"The War" (by Ken Burns) Part 7 of 7; Airing on PBS @ 7PM and 9:30PM Central 10-2-07

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[VOA]

This is just a television heads-up for the last episode of the first
airing of PBS/Ken Burns production "The War".

(VOA's boilerplate from prior threads)
All commentary regarding personal experience, family tales of WWII,
and critique of how Burns (and PBS) handles topics are welcome.

Hopefully the threads on the seven episodes will serve as
guides when this large documentary becomes required viewing in
high schools.
Comments on how Burns handled the documenatry (positive,
negative, or neutral) will come in handy when "the younger
generation" sees the series. Especially if Burns takes a
"Smithsonian" tact to some topics...leaving people to wonder
"who the good guys were" during the epic struggle.

[hercuroc]

Indianapolis story on now

[hercuroc]

If we would have had to land in Japan I think Normandy would have looked like a walk in the park compared to the horror that was sure to follow...

[VOA]

“My wife just said she had never heard such a strong argument for dropping
the bomb.”

For that segment, Burns did well.

I hope there is a similar concise coverage on the mechanics of deciding
to actually drop the bombs.

That’s because in the past I’ve heard of something like “Operation Olympic”,
a plan to drop something like 10 nuclear bombs into mountain passes and
major transportation arteries in Japan...to deny the Japanese any
easy mobilization and movement of troops/militia to the beaches.

[msnpatriot]

Has been a good series, alot of WWII info is covered in the 14 hours. And plenty I didn’t know, despite having read any WWII book I can get a hold of.

Alot of bad things shown about the war, yet there’s many many more terrifying story’s out there not part of the official line.

Such as the German air raid on Bari Italy, a port there we used to unload merchant ships supporting Doolittle.

It was feared the Germans might use ‘mustard gas’ in 43, so FDR had ‘mustard gas’ shipped through there in case it was needed.

After the ship transporting the gas made the harbor, it was caught in the German bombing. The gas was spread throughout the harbor and town, killing many people. Since it was secret it took months to figure out what was killing the seaman, troops, and civilians, as the gas was diluted by the harbor water when the containers broke up.

Another disaster was just before DDay German torpedo boats sunk some of our ships carrying GI’s practicing landings. Many hundreds killed.

A couple of incidents not mentioned in ‘The War’

[Bender2]

Re: In 1943, a U.S. stockpile of mustard gas was bombed in Bari, Italy, accidentally exposing thousands of civilians and 628 Allied troops.

More info at these sites:

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq104-4.htm

http://ahoy.tk-jk.net/macslog/SlaughteratBariSouthernIt.html

http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1190.htm

Re: Another disaster was just before DDay German torpedo boats sunk some of our ships carrying GI’s practicing landings.

More info on Exercise Tiger at Lyme Bay:

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq87-3g.htm

http://www.mikekemble.com/ww2/tiger1.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exercise_Tiger

[TSgt]

I was deeply moved by Burn’s Civil War documentary and this series is also shaping up to be a moving experience. I am 30 and served 10 years in the military however my service doesn’t rise to the level of an infected hair on the foot of a WWII veteran. They were truly the greatest generation and I honor them for their sacrifices.

I am often reminded of this simple verse when I think about our nation’s veterans; “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:13”

[angcat]

Did you hear the women from Alabama say that the A Bomb was the greatest thing. LOL

[Bender2]

Another good Exercise Tiger site is at Slapton Sands Memorial site at

http://www.shermantank.co.uk/home.ikml

[VOA]

“I was deeply moved by Burn’s Civil War documentary and this series is
also shaping up to be a moving experience.”

I think the “end stories” on E.B. Sledge and Glen Frazier were just
pretty darned good.

“They were truly the greatest generation and I honor them for their sacrifices.”

I wouldn’t sell your cohort short.
It could be there is something to that genetics thing...
maybe the “Greatness” partially skipped a generation or so (and I’m not
dissing the boomer generation because plenty did their duty).

For more thought on the current (Next Greatest?) generation, please see
posts 34 and 35 at the link below:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1905119/posts

[VOA]

“They were truly the greatest generation and I honor them for their sacrifices.”

Right now, I’m sort of shocked and pleased.
I was expecting to hear an hour or so from pontificators about why
America is a war-criminal nation (for the A-Bombs) and how we shouldn’t
have stood in “Judgement At Nuremburg”.

And the “end-story” for one of the Japanese-Americans and one for
a black American...
yes, they still got treated shabilly upon their return to the USA...
but Burns tells how each ended up with great “second” and “third”
acts (as they say in theater) for the rest of their lives.

Well, I’m still critical about some of the earlier episodes.
But I’d say that Burns hit the right notes in closing.

