true story is that Joseph Mazello, the actor that played Sledge, was contacted by the family of the real Eugene Sledge, who were felt honored by his portrayal and gifted him the real pipe Sledge used
That's awesome. Sledge's family is from about an hour west of where my family has a home. Wild to see how the career of "the kid from Jurassic Park" has progressed is cool, too. This is a wonderful series.
Snafu saw sledge sleeping peacefully and realized he may not get alot of that for awhile, so he didn't disturb him Also wanted to add to this, there’s a doc (“He Has Seen War”) that comes after this show, and Sidney Phillips talks about how he dated Shirley in Australia after Guadalcanal, and then meeting his wife in Alabama. The wife threw out all his pictures of Shirley. Years later, Sidney is in his office and gets a call from his wife, and she says Shirley and her family have come to visit! They stayed at the Phillips home for a bit, and his wife wouldn’t let them leave. Even more years later, Shirley’s son reaches out to Sidney’s daughter, they fell in love and got married. So, Sidney Phillips daughter is now married to his old Australian girlfriend’s son!
The guy who was Snafu in real life didn’t tell a soul he was even in the Marines until his the 1980s when his children found out because he mentioned “oh yeah I was there” in reference to Eugene’s Book “With the Old Breed” that came out in 1981. That’s just how he was. Eugene was a Palbearer at his funeral.
How the heck do you have your old girlfriend come into your home with your wife… and you’re sleeping in the same house while she’s in there. Man that’s wild.
@@30AndHatingIt I'm pretty sure the actually story is that, although they "dated" Sidney's relationship with Shirley was never a physical one like it is portrayed in the show. So they "dated," but like super 1940's style. With that said, plenty of other marines didn't do it 40's style, including Leckie who far from having one girl in Melbourne, spent his time getting to know quite a few women.
A reflection of what Eugene went through beyond this series: later on in life when he could go to veteran reunions, his wife attended one with him. While there, one of his old friends told her that if she ever wanted to wake him up quickly, all she'd have to do was whisper "Sledgehammer" in his ear. One night she tried it while he was asleep in his chair. She said she leaned down and gently whispered "Sledgehammer" in his ear. In an instant, he was awake and grabbing her arm, frantically whispering "Where? Where are they?" She said she wasn't looking at her husband in that moment; it was the scared young man left behind on those islands.
I haven't read the entire book yet, but Sledge's description of how the Japanese would sneak around at night and take targets of opportunity would be borderline nightmare fuel if you were a 19-year-old Marine. One moment you hear screaming and wrestling in a foxhole not too far down from where you are, so everyone goes on alert, but no one dares leave their foxhole for fear of being drawn in an ambush, so you have to listen to two dudes trying to kill each other with knives and bare hands in the night, unsure if there's a Japanese platoon waiting to charge just further up in the trees. Also the massive attrition rate. Just dead bodies everywhere, all the time. I've heard it phrased this way: In WW2, Western Europe was a classic battlefield, the Eastern Front looked like a post-apocalyptic wasteland, and the Pacific Theater was a real life horror movie.
Generation Kill next. It's easier on your emotions. The modern aspect will be a nice juxtaposition against these WW2 dramas. It's also only 7 episodes. If you haven't seen Chernobyl that is one of the highest rated mini series as well. It's only 5 episodes too.
The scene with Eugene and his father hunting breaks my heart every time I watch it and I just can't help but to bawl. As a Marine myself, Eugene Sledge is who I envision when I think of the epitomical Marine. His book 'The Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa' is a cover-to-cover page turner.
I joined the Marines after highschool in 2014. They teach us and make us remember Marine Corps history. A lot of things mentioned in this series is known by every Marine by heart. It’s one way of immortalizing these men and their stories.
@@Hailama51 basilone challenge was the worst part of the crucible 😂 or when the drill instructors made us turn the squad bay into “Mt Suribachi” with all of our belongings
Sledge's book is considered one of the best combat memoirs ever written. He was stationed in China after the war and wrote the book China Marine. I appreciated your comments which were very personal and heartfelt.
Hawkeye: War isn’t Hell. War is war, and Hell is Hell. And of the two, war is a lot worse. Father Mulcahy: How do you figure that, Hawkeye? Hawkeye: Easy, Father. Tell me, who goes to Hell? Father Mulcahy: Sinners, I believe. Hawkeye: Exactly. There are no innocent bystanders in Hell. War is chock full of them - little kids, cripples, old ladies. In fact, except for some of the brass, almost everybody involved is an innocent bystander.
Eugene's homecoming was very realistic. Most people think of men returning from war as a ticker-tape parade, but the truth was far different. Most of us simply struggled.
It sent me into a full on depression listening to the audiobook...very good, but god damn. man can write and is very good at tying your imagination to his descriptions.
If I had to pick a favorite episode, it would be this one. Seeing the war end and those who lived getting to go home, it really hits you on an emotional level. But, as a Navy Veteran, I also remember all those who wore the uniform long before I existed. I have been to some of these places where the Marines fought during my deployments overseas. It makes you think. I had been out of the Navy for five years when The Pacific first aired and, for me, I did not watch this series because I wanted to; I watched it because I felt it was my duty as a Veteran to watch it. And I still watch it at least once a year just to remember these men and what they went through. Eugene's homecoming was the one that broke me the most. I loved seeing Burgin getting reunited with his father and brother. The cab driver who wouldn't take Leckie's money got me as well. I loved that respect. And Leckie telling Vera those letters were the best stuff he ever wrote was beautiful.
This episode always gets to me also, finding out many years after our Dad died to learn he was a Corpsman with the Marines at Okinawa and after the war was put into the first occupation Marines into mainland Japan till 1947. He had only ever talked about his time at Naval Hospital at the beginning of the war and being on mainland Japan, he never disclosed he was on Okinawa. When Dad returned he threw himself into the Bible and studied to become a preacher. His religion helped him recover from everything he saw.
Even if you don’t use it for UA-cam please watch the documentary called “He has Seen War”. It features men from Band of Brothers and the Pacific and their families talking about war time experiences and the impact it had on their families after the war . It’s truly moving
My dad was a veteran of the European Theater during World War II. He saw numerous friends killed, went through the coldest winter in Europe 50 years, and saw the horrors of the Holocaust after his company liberated Ohrdruf. I once asked him if he was glad he didn’t get sent to the Pacific, and he said, “Oh, hell yes.”
Yep coming home it's hard. Nobody understands Apart from other veterans. I still don't sleep normally. Thank you for the empathy It makes me feel a little better even though we're from different nations.
It’s such a small line but when Burgin tells Snafu and Sledge that they are good marines it hits me hard. Nothing is a better compliment than one of your leaders and a damn good one telling you that you are a good marine. I remember when my Plt Sgt told me that after my last hike a couple weeks before I got out. Semper Fi.
Army vet here. The scene where Sledge’s father tells his mom that she doesn’t know what men like him have been through. That’s the toughest scene in the whole series for me.
It's outstanding. The fact it was made in 1946 and shows the difficulties of returning home while not all the troops were even home yet adds an impact no movie made later could have.
