YABOBT: Band of Brothers Sucks!

[GTaudiophile]

OKAY, NOW THAT I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION:

While BOB is NO-DOUBT fantastic, and one my best DVD purchases EVER, I think it's time a shift took place. For many years, thanks to the likes of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, the war in Europe has been glorified; if you ask someone about D-Day, that person usually thinks of Normandy. But I think it's time we shifted our attention to remembering the lives of those Americans who died in the Pacific, another battlefront where one race considered itself superior and committed genocide and other atrocities on a scale equal to or beyond that of Hitler.

In Europe, we fought with British, Russian, and (maybe) French allies. In the Pacific, it was simply America against Japan. If you were an American POW in Europe, you had a 1.1% chance of getting killed. If you were an American POW in the Pacific, you had a 37% chance of getting killed.

In James Bradley's book, Flags of Our Fathers, the term "D-Day" is also used to describe the day Marines landed on Iwo Jima, the day that turned the tide of the war in the Pacific:

The hard statistics show the sacrifice made by Colonel Johnson's 2nd Battalion: 1,400 boys landed on D-Day; 288 replacements were provided as the battle went on, a total of 1,688. Of these, 1,511 had been killed or wounded. Only 177 walked off the island. And of the final 177, 91 had been wounded at least once and returned to battle...

The American boys had killed about 21,000 Japanese, but suffered more than 26,000 casualties doing so. This would be the only battle in the Pacific where the invaders suffered higher casualties than the defenders...

In the 1,364 days from Pearl Harbor to the Japanese surrender, with millions of Americans fighting on global battlefronts, only 353 Americans were awarded Medals of Honor, the nation's highest decoration for valor. Marines accounted for eighty-four of these decorations, with an astonishing twenty-seven awarded for just one month's action on Iwo Jima, a record unsurpassed by any battle in U.S. history. Iwo Jima stands as America's most heroic battle...

The American victory unquestionably hastened the end of the war. In the ensuing months, about 2,400 distressed B-29 bombers, carrying 27,000 crewman, would make emergency, lifesaving landings on the island.

Again, if you like BOB, you NEED to obtain this book and read it!

 

[SoylentGreen]

So go make your own movies on the Pacific theatre if you feel so inclined.

 

[bobbybe01]

My grandfather served in the Pacific. Good post, thanks.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: YouUgly
So go make your own movies on the Pacific theatre if you feel so inclined.

There is a rumor that Spielberg and Hanks are teaming up again to do a BOB: Pacific Edition. I'm just saying, it's a long-time coming, and the American people shouldn't need a movie to remember there were TWO wars going on at the same time.

 

[Amused]

Actually, I would say the battle of Midway "turned the tide of the war in the Pacific."

But yes, you are correct. Too much attention has been paid to too little of the war effort. And WWII has been oversold, while other war efforts ahve been demonized or simply undersold.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Amused
Actually, I would say the battle of Midway "turned the tide of the war in the Pacific."

But yes, you are correct. Too much attention has been paid to too little of the war effort. And WWII has been oversold, while other war efforts ahve been demonized or simply undersold.

Actually, the author of this book would argue that the battles of Guadalcanal and Tarawa were the turning points.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Amused
Actually, I would say the battle of Midway "turned the tide of the war in the Pacific."

But yes, you are correct. Too much attention has been paid to too little of the war effort. And WWII has been oversold, while other war efforts ahve been demonized or simply undersold.

Actually, the author of this book would argue that the battles of Guadalcanal and Tarawa were the turning points.

I would disagree. From Midway on, the Japanese were on the defensive, rather than the offensive.

 

[PingSpike]

Indeed. I would like to see more on the pacific theatre.

Weren't some british war ships involved in the pacific theatre though? I could be wrong, but I thought there were at least a few.

 

[spacejamz]

it was simply America against Japan

what about the australians, new zealanders and british to name a few???

 

[Ausm]

I am a major history buff when it comes to WW2 and I have to agree with you but with this added reason. I don't get why people are so wowed by the BOB series. I watched it and it brought absolutely nothing "new" to the table for me. I have seen every documentary and read almost every book published on WW2 and after watching the series I felt like is this all this show is about? I enjoyed Saving prvt Ryan 10X better and another movie that I enjoyed lately was behind the enemy gate.

Sysadmin

 

[Bulk Beef]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Amused
Actually, I would say the battle of Midway "turned the tide of the war in the Pacific."

But yes, you are correct. Too much attention has been paid to too little of the war effort. And WWII has been oversold, while other war efforts ahve been demonized or simply undersold.

Actually, the author of this book would argue that the battles of Guadalcanal and Tarawa were the turning points.

I think Midway is considered THE turning point in the Pacific War by almost every WW2 historian out there. Like Amused said, Midway stopped Japanese expansion cold, and the loss of four carriers dealt a blow that they would never recover from.

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: spacejamz

it was simply America against Japan

what about the australians, new zealanders and british to name a few???

