webster starts spouting off at the Germans on just that sort of tirade.
Well, this is when the sh*t gets real. No more Captain Sobel, no more training. "We're not lost Private...we're in Normandy." This one line displays Winter's ability to instill confidence in his men, even unarmed in the face of all adversity. And this soldier wasn't even a member of Easy Company. Currahee ♠
Great reaction Kate like always, 13:54 fun fact: Buck's handsignals to Malarkey and Guarnere were as such He signaled 1, 4, 2, and then 2, 5, with his fingers. Then a closed fist and pointed in the direction of the MG. Translated: "1 MG42, 25 Feet, throw grenades that way." An MG42 is a preferred machine gun that the German army used. The 25 feet was helpful for Malarkey and Guarnere to gauge how far they needed to throw the grenades. (BTW there was no hand signals in ww2, The real soldiers stated that there were no hand signals. They were a post WW2 thing introduced into the show by Dale Dye.) I remember reading a book called "Geronimo" based on the Airborne troops of WW2, and it has a section from the German side of D-Day. It talk about how soldiers patrolling noticed an abnormal amount of frogs and crickets during the night. What they actually heard was the cheap toy clicker you see in Lt. Winters hand. It shows you how close some of these guys were to the enemy. The show actually underplayed the battle for the guns due to time and dramatic constraints. The fighting lasted about 3-4 hours and there were something like 50-100 German defenders. The paratroopers were at constant risk of being flanked and annihilated. Winter's tactics kept the enemy confused and dispersed and many feel that he should have received the Medal of Honor for his actions there rather than "just" the Distinguished Service Cross. We often forget how completely foreign the rest of the world was to this generation. In our modern times we have the internet and easy access to travel the world; back then travel was much less frequent and information was mainly supplied through newspapers and some tv news.... just crazy thought to consider these young kids traveling to completely strange lands to fight a virtually unknown enemy. Thanks to all vets out there, from back then to present day, thanks for your service! And dont worry we got your back we´re a Band Of Brothers when you ask us to help we do it and it was a pleasure! Keep up the good work.
Really cool to learn that’s what it means! You’re just ace for explaining it out to me. Thanks so much. And so spot on, my appreciation for what that generation gave to us all has lifted great heights!
9:35 Lipton is getting supplies from the dead American soldier. This happened throughout the war. The one very obvious rule was-take only the items that were issued to them (ammunition, helmet, boots, handgun, rifle, etc) Do not take any personal items off of them. (Wallet, ring, etc) Graves registration will do that.
My favorite part of this episode was the end, when Winters prays to God to let him survive the war and his promise that he will find a quiet piece of land, spending his life in peace. That was beautiful and something I can appreciate as a Veteran.
You’ve started the BEST miniseries EVER made. Afterwards you need to watch, what is considered the 11th episode, “We Stand Alone Together”. Its interviews withe most of the survivors.
Some of the survivors recalled that they had trained so extensively at night that they could recognize other members of the company just by their silhouette
This is where it always gets real for me. Specifically the point where Winters starts giving the orders as they prepare to jump. There are a few missing because of the chaos and a few that have changed over the years. But for the most part, they are the same orders today… “Stand up, hook up, shuffle to the door, Jump right out and count to four.” Part of an old Airborne running cadence.
Even reading your comment made my eyes sting. I don’t think I’ll ever forget how I felt watching that moment Winters gives the orders and they all stand up. It felt so real.. almost like it was certain they were jumping to their deaths. The emotion was unavoidable. My heart ached. What a series - and I’m only two episodes in!
several original C-47 aircraft were used for filming, all original as they've stopped making engines ect for those planes decades ago. they're just meticulously upkept and maintained constantly
I binged-watch this with my US Air Force Reserve squadron mates about 15 years ago. One of the greatest bonding moments of my 27 year military career. I gotta think a lot of the veterans in the intro probably never shared those stories until asked by the producers to appear in this series. That was the way they were.
I've watched interviews with the lady that did the majority of the interviews with the men of Easy Company. She flat out stated it was near impossible to get any man to talk about what 'they did', they would be more than happy to talk about others. So that's how she had to do it. If she wanted info about something Bill G did, she'd have to ask Babe, etc.
"It must be a blessing and a curse to live, because you have to remember for the rest of your life." Yeah....that's a hard truth. Just found the channel with Band of Brothers. I just wanted to say thank you for remembering all those who came before. As a Vet, it means a lot that people still care for those who paved the way for the rest of us.
Another movie worth reviewing regarding paratroopers during World War II is the 1977 Richard Attenborough film about Operation Market Gardner in A Bridge Too Far. The 1st British Airbourne Division was dropped 11 miles from their directive of the Arnhem bridge.
@@MovieDateWithKateRichard Attenborough DIRECTED “A Bridge Too Far”. He does have a background, non-speaking cameo lasting for about a minute just like Hitchcock used to do.
Was great chatting in the live premiere, I knew this episode would catch you in the feels as it's the doorway to everything they go through. Be careful with overdoing these heavy shows, there's not so many proper English Roses in the world these days and we need to keep them free of PTSD regardless of where it comes from.
I didn't see it in your video but right after the American soldier meets up with the American fighting for the Germans you see a paratrooper with a Mohawk haircut. He is one of the Filthy 13. A unit of the 101st, 506 Airborne specializing in demolition. They were in every respect of the word Badasses. The reason the shaved their heads like Mohawk Indians was to honor their leader Jake McNiece, a Choctaw Indian. The book and therefore the movie THE DIRTY DOZEN was inspired by them. I believe the Fat Electrician did a segment on them.😮😊
Other paratroopers sported Mohawks on D-Day, not just the "Filthy Thirteen". There are many photos of various soldiers from the 82nd, the 101st, and the 17th showing that fact...
your wrong on some of your info the movie has no connection to the Filthy 13 , Jake and them did the Mohawks cause of the lice but also made the Indian claim for the face paint . i was in E/506th Reenacted and both Mcniece and Jack Agnew would attend events with us. (i drank with Jack / Bill & Babe every year at the Battle of the Bulge event in PA)
Excellent reaction Kate! You did a great job. I love how you were paying attention to the episode and not trying to make comments every 5 seconds. I'm so glad I found your channel and subscribed earlier when you posted episode 1. Looking forward to your next one!
Good reaction. I wish they were a bit longer. Thank you for taking this journey. You will not be disappointed. Damion Lewis is an outstanding actor. He played Winters perfectly. Well done.
Kate, I always enjoy watching young people learn new things from this series. You are a wonderful person with a wonderful empathetic heart. Each of us, when we saw these programs for the first time, felt as you have felt, even if we read Mr. Ambrose's book before this series came out. Cheers!
Ms. Kate, it is truly a pleasure to see you again. Whether it's you reacting to a war show or reading a recipe on how to make ice water, it is a pure joy to see/hear you. Another excellent vid and I hope to see many, many more. Cheers ma'am! 😊
Great reaction, young lady. The fireworks really start with this episode; no spoilers, but there's more to come. At times, BoB will make your spirit soar, and at times, it will break your heart; however, I can promise you that you'll be so glad you experienced this important moment in history. Looking forward to the next one.
There was a 101st Airborne trooper in my barracks in Wayside Detection Center. It was part of the Los Angeles County Jail System. Up in the mountains. He was the only inmate in the barracks that knew how to march (about face, etc.) in the formation in front of barracks when the deputies did their daily head counts, to make sure none of us was missing, i. e. escaped. So the deputy in charge had him demonstrate marching cadences in front of the rest of us civilians. That was a nice jail. I loved every minute of my sentence there. Well, mostly anyway.
In the book, some of the veterans discussed why they volunteered for the airborne, which they knew or suspected would suffer heavy casualties. They said that if they must face the dangers of combat, they wanted the men with them to be the best. By the way, British Airbourne also jumped into Normandy that night.