My father served in the Pacific with the Marines during The island campaigns. He's the reason I joined the Marine Corps right out of high school in 1964. I spent 20 years in the Corps and served two combat tours in Vietnam. First tour as a Infantry machine gunner (0331) and 2nd tour as a Infantry Platoon leader (0369) T. Boyte, GySgt. USMC, retired Vietnam 1965-66/1970-71 Bronze Star, Purple Heart
good movie, but i hate the part at the end when he looks at his gun as if it could do that much damage when air support arrives like why do they do that in movies WHY its so incredibly duuumb
Love this series, and was great to re-watch it along with your reactions. Many people I know say they don't like this series and try to compare it to Band of Brothers...but I don't think you can, they're inherently different. While both are based on real people & events, the underlying theme of BOB was the comradery & brotherhood that is forged and cultivated during times of war, while the underlying theme of The Pacific was more the grotesqueness of war itself, and the impact it has on the human body and mind. It makes the Pacific fundamentally harder to watch than BOB. Both are outstanding.
There was one small tie with BoB in this episode. When the cab driver who took Leckie home refused any money from him he said that he had jumped into Normandy which means he was a paratrooper, either with the 101st or 82nd Airborne. He compared the conditions that he and Leckie had faced but also remember that the Guadalcanal invasion took place in late 1942 whereas D-Day was mid 1944 although elements of the 82nd first saw action on Sicily in July 1943.
I grew up in the 1950s in a working class neighborhood. We were one of the few homes with a big front porch. It was a gathering place for several men in the neighborhood some of whom had served in WW2. Some of these men saw combat others didn't. My Dad was one that did not see combat as he was seriously wounded in a training accident (terrible scars on his arms and could not straighten them). They usually talked sports and politics but every now and then a war story, usually funny, popped up. I remember that some of the most intriguing stories came from Domingo, who served in the Merchant Marine, and had 2 ships torpedoed out from under him. One thing I do remember is that all these men seemed well adjusted. Later in life I met my father-in-law, who was a waist gunner on a B-24 Liberator. He too seemed very well adjusted. My point, this generation helped support families during the Great Depression then went on to fight and win a World War. These men were forged in steel and fire. I wonder if future generations will be as strong.
I think the younger generations are strong in a different way. They seem more willing to try resolving issues without bloodshed. Some people think that’s a weakness, but I think it requires strength of character and emotional strength to not immediately lash out when there’s a disagreement. Sometimes war is necessary though, like when a rogue state is committing genocide against an already subjugated population.
@@daddynitro199 Maybe you're right. I just get concerned about how easily some get offended or some of the things they complain about. I'm 77 and grew up in Miami with no A/C. Our 1949 Plymouth wagon had no A/C either. Our youngest and his wife were without power for about 8 hours and you would have thought he and his wife were cast back to the dark ages. My wife and I managed just fine. We just sat outside with our feet in water and a wet towel around our necks and cooked on our old Coleman stove.
My father was a veteran of WW2, he passed away in 2001 at age 76. I was with him in the hospice as he passed..... Longest week of my life watching my dad taking his final breaths. I'm a veteran of desert storm , but I know in my heart that my contribution in wartime meant nothing compared to my father's era. I saw a print/painting in a Walmart many years ago of a sailor kissing a woman in NYC (I imagine the docks where troops arrived back in the states)..... The sailor and woman embraced in the kiss, I swear it WAS MY PARENTS. ..... Sure wish I would've bought the print... Would've been nice to have shown it to my siblings.
I am a Disabled Veteran and joined in 1986 served until 1997 when I was medically retired. I stayed in the Department of Defense and am preparing to retire after 36 years of military service. I enjoyed your sharing in what so many veterans shared , it is nice to know they are not forgotten. Every time I go to my appts at the VA hospital and see people injured worse than myself, I feel guilty. It’s a strange and very powerful bond. Thank you for taking the time to watch and share. It is appreciated.
The most heartbreaking thing about Eugenes father comforting him, is the fact most fathers didn't. Many would have hit or beat their sons for being "weak" or "cowards".
Now you need to do “Generation War” (English title) or “Unsere Mutter, Unsere Vater” (the original German title). A short (five episodes I believe) series involving five German friends and their roles in the war. Two brothers, one an officer and the other a very reluctant draftee, two girls and a Jewish friend. It’s been called “the German ‘Band of Brothers’” which is a fair comparison. Outstanding series, showing the flip side of the war. No punches pulled, including very frank acknowledgment of SS and Einsatzgruppen atrocities. Strongly recommend.
A sad moment not fully explained was RV Burgin’s return home. RV’s return to Jewett TX was a bitter sweet moment because while he came out of the Pacific Theater alove, his brother Joseph died in France while serving in the Army in the war against Germany. RV has a plaque at the memorial courtyard at the Nimitz Pacific War Museum in Fredericksburg, TX. And although Joseph served in the European theater, he also has a plaque next to his brother, commemorating his Army service and his death in the line of duty.
That cabbie has the best line in this series. "I might have jumped into Normandy but at least I some liberties in London and Paris. You Gi-rines, you got nothing but jungle rot and malaria."
if you read Eugene's book, He said during a fight he heard a loud voice tell him he would survive, but when he asked if other people heard it, they thought it was gunfire.
I attended the parade in Raritan, NJ. about five years ago (? - so bad remembering dates) Basilone's brother, who I believe was the last remaining sibling, was the guest of honor!
My great grandfather was USFFE when we were still part of the US. He literally didnt not want to his war achievements nor attended any veteran ceremonies and for his whole life after ww2 he didnt talk about what he did but I do remember that my auntie said he viewed himself as a sinner who had no choice but was willing to do ot all over again if it means to save his family
Glad you conquered this series Ames. You did it. It was hard, but you endured and am grateful that you are always pouring your heart out to the Soldiers of War that died and survived through the conflict of the worst Humankind has to offer.
Lewis "Chesty" Puller is still revered in Marine Corps lore. He was awarded the Navy Cross 5....yes, FIVE times, along with one Distinguished Service Cross. He was from a small town on the Middle Peninsula of Virginia, West Point. State Route 33, going from West Point until it meets US Rt 17 is named Lewis B Puller Memorial Hwy. He is buried in Christ Church Cemetery, in Saluda, Middlesex County, Virginia.
This is my favorite episode of The Pacific. I remember coming home from Iraq in 2009. Within 48 hours we went from battlefields to home. It felt so weird for a few weeks. Semper Fi!
As one of six children of a marine who fought in the pacific and also korea i just have to say god bless the families of all veterans of wars. We have a very unique perspective of history because we grew up with those men.
My grandfather fought against the Japanese in China as part of the 14th Air Force. Started as a junior officer and left as a senior officer. As a captain of an aircraft or leader of a heavy bomb squadron, many mens lives depend on you. Heavy bomb crews had a near 50% causality rate. He was twice awarded the DFC. His experience nearly broke him, though. I can only hope future Americans are as brave as that generation.
Hi Ames, sorry for the long comment. Thank you for your reviews of both The Pacific and Band of Brothers. I'm a combat veteran of the war in Iraq. Watching both series was hard for me. But somehow, watching your reviews was cathartic for me. I cried when you cried, and somehow, seeing your reactions helped me to not feel "weird" about some of the emotional and physical baggage that I have been carrying for almost 20 years now. I've always thought of my own experiences through my own perspective, but seeing and listening to the perspective of someone who's thoughts and opinions I have come to respect greatly (crazy since I don't even know you, LOL), has caused me to look at things a little differently. You have helped me. Thank you for that, and more importantly, thank you for helping to educate your viewers about the realities of history and war.
