The Pacific

[dpuck1998]

Very good show. I think the running time was around 50 minutes. But it sure is nice not to have to worry about commercials. It makes the show much more enjoyable without interruptions.

Some of the scenes were pretty tense.... Watching the Marines heading to land in those boats looked pretty scary. they kind of looked like sitting ducks out there.

Study up DelPrince.....we all knew they were going to walk off the boats They never had any resistance landing

 

[Dodie]

It was definitely over more quicky than I anticipated. The exposition is tough to do in an interesting fashion - so I was pleased that they just jumped right into it after briefly introducing the characters.

Phillip and I were talking about seasickness - how those guys would have never been on any kind of ship until they suddenly found themselves crossing the ocean (no stabilizers of course) and then on those crummy landing craft getting to the beach. The majority of them must have spent a lot of time being sick.

 

[dpuck1998]

It was definitely over more quicky than I anticipated. The exposition is tough to do in an interesting fashion - so I was pleased that they just jumped right into it after briefly introducing the characters.

Phillip and I were talking about seasickness - how those guys would have never been on any kind of ship until they suddenly found themselves crossing the ocean (no stabilizers of course) and then on those crummy landing craft getting to the beach. The majority of them must have spent a lot of time being sick.

No doubt, in those cramped quaters packed in like cattle. I bet the smells were just awful. Can you imagine trying to sleep with people smoking, drinking, getting sick on those small ships. Then the landing craft....yikes! flat bottom boats, that had to be a rough ride.

 

[trivial]

I was disappointed with the first episode; it was no Curahee, which I thought was a great way to kick off Band of Brothers. But I've read that it takes about 3 episodes until The Pacific really gets going, so we'll see.

 

[Launchpad11B]

The book "Strong Men Armed" the United States Marines VS. Japan, by Robert Leckie is a great run down of the Pacific war. It goes island by island from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. It's an easy read as it is sectional by campaign.

 

[Dodie]

The book "Strong Men Armed" the United States Marines VS. Japan, by Robert Leckie is a great run down of the Pacific war. It goes island by island from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. It's an easy read as it is sectional by campaign.

Ah. And thus, main character, Pfc. Robert Leckie, played by James Bedge Dale!

http://www.hbo.com/the-pacific/index.html#/the-pacific/cast-and-crew/robert-leckie/index.html

 

[dpuck1998]

Ah. And thus, main character, Pfc. Robert Leckie, played by James Bedge Dale!

http://www.hbo.com/the-pacific/index.html#/the-pacific/cast-and-crew/robert-leckie/index.html

I'll have to do some research, but I'd heard the series is based on several books, this being one of them.

 

[dpuck1998]

Ah. And thus, main character, Pfc. Robert Leckie, played by James Bedge Dale!

http://www.hbo.com/the-pacific/index.html#/the-pacific/cast-and-crew/robert-leckie/index.html

WOW! Great casting, they look a lot alike!

 

[dpuck1998]

I'll have to do some research, but I'd heard the series is based on several books, this being one of them.

Well that link answered this question also, three books The Pacific by Hugh Ambrose, Helmet for my Pillow by Leckie and The Old Breed by Eugene Sledge. Friend of mine is loaning me 2 of the 3 when the series is over.

 

[Launchpad11B]

I have a small library in my office at work filled with military history books I've read over the years. I lend them to my Soldiers to try and pass on the knowlege. In front of me now I have, stong men armed and Okinawa, also written by Leckie, and Guadalcanal diary by Richard Tregaskis. I'm assuming the story is founded in these books as well as the ones Puck mentions.

 

[Dodie]

I'm wondering if Leckie's letters home to "Vera" become the basis for some of his books since, like he told his father, he couldn't bring his typewriter with him?

I found that HBO site very informative.

 

[Launchpad11B]

I'm wondering if Leckie's letters home to "Vera" become the basis for some of his books since, like he told his father, he couldn't bring his typewriter with him?

I found that HBO site very informative.

Journals are very common as well Dodie. Even today with all the technology, notes scribbled after direct action are the most raw.

 

[dpuck1998]

Journals are very common as well Dodie. Even today with all the technology, notes scribbled after direct action are the most raw.

Should we expect letters from Lunny in the near future?

 

[daneenm]

We watched last night and also found it very interesting (enjoyed doesn't seem to fit for me, given the theme). My knowledge in this area is, admittedly, lacking so I am looking forward to understanding more about it.

We also found it to be short, I want to say it was 42 minutes or so of the 60 minutes that recorded. At any rate, we are looking forward to the future episodes.

 

[Launchpad11B]

Should we expect letters from Lunny in the near future?

No. I bottle up most things.

 

[dpuck1998]

No. I bottle up most things.

Atta boy, me 2

 

[cj9200]

No doubt, in those cramped quaters packed in like cattle. I bet the smells were just awful.

My dad served in Europe during WWII. His stories of crossing the Atlantic were dominated by the smells. That and losing his pay in a craps game. It was overwhelming. He never learned to swim and being on a boat was the last thing he wanted to do. There was shall we say “protein spills” in every available space including helmets. Same when they were on the boats on D-day.

Very much a history buff and have a special interest in WWII. No HBO so I need to wait until it comes out on DVD. Have Band of Brothers and a number of others. I actually thought about getting the Victory at Sea and the World at War series. We can learn a lot from history.

 

[dpuck1998]

My dad served in Europe during WWII. His stories of crossing the Atlantic were dominated by the smells. That and losing his pay in a craps game. It was overwhelming. He never learned to swim and being on a boat was the last thing he wanted to do. There was shall we say “protein spills” in every available space including helmets. Same when they were on the boats on D-day.

Very much a history buff and have a special interest in WWII. No HBO so I need to wait until it comes out on DVD. Have Band of Brothers and a number of others. I actually thought about getting the Victory at Sea and the World at War series. We can learn a lot from history.

I'm a HUGE WWII Buff and collector. I have both of those series on DVD and they are excellent. World at War is dry, but the footage is amazing! Its almost like watching TV during the war. I'm so in awe of what those men and woman did during that time, I feel like I should have been born in the 20's.

 

[Launchpad11B]

I'm a HUGE WWII Buff and collector. I have both of those series on DVD and they are excellent. World at War is dry, but the footage is amazing! Its almost like watching TV during the war. I'm so in awe of what those men and woman did during that time, I feel like I should have been born in the 20's.

If it's any consolation, you look like you were born in the twenties!

 

[dpuck1998]

If it's any consolation, you look like you were born in the twenties!

I tossed that grapefruit right at you didn't I