Harry! Thank you so much for joining my premiere tonight & for being so generous! I am massively appreciative. Really enjoyed the second episode. Currahee!! ☺️
The next time you hear Winters speak, just think: Damian Lewis is British! After the series, check out some of the interviews he's done. His ability to do an American accent is uncanny! 😄
Way better than Tom Holland's or Joe Lock's, but I don't mind too much since they're playing fictional characters and their accents are close enough that they could just have an odd idiolect.
I believe this was the first attempt ever at a night parachuting assault. The hope was that the cover of darkness would provide the element of surprise and help protect the troops. However it was later determined the chaos of trying to organize the soldiers on the ground negated any advantage the night drop might have provided. And all future drops were performed in the daylight.
Winters was living with his parents in Hershey, Pennsylvania and was working with his father at the Pennsylvania Electric Company when he enlisted as a private in the regular infantry. He said to his co-workers that he would do no more than what was required of him. His foreman, who was a World War I vet, overheard Winters say that and took him aside and told him once he put on the uniform to do his absolute best and go beyond what was expected of him and that inspired Winters to go into the paratroopers and to officer's training school.
East Sussex's Ashdown Forest was the backdrop for a sequence in episode two, where Easy Company faced off against German guns shortly after landing in France. Stephen Ambrose was the author of the Band of Brothers book and other books about WWII. He was a history professor at the University of New Orleans. Stephen Ambrose met WWII veteran Eugene Roe at a restaurant in New Orleans and struck up a conversation and a friendship that led to the book then the mini-series. Thanks for reacting to it, Kate.
The airborne was guided in by the Pathfinders, who were the first to land in Normandy. They suffered horrific losses. Airborne troops had to secure key locations to prevent German reinforcements and Panzer units from making to the Beaches and locking down positions necessary for the different Allied Forces to link up. They also were responsible for taking out artillery pieces that would hammer the Beach landings. General Eisenhower told them that he expected 80% casualties, these men went anyway. Keep in mind that most were well under 25 years of age. Heroes all.❤❤
Sergeant Harris, who was initially dismissed from the regiment by Sink due to his part in the mutiny against Sobell volunteered as a pathfinder for D-Day.
Wonderful reactions Kate, you do so take it to heart and comprehend the gravity of those men's situation. The randomness of war is terrifying. Aircraft were not specifically targeted by flak but blanket bursts at specific altitudes, when the shell exploded thousands of fragments were propelled outward, a direct hit could take out a aircraft. Your reaction to the paratroopers who were engulfed in flames was so touching and that is what makes you and your channel so special. ❤
Thank you ever so much for what you’ve written in your comment. It’s lovely to know & I’m grateful. And you’ve stated it as a truth teller: the randomness of it is terrifying. Just boom, so many lives gone.
My dad was 17 when he landed as a marine on Saipan and later Tinian in the Pacific. 31,000 japanese soldiers died on Saipan. 900 surrendered. Suicide Cliff there is a national monument. It was the turning point in the war against the Japanese. He also served in the Korean war. Tinian was where the atomic bombs flew from to hiroshima and nagasaki.
My only exposure to Band Of Brothers so far has been this reaction and your commentary to the first two episodes. Your commentary is quite thoughtful and entertaining. Your technique of interspersing your comments between scenes and not speaking over the film dialogue is one that should be used by all reaction channels - not sure if I noticed that before in your movie reactions. Can't imagine missing an episode of this. I'm not Arnold, but "I'll be back"
I flew in a Dakota as a child (40yrs ago) on a bush flight in Southern Africa with my Dad. I remember it being very loud and there was wicked turbulence as we were only a couple of thousand feet over the desert. Got us where we needed to go. It was an old RAF plane, the pilot was an old RAF pilot who had a quick chat with me about the plane, which was a WW2 veteran. The Pilot was a bit younger.
When you are finished with this series, you should watch The Best Years of Our Lives from 1946. It follows 3 servicemen coming home after WW II trying to adjust to life after the war. It was the first film that ever dealt directly with PTSD, only they did not have a name for it then.
There's also the documentary "He Has Seen War" which features interviews with men from Easy Company, the 1st Marines (as portrayed in "The Pacific") and their families which goes into their return to civilian life. Best watched after viewing "The Pacific".
There were four real C-47 planes used during the production, the rest were digitally added. On a side note, at the end of the war thousands of these were sold to airlines and were the backbone of post-war American aviation. The C-47 designation was changed to DC-3. They were sold after the war for between fifteen and twenty five thousand dollars each!
I remember seeing them as a young adult at the Miami International Airport. I worked for Allied Aviation Repair on LeJune Rd. in Miami and had to make deliveries all over the Airport. Away from the main areas there were at least a dozen of these planes in and out of hangers.
@@mikealvarez2322 My dad was a pilot for Eastern Airlines and was based in Miami for a couple of years and flew a DC-3 at the beginning of his career. Then he was transferred to Chicago for three decades.
@@mikealvarez2322 No, he retired six months early and got his full benefits package. It was sad to see what was once a great airline go to pieces like that. Great during the Eddie Rickenbacker years anyway.
I've only just discovered your channel (searching for first time reactions to Back to the Future, of all things). Your stark and honest emotional response to the first two episodes of Band of Brothers is riveting to watch. Like you (with no idea of the realities of WW2), I had naively assumed that all of the planes flying away at the end of episode 1 would have safely delivered their complement of soldiers. It's one of the horrors of war to realise that men who had trained for years to go into this war could be killed in the air in a single moment. Your reaction to these first two episodes is a true insight into the brutality and senselessness of war, where survival is as often determined by sheer luck as skill or training.
Kate thank you for a wonderful reaction, premier and chat. I'm looking forward to the next event on your channel. This EP and series are so well written, directed and produced, Beyond the battle scenes that so impactfully convey what these men went through. It was also effective in showing the difference in leadership styles. It showed leading by fear and intimidation and the difference between demanding respect vs earning respect. Spears lead his troops by making them fear him and intimidating his men. In EP1 Sobel demanded the troops respect the uniform without giving them reason to respect the man in it, In EP 2 Winters, in my opinion the most effective leader, showed his troops how how to earn respect by leading and delegating tasks when necessary, firmly yet fairly issuing orders and his ability to defuse tense situations by showing his humanity when appropriate. I wonder how much Dick Winters inspired the creation of Miller's character in Saving Private Ryan. Good luck, best wishes, take care and get some sleep.
Jon, it was so great to have you on the live chat. Thank you very much indeed for your generosity of spirit too. I’m so appreciative. Yes, Winters’ character is proving to be very meaningful to me. He has clear attributes all young men should aspire to call their own. And as you say, knowing what’s appropriate and when to be empathic & then switch to being stern. I think my heart will be with all of Easy Company by the end :) :)
As expected Kate. a brilliant reaction video. You are most certainly the best of the best. I have rewatch this series 3 times now, and its amazing how much i found that i had missed on the first watch. really looking forwards to the next episode, now,,, about this patreon 😄
Oh btw. This is me. Thr previous comment was on my PC. This one is on my phone.😂. Either way, you have definitely got a fan in me. Your reactions are so real and intense, I send mental hugs whenever you get upset.
The aircraft used in this show were Douglas DC3's and maybe the military version called the C-47. It was a very stout and useful airplane. So good in fact that many are still flying today in actual commercial use. They have upgraded the engines, instruments and avionics, but more often then not, those DC3's and C-47s that are still flying, are now much older than the pilots that fly them.
Though a MUCH older movie you should see The Longest Day. It covers part of the British airborne landings in their taking of Pegasus bridge. The airborne troops of the US and British pulled off some minor miracles on D-Day.
i believe the plane that the show followed to the ground was supposed to be Lt Meahan's. the german soldier was from a family that returned to answer the call. they were called "volkes deutche" people of Germany.
I’m sorry I missed the live, but what a great reaction, Kate. I have to say, this is going to be an emotional challenge for you, but a journey worth it. I was lucky enough to have several great uncles in both theaters of the war, but this miniseries is so important to educate the younger generation what the greatest generation in the allied forces did for us. They offer us lessons of courage, commitment, and sacrifice for those we love. Really enjoying your reactions.
“Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that Bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.” General Dwight D. Eisenhower's other speech, D-Day was never a guarantee as it seems to be today...
A little off-topic but something I wanted to bring to your attention in case you weren't aware - The show's audio mix is off. The dialog and main sound effects are panned hard right, while only a few secondary sounds are panned hard left. Hardly anything in the mix is centered. Not only is this a bit jarring when listening on headphones, but it makes the dialog a little lower in volume and, at times, a little undefined. I've been enjoying your reactions to this and look forward to watching you get deeper into the series!
Things were so scattered that night that squad sized units were taking down objectives ment for platoons and platoons were taking down company level objectives. I was Marine during 9/11 and the opening months of OIF I and much of it is solidified in my memory.
Thanks for another enjoyable reaction. At 9:35 we see a trooper mesmerized by the dead paratrooper hung up in the tree. Lipton: "McDowell, you OK?" Reply: "Yes, Sergeant." "Well, let's go." ALL the NCOs exhibited great leadership skills. We'll see more from Lipton in later episodes.
They were able to use original C-47 aircraft because there are still enough of them in flying condition to make such a show. Now in 2025 parts are getting scarce and there are fewer of them left, but there is still a company taking the old airframes and upgrading to modern turbine engines. When this series was made there were still enough of this aircraft type available that it was quite practical to use original WWII vintage aircraft with original engines or engines that had been overhauled with new old stock parts.
Former US Navy Seabee so, can't speak to Combat Drops w/authority (just Awe). I know a couple former American Paratroopers. Knowing their history, they'll tell u there's nvr bn any on scale of WW2 since. Plus, WW2 was "pier conflict." For Operation Overlord, btwn Airborne drops behind Atlantic Wall & seaborn infantry landings, I (hope) we'll nvr see war on this scale again. PROUD to say, I served w/UK troops in Kuwait & Iraq. But, I hv SO much respect for those who served in WW1 & WW2 (on land, sea & air). When we hv WW2 vet at my American Legion Post, it's like being visited by a celebrity. I've had privilege to meet some of our original WW2 Navy Seabees. Paratroopers (my generation) had same w/WW2 Paratroopers. As young guys, history isn't always a focus. Looking back, I know I'm lucky to hv met some Originals who started our traditions & history.
The aircraft are Douglas C-47 Dakotas quite a few are still in flying condition either working for a living or plying the airshow circuits. The aircraft is a rugged bit of engineering that has had an extraordinarily long and useful life.
@MovieDateWithKate Kate, I'm not sure of your location but The National Warplane Museum in Genesseo NY puts on a banger of a airshow every summer! They even have a flying C-47 in invasion stripes called W7 aka Wiskey 7. We'll worth the visit!
If you later react to the 2nd of the two companion series to BoB, 'Masters of the Air' it gives a look into the terror that the US heavy bomber units faced in the skies during WWII
You wondered about the planes. More than 9500 Douglas C-47s were manufactured during the war. There are quite a few (300-400) still flying, and not just as relics. There are actually commercial air freight companies that are still using them. They were a well built aircraft.
@MovieDateWithKate yes I believe losses were anticipated to be 80% but ended up being somewhere around 20%? I believe. You may be interested in the movie Ike starring tom Selleck, it tells the story of the planning of Operation overlord leading up to d Day. Involving us and British commanders. Mostly generals Eisenhower, Bradley and field Marshal Montgomery. Good movie showing the difficulty of planning such an assault. It's a lot more mellow than this since it involves little if no combat.
@MovieDateWithKate it definitely was, you're not wrong there. But given the Nazi defenses it eas expected to be much worse, general Eisenhower had even written a letter taking full responsibility for the failure and preempted orders to withdraw had the landing failed. He was so torn over the whole operation and the gravity of all it carried with it, nothing less than the freedom of Europe itself.
-The German soldier that Malarkey meets didn't live a hundred miles from him in Oregon, he worked down the street. The writers changed it because they didn't think the truth would be believed. -The after-action reports from the German side of the gun assault were eventually found, and yes, when Malarkey ran out into the open (hoping to get a Luger) the Germans at first thought he was a medic. -Not mentioned, but Nixon was awarded a medal (I think Bronze Star) for running 3 miles through iffy territory to deliver the map Winters found to the beach. -When Buck Compton's Thompson doesn't fire... it never fired. Not shown in the series: he picked it up from another paratrooper who had a broken leg, but he never tested it. Turns out, it had a broken firing pin the entire time. -When you're talking about how amazing it is to see a man apologize for getting shot... Winters said pretty much the same thing in an interview. "Imagine the dedication".
I served 20 years in the Marine Corps and two combat tours in Vietnam as part of Marine Force Recon. As part of our Raider training we were sent to Fr. Benning Georgia a U. S. Army Infantry /Airborne training center. We made 5 qualifying jumps. I didn't like it then and I wouldn't like it now. I have always had great respect for the Airborne. T, Boyte GySgt USMC, retired Vietnam 1965-66/1970-71
Great review. I have watch this series many times and now i love watching reactors watch it for the first time to discover not only the greatness of the series but the greatness of the men who fought for our freedom. The Distinguish Service Cross the medal Winters received for this action is the second highest award a Military Service person can earn, only the Medal of Honor is higher. The importance of that mission can not be overstated. When you compare the causalities at the 2 landing sites for American soldiers on D-Day, Omaha and Utah Beaches the enormity of what Winters and his men did becomes clear. At Utah which was the Beach close to Winters and his men there were 590 total casualties (killed and wounded) at lot for sure but far less than the 3.600 casualties at Omaha Beach. It is not exaggerating to say that by taking out those guns Winters and his men literally saves thousands of lives that day.
Some information about the composition of the 101st division as well as the 506th PIR as of June 1944: During Operation Overlord (June 1944): 101st Airborne Division: - Major General Maxwell D. Taylor [101st composed of 4 infantry regiments: 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 502d Parachute Infantry Regiment, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment and 3 Artillery battalions, 1 Antiaircraft battalion and 1 Engineer battalion] 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment(PIR) - Colonel Robert Sink 1st Battalion (a,b,c companies): Lt. Col. William L. Turner (KIA 7 June 44), Lt Col. James L. LaPrade 2nd Battalion (d,e,f companies): Lt. Colonel Robert L. Strayer 3rd Battalion (g,h,i companies): Lt. Col. Robert Lee Wolverton (KIA 6 June 44), Maj. Oliver M. Horton ------ On June 6th: Lt. Colonel Strayer commanded the 2nd Battalion (which Easy company was part of). First Lieutenant Thomas Meehan was in command of Easy Company. 1st Platoon Leader: 1st Lt. Richard Winters Assistant: 2nd Lt. Harry Welsh 2nd Platoon Leader: 2nd Lt. Warren Roush Assistant: 2nd Lt. Buck Compton 3rd Platoon Leader: 2nd Lt. Robert Mathews Assistant: S/Sgt. C. Carwood Lipton (acting) When Lt. Meehan went missing, Lt. Richard Winters (the most senior officer in Easy Company) took command and Lt. Harry Welsh took over as 1st Platoon Leader. Eventually Lt. Buck Compton became 2nd Platoon Leader and Lt. Warren Roush became 3rd Platoon Leader. --------- The non-commissioned officers (NCOs): The 1st Sergeant: 1/Sgt. William Evans ( Was on same plane [stick 66] as Lt. Meehan ) 1st Platoon Sergeant: S/Sgt. Leo Boyle 2nd Platoon Sergeant: S/Sgt. James Diel 3rd Platoon Sergeant: S/Sgt. C. Carwood Lipton When Sgt. Evans went missing, S/Sgt. James Diel took over as 1st Sergeant and Sgt. William Guarnere took over as 2nd Platoon Sergeant. ---------- Easy Company originally included three rifle platoons and a headquarters section. Each platoon contained three twelve-man rifle squads and a six-man mortar team squad. Easy also had one machine gun attached to each of its rifle squads, and a 60mm mortar in each mortar team. === By the time the company was pulled off the line (in Normandy), they had taken 65 casualties including 22 killed in action [including the 17 of Stick 66 ( Lt. Meehan and Sgt Evans etc)]. Out of the 139 men of Easy Company who had left England on the night of 5 June, Winters' roster shows that there were only five officers left (Winters; his three platoon leaders Harry Welsh, Buck Compton, and Warren Rousch; and Rousch's assistant Francis L.O’Brien), as well as 69 enlisted men.
