He Has Seen War - A "Band of Brothers" & "The Pacific" Documentary

The surviving veterans and family members of Easy Company and the 1st Marine Division, whose stories are shown in "Band of Brothers" and "The Pacific," discuss reintegrating into civilian life and the impacts the war had on them.
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Reel History delves into historical films to separate fact from fiction. These engaging episodes explore, contextualize, and clarify stories related to the most famous historical movies. In contrast to the more prevalent "reaction" videos, these installments seek not only to entertain but to educate and inform.
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[@ChanceNix]

As a combat Marine, I fought in the second battle of Fallujah and drove convoys all over the country of Iraq. I lost friends and had been injured myself. I think one of the hardest things when coming back is not being the same person you were when you left, and people not understanding that. It's hard to explain to people how even though it's the worst thing on the planet, you miss it, because you felt important and part of something. My family cried and cheered when I returned, but I knew I wasn't the same. Things I once enjoyed had no comfort for me. It's been nearly two decades, and I still don't feel normal around most people. I've made friends, but it's not the same. I think for guys like me, who had seen and done that kind of stuff, the thing you miss the most is the guys, sitting around, having some meaningless trivial conversation. You miss the fact that at one point, you had friends that would not only die for you, but kill for you without a moment of hesitation. There's a comfort there, that is stripped away when you return home, and you can't fix that in someone. It's a sense of loss. I'm lucky though. I found two loves: my wife and writing. I wrote a line in my second novel which is about a Veteran who does have PTSD (who lives on an island and fishing and fights a shark). The line goes, "War doesn't make men, but produces shattered fragments of what could have been." Like the old saying goes, when you leave war, you never really leave it. It stays with you, makes you a different person. War does kill that kid that went off with wide eyes and a sense of adventure. Coming home is weird because you never come home. No one does who has seen combat because not only are you different, but home is different. It moved on while you were gone and people feel different around you because you are not the same. You are a shattered fragment of what you were.

[@TR00P]

Beautifully said. I know that feeling. When I came back I felt so out of place and still do. It never really went away. It’s been 16 years I have yet to feel that sense of being a part of something important. The scene in “Fury” when they’re sitting in the tank BSing and repeat “best job I ever had”. Hits me every time. Thank you for your service. I hope you’ve found peace.

[@EstonianShark]

Wow. I am an Eastern European teenager about to become of age to become a conscript and have always loved the idea of military and all things to do with it. I feel that what you said about having the protection of guys who would do extreme things for your sake applies to me in Highschool. I am close to graduation and doing my 9 months. I will not say I know what to expect during my time there or if anything will happen (It most likely won't but Ukraine and my country; Estonia, borders Russia etc. etc.) and that I have no clue about what war is like. I have seen with my own eyes countless videos of combat but I could spend the rest of my life watching those videos and never experience anything similar to what the people in the videos are going through. I look upon veterans and soldiers with a stupefied gaze of childlike awe and inspiration. I too am what you described "...that kid that went off with wide eyes and a sense of adventure." Because of my love for military history and military in general, I've always been slightly proud to have the chance to join this specific thing that not everyone gets to experience, which is becoming a soldier for the country you are from. Reading your comment has made me think of myself in a position where I am a cog in a war. Not a big one, just a small tiny cog. It terrifies me, all the things I've watched and heard and read would not prepare me for it. I haven't thought of the possibility of death ever in my 17 years of living. I still don't. I know this comment hasn't really had any sense but reading it on this particular type of video has tugged something in me that I cannot explain. In short, I just wanna say that you having served and seen combat in war, has lead me to look at you in awe as a potential soldier during a time of confusion and tension. Thanks for commenting, sorry if this seems random.

[@ChanceNix]

@@TR00P Same to you and yes, that is such a great scene from Fury. I told my wife, that scene hits me harder than any death scene or explosion scene or what not. Best job I ever had. For me, no truer words were ever spoke.

