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Thread: Band of Brothers- an amazing series!

  1. #1
    sub specie aeternitatis Pete Hanlin's Avatar
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    Band of Brothers- an amazing series!

    Yeah, I know I'm the last person on the planet to have seen this series...

    A friend from church offered to loan me "Band of Brothers," because I had a bunch of free time on my recent staycation (a vacation where you just stay home and R-E-L-A-X).

    I watched all 10 episodes back to back (felt like being in college). What an AMAZING series. I've often thought the generation that fought WWII was the apex of our society- now I'm certain. If anyone here fought in that war, know that you have my undying respect. For the rest of us, this series helps drive home the pointlessness of war- and the bravery, courage, and inspiration that can arise from it.

    If you haven't seen Band of Brothers, beg to borrow the DVDs from a friend and watch. At the end of each episode, I would look out the window of our media room just to look at the flag hanging from our neighbor's porch (yeah, may be sentimentalism, but I dare you to watch this series and not be tempted to salute the next flag you see :^).

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    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Gold Supporter Judy Canty's Avatar
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    Wow, I thought Keith and I were the last to see the series. My husband is addicted, like most men, to the History Channel and that series seems to run regularly there. It never ceases to draw me in and keep me watching regardless of how many times we've seen it.

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    Sheesh!

    I am REALLY lame because I haven't seen it either. I have heard about it, but I assumed it was a extremely long mini-series that would cut into my Optiboard posting time. I guess that i should check it out.

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    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Gold Supporter Judy Canty's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fezz View Post
    Sheesh!

    I am REALLY lame because I haven't seen it either. I have heard about it, but I assumed it was a extremely long mini-series that would cut into my Optiboard posting time. I guess that i should check it out.
    You can get just a few episodes at a time through Netflix.

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    They recently rans a BOB marathon on the history chanel, running the whole series non-stop. It really is an excellent series.

  6. #6
    sub specie aeternitatis Pete Hanlin's Avatar
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    Just in case someone doesn't know the content of BOB, it follows a single company of soldiers (Easy Company, 506, of the 101st Airborne) from their basic training, through D-Day and Bastogne, their discovery of the concentration camps, and finally their invasion of Germany (including Hitler's HQ). Prior to each episode, there are interviews with actual members of Easy Company.

    The cinematography (sp?) will remind you of the first 15 minutes of "Saving Private Ryan" (same producers)- but the storyline feels much more "real" compared to Ryan (perhaps because it is more closely based on actual events).

    Its worth watching (which is more than one can say for most of the stuff on film and TV these days).

  7. #7
    sub specie aeternitatis Pete Hanlin's Avatar
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    Just received this today...

    As it happens, I just received this email today. If you've seen Band of Brothers, its kinda sad to realize the fellow called "Shifty" passed away just last month. Obviously, this was written by someone else- no name was on the email.

    We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services.

    I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers.

    Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.

    I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle", the symbol of the 101st Airborne, on his hat.

    Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many jumps he made.

    Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945 . . . " at which point my heart skipped.

    At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . . do you know where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped.

    I told him yes, I know exactly where Normandy was, and I know what D-Day was. At that point he said "I also made a second jump into Holland, into Arnhem." I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . . and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day.

    I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France, and he said "Yes. And it's real sad because these days so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my throat and I didn't know what to say.

    I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in Coach, while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I'd take his in coach.

    He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are brimming up now as I write this.

    Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer.

    There was no parade.

    No big event in Staples Center.

    No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage.

    No weeping fans on television.

    And that's not right.

    Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the veterans.

    Rest in peace, Shifty.




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