Although BoB is not about them, as a retired USAF airman I also have to give respect to the US Army Air Forces pilots who bravely flew those defenseless planes trying to get the soldiers to their drop zones, with many aircrews losing their lives also.
The Canadians and British didn't have any problems with the famous leg bag. That's what happens when you overload it and jump out of a plane moving too fast.
About the time this took place my Dad was in the Marine Corps. He could probably have been excused from the service but he stayed in and fought on Okinawa. He was deaf in one ear, his left eardrum was perforated. He also had flat feet and two children at home.
once you have finished watching episode 10, there’s a mini documentary where you see them interviewing the veterans of easy company some of this documentary you see the beginning of each episode they talk about the training and then all the battles that you see in the miniseries it is a must watch it rounds off the whole series
I watched your reaction to saving private Ryan,it was an honest reaction..The 101st. Airbornes job was to take out the artillery guns trained on the beach before the landings started.
A lot never seem to take notice but when Buck Compton drops the grenade, it is not his fault for dropping it. If you really watch you see someone running past him clip him and shoulder check him on the way by which causes him to fumble the grenade.
Thank you all so much to everyone who came to the live premiere! I’m sorry the live chat cut out. It was awesome talking to you guys. 🎉 I’ll try and open up the chat for longer beforehand next time I do a premiere so we can chat more :) that’ll be so nice! Thank you again for supporting my channel. ❤
Thank you for staying up so late to do it. Take care, best wishes
A chat before our next “date” would be scintillating! Sorry to have missed this one, had errands to run unfortunately.
I'll do my best to attend the next live event! Band rehersal got in the way tonight.
Thank YOU for another great date 😊
🌹Til next time
You, as most, are emotionally impacted by seeing what these soldiers go through. Your statement made me think of something I saw recetly that resonates with me (I am not a ver) - Vietnam MOH (Medal of Honor) recipient Roy Benavidez - "There is a saying among us veterans: for those that have fought for it, life has a special flavor the protected will never know. you have never lived, until you almost died. And it is us veterans that pray for peace most of all, especially the wonded, because we have to suffer the wonds of war". We cannot thank them enough. Thank you Kate!
"You try to put it all out of your mind" - It always gets me. Every. Single. Time.
Same here. I believe that was Bill Maynard, who broke his legs on the jump and who was stranded in a field on D-Day after.
You may have noticed the C-47's had Alphanumeric designations on their nose. The lead ship in the second wave at D-Day was designated W7. That aircraft is still flying and is home based at the National Warplanes Museum in Genesseo NY. Now lovingly restored and referred to as
Whiskey 7. On the 75th anniversary of D-Day she flew back to England, then picked up a very special passenger. The last man in the stick who jumped out of her on that fateful day. He did a tandem jump with a current member of the 101st. I live about an hour from Genesseo and make the trip to the annual airshow they have.
WOW !
Great info and story. Thanks 😀
Repping the 585. I grew up in Conesus. in middle school they took us to the national warplane museum as a field trip
They also get the Memphis belle movie B17 in there a lot of for maintenance
i flew on W7 a few years ago as a reenactor in 82nd 505th which she had dropped , ended the flight drinking some whisky
Malarkey talking to the German-American soldier is even more astonishing if you realise they actually worked across the street from each other but the scriptwriters thought nobody would believe it so they changed it to '100 miles from eachother'
I either read or heard somewhere on the Internet, that a German soldier gave an interview after the war, and he stated that what really freaked the German troops out about the Normandy invasion, was how all the crickets and frogs in the area suddenly came alive after all the planes had passed. He indicated that it made the hair on the back of their necks stand up! What they eventually found out, was that it was not crickets and frogs they were hearing. It was the noise of all those little clicking devices that the Americans used to communicate with each other!
Oh wow!! How incredibly clever of the Americans to devise such a plan. And look how well it worked!! Fantastic tactic!
That's a cute fairy tale.
Thank god it was just the Americans at Normandy, I mean if the British, Canadians and French resistance had been involved, then it would have been over quicker, second World War eh 1942 till 45 for you, 1939 until 1945 for everyone else
@@MovieDateWithKatewas invented by a Brit
@@simoncampbell3144Americans were fighting since 1942 as well. SE Asia and N. Africa with the Brits, Aussies, and other commonwealth allies. And since 1940 or ‘41 we were sending millions of tons of materiel, food, equipment, weapons, and ammo to our allies in Europe per month. The saying goes “British intelligence, American steel, and Russian blood won the war for the allies.”
Hoo boy Kate, your reaction and expressions to the brutality of the landings has you deserving the biggest hug ever!
Thank you kindly! That is so sweet. It absolutely devastated me, really. Which is good because that was clearly the intent of Spielberg & Hanks.
@MovieDateWithKate on a side note, episode 1 appears to be missing in your channel :O
He is right. Sadly, episode 1 has been taken down. Make sure you get it back up don't let them beat you. We are all here for your full journey & to support you through it.
You did a great.job.
When I was in basic, 1989, we practiced.Winter's assault on the guns.
13Bravo 101st 3/21 Charlie Battery 155mm 1983/1986. We sometimes trained to counter the assault and mostly failed, but since we were rapid deployment, we normally did the shoot and scoot! Can't kill what isn't there! The King of Battle always had your backs no matter what! Thanks buddy!
Fantastic that the strategy is still implemented years later!! Wow! 🎖️
@@MovieDateWithKate Isn't it though? But it was brilliant so it stands to reason.
BTW, I was surprised to find out the guy who played Winters was British, he's so good at doing a sort of upper midwest American accent that when I saw him in an interview and heard that British accent, well, I wasn't expecting it.
@@MovieDateWithKate They used those dime store clickers, they called them crickets, to find each other plus that flash-thunder thing you keep hearing them say, it was a pre-agreed on code.
@@MovieDateWithKate My grandfathers were both in WW2. The normal young men thing would not have sat well with them, that they were following tyrants is why Americans that just wanted to be in school or starting families were over there.
In a later episode, Webster starts spouting off at the Germans on just that sort of tirade.
Well, this is when the sh*t gets real. No more Captain Sobel, no more training. "We're not lost Private...we're in Normandy." This one line displays Winter's ability to instill confidence in his men, even unarmed in the face of all adversity. And this soldier wasn't even a member of Easy Company. Currahee ♠
Crazy to think the Brits jumped without a reserve parachute as well. What a generation they were.
Great reaction Kate like always, 13:54 fun fact: Buck's handsignals to Malarkey and Guarnere were as such He signaled 1, 4, 2, and then 2, 5, with his fingers. Then a closed fist and pointed in the direction of the MG.
Translated: "1 MG42, 25 Feet, throw grenades that way." An MG42 is a preferred machine gun that the German army used. The 25 feet was helpful for Malarkey and Guarnere to gauge how far they needed to throw the grenades. (BTW there was no hand signals in ww2, The real soldiers stated that there were no hand signals. They were a post WW2 thing introduced into the show by Dale Dye.)
I remember reading a book called "Geronimo" based on the Airborne troops of WW2, and it has a section from the German side of D-Day. It talk about how soldiers patrolling noticed an abnormal amount of frogs and crickets during the night. What they actually heard was the cheap toy clicker you see in Lt. Winters hand. It shows you how close some of these guys were to the enemy.
The show actually underplayed the battle for the guns due to time and dramatic constraints. The fighting lasted about 3-4 hours and there were something like 50-100 German defenders. The paratroopers were at constant risk of being flanked and annihilated. Winter's tactics kept the enemy confused and dispersed and many feel that he should have received the Medal of Honor for his actions there rather than "just" the Distinguished Service Cross.