[@ChanceNix]

@@EstonianShark That is why young men are easy together to go to war, you don't think about your own death. I never thought of my own death. I only thought of my friends, and what I would do to bring them home. And Thank you for your kind words. While I was in Iraq, we did see some great things, like helping the kids and people. The small things they never show on the news. It was worth it all. And if you are going to go in, only words of advice I could give you is, Do what your Sergeants or the guys that have been in for a while tell you to do, keep your head down, eyes open, and don't hesitate. A stationary target is a dead target. You should feel proud to serve your country. In America, our fallen service men and women are buried under our flag and to me, this is the greatest honor to have. Don't worry about fear or any of that. Fear keeps you alive. Thanks for replying. Good luck with school and what you do after.

[@kkpenney444]

Though it was probably painful for you to write this I want to thank you just the same. It's such a shame that this intractable divide exists between the veterans of war and the civilians back home- unfortunately perhaps more for veterans of war that are less understood at home. But the more we can hear of your experiences maybe there's hope that a few inches of that divide can be closed. I'd like to know the names of your novels because you're clearly a very good writer. p.s. I'm curious if you have reunions to attend. I can see why they were lifesavers for these WWII vets.

[@johns5263]

that gives me the chills. " you didnt wake him up. if you wanted him up, you said his name and he was up instantly"

[@antonioperez2623]

It's a damn shame that YT would sensor any part of this beautiful tribute of our heroes. We owe everything to them. God bless our veterans 🇺🇸

[@kagyu1]

Facebook and it’s subsidiaries are run by people who want us to be weak , without resilience or the ability question and think independently.

[@aboynamed666]

It's not yt censoring it, it's the channel. You only have to censor if you're trying to make money off your videos. Putting ads, sponsors don't like dead bodies.

[@TeargasHorse]

You can get the DVD set and take all the time you need.

[@laurencetilley9194]

Every single politician, every MIC executive, whether male or female should be forced to watch this documentary. Any that refuse should be sacked on the spot and refused public service for the remainder of their miserable life. My father did three international combat tours over 5 years, more than 1200 days of active service during WW2. North Africa, New Guinea, and Borneo. He returned home married a women half his age and raised 4 children, he passed Christmas Day 2005, aged 87 still married to that same women. He once told me , his oldest son I was the only person he ever truly spoke to about this combat experiences and the nightmares that haunted him on occasion for the rest of his life. Anybody that doesn't respect a veteran is a useless eater and unworthy of human life. Lest We Forget.

[@montrelouisebohon-harris7023]