If you want to continue down this path I suggest the movie The Outpost. In 2006, PRT Kamdesh - later renamed Combat Outpost Keating - was one of several U.S. Army outposts established in Northern Afghanistan. Located in a remote valley surrounded by the Hindu Kush mountains, the base was regarded as a deathtrap; the troops stationed there faced regular Taliban attacks, culminating in one of the bloodiest American engagements of Operation Enduring Freedom. The film tells the story of the 53 U.S. soldiers and two Latvian military advisors who battled some 300 enemy insurgents at the Battle of Kamdesh.
The difference between Pacific Thearter and Atlantic theater was that in the Pacific, there were jungle, rain, sun, big bugs, crocodiles, mosquitoes, and exploding people and dehydration and sea and caves. On the Atlantic, there were British tea, European woman, cold, oak trees, plains, horses, mountains, and beer and more cold and nice summer but brutal. In both theater they encounter Brutal warriors. So most of the Pacific were the ones who came back with a broken soul.
Chuck Tatum wrote a book that I have not read. I have read Bob Leckie's book "Helmet For My Pillow" (as well as many of his other histories), and Eugene Sledge's "With The Old Breed At Pelelieu and Okinawa". If you're a reader they are both fantastic reads, and I highly recommend them.
This series was absolutely one of the very best that I've seen. I've been on this Earth for 60 years and I've seen a lot of docuseries, miniseries, etc. I have to say, this was by far one of the most superbly made series I've ever seen. Winner of 33 related awards in 2011, the series cleaned up. It still holds fresh ratings of 89% and high marks for overall score in fan approvals. Band of Brothers had it's own strengths that The Pacific cannot match, but so does The Pacific. You can't compare the two to each other. Don't even try. But know this series is a cut above so many others and one that will stand the test of time in talking about what the United States Marine Corps went through in WWII in The Pacific. God Bless you marines, every one of you. GOD must have been a marine which puts you in very high company. Semper Fi
The SGLI (service members' group life insurance) maximum coverage amount increased from $400,000 to $500,000 effective March 1, 2023, due to Public Law 117-209, signed by the President on Oct. 17, 2022. FYI: $10,000 in 1945 is worth $174,886.67 today.
Took forever for you to finish this 😂 It's been fun watching, though! Should check out Generation Kill next. Closest a show/movie has ever gotten to really show what being a Marine is REALLY like, especially the sense of humor. It's about the invasion of Iraq. Also, about real people, one of the actual Marines even portrays himself in the show!
Hey, there! I've just recently started watching several UA-camrs reacting to movies, watching the movies for the first time, but i like you the most. It's like reliving the first-time-watch and how I felt myself back then watching your reactions and comments. Big hugs and great compliments to you for letting the stories reach your heart and I'm sure some viewers might see these movies and series with different eyes, if they have seen them before and much deeper than anywhere else on YT, and I'm happy I could leave my first comment so promptly. In the exact same moments my heart was blown away while I was watching then. What I was watching here was 'Saving Private Ryan' , 'Hacksaw Ridge', 'Rambo' and both series 'Band of Brothers' and finally 'The Pacific'. I've already seen them several times and I still will in the future. It's a proof of how much empathy you must have to not only understand, but feel what it must be like being on the battlefield, not knowing if you get killed the next second and bearing the loss of so many brothers which were so unusually bonded together (Lt. Winters). I'm German and born '77. I served voluntarily, not enlisted, 2 years in the army at an age of 18 and 19 (calendar years '95' and '96) and wasn't even near being sent to a battlefield at that time and I think no-one can EXACTLY feel what it must be like fighting in any war, but these soldiers. But with a good amount of empathy we can at least try to understand to honor the efforts of these brave people. And I'm so grateful to the Allied Forces freeing us and the whole world from those devils on earth, ensuring our country could start over and live in peace for 75 years after WWII and reaching the top ten of the most peaceful and wealthiest countries in the world. If you are interested in new recommendations for the topic of WWII: 'Enemy at the Gates' (2001), starring Jude Law, Rachel Weisz and Ed Harris, that gives an insight of the Soviet Army during that time, here a tense duel between Soviet and German snipers at Stalingrad. I refuse and condemn any forms of NS or Communistic systems, but even the 'bad' sides sometimes have some interesting and kind-heart individuals, that are worth to be noticed and it helped me to learn more on how it must've been back then and realizing: There are living and feeling humans on all sides! Have a look at the Trailer. I'd really like to see a reaction video to that. Bye, keep staying yourself and continue your great work. Thank you!
I've been waiting for this one. When Eugene's dad sits outside his room. I lose it every time. He can't knock on that door. So he sits outside and waits. Its a heartbreaking reality of PTSD. Probably the most realistic depiction in all of media.
Even though it isn't San Francisco, my headcanon likes to imagine the taxi driver being Joseph Liebgott from Band of Brothers dropping Leckie off when he gets home. 😅
In fact, Liebgott was not a taxi driver, that was a mistake in the series. He actually worked as a barber after the war. Even in the first episode he is seen cutting the hair of his fellow soldiers and before D-Day he gave many of them mohawks for a few cents. (Excuse my English, my native language is Spanish)
My grandfather was directly under Chesty Pullers command in Korea, We have a signed version of his book and he signed and wrote a note on my grandfathers photo.
Thank you for watching this series. Watched all your reactions, and thank you for your deep reverence for these men. More people today need to watch a show like this.
I waited patiently for you to watch this episode I knew it would be a tear jerker ❤ My great uncle served in the USMC during WW2 as an artillery man. He was In several battles. He lived with his brother (my grandfather) when he came home. My dad was a little kid and said his uncle would yell and fight the Japanese all night every night. My great uncle died of a heart attack at age 41. We think his service greatly contributed to his early death. My wife’s grandfather was a marine in WW2 also. He was injured and received the Purple Heart for his wounds. Thank you for reacting to this series. ❤
It does my heart good to see such empathy from young people like you when watching this series. These guys went through hell. My father was a Korean war vet. Growing up, a lot of the adults I met were vets from either WW II or Korea. They were reluctant to talk about it, but some of them were willing to share their experiences. I always admired them, and it's gratifying to know that they won't be forgotten. So, thank you for watching this series and B of B and keeping their memory alive. Your reactions showed genuine appreciation and admiration for our greatest generation. Well done, young lady.
"Band of Brothers" & "The Pacific" back to back is 20 an epic saga. Beyond imagining that it basically happened around the time my parents were born. Thanks for the reaction.