We often forget how completely foreign the rest of the world was to this generation. In our modern times we have the internet and easy access to travel the world; back then travel was much less frequent and information was mainly supplied through newspapers and some tv news.... just crazy thought to consider these young kids traveling to completely strange lands to fight a virtually unknown enemy. Thanks to all vets out there, from back then to present day, thanks for your service!
And dont worry we got your back we´re a Band Of Brothers when you ask us to help we do it and it was a pleasure! Keep up the good work.
Really cool to learn that’s what it means! You’re just ace for explaining it out to me. Thanks so much. And so spot on, my appreciation for what that generation gave to us all has lifted great heights!
I like the fact that you don’t continually talk. You do just the right amount
That’s good feedback to know. Thank you :)
Lovely reaction - This series is truly amazing! Thank you!!
Thank you so much!! I’m glad you enjoyed it. The second episode was awesome & very fast paced :)
9:35 Lipton is getting supplies from the dead American soldier. This happened throughout the war. The one very obvious rule was-take only the items that were issued to them (ammunition, helmet, boots, handgun, rifle, etc) Do not take any personal items off of them. (Wallet, ring, etc) Graves registration will do that.
Ahh I see, that’s very interesting and helpful to know. Thank you.
My favorite part of this episode was the end, when Winters prays to God to let him survive the war and his promise that he will find a quiet piece of land, spending his life in peace. That was beautiful and something I can appreciate as a Veteran.
You’re so right. It was a beautiful moment in the episode.
You’ve started the BEST miniseries EVER made. Afterwards you need to watch, what is considered the 11th episode, “We Stand Alone Together”. Its interviews withe most of the survivors.
Thanks!! It’s on my list for afterwards for sure :)
Some of the survivors recalled that they had trained so extensively at night that they could recognize other members of the company just by their silhouette
That’s dedication. We’re so lucky that they took their roles seriously and with valour.
This is where it always gets real for me. Specifically the point where Winters starts giving the orders as they prepare to jump. There are a few missing because of the chaos and a few that have changed over the years. But for the most part, they are the same orders today…
“Stand up, hook up, shuffle to the door,
Jump right out and count to four.”
Part of an old Airborne running cadence.
Even reading your comment made my eyes sting. I don’t think I’ll ever forget how I felt watching that moment Winters gives the orders and they all stand up. It felt so real.. almost like it was certain they were jumping to their deaths. The emotion was unavoidable. My heart ached. What a series - and I’m only two episodes in!
This is just the finger food appetizer for the rest of the show. It gets better and better each episode
several original C-47 aircraft were used for filming, all original as they've stopped making engines ect for those planes decades ago. they're just meticulously upkept and maintained constantly
Thank goodness they were - they looked phenomenal flying in the series :)
I binged-watch this with my US Air Force Reserve squadron mates about 15 years ago. One of the greatest bonding moments of my 27 year military career. I gotta think a lot of the veterans in the intro probably never shared those stories until asked by the producers to appear in this series. That was the way they were.
I've watched interviews with the lady that did the majority of the interviews with the men of Easy Company. She flat out stated it was near impossible to get any man to talk about what 'they did', they would be more than happy to talk about others. So that's how she had to do it. If she wanted info about something Bill G did, she'd have to ask Babe, etc.
So true. So true. I’m glad they got their moment to share.
It's because of these men that we were born in a free country.
"It must be a blessing and a curse to live, because you have to remember for the rest of your life." Yeah....that's a hard truth. Just found the channel with Band of Brothers. I just wanted to say thank you for remembering all those who came before. As a Vet, it means a lot that people still care for those who paved the way for the rest of us.
Thank you ever so much for watching.
Another movie worth reviewing regarding paratroopers during World War II is the 1977 Richard Attenborough film about Operation Market Gardner in A Bridge Too Far. The 1st British Airbourne Division was dropped 11 miles from their directive of the Arnhem bridge.
I didn’t realise that has Richard Attenborough in it!! I really would like to watch it for the channel :)
@@MovieDateWithKateRichard Attenborough DIRECTED “A Bridge Too Far”. He does have a background, non-speaking cameo lasting for about a minute just like Hitchcock used to do.
@ He directed the movie, but doesn’t appear in the movie; but every British and American star pretty much star in it.
Perfect timing! I was just checking your channel to see if ep 2 was up. The camera work in this episode is top tier.
Perfect timing!!! 🤩 I’m so pleased 🥳 yes, hugely true 🎥 it’s like we were crawling along with them.
Was great chatting in the live premiere, I knew this episode would catch you in the feels as it's the doorway to everything they go through. Be careful with overdoing these heavy shows, there's not so many proper English Roses in the world these days and we need to keep them free of PTSD regardless of where it comes from.
Was so nice chatting to you in the live! Yes, you’re quite right. Will be great to mix it up with some fun movies coming up :D
I didn't see it in your video but right after the American soldier meets up with the American fighting for the Germans you see a paratrooper with a Mohawk haircut. He is one of the Filthy 13. A unit of the 101st, 506 Airborne specializing in demolition. They were in every respect of the word Badasses. The reason the shaved their heads like Mohawk Indians was to honor their leader Jake McNiece, a Choctaw Indian.
The book and therefore the movie THE DIRTY DOZEN was inspired by them. I believe the Fat Electrician did a segment on them.😮😊
Gosh, I just love that - the reason behind the Mohawk haircut!
Other paratroopers sported Mohawks on D-Day, not just the "Filthy Thirteen". There are many photos of various soldiers from the 82nd, the 101st, and the 17th showing that fact...
@@george217 You're right. I learn something every day. At 78, you'd think by now I'd know it all.🤔😊
your wrong on some of your info the movie has no connection to the Filthy 13 , Jake and them did the Mohawks cause of the lice but also made the Indian claim for the face paint . i was in E/506th Reenacted and both Mcniece and Jack Agnew would attend events with us. (i drank with Jack / Bill & Babe every year at the Battle of the Bulge event in PA)
@@MovieDateWithKateThe reason behind the Mohawk was very simple-they heard that there was a lice epidemic in Germany and amongst the German soldiers.
Excellent reaction Kate! You did a great job. I love how you were paying attention to the episode and not trying to make comments every 5 seconds. I'm so glad I found your channel and subscribed earlier when you posted episode 1. Looking forward to your next one!
That’s really lovely to read, thank you! I appreciate the positive feedback for sure. You subscribing means a lot :)
Good reaction. I wish they were a bit longer.
Thank you for taking this journey. You will not be disappointed.
Damion Lewis is an outstanding actor. He played Winters perfectly.
Well done.
Thanks so much! I can’t wait for episode 3 😌
Fantastic reaction, excellent review. I congratulate your work! As they say here in America, keep’’em rolling!
Thank you kindly! :D
Kate, I always enjoy watching young people learn new things from this series. You are a wonderful person with a wonderful empathetic heart. Each of us, when we saw these programs for the first time, felt as you have felt, even if we read Mr. Ambrose's book before this series came out. Cheers!
Cheers!! What a lovely comment to read. Thank you! :)
Watched this when it came out, was probably 20 or so at the time. Around the same age as many of the soldiers. Very eye opening.
Ms. Kate, it is truly a pleasure to see you again. Whether it's you reacting to a war show or reading a recipe on how to make ice water, it is a pure joy to see/hear you. Another excellent vid and I hope to see many, many more. Cheers ma'am! 😊
What a super comment! I’m flattered. I really appreciate you watching my channel. Till next time indeed! ☺️
Great reaction, young lady. The fireworks really start with this episode; no spoilers, but there's more to come. At times, BoB will make your spirit soar, and at times, it will break your heart; however, I can promise you that you'll be so glad you experienced this important moment in history. Looking forward to the next one.
Thank you for your comment! I’m so excited for episode 3 as well :)
There was a 101st Airborne trooper in my barracks in Wayside Detection Center. It was part of the Los Angeles County Jail System. Up in the mountains. He was the only inmate in the barracks that knew how to march (about face, etc.) in the formation in front of barracks when the deputies did their daily head counts, to make sure none of us was missing, i. e. escaped. So the deputy in charge had him demonstrate marching cadences in front of the rest of us civilians. That was a nice jail. I loved every minute of my sentence there. Well, mostly anyway.
