"The War" (A Ken Burns Film) Part 2 of 4; Now airing 7PM Central 9-24-07

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[AU72]

General Eisenhower knew, before talking with the paratroopers, that their casualty rate within 24 hours of their jump would be well over 50%.

[mware]

I recall a set of documentaries (I think the name was The War in Color) It did a segment on the skitter killers. Really interesting and they rarely got a mention in any other documentary I have seen.

[mware]

Sometimes when I look at the photos of the war I wonder if the guy got through it. At least the folks here at FR are going to know that the guy wearing number 23 in that famous photo made it through the war, and lived a long life.

[Chanticleer]

It's too bad. They say that before the malaria control unit was formed, malaria killed more allies than did Japanese bullets. There's a book out on it now. It was based on the memories of one of the Skeeter Beaters, and some of the details are not completely accurate, but the overall feeling is. My Dad's one of the men on the cover.

[mware]

How cool is that. Which one is your dad???

[Chanticleer]

Front row, third from left, in helmet.

[mware]

Thanks. Now when I see that photo or they mention the skeeter beaters, I’ll think on your father.

[Chanticleer]

Thanks!

If you're interested . . .

Here's my father in The Navy Log

And here's more on the effort to fight malaria in honor of the Skeeter Beaters

[wordsofearnest]

I have a picture of my Dad sitting on the wing of a P-51D named “Bulgin Betsy”

[VOA]

IIRC,
Eisenhower’s driver said Ike just...almost...started to weep on
the drive after that photo.

And I think I recall that some researcher managed to track down many
of the troopers in that photo and that most all of them survived
The Longest Day.
(unlike other groups)

[mware]

Cornelius Ryan did a wonderful job researching for his book The Longest Day, same for A Bridge Too Far.

[M1911A1]

Weren’t the guys in the 28th the ones who broke and ran during the bulge while the real heroes in the Airborne divisions saved the day....

Just kidding. My dad was a BAR gunner in the 28th, 110th Rgt, 2nd Bn. Very few people know of the amazing stand they made. I just finished reading “Alamo in the Ardennes”, perhaps that book will make the story a little more well known.

Unfortunately, until the story of the Keystone Division gets the Hollywood/HBO treatment (and something better than “A Time for Trumpets”) the Bloody Bucket will Roll On in obscurity.

[Intolerant in NJ]

Those were different times...interesting that in tonight's episode, we learned that the first time the US public actually saw a picture of American casualties was in mid-1943 when "Life Magazine" published a photo of three dead soldiers on the beach at Tarawa - the theory during Vietnam was that so many turned against the war because they had a "constant diet" of pictures of the dead and wounded on the TV every night, but back in WWII when FDR insisted that a newsreel showing more of the slaughter at Tarawa be shown around the country, it only inflamed the public and made them more determined -"then we really wanted to go and kill Japs - excuse me for saying so" said one interviewee - different times indeed......

[msnpatriot]

I’ve seen the numerous posts about ‘The War’ being slowed paced. I got the same impression in the first episodes. But, now I’m beginning to adjust to the pace of the production and am enjoying the chain of information. The wealth of info is impressive. Too bad about ‘Babe’ and his loss during the Anzio break out.

I think I will be watching every episode, As many Americans as possible need to see this.

They might take a second look and think about the unity we had in WWII, and contrast that to the way things are now...And tire of it...Hopefully