Band of Brothers HBO Mini-Series

“As you may know there is a ten-hour mini-series coming up on HBO on Sunday nights starting September 10th called "Band of Brothers". It is about a company of American paratroopers in WWII: 101st Airborne, 506 PIR, E Company.

I don't know if it is appropriate to advertise TV shows on TrailTalk, but I am posting this to mention that the mini-series is a very realistic depiction of what my Uncle, S/Sgt David (Rosie) Rosenkrantz (MIA 28 Sept, 1944), experienced in WWII. In fact, a Dutch researcher told me that Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg were trying to decide between using Uncle Dave's company (82nd Airborne, 504 PIR, H Company), or E Company of the 506 for their story.

If you have HBO and have any interest in historical drama, I encourage you to watch. Since I do not have HBO, a friend is supposed to tape it for me.

You can get more detailed information about the mini-series at:
http://www.freep.com/entertainment/tvandradio/band7_20010907.htm and
http://www.hbo.com/band/landing/day_of_days.html

The memorial web site for my Uncle Dave is at:
http://www.csupomona.edu/~rosenkrantz/paratroop/sgtdave.htm. The interesting aspect from our family's standpoint is that we did not know anything about Uncle Dave's WWII experiences until about two years ago when I started using the internet to see what I could find out...including how and where he was killed.”

“Phil, I expect that I will be taping it for my brother (who refuses to get cable). For those who want to avoid TV altogether, pick up Stephen Ambrose's book of the same title, upon which the mini-series is based. The word is that it is extremely faithful to actual conditions and circumstances faced by this real unit, with the actors carefully researching (and sometimes meeting with) the men they portray.”

“Phil thanks for the info. I dont have HBO but will try to have someone tape it for me. It sad that we are fast on the way to losing that generation of folks. We can stand to learn quite a bit from them.”

“Thanks Phil, being a Tom Hanks fan and a die hard Patriot I may subscribe to HBO just because of the mini-series.”

“I've read several articles and reviews about the mini-series and how they made it, including one long interview with Tom Hanks. They had some of the actual "Easy Company" guys from WWII on the set to help with the authenticity. Tom Hanks was really humbled by the whole thing. These Airborne guys were something else.

These guys trained for a long time before they actually got to fight. They were truly the elite fighting forces. Read some of my uncle's letters on his memorial website to get a feel for that.

This could be the greatest mini-series ever.”

“Thank you Phil for sharing this site with us. I am very interested in the "real" stories of those who've served so valiently and given so much. Those of us who are the real beneficiaries of their contributions will never be able to fully express our gratitude to their families. We owe them a lot.

I lost a number of close friends in Vietnam, and it still saddens me to think what these young men could have become...

Like bacpac I may also subscribe to HBO just for this.

Again, thanks, and in my opinion it was VERY appropriate for you to post this info for us.”

“Well, I don't know how appropriate the post was. As arbitor or poor taste and bad manners I find it suspect.”

“IT IS TONIGHT! Wish I could see it now and not later. (Sigh)”

“bacpac's a Patriots fan???”

“pretty good show.”

“arrgghhh, my brother forgot to tape it for me!!!!

Grr...expletive expletive!!

:o(”

“I read the book last spring and caught the show last night. The show followed the book pretty well especially the assault on the German 88s.

What was eerie was when the GI was talking to the German prisoner and found out that the prisoner was from Eugene, Ore. My dad is from Oregon farm country and knew several German Americans that went back to serve the Fatherland even though they were born in the U.S.”

“that was pretty burly.”

“Anyone else noticed Hanks and Spielberg's seeming obsession with WWII? I hear tell there's some other cool wars too!”

“kleetn: WWII vets, of course, are on their last legs yet are still able to give us considerable details of their experiences. This is hugely important to historians such as Ambrose. Also, WWII was thoroughly documented on movie and still film, even color, by both sides, so the archives are available and support recreation attempts. Civil War reenactors would have a heck of a time getting their uniforms right if it were not for the still photographs that survived. That's why we have a limited view of such events as our own Revolutionary War and the War of 1812; documentation was in writing and, if lucky, in paintings, both limiting truly accurate modern film portrayals.

Korea and Vietnam have such ambivalent political atmospheres that it makes them difficult subjects at this time. Wait until the Baby Boomers/Vietnam generation is in its 70s and 80s, then you may finally see films about Vietnam that are of similar nature.

On the other hand, Apocalypse Now Redux is in release, and to great reviews. Just don't expect Saving Private Ryan-style realism; a surreal film for a surreal war (although a helicopter doorgunner I knew said Apocalypse Now was more real than most folks wanted to accept).”

