[narby]

It's a good documentary, but I don't like the way Burns concentrates on American screw ups. He talks about Iwo Jima as if it was an unneeded battle, killing Americans for no good reason. But he neglects to mention that if we had been forced to invade the Japanese mainland we would have needed an air base closer than Tinian to support shorter range aircraft. The command structure that decided to take Iwo didn't know about the Bomb, and couldn't have known whether it would have worked or whether it would have ended the war.

So far, I've seen several hours devoted to race relations during the war (almost all portraying America as evil), but I don't remember more than a passing mention of Germany's actions vs. the "Jewish question".

The documentary does make me respect what my fathers generation did. But I would have preferred it be quite a bit less politically correct, portrayed as the WWII generation saw themselves, rather than how the 60's generation sees their flaws in retrospect.

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

He talks about Iwo Jima as if it was an unneeded battle, killing Americans for no good reason. But he neglects to mention that if we had been forced to invade the Japanese mainland we would have needed an air base closer than Tinian to support shorter range aircraft.

It was Peleliu that he said was unneeded. Iwo Jima they talked about the Japanese planes that would come up to to harass the B-29 formations on their way to and from Japan, and they showed a B-29 using the strip for an emergency landing.

[VOA]

“He talks about Iwo Jima as if it was an unneeded battle, killing Americans
for no good reason. “

As another poster mentioned, I think it was Peleliu that was the
(or one of the) unneccessary fights (in retrospect). IIRC, it was an
example of why the central command needs to constantly update plans based
on changing circumstances (e.g., other islands taken, reduced ability
of the Japanese to supply the island, etc.)

As for Iwo Jima, IIRC, a hobbled B-29 returning from Japan landed there
(the same day?) just as the airfield area was taken/cleaned up.
Having a useable airstrip much closer than Saipan (can’t remember the
other island) saved more than a few crews.

“So far, I’ve seen several hours devoted to race relations during the
war (almost all portraying America as evil)”
That’s my main complaint.
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.
IMHO, Burns was just about as “ham-handed” in delivering that message
as Spielberg can be.

But, as a historical document, I do give Burns credit for getting in
clips of “soldiers of color” doing off-loading on the beaches on D-Day,
and driving a Sherman in during the breaking of “The Bulge” (probably
the “Black Panthers” unit, I would guess).
That wasn’t something I’ve seen...and I’ve seen TOO MUCH WWII footage!

[Northern Yankee]

Countless B-29s used Iwo Jima has an emergency landing field. (Including my father's B-29...)

Thousands of airmen's lives were saved because we had Iwo as a safe haven to land. The runways were shorter than they would have liked, but between short runways and the ocean, I reckon the choice was obvious.

Cheers!~

[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.