[GOP Poet]

Check ‘er out :-)

[berdie]

All in all, I think the series was good. I learned some things I didn’t know...

The speech from FDR was very revealing. Even with his health problems, the war took a huge toll on him. I don’t agree with his politics, but he (along with Churchill and Hitler) was one of the best orators and motivators of our times. I have never seen the footage from that last speech, and how worn he was. His death had to be a devasting event..by all. And not much is ever said about that.

The ladies sewing our flags for our dead was gripping. What a sad, but proud job.

The amount of ordance that was produced is staggering.

The German citizens forced to bury the concentration victims. Don’t say it didn’t happen..just say I was scared to cause an opposition.

The similarities between the Kamikazes and the enemy we fight now. I think that they may have been the original “9-11” fighters. Willing to fight to the death.

I didn’t realize the Russians still used a true cavalry..with real horses. How that must have been to invade Berlin.

I have enjoyed the different points of view on this series.

[dr_lew]

The concept of “America The Bigoted” surely could have been covered in a much more concentrated AND pointed manner...in about half the time Burns kept harping on it.

I don't see the complaint. It's an uncomfortable subject, and as such it has to be faced rather than consigned to a footnote - or so would seem the operative logic. But I felt that he "worked through it", by showing how things changed, etc. and I never saw any hint of authorial reprobation. Even the dark moments of the Mobile racial unrest were presented as the frankly real circumstances, and served in fact to show why the authorities adhered to segregated work forces. This was a far cry from the liberal cluck-clucking that some would accuse Burns of.

[dr_lew]

I didn’t realize the Russians still used a true cavalry..with real horses. How that must have been to invade Berlin.

There was one quick shot of a pair of very handsome draft horses pulling some Russian equipment down a Berlin street, stepping high as you please. Just one of those amazing and unexpected sights.

[ntnychik]

My wife just said she had never heard such a strong argument for dropping the bomb.

I haven't heard that argument publicly or in school, but I've heard it all my life from my Dad. He attributes his current existence to Truman's decision to drop the A-bomb.

[i_dont_chat]

The War by Ken Burns and how it addressed the segregation injustices in the U.S.

I agree that it bothered me some — that there was air time given to actions by a few which were obviously racist. Also included were realistic and factual examples of how prejudices and inequality were the standard operating procedures in America.

By the end of the 7th series, I felt that by addressing our nation’s racial problems, the program served as a good comparison of how other nations handled their racial issues. The systematic death and torture of millions by Germany and Japan was stopped.

We Americans do have high ideals and we should never be satisfied as long as there are any abuses and/or any signs of racial injustices.

Highlighting segregation in our country during WWII served to show that in the short time since WWII, there has been progress made. I think everyone can agree with that — although some will say there hasn’t been enough progress.

I’m proud of the Republican Party for taking the lead in the recognizing the talent and abilities of many black leaders. The conservative movement is the only hope for racial equality — each person responsible for his own actions and the laws fairly administered, disregarding race or creed.

The Democratic Party holds no promise to the equality of the races because it unconsciously upholds the “old ideas” that the races are not equal. Liberal thinking goes immediately to bending the law to overcompensate, or the passing of huge give-away programs, with the benefit going to one group and the cost of the program on the back of another group. That is not equality.

All-in-all, I thought The War series was magnificent. If every person in the U.S. would view it, I think it would have a significant impact on our country’s viewpoint toward war.

[oh8eleven]

“The Best Years of Our Lives”
One of my all time favorites. Can you imagine Hollywood producing that today?

[Paulus Invictus]

I’ve watched the whole series and noted some historical errors. They are not significant to the story, but I’m a believer in telling the truth in films of this nature. Did the film maker have access to a true history of the Air Force during the War? Burns made some claims that I had never heard nor read and I’m a vet of the AF and have read a lot.

[VOA]

I agree that it bothered me some — that there was air time given
to actions by a few which were obviously racist. Also included were
realistic and factual examples of how prejudices and inequality were
the standard operating procedures in America.

While I do give Burns a few dings because he just came back again
and again and again to racial and justice problems in the USA
in the early episodes ("We get it, already!")...
There was a turn to much more sane relating of The War in the maybe
the last three episodes.

And Part 7 nearly knocked me over:
1. Reasonable arguments for dropping the A-bombs on Japan
2. No "American had not right to render "Judgement at Nuremburg" whining

AND
3. When Burns showed specific solidiers of Japanese and African heritage
returning to the USA...yes, they still faced inequities...
then managed to make great lives.

All I can think is that Burns was showing that American culture
was evolving during WWII and soon after.

[VOA]

I don’t know the extent of resources available to Burns.

But...you MIGHT get information after filing an inquiry via the
form at this URL:
http://www.pbs.org/thewar/contact_us.htm