“pekka was right about the aging veteran effect. Many WWII vets are now speaking up for the first time and telling and writing their stories.

Also, WWII was such a large war compared to any other in history. 55 million (as I recall) WWII related casualtie/deaths worldwide is fairly significant.”

“At the recommendation of my friend, I started reading the book before watching a tape of the first two episodes. Glad I did because I knew exactly what was going on and could appreciate the details.

BAND OF BROTHERS IS VERY REAL. I can't wait to get the other episodes. (It would be more real if they showed the guys who died or who were seriously wounded).

It was somewhat emotional knowing that what I was watching was typical of what my uncle experienced. When they get to the parts about "Hell's Highway", that is where my uncle was killed (Sept 27, 1944).

Note: By the time the 506 saw their first action at Normandy, the 82nd A/B, 504, H Company had been in three major battles with about 80-100 days of knarly combat (Sicily, Naples, Anzio).

Final note: At the beginning they interviewed one of the Easy company vets. He said that the fact that we were attacked made a big difference in their will to fight. Kind of prophetic in light of Sept 11.”

“Didn't Peter Jennings compile a a few really good WWII stories to raise money for the WWII War Memorial?

I caught just the end of one episode and it looked like a well made show. Not to take anything away from todays service men but those guys who fought in WWII were the "real deal Holyfield".”

“I'm not sure about the WWII memorial fundraising, but Tom Hanks was actively involved.

I forget the context, but they were trying to come up with the "Person of the Century" and they finally decided it was the "WWII American Soldier ". Maybe someone remembers the details.”

“Phil, I bet your glad that your uncle wasn't Captain Sobol!”

“Great concept and, so far, great execution. I love the autobiographical stuff they throw in. Seeing those vets really drives my desire to watch. FYI I saw a commercial last night on HBO which said they were going to play the first five episodes consecutively on (I think) October 8 (I'm sure it was a Monday in Oct., check on date)”

“I like that it seems so real, one thing that stands out is that when the dialog between to characters start the shooting don't stop like it does in so many other war type programs. My dad was in WWII, he is dead now, but this kind of gives me some insight to what he dealt with.
He had it way harder than I ever did in any of the police actions I've been in.”

“Phil your website is outstanding. Nice work. Uncle Dave must have been one hell of a man to volunteer for airborne training. Our nation is eternally greatful.”

“Phil your website is outstanding. Nice work. Uncle Dave must have been one hell of a man to volunteer for airborne training. Our nation is eternally greatful.”

“Thanks! All I know about my uncle is what I have heard about him from relatives, newspaper articles, and veterans who served with him. According to the five veterans I have spoken to on the phone that knew my uncle, he was well liked and considered very brave. I also found out that he was one of the best marksman in the company.

The original paratrooper companies were highly trained (15-24 months before they were in their first battle) and bonded to each other. The replacement troops and officers that came in could never measure up and often didn't last long.”

“Wow! Over four years since the original post on this thread. I got the boxed DVD edition a few years ago and this is my fourth or fifth time watching it completely through. It gets better each time, probably because of getting to know the characters and being able to appreciate the details.

"Wild Bill" Guarnere is still around and his family has a website: http://wildbillguarnere.com/

Since the original post I have attended several events with WWII paratrooper veterans, including some who knew my uncle. In September 2004 my wife and I visited Holland and went to the torchlight ceremony in Eindhoven, which was the city featured in the mini-series. It was a thrill to meet the Dutch people including some of the Dutch underground.

I just realized the other day that the young Lieutenant Jones from West Point in the 8th episode was played by Colin Hanks, who is Tom Hanks son.”

“Wow! Good find Phil--he does look like his father. I've tried taping the whole series, but it's all broken up with commercials and I've missed a few minutes here and there. I think I'll ask for the DVD set for Christmas.”

“Hello Phil. "Band of Brothers" has become my very favorite movie production I think. I've seen it all the way through a few times, and gets better each time. Never seen anything more powerful. I've had the box set on my Christmas list for a couple years now, and if I don't get it this year, I'm gonna just finally buy it!

Glad you posted this, as I haven't looked at the website about your uncle for a while now. I'll have to peruse it some more tonight for sure.

On a related note, I just finished a great book called "The Last Ridge" by McKay Jenkins, about the 10th Mountain Division, who trained extensively here in Colorado at Camp Hale. Fascinating story. Many of those mountain troops were integral in starting the skiing industry we know today. Check it out if you haven't already. Take care!”

“It is six years since 9/11 and the release of the Band of Brothers Mini-Series. I am watching it again, which I think will be my annual tribute to my uncle and Operation Market Garden, which was launched Sept 17, 1944.

As I said before, every time I watch the Mini-series it just gets better.

