Posted on 05/30/2004 4:15:31 AM PDT by ken5050
If you happen to turn your TV set on at any time this Memorial Day weekend, there's a strong probability you'll come across a World War II war movie..... the classic Hollywood genre. There are many of them, and, happily a lot of very good ones. So, on this weekend of remembrance, and the dedication of the WW II memorial, what's your favorite, or favorites, and why?
"Well, we have buried our dead, but we shall not forget them! Instead, they will inspire us with an unbreakable determination to free ourselves and those who come after us, from the tyranny and terror that threaten to strike us down. THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S WAR. It is our war. We are the fighters. FIGHT IT THEN. Fight it with all that is in us, and may God defend the right."
Memorial Day Bump!
that would be james basset for those who can't read fat fingered typing
I remember when I visited Dallas to meet with the Corp of Engineers in 1968 to discuss a new comm bldg for Perrin AFB where I was stationed. We we to meet in the Federal bldg on Commerce Street. We arrived early so that we could have lunch in the coffee shop, ( a treat away from the simple fare on the base!). There in the lobby were his medals and it took my breath away to see them after having been an Audy Murphy devotee. Sadly, he died during the prime of his movie career. I wish he was here to celebrate with us.
Same here. I crawled through the "909", I think it was, when it was on display at an air show here several years ago. I seldom purchase souveniers but I bought a baseball cap with the B-17G on it.
Two years ago, while my wife was spending almost all of her time tending to her elderly mother, I purchased a plastic model of a B-17G. It is only partially completed.
Yesterday, because of Memorial Day, I began wondering about my cousin. My father was on the outs with his father for his entire life, so I have met my uncle and his children only twice many years ago. Searching my family name on the Web a few years back revealed the sad news that my cousin had died at the young age of fifty and was buried in Arlington. While attempting to find out more about my cousin, my memory was jogged regarding his father, my uncle.
I recalled my father telling me that my uncle had been shot down over Europe and had spent time as a POW.
Yesterday's Web search turned up the site for the 303rd Bomb Group which listed my uncle as navigator on a B17F which was downed on January 11, 1944. He was one of three survivors. The site supplied sufficient details to know the markings on my uncle's plane. I intend to complete the model with those markings.
Veterans of WWII, like all veterans, have a natural reluctance to relive a time of such sacrifice and personal loss. It would probably surprise many of us to learn of the experiences of our extended families.
No, Corporal York was an NCO. He was ISSUED his 45 auto.
When I was a youngster in the 50s I recall going on Memeorial Day to the little rural Kansas cemeteries where some of the kinfolk were buried and putting flowers on their graves---including my GG Grandfather who was a Civil War veteran of infantry---three years 1861-64 and then two more years, 1864-66 in the US navy on river gunboats and in the Gulf.
I prefer the WWII films that try to be as accurate as possible. Here's my film library:
Band of Brothers
Saving Private Ryan
Schindler's List
A Bridge Too Far
Piece of Cake
Battle of Britain
Tora Tora Tora
Stalingrad (German)
Come and See (Soviet)
The World at War (British documentary, 26 hrs)
Midway
In Harm's Way
Stalin's War, Blood on the Snow (Russian Documentary, 10 hrs)
Casablanca
The Sorrow and the Pity / Hotel Terminus (French Documentary, 5 hours)
The Longest Day
Is Paris Burning?
The Thin Red Line
The Train
Stories of Courage (HBO anthology)
Lucie Aubrac (French)
Sands of Iwo Jima
You mean I have to pick only ONE?
I am certain tho that the article did say that he did not have the .45 through legitimate channels.
"How I Won the War"
starring Michael Crawford and John Lennon.
Mr. Roberts
The Grey Zone-- Viewing not for the faint-hearted.
Everything culminating in the overrunning of the camp at the top of the hill. And I liked the way they treated Colonel Tall. Was he wrong or was he right?
Ooooh, I forgot a really good one:
Conspiracy (HBO Films, about the Wannsee Conference)
BTW, I'm certain that it's right that York carried a 30-06 Enfield instead of an '03.
I have NO USE for "Whorelywood",period!! They,the liberal media and the "democratzis" are nothing more than an arm of Al Queda.
To add a few others to the list:
633 Squadron
The Damn Busters
Battle Cry
Sahara--{Bogart}
Speak of the devil, starting right now on TCM
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