In the book, some of the veterans discussed why they volunteered for the airborne, which they knew or suspected would suffer heavy casualties. They said that if they must face the dangers of combat, they wanted the men with them to be the best. By the way, British Airbourne also jumped into Normandy that night.
Thanks sis for reacting to this video and paying homage to the heroes of the 101st Airborne, Currahee!
Harry! Thank you so much for joining my premiere tonight & for being so generous! I am massively appreciative. Really enjoyed the second episode. Currahee!! ☺️
The next time you hear Winters speak, just think: Damian Lewis is British! After the series, check out some of the interviews he's done. His ability to do an American accent is uncanny! 😄
Way better than Tom Holland's or Joe Lock's, but I don't mind too much since they're playing fictional characters and their accents are close enough that they could just have an odd idiolect.
Definitely!! I forget when watching him. I first watched him as an actor in Homeland.
@@StarkRG”Fictional”? These soldiers were real.
He's not the only British actor in playing an American in this.
I believe this was the first attempt ever at a night parachuting assault. The hope was that the cover of darkness would provide the element of surprise and help protect the troops. However it was later determined the chaos of trying to organize the soldiers on the ground negated any advantage the night drop might have provided. And all future drops were performed in the daylight.
Super interesting to know! I appreciate you sharing your knowledge. Thank you for watching my video :)
Winters was living with his parents in Hershey, Pennsylvania and was working with his father at the Pennsylvania Electric Company when he enlisted as a private in the regular infantry. He said to his co-workers that he would do no more than what was required of him. His foreman, who was a World War I vet, overheard Winters say that and took him aside and told him once he put on the uniform to do his absolute best and go beyond what was expected of him and that inspired Winters to go into the paratroopers and to officer's training school.
Just great to know. How people can make impressions on our lives is so beautiful to me. Thanks for commenting! :)
East Sussex's Ashdown Forest was the backdrop for a sequence in episode two, where Easy Company faced off against German guns shortly after landing in France. Stephen Ambrose was the author of the Band of Brothers book and other books about WWII. He was a history professor at the University of New Orleans. Stephen Ambrose met WWII veteran Eugene Roe at a restaurant in New Orleans and struck up a conversation and a friendship that led to the book then the mini-series. Thanks for reacting to it, Kate.
Wonderful knowledge you’ve shared!! Thanks so much for relaying :)
@@MovieDateWithKate My pleasure. Look forward to the next upload.
The airborne was guided in by the Pathfinders, who were the first to land in Normandy. They suffered horrific losses. Airborne troops had to secure key locations to prevent German reinforcements and Panzer units from making to the Beaches and locking down positions necessary for the different Allied Forces to link up. They also were responsible for taking out artillery pieces that would hammer the Beach landings. General Eisenhower told them that he expected 80% casualties, these men went anyway. Keep in mind that most were well under 25 years of age. Heroes all.❤❤
Great knowledge, Mike. You are a fountain of wisdom. Thanks for sharing these poignant facts. These young men were the epitome of bravery.
Sergeant Harris, who was initially dismissed from the regiment by Sink due to his part in the mutiny against Sobell volunteered as a pathfinder for D-Day.
Wonderful reactions Kate, you do so take it to heart and comprehend the gravity of those men's situation. The randomness of war is terrifying. Aircraft were not specifically targeted by flak but blanket bursts at specific altitudes, when the shell exploded thousands of fragments were propelled outward, a direct hit could take out a aircraft. Your reaction to the paratroopers who were engulfed in flames was so touching and that is what makes you and your channel so special. ❤
Thank you ever so much for what you’ve written in your comment. It’s lovely to know & I’m grateful. And you’ve stated it as a truth teller: the randomness of it is terrifying. Just boom, so many lives gone.
Great reaction to a great series. Buckle up for this one. Also, Thank you to all the veterans 🙏 🇺🇸
Thank you!! And you said it perfectly! Thank you to all the veterans. ❤️
Thank you so much for your wonderful reaction. I can't wait to follow you through the serious❤
My dad was 17 when he landed as a marine on Saipan and later Tinian in the Pacific. 31,000 japanese soldiers died on Saipan. 900 surrendered. Suicide Cliff there is a national monument. It was the turning point in the war against the Japanese. He also served in the Korean war. Tinian was where the atomic bombs flew from to hiroshima and nagasaki.
What a young lad to experience such shocking horror.
My only exposure to Band Of Brothers so far has been this reaction and your commentary to the first two episodes. Your commentary is quite thoughtful and entertaining. Your technique of interspersing your comments between scenes and not speaking over the film dialogue is one that should be used by all reaction channels - not sure if I noticed that before in your movie reactions. Can't imagine missing an episode of this. I'm not Arnold, but "I'll be back"
Thanks so much for your support and great comment to me :)
I flew in a Dakota as a child (40yrs ago) on a bush flight in Southern Africa with my Dad. I remember it being very loud and there was wicked turbulence as we were only a couple of thousand feet over the desert. Got us where we needed to go. It was an old RAF plane, the pilot was an old RAF pilot who had a quick chat with me about the plane, which was a WW2 veteran. The Pilot was a bit younger.
That’s a very cool core memory. And a special experience.
When you are finished with this series, you should watch The Best Years of Our Lives from 1946. It follows 3 servicemen coming home after WW II trying to adjust to life after the war. It was the first film that ever dealt directly with PTSD, only they did not have a name for it then.
There's also the documentary "He Has Seen War" which features interviews with men from Easy Company, the 1st Marines (as portrayed in "The Pacific") and their families which goes into their return to civilian life. Best watched after viewing "The Pacific".
Thanks for telling me about that; I’ll have to check it out :)
Actually, there was a name for what eventually is called PTSD. In WW1 and WW2 it was called 'Shell Shocked'.
Lovely reaction. This is an amazing series.
Thanks so much. I’m liking it a lot so far!
Thanks for the live chat, Kate. I look forward to your reactions. Blessings from the Great Pacific Northwest USA.
Thank you so much for joining, Michael! It was awesome you could be there for the episode’s premiere:D
@@MovieDateWithKate It was my pleasure. Warms my soul to watch you react to those who sacrificed so much in WWII.
There were four real C-47 planes used during the production, the rest were digitally added. On a side note, at the end of the war thousands of these were sold to airlines and were the backbone of post-war American aviation. The C-47 designation was changed to DC-3. They were sold after the war for between fifteen and twenty five thousand dollars each!
I remember seeing them as a young adult at the Miami International Airport. I worked for Allied Aviation Repair on LeJune Rd. in Miami and had to make deliveries all over the Airport. Away from the main areas there were at least a dozen of these planes in and out of hangers.
@@mikealvarez2322 My dad was a pilot for Eastern Airlines and was based in Miami for a couple of years and flew a DC-3 at the beginning of his career. Then he was transferred to Chicago for three decades.
@@filmkid541 I hope he wasn't one of the Eastern employees that got screwed out of some of their retirement benefits when Eastern went under.
@@mikealvarez2322 No, he retired six months early and got his full benefits package. It was sad to see what was once a great airline go to pieces like that. Great during the Eddie Rickenbacker years anyway.
@filmkid541 Glad to hear that he got his benefits. My best friend's father worked for Pan American and wasn't that lucky.
Thank you
Great Job…Kate. I am so happy I joined you tonight
Thank you so very much for joining tonight! It was really generous of you. I am grateful! I hope you have a great rest of your week :)
I've only just discovered your channel (searching for first time reactions to Back to the Future, of all things). Your stark and honest emotional response to the first two episodes of Band of Brothers is riveting to watch.
Like you (with no idea of the realities of WW2), I had naively assumed that all of the planes flying away at the end of episode 1 would have safely delivered their complement of soldiers. It's one of the horrors of war to realise that men who had trained for years to go into this war could be killed in the air in a single moment.