I can't help but cry every time I see Eugene fall to the ground in tears. The things he went through and the horrors he saw would be devastating. My eldest sister's best friend for the past 60 years had a dad who suffered from post-war PTSD. He was in the British Army and captured at the fall of Hong Kong, then spent four years in a Japanese labour camp. He was the nicest, kindest man you could meet, but had great difficulty sleeping indoors and experienced major nightmares on an almost nightly basis. He dealt with it for many years before it finally took his sanity. As for the Japanese military at the time - they were incredibly cruel and inhuman. If you surrendered to them, you were considered subhuman and were treated as such. Captives could be tied to posts and used for live bayonet practice. During the infamous rape of Nanking and the liberation of Manila, atrocities against women and children are too horrible to even write. After the war, and during the US occupation of Japan, the people adopted a more western approach to their thoughts and actions. Today, the people of Japan are some of the nicest and most polite and respectful you could ever meet.
Sledge's mother wasn't necessarily wrong for trying to nudge him out of idleness. Her concern was well-founded. It's just that, having no concept of the hell he endured, she was wholly unfit to be his motivator.
Papa Basilone silently weeping over his son always breaks my heart. He only had a few scenes through the show but you could tell he loved Johnny with all his heart.
So glad you made it through this fantastic series. Episode 8 and 10 makes me cry so badly. (Even though I’m a tough man who never cries :)) Lots of love to you.
Absolutely should do Masters of the Air and Generation Kill next. Masters of the Air focuses on the very different experience of the US Air Force in Europe. Generation Kill is about a Marine Recon Battalion in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It's much less action based than any of the hanks/spielberg series but it's a great juxtaposition of just how different modern war is compared to WW2.
The train is the best metaphor for how it feels getting out of the military. Your turn comes, you say goodbye to the friends that are still there, if you can. It’s short, sincere, and choked with tears and smiles. Then you get off, walk into the crowd of nameless faces, and the train, and your friends keep rolling on. Re-acclimation after war is one of the most difficult parts of the enterprise. A lot of us feel left behind, like the world never knew we were gone, or what we went through.
This was a tough watch, but wow by the end I was so glad I watched it. Learned so much, felt the impact of the grittiness of the Pacific frontier, and you really get such a great understanding of how lucky we all are, and the sacrifices that these brave men made for a better future that we now enjoy. Such big respect to all these men. Don't know if I can say I like BoB of Pacific better, they were quite different, and so important to watch in their own unique ways.
Thank you for experiencing this, as rough as it was. Band of brothers is iconic, I feel this series will grow in importance as time passes. It's very important we don't lose sight of history. My very best to you. Wonderful spirit. Smart girl.
I've done two combat tours. Coming home felt good for about 1 hour, then I got lost. I pretended to be normal for my sons, I now live in solitude somewhere far away from the US. I love "The Pacific." I served my first tour in the Army with the 101st, so "Band of Brothers" is my favorite. I do respect the Marine tho. ❤❤❤
My journey with you started with Saving Private Ryan and your channel is the only reaction channel I watch because I appreciate your sincerity. I have watched SPR, BOB and The Pacific but never saw it through the eyes of someone like yourself and it is a pleasure to watch it again through the eyes of someone new and the way you describe things is really heartwarming because I often get lost in the film at times. It is great to revisit these powerful films and I will continue being a subscriber for many more to come. Although, I am not sure what you woudl watch next on the WW2 front.
I felt sorry for the girl at the college. She's just trying to help him out. But she literally does not have the knowledge to comprehend. So, while she came off a bit.. ignorant, I'm betting quite a few students would be in the same place. They just don't know what it is they don't know.
That scene always reminds me of a story my dad told me. He had started at Michigan State before being drafted. He participated in the invasions of Leyte and Okinawa. When he returned home and went back to Michigan State to register for classes he handed the woman his pre-war ID which had been through the pacific and had been water logged and turned brown. She looked at it and asked "What did you do to it?".
That scene is actually based on a real conversation when he went to register for classes. It was a lot worse in real life. She said “Didn’t they teach you anything?!” And he blurted out in a loud booming voice in the room “Lady, there was a killing war going on and I was one of the ones who had to do some of the killing!” She was extremely embarrassed and apologized afterwards.
So loved your reactions on this. I cried with you, a little embarrassed to say. When I returned home it was like I had just been in outer space or something and nothing had changed for anyone back home, and you wonder if people even know what's going on in the world. Your reactions in this was kind of cathartic, and left a feeling that maybe people do care.
I like how they highlighted how the Pacific and European fronts were so different that it was almost impossible for the soldiers/marines to relate to one another
My dad served in the Marine Corp during WWII and fought in the Pacific. My dad's post war doctor told his mom that every year you serve in combat, you loose 5 years of life. He had terrible nightmares about the war for the rest of his life.
I highly recommend you watch the documentary "Peleliu 1944: Horror In The Pacific Documentary" available here on UA-cam, it's a bit like "We Stand Alone Together" from Band of Brothers, but it focuses on Peleliu exclusively. You'll see a lot of familiar names in there.
true story is that Joseph Mazello, the actor that played Sledge, was contacted by the family of the real Eugene Sledge, who were felt honored by his portrayal and gifted him the real pipe Sledge used
That's awesome. Sledge's family is from about an hour west of where my family has a home. Wild to see how the career of "the kid from Jurassic Park" has progressed is cool, too. This is a wonderful series.
IIRC, the women talking about their father/husband with PTSD at the beginning of this reaction were Sledge's family.
@@thomasbrown9402 I believe you're right. I think they were the ones who encouraged him to write Helmet for my Pillow as a way to cope/get it out.
@@prp2 helmet for my pillow was leckie's book.
@@thomasbrown9402 Actually, that was Vera Leckie (Keller) and her and Bob's daughter, Joan.
Snafu saw sledge sleeping peacefully and realized he may not get alot of that for awhile, so he didn't disturb him
Also wanted to add to this, there’s a doc (“He Has Seen War”) that comes after this show, and Sidney Phillips talks about how he dated Shirley in Australia after Guadalcanal, and then meeting his wife in Alabama. The wife threw out all his pictures of Shirley. Years later, Sidney is in his office and gets a call from his wife, and she says Shirley and her family have come to visit! They stayed at the Phillips home for a bit, and his wife wouldn’t let them leave. Even more years later, Shirley’s son reaches out to Sidney’s daughter, they fell in love and got married. So, Sidney Phillips daughter is now married to his old Australian girlfriend’s son!
The guy who was Snafu in real life didn’t tell a soul he was even in the Marines until his the 1980s when his children found out because he mentioned “oh yeah I was there” in reference to Eugene’s Book “With the Old Breed” that came out in 1981. That’s just how he was.
Eugene was a Palbearer at his funeral.
How the heck do you have your old girlfriend come into your home with your wife… and you’re sleeping in the same house while she’s in there. Man that’s wild.
@@30AndHatingIt I'm pretty sure the actually story is that, although they "dated" Sidney's relationship with Shirley was never a physical one like it is portrayed in the show. So they "dated," but like super 1940's style. With that said, plenty of other marines didn't do it 40's style, including Leckie who far from having one girl in Melbourne, spent his time getting to know quite a few women.
A reflection of what Eugene went through beyond this series: later on in life when he could go to veteran reunions, his wife attended one with him. While there, one of his old friends told her that if she ever wanted to wake him up quickly, all she'd have to do was whisper "Sledgehammer" in his ear.
