Winter and Band of Brothers

[republic]

I dunno what it is, but every winter my favorite thing to do is watch the Band of Brothers series.  The episode Bastogne in particular.  It's difficult to fathom what it was like that winter...  The tremendous debt I owe the greatest generation is one I know I will never be able to repay.  I'm privaledged to teach at a High School, and though my subject is Computer Science I try my best to remind them every chance I get, of the fact that their freedom was paid for in blood....a fact that each day seems to be forgotten by more and more...

[DREDIOCK]

Originally posted by republic
I dunno what it is, but every winter my favorite thing to do is watch the Band of Brothers series.  The episode Bastogne in particular.  It's difficult to fathom what it was like that winter...  The tremendous debt I owe the greatest generation is one I know I will never be able to repay.  I'm privaledged to teach at a High School, and though my subject is Computer Science I try my best to remind them every chance I get, of the fact that their freedom was paid for in blood....a fact that each day seems to be forgotten by more and more...

I'm fix'n to watch it again myself with my daughter.

Speaking of which. she wanted to know about the food the soldiers had to eat when I mentioned a complaint that Garnere and Heffron mentioned in their book about having to eat the same exact thing every day for days and days upon end.

She wanted ot know what it was like. so yesterday I piced up a can of..Yup, you guessed it. Spam.

I always have tried to emphasise to my kids what our soldiers have ands in alot of ways still endure.
Any slice of that I can give them I do. just so they know that war looks a hell of alot cooler on TV then it really is.

when its really REALLY cold outside I've taken them out for a while and told them this when they've said they wanted to go back inside.
Now imagine living on a hole in this weather. No fire to keep warm. and no more then your wearing right now. Imagine your living this way for not days but weeks. with nothing else ot keep you warm then your buddy next to you.
Often they would sleep 3 to a group with two blankets for the three to share between them. and they would take turns at night as to who got to sleep inthe middle.

In the winter of 44 the american army lost suffered more casualties  to the elements then they did to the enemy

No place warm or dry to sleep. no hot food or showers. in fact they often didnt bathe for months.
Now imagine not only living like that for weeks on end. but during the whole time. there are people trying to kill you every chance they get.

[SuBWaYCH]

Are they comin' out with a new mini-series called "The Pacific" or something?

[republic]

Originally posted by SuBWaYCH
Are they comin' out with a new mini-series called "The Pacific" or something?

Awesome, thanks for the tip!  I had no idea they had that in the works!  Band of Brothers is truly the best thing I've ever seen, really feel like it's a modern classic...honestly think it should be used in our history classes.

[DiabloTX]

Yeah, this is the first winter in a few years that I haven't broken out the BoB DVD's and watched them.  Also, read the books, too.  Not just Ambrose's but Winter's and the bio written about Winter.

As for spam, I have to admit I love it.  My dad didn't know how to cook so when my mom was working late we either had blueberry pancakes or spam and mac 'n' cheese.  God help me I love it...I do love it so.

[EagleEyes]

<---spam lover!!

But then again, i did grow up in Minnesota!!  And yes Spam/Macaroni and Cheese!!  YUMMY!! lol

[DREDIOCK]

Originally posted by DiabloTX
Yeah, this is the first winter in a few years that I haven't broken out the BoB DVD's and watched them.  Also, read the books, too.  Not just Ambrose's but Winter's and the bio written about Winter.

As for spam, I have to admit I love it.  My dad didn't know how to cook so when my mom was working late we either had blueberry pancakes or spam and mac 'n' cheese.  God help me I love it...I do love it so.

If you liked the ambrose stuff, and Winters stuff.
then you really should read Garnere and Heffrons book
"Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends"


Gives you alot of insight to the men themselves.
actually while they talk about the war its in a kind of low key way.
Its more about the men.
co author  Robyn Post takes the abrose approach to writing the book in letting the charactors tell the story in their own words including the south Philly slang and attitude of their generation. really adds to the flavor.

Really well done