Since 2000 there are have been many books written by historians and veterans about WWII. I have been reading as many of them as I have time for. To my surprise, three of the books I read either mentioned my uncle or contained his picture or website.

I eat breakfast or lunch every week with three WWII veterans (army, navy, marine). Very interesting to get some things first hand.

Photoboy - I am mildly familiar with the 10th Mountain Division. Very famous and quite an accomplished unit. I hear there is a fairly active reenactment unit.”

“Phil, IMO opinion one of the best books about WWII is "With the Old Breed" by E.B. Sledge. The creators of BoB are making a mini-series about the the war in the Pacific. Some of the episodes will be based on Sledge's experiences.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374463/maindetails

The CMP and some Garand collectors/ reenactors presented Shifty Powers with a Garand last year...it's a pretty good story.

http://www.odcmp.org/1006/default.asp?page=SHIFTY_RIFLE
last edited: 9/10/07 8:44:06 PM”

“Phil, did you see that Ken Burns is releasing a documentary series on PBS called, "The War?"

longlost - very cool about the Pacific version. I'll have to check into that. While growing up I tended to read more about the Pacific theatre than the European.”

“In the job that I have now i get to meet a lot of WWII vets and I have to tell ya I have so much respect and so much appreciation for them and what they did. I even got to meet a guy who was in the OCS (?) which was the CIA before it was called that. He was in France setting up listening posts. He showed me his old ID and old photos of France. Real cool.”

“will find this link AMAZING.....

If you don't know but Want to...

http://www.ww2incolor.com/

Check out the Forums!”

“Anyone who has access to veterans should seriously consider interviewing them for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. I have done some volunteer work for this effort by transcribing audio files of intereviews. If you are not familiar with the VHP, here's a description:

The Veterans History Project relies on volunteers to collect and preserve stories of wartime service.

Our primary focus is on first-hand accounts of U.S. Veterans from the following wars:

World War I (1914-1920)
World War II (1939-1946)
Korean War (1950-1955)
Vietnam War (1961-1975)
Persian Gulf War (1990-1995)
Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts (2001-present)

In addition, those U.S. citizen civilians who were actively involved in supporting war efforts (such as war industry workers, USO workers, flight instructors, medical volunteers, etc.) are also invited to share their valuable stories.

How did the Veterans History Project start?

The United States Congress created the Veterans History Project in 2000. The authorizing legislation (Public Law 106-380), sponsored by Representatives Ron Kind, Amo Houghton, and Steny Hoyer in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senators Max Cleland and Chuck Hagel in the U.S. Senate, received unanimous support and was signed into law by President William Jefferson Clinton on October 27, 2000.

The Veterans History Project is made possible by the generous support of the United States Congress.


Here's a link with all the info http://www.loc.gov/vets/vets-home.html

There are instructions there on how to register to conduct interviews along with guides on how to do it. I really think this is one of the best projects out there.”

“What is truly amazing is how much of a MISERABLE FAILURE Market Garden was...but America saw it rightly as part of the long process of WINNING.

I still have friends (alive) who were in Europe then and it is incredible what they faced (not for 13 months or whatever but for 3 or 4 years). This was a generation that came straight out of a Depression to the greatest conflict in human history.”

“dayhiker, they're filming right now in Australia.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22264181-2862,00.html”

“Great comments and links everyone! Some neat stuff! I bookmarked all of them.

I saw the Ken Burns series starts on Sunday...hopefully I can see it. Looking forward to the new miniseries!!

Thanks!”

“Yup! My DVR is set. I'm not sure if it will hold it all. 7 episodes and each one is either 2 or 2.5 hours. I even get PBS in HD...it ought to be good.

http://www.pbs.org/thewar/”

“Cool! Hope I can watch.”

“I set my Tivo up last night. I plan to burn these as well on to DVD.”

“My own miniscule, personal connection to WWII, aside from having relatives who were "over there" was working in my paternal grandparents' garden.

In the '80's, when I was a young kid, I spent a few summers working in their garden. It was quite a substantial garden, taking up half their backyard in an otherwise typical suburban neighborhood. I recall that they grew corn, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, okra, white half-runner pole beans, and had a strawberry patch. The significance of the garden and its link to the past didn't dawn on me 'til years later. This garden was a "Victory Garden" that my grandmother had started during WWII and later became a lasting hobby for both of them after the War. They continued working that garden until they were both around 90 yrs. old. Each has passed on within the last 5 yrs. It's kind of sad, today I can drive past where they lived and there's no evidence of that garden. But for many years it kept family and neighbors well stocked with fresh and canned vegetables and fruit.


last edited: 9/23/07 6:02:40 PM”