One night she tried it while he was asleep in his chair. She said she leaned down and gently whispered "Sledgehammer" in his ear. In an instant, he was awake and grabbing her arm, frantically whispering "Where? Where are they?" She said she wasn't looking at her husband in that moment; it was the scared young man left behind on those islands.
Damn that is so sad. Deep scars.
the ambush is when that which can't be unseen is there again - - in vision, sound, smell, taste
I haven't read the entire book yet, but Sledge's description of how the Japanese would sneak around at night and take targets of opportunity would be borderline nightmare fuel if you were a 19-year-old Marine. One moment you hear screaming and wrestling in a foxhole not too far down from where you are, so everyone goes on alert, but no one dares leave their foxhole for fear of being drawn in an ambush, so you have to listen to two dudes trying to kill each other with knives and bare hands in the night, unsure if there's a Japanese platoon waiting to charge just further up in the trees.
Also the massive attrition rate. Just dead bodies everywhere, all the time.
I've heard it phrased this way: In WW2, Western Europe was a classic battlefield, the Eastern Front looked like a post-apocalyptic wasteland, and the Pacific Theater was a real life horror movie.
Generation Kill next. It's easier on your emotions. The modern aspect will be a nice juxtaposition against these WW2 dramas. It's also only 7 episodes.
If you haven't seen Chernobyl that is one of the highest rated mini series as well. It's only 5 episodes too.
2nd for Generation kill - underrated series!
Big yes for Generation Kill
I don't know if generation kill is a good fit for many film reactors. Idk, it's good, but it's not so relatable.
Yes
It's absolutely worthless! All aspects of it. 😕
The scene with Eugene and his father hunting breaks my heart every time I watch it and I just can't help but to bawl.
As a Marine myself, Eugene Sledge is who I envision when I think of the epitomical Marine.
His book 'The Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa' is a cover-to-cover page turner.
@@wyomarine-m5s Wilco!
I joined the Marines after highschool in 2014. They teach us and make us remember Marine Corps history. A lot of things mentioned in this series is known by every Marine by heart. It’s one way of immortalizing these men and their stories.
“The Basilone Challenge” “One more for Chesty” 😅
@@Hailama51 basilone challenge was the worst part of the crucible 😂 or when the drill instructors made us turn the squad bay into “Mt Suribachi” with all of our belongings
Senper Fi Jar Head
@@JustMe-ob1cq Its always one more for chesty lol
Sledge's book is considered one of the best combat memoirs ever written. He was stationed in China after the war and wrote the book China Marine. I appreciated your comments which were very personal and heartfelt.
Hawkeye: War isn’t Hell. War is war, and Hell is Hell. And of the two, war is a lot worse.
Father Mulcahy: How do you figure that, Hawkeye?
Hawkeye: Easy, Father. Tell me, who goes to Hell?
Father Mulcahy: Sinners, I believe.
Hawkeye: Exactly. There are no innocent bystanders in Hell. War is chock full of them - little kids, cripples, old ladies. In fact, except for some of the brass, almost everybody involved is an innocent bystander.
A win for the MASH reference
Sledge's breakdown is so powerful because it's the culmination of everything it took to keep his humanity, which came at a terrible cost.
Eugene's homecoming was very realistic. Most people think of men returning from war as a ticker-tape parade, but the truth was far different. Most of us simply struggled.
Sledge's book, "With the Old Breed," is one of the finest combat memoirs ever written. Highly recommended.
It sent me into a full on depression listening to the audiobook...very good, but god damn. man can write and is very good at tying your imagination to his descriptions.
If you liked that, you should also read Marine at War by Russell Davis. He fought in same battles and has similar stories
Reading it right now and it’s so good. Definitely one if not the best memoir I’ve read.
If I had to pick a favorite episode, it would be this one. Seeing the war end and those who lived getting to go home, it really hits you on an emotional level. But, as a Navy Veteran, I also remember all those who wore the uniform long before I existed. I have been to some of these places where the Marines fought during my deployments overseas. It makes you think. I had been out of the Navy for five years when The Pacific first aired and, for me, I did not watch this series because I wanted to; I watched it because I felt it was my duty as a Veteran to watch it. And I still watch it at least once a year just to remember these men and what they went through. Eugene's homecoming was the one that broke me the most. I loved seeing Burgin getting reunited with his father and brother. The cab driver who wouldn't take Leckie's money got me as well. I loved that respect. And Leckie telling Vera those letters were the best stuff he ever wrote was beautiful.
This episode always gets to me also, finding out many years after our Dad died to learn he was a Corpsman with the Marines at Okinawa and after the war was put into the first occupation Marines into mainland Japan till 1947. He had only ever talked about his time at Naval Hospital at the beginning of the war and being on mainland Japan, he never disclosed he was on Okinawa. When Dad returned he threw himself into the Bible and studied to become a preacher. His religion helped him recover from everything he saw.
He's come a long way from being that kid in Jurassic park.
Even if you don’t use it for UA-cam please watch the documentary called “He has Seen War”. It features men from Band of Brothers and the Pacific and their families talking about war time experiences and the impact it had on their families after the war . It’s truly moving
My dad was a veteran of the European Theater during World War II. He saw numerous friends killed, went through the coldest winter in Europe 50 years, and saw the horrors of the Holocaust after his company liberated Ohrdruf.
I once asked him if he was glad he didn’t get sent to the Pacific, and he said, “Oh, hell yes.”
@@brettfromla4055 I interviewed a man who fought in France and Belgium in 1944-45 and was wounded after the Bulge, and he said the same thing.
Yep coming home it's hard. Nobody understands Apart from other veterans. I still don't sleep normally. Thank you for the empathy It makes me feel a little better even though we're from different nations.
It’s such a small line but when Burgin tells Snafu and Sledge that they are good marines it hits me hard. Nothing is a better compliment than one of your leaders and a damn good one telling you that you are a good marine. I remember when my Plt Sgt told me that after my last hike a couple weeks before I got out. Semper Fi.
We made it to the end Such a great mini series
Army vet here. The scene where Sledge’s father tells his mom that she doesn’t know what men like him have been through. That’s the toughest scene in the whole series for me.
To all the Devil Dogs who came before me and those still to come, Semper Fi!
And Semper Gumby
Oorah!
Always flexible
The Pacific theme is something special. It was also the lights out song played when I went through basic training.
A movie you definitely need to react to after watching this is 'The Best Years of Our Lives'!
Absolutely.
It's outstanding. The fact it was made in 1946 and shows the difficulties of returning home while not all the troops were even home yet adds an impact no movie made later could have.
Oh god that movie is absolutely a gem!!
My father served in the Pacific with the Marines during The island campaigns. He's the reason I joined the Marine Corps right out of high school in 1964.
I spent 20 years in the Corps and served two combat tours in Vietnam. First tour as a Infantry machine gunner (0331) and 2nd tour as a Infantry Platoon leader (0369)
T. Boyte,
GySgt. USMC, retired
Vietnam 1965-66/1970-71
Bronze Star, Purple Heart
Happy you made it home sir🙏🏾
Semper Fi, Gunny!