Your reaction to these first two episodes is a true insight into the brutality and senselessness of war, where survival is as often determined by sheer luck as skill or training.
Thanks ever so much for checking out my channel and writing the above.
Lt Winters was only 26 years old in 1944.
My goodness! So wise and young.
Another great reaction video, Kate. Keep up the good work!
Many thanks!! :) :)
Kate thank you for a wonderful reaction, premier and chat. I'm looking forward to the next event on your channel.
This EP and series are so well written, directed and produced, Beyond the battle scenes that so impactfully convey what these men went through. It was also effective in showing the difference in leadership styles. It showed leading by fear and intimidation and the difference between demanding respect vs earning respect. Spears lead his troops by making them fear him and intimidating his men. In EP1 Sobel demanded the troops respect the uniform without giving them reason to respect the man in it, In EP 2 Winters, in my opinion the most effective leader, showed his troops how how to earn respect by leading and delegating tasks when necessary, firmly yet fairly issuing orders and his ability to defuse tense situations by showing his humanity when appropriate. I wonder how much Dick Winters inspired the creation of Miller's character in Saving Private Ryan.
Good luck, best wishes, take care and get some sleep.
Jon, it was so great to have you on the live chat. Thank you very much indeed for your generosity of spirit too. I’m so appreciative.
Yes, Winters’ character is proving to be very meaningful to me. He has clear attributes all young men should aspire to call their own. And as you say, knowing what’s appropriate and when to be empathic & then switch to being stern. I think my heart will be with all of Easy Company by the end :) :)
As expected Kate. a brilliant reaction video. You are most certainly the best of the best. I have rewatch this series 3 times now, and its amazing how much i found that i had missed on the first watch. really looking forwards to the next episode, now,,, about this patreon 😄
Oh btw. This is me. Thr previous comment was on my PC. This one is on my phone.😂. Either way, you have definitely got a fan in me.
Your reactions are so real and intense, I send mental hugs whenever you get upset.
Thanks sooo much!! And yes, I am currently building my Patreon so that’ll be very cool when it’s done. Thank you for supporting me.
Happy to report that my Patreon launched today! 🥰🖖🏻🎧🥳 I hope you can check it out on my channel when you have time.
The aircraft used in this show were Douglas DC3's and maybe the military version called the C-47. It was a very stout and useful airplane. So good in fact that many are still flying today in actual commercial use. They have upgraded the engines, instruments and avionics, but more often then not, those DC3's and C-47s that are still flying, are now much older than the pilots that fly them.
Very very cool to know. Just shows how far good engineering can really go!
Wonderful reaction Kate. Looking forward to the next episode.
Thank you so much for your support!
Great reaction Kate. I'm new to your channel but you've gained a fan. Looking forward to more reactions from you.
I’m so glad you’ve discovered me! Thank you for being a fan!
Excellent reaction and comments!!
Thanks so much!
deserves many more views, great genuine reaction 😊
Thanks for saying so!
Loved your reaction and it was nice chatting with you in the premier!
🤠
So great chatting at the premiere!! Thank you ever so much for joining me! 😃
Though a MUCH older movie you should see The Longest Day. It covers part of the British airborne landings in their taking of Pegasus bridge. The airborne troops of the US and British pulled off some minor miracles on D-Day.
It's a testament to the design of the Douglas DC-3 that many of those planes are still flying today.
Just magnificent engineering.
i believe the plane that the show followed to the ground was supposed to be Lt Meahan's. the german soldier was from a family that returned to answer the call. they were called "volkes deutche" people of Germany.
And clearly from a family of Nazi sympathizers. “All true Aryans…” is a dead giveaway, yet most reactors miss it, as did our videographer here.
U seem to be a real gem. I enjoyed your well rounded and intelligent review of this episode. I subscribed. Thanks!
Thanks for your kind message and for subscribing!! That’s awesome.
Great reaction Kate. Keep up the fantastic content❤
Thank you! ☺️
I’m sorry I missed the live, but what a great reaction, Kate. I have to say, this is going to be an emotional challenge for you, but a journey worth it. I was lucky enough to have several great uncles in both theaters of the war, but this miniseries is so important to educate the younger generation what the greatest generation in the allied forces did for us. They offer us lessons of courage, commitment, and sacrifice for those we love. Really enjoying your reactions.
Thanks so much for watching! I’ll do another live again soon, for sure.
“Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that Bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.” General Dwight D. Eisenhower's other speech, D-Day was never a guarantee as it seems to be today...
Thank you so much for sharing this comment.
A little off-topic but something I wanted to bring to your attention in case you weren't aware - The show's audio mix is off. The dialog and main sound effects are panned hard right, while only a few secondary sounds are panned hard left. Hardly anything in the mix is centered. Not only is this a bit jarring when listening on headphones, but it makes the dialog a little lower in volume and, at times, a little undefined.
I've been enjoying your reactions to this and look forward to watching you get deeper into the series!
Thank you so much for explaining this issue to me. I’ll see if I can fix it going forwards.
Things were so scattered that night that squad sized units were taking down objectives ment for platoons and platoons were taking down company level objectives.
I was Marine during 9/11 and the opening months of OIF I and much of it is solidified in my memory.
Thanks for another enjoyable reaction. At 9:35 we see a trooper mesmerized by the dead paratrooper hung up in the tree. Lipton: "McDowell, you OK?" Reply: "Yes, Sergeant." "Well, let's go." ALL the NCOs exhibited great leadership skills. We'll see more from Lipton in later episodes.
I know, that was a nice moment. Spot on, and it’s nice these little moments are added in to boost Winters’ credibility and likeability :)
They were able to use original C-47 aircraft because there are still enough of them in flying condition to make such a show. Now in 2025 parts are getting scarce and there are fewer of them left, but there is still a company taking the old airframes and upgrading to modern turbine engines. When this series was made there were still enough of this aircraft type available that it was quite practical to use original WWII vintage aircraft with original engines or engines that had been overhauled with new old stock parts.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 great reactions. Enjoying your channel 👊🏻
Thanks! I’m so pleased you are :)
Former US Navy Seabee so, can't speak to Combat Drops w/authority (just Awe). I know a couple former American Paratroopers. Knowing their history, they'll tell u there's nvr bn any on scale of WW2 since. Plus, WW2 was "pier conflict." For Operation Overlord, btwn Airborne drops behind Atlantic Wall & seaborn infantry landings, I (hope) we'll nvr see war on this scale again. PROUD to say, I served w/UK troops in Kuwait & Iraq. But, I hv SO much respect for those who served in WW1 & WW2 (on land, sea & air). When we hv WW2 vet at my American Legion Post, it's like being visited by a celebrity. I've had privilege to meet some of our original WW2 Navy Seabees. Paratroopers (my generation) had same w/WW2 Paratroopers. As young guys, history isn't always a focus. Looking back, I know I'm lucky to hv met some Originals who started our traditions & history.
The aircraft are Douglas C-47 Dakotas quite a few are still in flying condition either working for a living or plying the airshow circuits. The aircraft is a rugged bit of engineering that has had an extraordinarily long and useful life.
Really good to learn. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!! I’d quite like to go to an aviation show.
@MovieDateWithKate Kate, I'm not sure of your location but The National Warplane Museum in Genesseo NY puts on a banger of a airshow every summer! They even have a flying C-47 in invasion stripes called W7 aka Wiskey 7. We'll worth the visit!
Also The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Ontario is a excellent living museum. 🙂
Also The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Ontario is a excellent living museum. 🙂
If you later react to the 2nd of the two companion series to BoB, 'Masters of the Air' it gives a look into the terror that the US heavy bomber units faced in the skies during WWII
You wondered about the planes. More than 9500 Douglas C-47s were manufactured during the war. There are quite a few (300-400) still flying, and not just as relics. There are actually commercial air freight companies that are still using them. They were a well built aircraft.
Just awesome to know! I’m really impressed by how sturdy they still are. What a feat of engineering!
