Anyone watch PBS documentary "The War"?

[PW2]

The newest Ed Burns documentary?

It is airing on Wednesday evenings in October on PBS, and it is riveting (and non-political)

7 parts of roughly 2 hrs each part.

 

[tommays]

Re: Anyone watch PBS documentary "The War"?

I have watched and enjoyed it some

But i am a littel burnt out on war stories and grew up reading the Time Life books that they seeemd to use for many of the still photos



Tommays

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Anyone watch PBS documentary "The War"?

I have enjoyed most everything that I have viewed from Ken Burns. I have watched a few episodes of this and mostly enjoyed. But it is kind ouf slow moving and it does jump around a fair bit.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Anyone watch PBS documentary "The War"?

It's on at to short of intervals, each segment is too long, as mentioned it does drag on a bit and with exception of some of the eye witness stories it is a rehash of what I have been watching all my life. Most of the footage and stills seem to be stock footage that has been aired a zillion times.

Now, all that being said, if I had not been watching this kind of stuff all my life, I would find it utterly fascinating. I'm sure that younger generations, who have not been raised on this fare, will benefit greatly.

 

[JB]

Re: Anyone watch PBS documentary "The War"?

It takes me back to my childhood in a small town just outside of Ft. Bragg, NC.

Most of our friends and neighbors were military families and there were many gold star banners in view. One family in town had five sons in various services.

I shed a few tears now and then.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Anyone watch PBS documentary "The War"?

I think what separates this from most of the other war documentaries is that they focus a lot on America. How the families were impacted, how the US got out of the depression, how inept America was at fighting, how we handled diversity back then. The show seems to focus more on this then the actual war. I watched most of it the week it came out and thought it was really well done.

 

[rentalguy1]

Re: Anyone watch PBS documentary "The War"?

I've seen it, and like it a lot. I typically can't get enough of that kind of stuff. I talk to my dad about what our little town was like when he was a kid in the 40's. His uncle lived with them for a few months after the war was over and he can remember being woke in the middle of the night to Bud's screeming and climbing under the bed and such (my dad was about 6 years old). Bud had told everyone that he had been a cook in the army. Cooks don't have experiences like that. After he passed inthe 70's, my grandmother ended up with her brother's service records somehow...he had been a paratrooper in the 101st and was wounded in France in June of '44. I also love to talk to my great-uncle when he comes to town. He landed in the 1st wave on Omaha and drudged all the way to Berlin...then came home without a scratch. It used to be like pulling teeth to get him to talk about it until I got out of the service, then he wouldn't shut up (at least to me).

I was definately born in the wrong era. I've served my time during the first Gulf War and a few other little skermishes that followed, but I never had that "feeling" that those guys must have had back then.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Anyone watch PBS documentary "The War"?

I've seen it, and like it a lot. I typically can't get enough of that kind of stuff. I talk to my dad about what our little town was like when he was a kid in the 40's. His uncle lived with them for a few months after the war was over and he can remember being woke in the middle of the night to Bud's screeming and climbing under the bed and such (my dad was about 6 years old). Bud had told everyone that he had been a cook in the army. Cooks don't have experiences like that. After he passed inthe 70's, my grandmother ended up with her brother's service records somehow...he had been a paratrooper in the 101st and was wounded in France in June of '44. I also love to talk to my great-uncle when he comes to town. He landed in the 1st wave on Omaha and drudged all the way to Berlin...then came home without a scratch. It used to be like pulling teeth to get him to talk about it until I got out of the service, then he wouldn't shut up (at least to me).

I was definately born in the wrong era. I've served my time during the first Gulf War and a few other little skermishes that followed, but I never had that "feeling" that those guys must have had back then.

Those guy's were a far differnt breed than we have today, aka in the day's of my grandfather had 911 occured on there watch the middle would be a far different place, you would not see a peep out of any leader religous or political.........Terrorist's well they'd just send in the Turk's to clean up that baggage.....Google the Turk's and the fear they inspired during the war.......there were no polictical repurcussion's

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Anyone watch PBS documentary "The War"?

I watched alot of it. I liked learning about our last real war.

 

[1730V]

Re: Anyone watch PBS documentary "The War"?

I watched and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was quite surprised that it did not have a political message as with so many PBS programs.

I'm not tired of it. We should never forget the tyranny that humans are capable of. We forget, we repeat.

 

[rmmpe]

Re: Anyone watch PBS documentary "The War"?

Comparing any combat action with a "Real" war is simply ridiculous.
Hearing a bullet's buzz at it passes your head is as "Real" as it gets. It doesn't matter who fired it with the intent of killing you.

Same with the hollow whump of a mortar round.

 

[57whitehouse]

Re: Anyone watch PBS documentary "The War"?

Comparing any combat action with a "Real" war is simply ridiculous.
Hearing a bullet's buzz at it passes your head is as "Real" as it gets. It doesn't matter who fired it with the intent of killing you.

Same with the hollow whump of a mortar round.

I could not agree more.

 

[rentalguy1]

Re: Anyone watch PBS documentary "The War"?

I could not agree more.

X2..and the most sickening sound in the world is the thud of a 7.62mm round hitting the side of your aircraft while in flight. The most sickening sight is RPG's filling the sky around you.

 

[Hoss the Hermit]

Re: Anyone watch PBS documentary "The War"?

The newest Ed Burns documentary?

It is airing on Wednesday evenings in October on PBS, and it is riveting (and non-political)

7 parts of roughly 2 hrs each part.

No, I didn't, what's it about?

 

[PW2]

Re: Anyone watch PBS documentary "The War"?

No, I didn't, what's it about?

Go to the PBS.org website, click on "The War" and it will give you a pretty good idea.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Anyone watch PBS documentary "The War"?

I could not agree more.

What I ment by saying real was to imply that by seeing these films it is easy to see the big big differance between this war and the never ending vidios we see about our current so called war......apples and oranges

 

[rmmpe]

Re: Anyone watch PBS documentary "The War"?

As I see it, the only real difference in what you are seeing is that back then we didn't have "Embedded Reporters". In my mind, that's a crime against Warriors.

Many times you can't respond appropriately because there is a "Watchdog" looking over your shoulder that will say anything for a story.

Precluding a proper response to enemy fire also get's soldiers killed.

Frag 'em.

 

[oddjob]

Re: Anyone watch PBS documentary "The War"?

What I ment by saying real was to imply that by seeing these films it is easy to see the big big differance between this war and the never ending vidios we see about our current so called war......apples and oranges

err...what videos? what channels are ya watchin? I amit I dont have cable tv. Al jazeeerez perhaps?