Get some, Gunny
I'm glad you took a break.It's really hard if you want to get into another heartbreaking movie based on actual events. The outpost.
good movie, but i hate the part at the end when he looks at his gun as if it could do that much damage when air support arrives like why do they do that in movies WHY its so incredibly duuumb
Masters of the Air
I love how authentic you are on this channel. It's why I keep coming back
Love this series, and was great to re-watch it along with your reactions. Many people I know say they don't like this series and try to compare it to Band of Brothers...but I don't think you can, they're inherently different. While both are based on real people & events, the underlying theme of BOB was the comradery & brotherhood that is forged and cultivated during times of war, while the underlying theme of The Pacific was more the grotesqueness of war itself, and the impact it has on the human body and mind. It makes the Pacific fundamentally harder to watch than BOB. Both are outstanding.
There was one small tie with BoB in this episode. When the cab driver who took Leckie home refused any money from him he said that he had jumped into Normandy which means he was a paratrooper, either with the 101st or 82nd Airborne. He compared the conditions that he and Leckie had faced but also remember that the Guadalcanal invasion took place in late 1942 whereas D-Day was mid 1944 although elements of the 82nd first saw action on Sicily in July 1943.
The woman who played Leckie's mom was also cast in BOB
@@pap4539 she portrayed the wife of the German officer in charge of the concentration camp in Episode 9, didn't she?
@@predatorjunglehunter7332 that's correct!
I grew up in the 1950s in a working class neighborhood. We were one of the few homes with a big front porch. It was a gathering place for several men in the neighborhood some of whom had served in WW2. Some of these men saw combat others didn't. My Dad was one that did not see combat as he was seriously wounded in a training accident (terrible scars on his arms and could not straighten them). They usually talked sports and politics but every now and then a war story, usually funny, popped up. I remember that some of the most intriguing stories came from Domingo, who served in the Merchant Marine, and had 2 ships torpedoed out from under him. One thing I do remember is that all these men seemed well adjusted. Later in life I met my father-in-law, who was a waist gunner on a B-24 Liberator. He too seemed very well adjusted. My point, this generation helped support families during the Great Depression then went on to fight and win a World War. These men were forged in steel and fire. I wonder if future generations will be as strong.
I think the younger generations are strong in a different way. They seem more willing to try resolving issues without bloodshed. Some people think that’s a weakness, but I think it requires strength of character and emotional strength to not immediately lash out when there’s a disagreement.
Sometimes war is necessary though, like when a rogue state is committing genocide against an already subjugated population.
@@daddynitro199 Maybe you're right. I just get concerned about how easily some get offended or some of the things they complain about. I'm 77 and grew up in Miami with no A/C. Our 1949 Plymouth wagon had no A/C either. Our youngest and his wife were without power for about 8 hours and you would have thought he and his wife were cast back to the dark ages. My wife and I managed just fine. We just sat outside with our feet in water and a wet towel around our necks and cooked on our old Coleman stove.
My father was a veteran of WW2, he passed away in 2001 at age 76.
I was with him in the hospice as he passed..... Longest week of my life watching my dad taking his final breaths. I'm a veteran of desert storm , but I know in my heart that my contribution in wartime meant nothing compared to my father's era. I saw a print/painting in a Walmart many years ago of a sailor kissing a woman in NYC (I imagine the docks where troops arrived back in the states)..... The sailor and woman embraced in the kiss, I swear it WAS MY PARENTS. ..... Sure wish I would've bought the print... Would've been nice to have shown it to my siblings.
I am a Disabled Veteran and joined in 1986 served until 1997 when I was medically retired. I stayed in the Department of Defense and am preparing to retire after 36 years of military service. I enjoyed your sharing in what so many veterans shared , it is nice to know they are not forgotten. Every time I go to my appts at the VA hospital and see people injured worse than myself, I feel guilty. It’s a strange and very powerful bond. Thank you for taking the time to watch and share. It is appreciated.
The most heartbreaking thing about Eugenes father comforting him, is the fact most fathers didn't. Many would have hit or beat their sons for being "weak" or "cowards".
Thank you so much for getting to the end.Love watching you
Those men, and my Dad, who also served in the Pacific were truly the "Greatest Generation".
Now you need to do “Generation War” (English title) or “Unsere Mutter, Unsere Vater” (the original German title). A short (five episodes I believe) series involving five German friends and their roles in the war. Two brothers, one an officer and the other a very reluctant draftee, two girls and a Jewish friend. It’s been called “the German ‘Band of Brothers’” which is a fair comparison. Outstanding series, showing the flip side of the war. No punches pulled, including very frank acknowledgment of SS and Einsatzgruppen atrocities. Strongly recommend.
A sad moment not fully explained was RV Burgin’s return home. RV’s return to Jewett TX was a bitter sweet moment because while he came out of the Pacific Theater alove, his brother Joseph died in France while serving in the Army in the war against Germany.
RV has a plaque at the memorial courtyard at the Nimitz Pacific War Museum in Fredericksburg, TX. And although Joseph served in the European theater, he also has a plaque next to his brother, commemorating his Army service and his death in the line of duty.
That cabbie has the best line in this series. "I might have jumped into Normandy but at least I some liberties in London and Paris. You Gi-rines, you got nothing but jungle rot and malaria."
As a veteran, I love your empathy for these men. It's been a pleasure watching this with you.
if you read Eugene's book, He said during a fight he heard a loud voice tell him he would survive, but when he asked if other people heard it, they thought it was gunfire.
I attended the parade in Raritan, NJ. about five years ago (? - so bad remembering dates) Basilone's brother, who I believe was the last remaining sibling, was the guest of honor!
My great grandfather was USFFE when we were still part of the US. He literally didnt not want to his war achievements nor attended any veteran ceremonies and for his whole life after ww2 he didnt talk about what he did but I do remember that my auntie said he viewed himself as a sinner who had no choice but was willing to do ot all over again if it means to save his family
Glad you conquered this series Ames. You did it. It was hard, but you endured and am grateful that you are always pouring your heart out to the Soldiers of War that died and survived through the conflict of the worst Humankind has to offer.
Lewis "Chesty" Puller is still revered in Marine Corps lore. He was awarded the Navy Cross 5....yes, FIVE times, along with one Distinguished Service Cross. He was from a small town on the Middle Peninsula of Virginia, West Point. State Route 33, going from West Point until it meets US Rt 17 is named Lewis B Puller Memorial Hwy. He is buried in Christ Church Cemetery, in Saluda, Middlesex County, Virginia.
I've watched this so many times, I haven't cried as much as I have watching it with your reaction. Thank you.
This is my favorite episode of The Pacific. I remember coming home from Iraq in 2009. Within 48 hours we went from battlefields to home. It felt so weird for a few weeks. Semper Fi!
Thank You for Honoring these then Young Men with your Time and Consideration. They would have Greatly Appeciated spending time with you as I have.
To this day Marines have a tradition in that they say goodnight to Chesty Puller everynight.
Good night Chesty, wherever you are.
As one of six children of a marine who fought in the pacific and also korea i just have to say god bless the families of all veterans of wars. We have a very unique perspective of history because we grew up with those men.
My grandfather fought against the Japanese in China as part of the 14th Air Force. Started as a junior officer and left as a senior officer. As a captain of an aircraft or leader of a heavy bomb squadron, many mens lives depend on you. Heavy bomb crews had a near 50% causality rate. He was twice awarded the DFC. His experience nearly broke him, though. I can only hope future Americans are as brave as that generation.