Kate, Believe it or not the losses were expected to be worse, this was considered a successful landing.
Really!!! My goodness. It looked so brutal to me!
@MovieDateWithKate yes I believe losses were anticipated to be 80% but ended up being somewhere around 20%? I believe. You may be interested in the movie Ike starring tom Selleck, it tells the story of the planning of Operation overlord leading up to d Day. Involving us and British commanders. Mostly generals Eisenhower, Bradley and field Marshal Montgomery. Good movie showing the difficulty of planning such an assault. It's a lot more mellow than this since it involves little if no combat.
@MovieDateWithKate it definitely was, you're not wrong there. But given the Nazi defenses it eas expected to be much worse, general Eisenhower had even written a letter taking full responsibility for the failure and preempted orders to withdraw had the landing failed. He was so torn over the whole operation and the gravity of all it carried with it, nothing less than the freedom of Europe itself.
-The German soldier that Malarkey meets didn't live a hundred miles from him in Oregon, he worked down the street. The writers changed it because they didn't think the truth would be believed.
-The after-action reports from the German side of the gun assault were eventually found, and yes, when Malarkey ran out into the open (hoping to get a Luger) the Germans at first thought he was a medic.
-Not mentioned, but Nixon was awarded a medal (I think Bronze Star) for running 3 miles through iffy territory to deliver the map Winters found to the beach.
-When Buck Compton's Thompson doesn't fire... it never fired. Not shown in the series: he picked it up from another paratrooper who had a broken leg, but he never tested it. Turns out, it had a broken firing pin the entire time.
-When you're talking about how amazing it is to see a man apologize for getting shot... Winters said pretty much the same thing in an interview. "Imagine the dedication".
True!! Imagine that. Really enjoyed reading your comments. Thanks for sharing your knowledge:)
I served 20 years in the Marine Corps and two combat tours in Vietnam as part of Marine Force Recon. As part of our Raider training we were sent to Fr. Benning Georgia a U. S. Army Infantry /Airborne training center. We made 5 qualifying jumps. I didn't like it then and I wouldn't like it now. I have always had great respect for the Airborne.
T, Boyte
GySgt USMC, retired
Vietnam 1965-66/1970-71
Thank you, Sir.
Love your reactions ❤️! But as a forewarning be sure to have tissues nearby for the rest, esp EP 7 and 9. Thank you
I definitely will 🥲🤧 Thank you for checking out my channel :)
Another wonderful viewing, Kate! So rewarding to experience this amazing series again with and through you :-)
Thanks so much! I’m glad you’re enjoying it with me.
Great review. I have watch this series many times and now i love watching reactors watch it for the first time to discover not only the greatness of the series but the greatness of the men who fought for our freedom. The Distinguish Service Cross the medal Winters received for this action is the second highest award a Military Service person can earn, only the Medal of Honor is higher. The importance of that mission can not be overstated. When you compare the causalities at the 2 landing sites for American soldiers on D-Day, Omaha and Utah Beaches the enormity of what Winters and his men did becomes clear. At Utah which was the Beach close to Winters and his men there were 590 total casualties (killed and wounded) at lot for sure but far less than the 3.600 casualties at Omaha Beach. It is not exaggerating to say that by taking out those guns Winters and his men literally saves thousands of lives that day.
Thank you so much for your comment.
Great reaction! You're in for one of the best cinematic experiences in my opinion watching this series.
Some information about the composition of the 101st division as well as the 506th PIR as of June 1944:
During Operation Overlord (June 1944):
101st Airborne Division: - Major General Maxwell D. Taylor
[101st composed of 4 infantry regiments: 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 502d Parachute Infantry Regiment, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment and 3 Artillery battalions, 1 Antiaircraft battalion and 1 Engineer battalion]
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment(PIR) - Colonel Robert Sink
1st Battalion (a,b,c companies): Lt. Col. William L. Turner (KIA 7 June 44), Lt Col. James L. LaPrade
2nd Battalion (d,e,f companies): Lt. Colonel Robert L. Strayer
3rd Battalion (g,h,i companies): Lt. Col. Robert Lee Wolverton (KIA 6 June 44), Maj. Oliver M. Horton
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On June 6th: Lt. Colonel Strayer commanded the 2nd Battalion (which Easy company was part of).
First Lieutenant Thomas Meehan was in command of Easy Company.
1st Platoon Leader: 1st Lt. Richard Winters Assistant: 2nd Lt. Harry Welsh
2nd Platoon Leader: 2nd Lt. Warren Roush Assistant: 2nd Lt. Buck Compton
3rd Platoon Leader: 2nd Lt. Robert Mathews Assistant: S/Sgt. C. Carwood Lipton (acting)
When Lt. Meehan went missing, Lt. Richard Winters (the most senior officer in Easy Company) took command and Lt. Harry Welsh took over as 1st Platoon Leader. Eventually Lt. Buck Compton became 2nd Platoon Leader and Lt. Warren Roush became 3rd Platoon Leader.
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The non-commissioned officers (NCOs):
The 1st Sergeant: 1/Sgt. William Evans ( Was on same plane [stick 66] as Lt. Meehan )
1st Platoon Sergeant: S/Sgt. Leo Boyle
2nd Platoon Sergeant: S/Sgt. James Diel
3rd Platoon Sergeant: S/Sgt. C. Carwood Lipton
When Sgt. Evans went missing, S/Sgt. James Diel took over as 1st Sergeant and Sgt. William Guarnere took over as 2nd Platoon Sergeant.
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Easy Company originally included three rifle platoons and a headquarters section. Each platoon contained three twelve-man rifle squads and a six-man mortar team squad. Easy also had one machine gun attached to each of its rifle squads, and a 60mm mortar in each mortar team.
===
By the time the company was pulled off the line (in Normandy), they had taken 65 casualties including 22 killed in action [including the 17 of Stick 66 ( Lt. Meehan and Sgt Evans etc)].
Out of the 139 men of Easy Company who had left England on the night of 5 June, Winters' roster shows that there were only five officers left (Winters; his three platoon leaders Harry Welsh, Buck Compton, and Warren Rousch; and Rousch's assistant Francis L.O’Brien), as well as 69 enlisted men.
Although BoB is not about them, as a retired USAF airman I also have to give respect to the US Army Air Forces pilots who bravely flew those defenseless planes trying to get the soldiers to their drop zones, with many aircrews losing their lives also.
I agree, such courage they showed!
The Canadians and British didn't have any problems with the famous leg bag. That's what happens when you overload it and jump out of a plane moving too fast.
Thoroughly enjoyed the video. Looking forward to your next one.
About the time this took place my Dad was in the Marine Corps. He could probably have been excused from the service but he stayed in and fought on Okinawa. He was deaf in one ear, his left eardrum was perforated. He also had flat feet and two children at home.
My uncle was also a Marine and fought on Okinawa as well. He was a Bazookaman
@@MrKawika64 My Dad carried the flamethrower. He was in the 6th Division, 29th regiment.
The medals of honour these troops recieved under Dick Winters command on the assualt on this post is unbelievable
Great Reaction Kate !! Thank You
Amazing reaction as always Kate, love your raw emotion, cool fact Popeye is/was from the same county as me in Virginia.
once you have finished watching episode 10, there’s a mini documentary where you see them interviewing the veterans of easy company some of this documentary you see the beginning of each episode they talk about the training and then all the battles that you see in the miniseries it is a must watch it rounds off the whole series
I watched your reaction to saving private Ryan,it was an honest reaction..The 101st. Airbornes job was to take out the artillery guns trained on the beach before the landings started.
Thank you so much for watching my video.
@ ,no bother darlin👍👍💐
@ ,no bother darlin
A lot never seem to take notice but when Buck Compton drops the grenade, it is not his fault for dropping it. If you really watch you see someone running past him clip him and shoulder check him on the way by which causes him to fumble the grenade.
I've been on so many Movie Dates with you, by now I think we're going steady xD
Love that!
Great reaction Kate. Very expressive at times. Keep up the great work ❤
Cheers! ☺️ I hope to.