Yes they played a heavy role in the Battle in Burma.

Sysadmin

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Indeed. I would like to see more on the pacific theatre.

Weren't some british war ships involved in the pacific theatre though? I could be wrong, but I thought there were at least a few.

no you are not wrong...actually, the british carriers with their armoured flight decks fared better against the kamikazes since US carriers pretty much just had wooden flight decks back then...

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: sward666

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Amused
Actually, I would say the battle of Midway "turned the tide of the war in the Pacific."

But yes, you are correct. Too much attention has been paid to too little of the war effort. And WWII has been oversold, while other war efforts ahve been demonized or simply undersold.

Actually, the author of this book would argue that the battles of Guadalcanal and Tarawa were the turning points.

I think Midway is considered THE turning point in the Pacific War by almost every WW2 historian out there. Like Amused said, Midway stopped Japanese expansion cold, and the loss of four carriers dealt a blow that they would never recover from.

I agree the battle of Midway was a decisive Victory for America. We sunk 4 of the Japanese Fleet Carriers.


Sysadmin

 

[GasX]

A BIG fvck you to whover wrote "In the Pacific, it was simply America against Japan. "

My (English) uncle was in Burma before Pearl Harbor and died there as a POW.

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: YouUgly
So go make your own movies on the Pacific theatre if you feel so inclined.

There is a rumor that Spielberg and Hanks are teaming up again to do a BOB: Pacific Edition. I'm just saying, it's a long-time coming, and the American people shouldn't need a movie to remember there were TWO wars going on at the same time.

I heard about that too. I hope it happens. My Uncle served in Okinawa. Sadly he was a victim of Alzheimer's disease and died before i had the chance to sit and talk with him about it.

Book has been been added to my wish list. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
A BIG fvck you to whover wrote "In the Pacific, it was simply America against Japan. "

My (English) uncle was in Burma before Pearl Harbor and died there as a POW.

I feel bad for any P.O.W ESPECIALLY one who was captured by the Japanese. They were ruthless animals towards P.O.W's


Sysadmin

 

[AnyMal]

I'm sick and tired of this "America saved the world in WWII" bullcrap from half-educated twits. Some countries sustained much heavier losses and made greater sacrifices. Don't ask me for details, here's your learning opportunity.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: AnyMal
I'm sick and tired of this "America saved the world in WWII" bullcrap from half-educated twits. Some countries sustained much heavier losses and made greater sacrifices. Don't ask me for details, here's your learning opportunity.

Yes, they did. But it is true that without US military and material help, England and the USSR most likely would not have emerged victorious.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Since I found out that my grandfather joined the Navy in 1943 at the age of 14 I have been reading everything I can find on the Pacific. I've never heard of this book but will add it to the list. Thanks OP.

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: AnyMal
I'm sick and tired of this "America saved the world in WWII" bullcrap from half-educated twits. Some countries sustained much heavier losses and made greater sacrifices. Don't ask me for details, here's your learning opportunity.

I do not think the U.S should take sole credit for Victory in WW2 but we did bail out GB because the Nazi's had them on the ropes. Nazi submerines were choking the life out of the Island Nation and Churchill knew it.

No other country with the Exception of Russia, had the resources or Man power to Win that war.

I myself do not take the sacrifices of other ally countries lightly.


Sysadmin

 

[BlueWeasel]

Thanks in part to your earlier thread about it, I ordered the book yesterday from Half.com for $10 shipped. I should get it in a week or two.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
A BIG fvck you to whover wrote "In the Pacific, it was simply America against Japan. "

My (English) uncle was in Burma before Pearl Harbor and died there as a POW.

Dude, calm down. I'm simply reflecting the sentiments of this author, James Bradley.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Mwilding
A BIG fvck you to whover wrote "In the Pacific, it was simply America against Japan. "

My (English) uncle was in Burma before Pearl Harbor and died there as a POW.

Dude, calm down. I'm simply reflecting the sentiments of this author, James Bradley.

Dude, then my "fvck you" doesn't apply to you then, does it?

You should learn to use quote marks if you are going to quote people, btw...

 

[Mermaidman]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: AnyMal
I'm sick and tired of this "America saved the world in WWII" bullcrap from half-educated twits. Some countries sustained much heavier losses and made greater sacrifices. Don't ask me for details, here's your learning opportunity.

Yes, they did. But it is true that without US military and material help, England and the USSR most likely would not have emerged victorious.

I agree. England would not have had any chance of defeating the Axis. Neither would France--oh wait, France did lose. But because SIZE matters, the USSR would probably have fought the Nazis to a stalemate at worst.

As for the Pacific theatre being ignored, one reason may be that it is less glamorous. I can't imagine a 'BoB' type show set in the island hopping campaign with heavy naval involvement. The war in the Pacific is not Hollywood-friendly, although I must say one of my all time favorite movies is "Hell in the Pacific." Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune--who gets voted off next?