Hi Ames, sorry for the long comment. Thank you for your reviews of both The Pacific and Band of Brothers. I'm a combat veteran of the war in Iraq. Watching both series was hard for me. But somehow, watching your reviews was cathartic for me. I cried when you cried, and somehow, seeing your reactions helped me to not feel "weird" about some of the emotional and physical baggage that I have been carrying for almost 20 years now. I've always thought of my own experiences through my own perspective, but seeing and listening to the perspective of someone who's thoughts and opinions I have come to respect greatly (crazy since I don't even know you, LOL), has caused me to look at things a little differently. You have helped me. Thank you for that, and more importantly, thank you for helping to educate your viewers about the realities of history and war.
the screaming nightmares is one of the hardest parts in a show filled with so much macabre imagery
If you want to continue down this path I suggest the movie The Outpost.
In 2006, PRT Kamdesh - later renamed Combat Outpost Keating - was one of several U.S. Army outposts established in Northern Afghanistan. Located in a remote valley surrounded by the Hindu Kush mountains, the base was regarded as a deathtrap; the troops stationed there faced regular Taliban attacks, culminating in one of the bloodiest American engagements of Operation Enduring Freedom. The film tells the story of the 53 U.S. soldiers and two Latvian military advisors who battled some 300 enemy insurgents at the Battle of Kamdesh.
The difference between Pacific Thearter and Atlantic theater was that in the Pacific, there were jungle, rain, sun, big bugs, crocodiles, mosquitoes, and exploding people and dehydration and sea and caves. On the Atlantic, there were British tea, European woman, cold, oak trees, plains, horses, mountains, and beer and more cold and nice summer but brutal. In both theater they encounter Brutal warriors.
So most of the Pacific were the ones who came back with a broken soul.
Chuck Tatum wrote a book that I have not read. I have read Bob Leckie's book "Helmet For My Pillow" (as well as many of his other histories), and Eugene Sledge's "With The Old Breed At Pelelieu and Okinawa". If you're a reader they are both fantastic reads, and I highly recommend them.
This series was absolutely one of the very best that I've seen. I've been on this Earth for 60 years and I've seen a lot of docuseries, miniseries, etc. I have to say, this was by far one of the most superbly made series I've ever seen. Winner of 33 related awards in 2011, the series cleaned up. It still holds fresh ratings of 89% and high marks for overall score in fan approvals. Band of Brothers had it's own strengths that The Pacific cannot match, but so does The Pacific. You can't compare the two to each other. Don't even try. But know this series is a cut above so many others and one that will stand the test of time in talking about what the United States Marine Corps went through in WWII in The Pacific. God Bless you marines, every one of you. GOD must have been a marine which puts you in very high company. Semper Fi
Americans & Japanese are now the best of friends. The sacrifices they made has given us a lasting peace for almost 80 years.
Funny they're talking about life insurance being $10,000. When I went to Parris Island in 1989, you know how much the life insurance was? $10,000.
The SGLI (service members' group life insurance) maximum coverage amount increased from $400,000 to $500,000 effective March 1, 2023, due to Public Law 117-209, signed by the President on Oct. 17, 2022.
FYI: $10,000 in 1945 is worth $174,886.67 today.
it was 400k for us in the GWOT
In 89 it was up to $200 or $250k. For boot camp I believe it is automatically set at $10k, while in boot camp.
@@craigplatel813 Yeah, that's what I meant, Boot Camp. Just thought the $10,000 number was amusing.
Corps can only afford so much lol
Took forever for you to finish this 😂 It's been fun watching, though! Should check out Generation Kill next. Closest a show/movie has ever gotten to really show what being a Marine is REALLY like, especially the sense of humor. It's about the invasion of Iraq. Also, about real people, one of the actual Marines even portrays himself in the show!
🗑 🚮
As always , I love your heart-felt reactions to these powerfully emotional series!
You are really becoming one of my favorite reactors. Great job on this.
Hey, there! I've just recently started watching several UA-camrs reacting to movies, watching the movies for the first time, but i like you the most. It's like reliving the first-time-watch and how I felt myself back then watching your reactions and comments. Big hugs and great compliments to you for letting the stories reach your heart and I'm sure some viewers might see these movies and series with different eyes, if they have seen them before and much deeper than anywhere else on YT, and I'm happy I could leave my first comment so promptly.
In the exact same moments my heart was blown away while I was watching then. What I was watching here was 'Saving Private Ryan' , 'Hacksaw Ridge', 'Rambo' and both series 'Band of Brothers' and finally 'The Pacific'. I've already seen them several times and I still will in the future. It's a proof of how much empathy you must have to not only understand, but feel what it must be like being on the battlefield, not knowing if you get killed the next second and bearing the loss of so many brothers which were so unusually bonded together (Lt. Winters).
I'm German and born '77. I served voluntarily, not enlisted, 2 years in the army at an age of 18 and 19 (calendar years '95' and '96) and wasn't even near being sent to a battlefield at that time and I think no-one can EXACTLY feel what it must be like fighting in any war, but these soldiers. But with a good amount of empathy we can at least try to understand to honor the efforts of these brave people. And I'm so grateful to the Allied Forces freeing us and the whole world from those devils on earth, ensuring our country could start over and live in peace for 75 years after WWII and reaching the top ten of the most peaceful and wealthiest countries in the world.
If you are interested in new recommendations for the topic of WWII: 'Enemy at the Gates' (2001), starring Jude Law, Rachel Weisz and Ed Harris, that gives an insight of the Soviet Army during that time, here a tense duel between Soviet and German snipers at Stalingrad. I refuse and condemn any forms of NS or Communistic systems, but even the 'bad' sides sometimes have some interesting and kind-heart individuals, that are worth to be noticed and it helped me to learn more on how it must've been back then and realizing: There are living and feeling humans on all sides!
Have a look at the Trailer. I'd really like to see a reaction video to that. Bye, keep staying yourself and continue your great work. Thank you!
I've been waiting for this one. When Eugene's dad sits outside his room. I lose it every time. He can't knock on that door. So he sits outside and waits. Its a heartbreaking reality of PTSD. Probably the most realistic depiction in all of media.
Even though it isn't San Francisco, my headcanon likes to imagine the taxi driver being Joseph Liebgott from Band of Brothers dropping Leckie off when he gets home. 😅
In fact, Liebgott was not a taxi driver, that was a mistake in the series. He actually worked as a barber after the war. Even in the first episode he is seen cutting the hair of his fellow soldiers and before D-Day he gave many of them mohawks for a few cents.
(Excuse my English, my native language is Spanish)
My grandfather was directly under Chesty Pullers command in Korea, We have a signed version of his book and he signed and wrote a note on my grandfathers photo.
Thank you for watching this series. Watched all your reactions, and thank you for your deep reverence for these men. More people today need to watch a show like this.
I waited patiently for you to watch this episode I knew it would be a tear jerker ❤
My great uncle served in the USMC during WW2 as an artillery man. He was In several battles. He lived with his brother (my grandfather) when he came home. My dad was a little kid and said his uncle would yell and fight the Japanese all night every night. My great uncle died of a heart attack at age 41. We think his service greatly contributed to his early death.
