THE BAND OF BROTHERS SHOULD MAKE US ALL PROUD (Patriotic w/o)

This is part of a write-off hosted by Pffrdfdus7. The other members in the write-off are:

Gaelkm
pj_the_pug
ChromeKiller
pmills1210
Lisa-J
artbyjude
and Pffrdfdus7

This is not a review of a DVD or VHS tape but this is where epinions sent me. It is currently a series on HBO.

When I originally agreed to join the writeoff, I don't believe the events of September 11th had occurred. I am 54 years old and therefore was one of the first baby boomers. We all "remembered" WWII through the eyes of our mothers and fathers. We lived through the Korean and Viet Nam "police actions" (which no one ever had the guts to call "Wars" except the over 100,000 people we lost and the millions of participants who suffered through the (insanity). My generation has taken some hits because we were the first to question our government. This is due to circumstance. WWII was a justified war. We were attacked
and we were needed to fight Hitler's design to rule the world and Japan's intense cruelty to China and any prisoners of war.

Korea and Viet Nam were never effectively justified to the American people. Korea might have some justification as the Russians and Red Chinese were testing not only our strength but also our resolve to stop the spread of Communism. Viet Nam was fought for the same purpose supposedly but in realty was an economic war and a war fought for false pride led by old men (Johnson and Nixon) who were egomaniacs. Since Viet Nam, we have been
involved in a number of skirmishes including the so-called War of the Gulf.

Now, in 2001, we finally have a cause that is legitimate: We were attacked on our soil. Our civilians and military were targets. It is time to follow the pattern of what Tom Brokaw calls "The Greatest Generation." We have an enemy. They are evil and they will stop at nothing to harass, embarrass, and kill our people and leaders. Let me make it clear that I am not talking about Muslims in general or Arabs in general. I am talking about the fanatic
followers of Bin Laden. We have already seen that they will stop at nothing including the sacrifices of their own lives to bring us down.

What does this have to do with "The Band of Brothers" mini-series on HBO? Well, the men of Easy Company were regular Joes. Oh, there were a few that were more educated and a
few with military training but basically they were young Americans asked to perform duties that ultimately sacrificed the entire company, one way or the other. Easy Company suffered 150% casualties. Let me repeat that:150%! Can you imagine that?

Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks have been forefront in the effort to keep our past alive through "Schlinder's List," and "Saving Private Ryan". They are the executive producers of HBO's production of Stephen Ambrose's "Band of Brothers". I believe the cost of the production exceeded one hundred twenty million dollars but it was worth every dime. The series started when my wife and I were in Europe but HBO was good enough to run the first five episodes all on one Monday night so I have now seen the first six episodes. Folks, if you liked "Saving Private Ryan", you'll love this. I loved former movie but I believe this series is even better.

The first episode dealt with the intense training that Easy Company went through in Georgia. They were pioneers in Airborne (Parachutists) warfare. Hanks and Spielberg
deliberately did not go after the big name Hollywood stars. The best known actor appears in the first episode as the hated Captain Herbert Sobel as portrayed by David Schwimmer from the "Friends" cast. Sobel was so mean that many of his trainees talked about killing him when they arrived in Europe. The training was not only physically exhausting but Sobel was a master of mind games. However, many years later, one of the veterans of the company said
that it was his rigorous training that saved many lives in combat.

The second episode concerned the D-Day jump of Easy Company behind Germany lines. The heroes of this episode were many but Lt. Richard Winters (later Major) begins to assert
himself as an amazing leader. As you probably know, almost all of the paratroopers did not land where they were supposed to due to intense anti-aircraft fire. One of the missions of Easy Company was to wipe out some massive German cannons (88's) which were creating havoc for the landing parties on Utah and Omaha Beaches. After gathering his forces together gradually, Winters led an assault on the cannons which is now textbook military strategy on such battles. The episode is called "Day of Days" and Winters thanks God for getting him through that incredible day.

Easy Company was supposed to jump, accomplish their mission and go back to England. They did go back to England but not until they had fought its first big battle as an intact
company in the French town of Carentan which was a valuable crossroads for both Allies and Germans. The third episode highlights the initial battle and the subsequent defensive
position that the company went into after the battle to thwart massive German counterattacks. Each episode features different soldiers in their various roles. The individual acts of heroism are chronicled beautifully but nobody seems to thing much about it. They're doing their jobs and just trying to survive.

The fourth episode highlights the move of Easy Company into Holland where it liberates a very grateful Eindhoven. There is really no battle and the people of the town are delirious to see the Americans after years of harsh treatment from the Germans. Although there is some
fighting in this episode, it is probably the least violent episode to date. A false feeling that the war may be over by Christmas, 1944 starts to evolve. It wasn't to be, of course, but the lapse in fighting lulled the men into a false sense of security.

The fifth episode has Easy Company traveling to Bastogne where the Germans are mounting a massive attack in a last ditch effort to stop the allies. Easy Company does not have enough
ammunition, food nor the proper winter clothing but they do a miraculous job in holding off the Germans in attack after attack. This episode was directed by Hanks and reminded of the fierce battle scenes in "Ryan". Now Captain Winters is heavily featured in this episode in the battlefield as well as behind the lines where he has been promoted. He loves Easy Company and hates to sit behind a desk. There is a foreboding at the end of this episode that the near
future of the company is going to be trouble.

Sure enough, Episode 6 concerns the now totally surrounded Easy Company's attempt to hold off German panzer attacks as well as far superior numbers. It is by far the bloodiest
episode as Easy gets the crap knocked out of it. The episode features a young medic who is kept frantically busy due to the injuries and his lack of supplies. At the end of the episode, the casualties have mounted to a staggering degree but Easy Company still has fight left in it and are ready to move on into Germany.

Episode 7 is tonight. Each shows reminds me why Tom Brokaw called these people the "Finest Generation". Well, we may never reach their heroic heights but we are now faced
with a dastardly enemy that wants nothing less than our humiliation and destruction. We are already sending young men and women into battle and battle preparation against a foe that brought mighty Russia to her knees.

What can we do here? Of course we can display the flag and sing our National Anthem a little louder but we can also continue to fly, to travel, to buy. In other words, we can show Bin Laden and his group of fanatics that we will not be defeated by his terrorism. We can give to the various groups that are helping the victims of New York and Washington. We can give blood or send money. This may be the strangest war we've ever fought because our enemy is everywhere and nowhere. Our enemy is everywhere because Bin Laden supposedly has cells in over 50 countries including the U.S. We don't know who all of them are and
what they plan to do. They are nowhere because they hide in the caves which we helped build and only show themselves in weeks-old videos spouting hate.

The "Band of Brothers" could not have come at a better time for our nation. We've fought against tyranny and evil before and won. We can and shall do it again.

I also want to mention that each episode is preceded by short tales from actual members of Easy Company. There are only 51 survivors and HBO and American Airlines flew 47 of them to France to see the second episode. They almost all had been injured in the war but their heads were held high. I thank them from the bottom of my heart.