My wife’s grandfather was a marine in WW2 also. He was injured and received the Purple Heart for his wounds.
Thank you for reacting to this series.
❤
It does my heart good to see such empathy from young people like you when watching this series. These guys went through hell. My father was a Korean war vet. Growing up, a lot of the adults I met were vets from either WW II or Korea. They were reluctant to talk about it, but some of them were willing to share their experiences. I always admired them, and it's gratifying to know that they won't be forgotten. So, thank you for watching this series and B of B and keeping their memory alive. Your reactions showed genuine appreciation and admiration for our greatest generation. Well done, young lady.
"Band of Brothers" & "The Pacific" back to back is 20 an epic saga. Beyond imagining that it basically happened around the time my parents were born. Thanks for the reaction.
I can't help but cry every time I see Eugene fall to the ground in tears. The things he went through and the horrors he saw would be devastating.
My eldest sister's best friend for the past 60 years had a dad who suffered from post-war PTSD. He was in the British Army and captured at the fall of Hong Kong, then spent four years in a Japanese labour camp. He was the nicest, kindest man you could meet, but had great difficulty sleeping indoors and experienced major nightmares on an almost nightly basis. He dealt with it for many years before it finally took his sanity.
As for the Japanese military at the time - they were incredibly cruel and inhuman. If you surrendered to them, you were considered subhuman and were treated as such. Captives could be tied to posts and used for live bayonet practice. During the infamous rape of Nanking and the liberation of Manila, atrocities against women and children are too horrible to even write.
After the war, and during the US occupation of Japan, the people adopted a more western approach to their thoughts and actions.
Today, the people of Japan are some of the nicest and most polite and respectful you could ever meet.
Sledge's mother wasn't necessarily wrong for trying to nudge him out of idleness. Her concern was well-founded. It's just that, having no concept of the hell he endured, she was wholly unfit to be his motivator.
Papa Basilone silently weeping over his son always breaks my heart. He only had a few scenes through the show but you could tell he loved Johnny with all his heart.
So glad you made it through this fantastic series. Episode 8 and 10 makes me cry so badly. (Even though I’m a tough man who never cries :)) Lots of love to you.
Absolutely should do Masters of the Air and Generation Kill next. Masters of the Air focuses on the very different experience of the US Air Force in Europe. Generation Kill is about a Marine Recon Battalion in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It's much less action based than any of the hanks/spielberg series but it's a great juxtaposition of just how different modern war is compared to WW2.
thank you for your HEARTFELT reaction 😞
The train is the best metaphor for how it feels getting out of the military. Your turn comes, you say goodbye to the friends that are still there, if you can. It’s short, sincere, and choked with tears and smiles. Then you get off, walk into the crowd of nameless faces, and the train, and your friends keep rolling on. Re-acclimation after war is one of the most difficult parts of the enterprise. A lot of us feel left behind, like the world never knew we were gone, or what we went through.
Several years ago, I was fortunate to meet several of the guys portrayed in the series of served with them. What an experience that was.
Band of Brothers and The Pacific really make you appreciate life and peace.
This was a tough watch, but wow by the end I was so glad I watched it. Learned so much, felt the impact of the grittiness of the Pacific frontier, and you really get such a great understanding of how lucky we all are, and the sacrifices that these brave men made for a better future that we now enjoy. Such big respect to all these men. Don't know if I can say I like BoB of Pacific better, they were quite different, and so important to watch in their own unique ways.
i’m getting the impression from watching this. That’s you’ve been on more of emotional journey than they did.
Ah yes, the episode that has me in tears every time I've watched it
There is another part that delves into the lives of these men as told by their spouses and children. A must watch.
Thank you for experiencing this, as rough as it was. Band of brothers is iconic, I feel this series will grow in importance as time passes. It's very important we don't lose sight of history. My very best to you. Wonderful spirit. Smart girl.
I've done two combat tours. Coming home felt good for about 1 hour, then I got lost. I pretended to be normal for my sons, I now live in solitude somewhere far away from the US.
I love "The Pacific." I served my first tour in the Army with the 101st, so "Band of Brothers" is my favorite. I do respect the Marine tho. ❤❤❤
My journey with you started with Saving Private Ryan and your channel is the only reaction channel I watch because I appreciate your sincerity. I have watched SPR, BOB and The Pacific but never saw it through the eyes of someone like yourself and it is a pleasure to watch it again through the eyes of someone new and the way you describe things is really heartwarming because I often get lost in the film at times. It is great to revisit these powerful films and I will continue being a subscriber for many more to come. Although, I am not sure what you woudl watch next on the WW2 front.
I felt sorry for the girl at the college. She's just trying to help him out. But she literally does not have the knowledge to comprehend. So, while she came off a bit.. ignorant, I'm betting quite a few students would be in the same place.
They just don't know what it is they don't know.
That’s fair !
That scene always reminds me of a story my dad told me. He had started at Michigan State before being drafted. He participated in the invasions of Leyte and Okinawa. When he returned home and went back to Michigan State to register for classes he handed the woman his pre-war ID which had been through the pacific and had been water logged and turned brown. She looked at it and asked "What did you do to it?".
That scene is actually based on a real conversation when he went to register for classes. It was a lot worse in real life. She said “Didn’t they teach you anything?!” And he blurted out in a loud booming voice in the room “Lady, there was a killing war going on and I was one of the ones who had to do some of the killing!” She was extremely embarrassed and apologized afterwards.
Loved watching this entire series with you. We shared so many reactions in common. God Bless!!! ❤️
I was so looking forward to your reaction, Ames, to this episode. You did not disappoint.
Excellent Reaction !!!
Yes, you have one more to watch !!! "He has Seen War" is a documentary about the survivors of the War!!!
I’ve watched the final ep several times and still smile at the end showing the real people and how lived after the war
So loved your reactions on this. I cried with you, a little embarrassed to say. When I returned home it was like I had just been in outer space or something and nothing had changed for anyone back home, and you wonder if people even know what's going on in the world. Your reactions in this was kind of cathartic, and left a feeling that maybe people do care.
My grandfather was in the pacific. Was a type setter in mobile, AL before and after. He never talked much about it.
You reacted SO perfectly to this series. I have to go watch your reactions to Band of Brothers now.
God, Eugene crying at the end always gets me 😢 it’s so genuine
I like how they highlighted how the Pacific and European fronts were so different that it was almost impossible for the soldiers/marines to relate to one another
If you haven’t seen masters of the air you should make it your next reaction. I really loved your reaction to the pacific ❤❤❤
I just watched the show for the first time too, and this episode crushed me.
My dad served in the Marine Corp during WWII and fought in the Pacific. My dad's post war doctor told his mom that every year you serve in combat, you loose 5 years of life. He had terrible nightmares about the war for the rest of his life.
Awesome reaction to close out the series with, I salute you.
Semper Fi
I watch this series couple years ago this episode was emotionally for sure
I highly recommend you watch the documentary "Peleliu 1944: Horror In The Pacific Documentary" available here on UA-cam, it's a bit like "We Stand Alone Together" from Band of Brothers, but it focuses on Peleliu exclusively. You'll see a lot of familiar names in there.