I agree with you wholeheartedly! My dad was active duty navy from 1965 to 1970 and he stayed in the reserves until 1992. When he got out of active service, he worked for the steel mill and made really good money but it was a dangerous job in his buddy got killed on the job one day.. of course it really bothered him to see what happened to his buddy and he was standing right there beside him when this happened. What occurred was a piece of the man’s shirt got caught in the equipment and it pulled him into this machine and literally crashed him to death. Mom talk my dad into getting a federal job. He applied with the veterans administration and got hired, but his pay was less so he worked a part-time job on the side as a janitor just make extra money and then he apply for management training school with the VA and got accepted. Of course he got a big raise so he didn’t have to work. The extra job and the management school was like two years, and when he finished with another time, my parents were getting separated.. my brother and I live with my dad and then I’ve got to transfer out to Texas. He would’ve gladly stayed here in Salem Virginia outside of Roanok in southern Virginia but there were no management jobs available there for him so that’s why he applied for the management position in Texas and got hired. My brother and I moved to Texas with dad when they separated, as my mom was in, there means able to take care of us at all, even with that paying child support for a lot of reasons. Even at eight years old, she talk to me and I was mature enough to understand but it’s still broke. My heart as a child. I felt like my mom was choosing her life over me, and my brother and in essence she was even though I understand, but I understand then.. it was just something she was going through towards the end of their marriage in several years after they split up. When dad left with us protect, so she straightened up because she didn’t think she would ever see us again.. oh she was still not capable of taking care of us financially even with that something child support so we continue living with that and we would see her in the summers & occasionally Christmas if she was able to fly out to Texas. When we first moved to Texas, dad ordered these Time Alice series books in 1976 and I’d just turned nine years old in December. 😂 I remember the first book coming in the mail and it was a hard back sick black and white book World War II, the Pacific! I started reading that thing after I opened the box out of curiosity. I was so fascinated by reading everything and the attack on Pearl Harbor, and then I have any involvement with a Marine Corps & the Doolittle raid for air bombing in Tokyo, April 1942, then the battle of midway, which was about six months into the war or so, and the turning point of World War II Pacific, and I was engrossed in this book. I read it after school and soccer practice every day for about a month or so and then one day dad mentioned how he had paid for these books and he still hadn’t received any in the mail. Dad inquired about them, and I went back in my room and got the book to show him and asked him if that was what he was talking about.😂❤😂❤🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 dad‘s eyes were huge & he said “ I had no idea any of this would interest you so much. Goodness gracious,, you’ve read the entire book? “ dad was in three and absolutely amazed that I was only nine years old and interested in those after not knowing anything about World War II, but knowing a lot about Vietnam. Being born in 1967 I was 4 to 6 years old watching the Vietnam war on the news every day and I can understand it by the time I was about five and this was 1970 to 1973 right before we pulled out.. Right after that book came in the second book in the series came in and it was from December 11 on when Hitler declared war on the United States, and it covered the war from 1940 onward, and the battle of Britain and German invasion of the Soviet Union and ultimately the USA going to fight in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. OK dad did talk to me a little bit about World War II in CHiPs but before I saw the book I didn’t even know anything about it and then I read this thinking “ wow! This world war was everywhere”. The first book talked about Japan and dating in occupy China and other far eastern countries. it took about a month to read that book also, and then handed it over to dad, but he wasn’t finished with the first one . After working 10 hour days, most of the time he was exhausted, because as an engineer, and a building manager, it was just a lot of work for him. He kept asking me when I thought about the war, and even after the third book series was out, and that was completely the preparation for the war into France & included the battle of Dunkirk, which I didn’t understand much about until I got a lot older actually. I knew Britain went into Dunkirk right about the time France was invaded by Germany in 1940 but I had no idea it was so bad and yet somewhere around 150,000. The number may have been slightly more but the British government was thinking they would be lucky to get back 40,000 of their man and instead came back with 156,000 British and French soldiers that were able to get away.. it was so fascinating how these boats got together and helped the British and some Frenchman get out of France away from Germans. Dad was asking me what I thought about the books. I told dad that after reading the first book and going up to the VAMC with him from time to time from the age I was about 1972 on so I would’ve only been four. I remembered seeing veterans staring into space outside, in addition to some of them just sitting on the benches around the outside of the hospital.. funniest were some of them using the bathroom in the bushes. The worst were a few of them playing with themselves, and that would cover my face. He just explained that they were psych patients & how they would do things to themselves outside in public sometimes. What was sad is that in someway or another? They didn’t have just PTSD from the Vietnam war or World War II but extremely traumatized to the point that many of them lost their sanity. Whatever they did during the war and whatever they saw was so sickening and tragic and I told dad when I was nine., “ I feel really sorry for these men after all, they went through because they were so brave and courageous. They’re only human and human beings can take only so much.. dad the books talk about what they saw and they experienced hell on earth. How any of them could come out and be active duty military service & WAR & pure evil, one destruction with all the murder and grotesque fighting, I admired these men for what they went through when they were fighting for America in the world. As a child, I always felt really really bad for the Vietnam war veterans, because they seem to be treated the worst by society for some reason. I would go pick up flowers in the VA hospital and take them over to some of the patients. Dad was doing his best to keep me away from them, but I couldn’t help myself once I was nine or 10 years old because I had so much compassion and respect for them.. these poor man we’re not accustomed to having anybody do things like this for them. It might sound weird even to hear that. I sent even today at 55, I’m still a history, fanatic going back to the Roman empire in ancient Greece. (Troy & Sparta). For some reason World War II and the Civil War were always the ones that captivated me the most and probably the reason for the calls and then next winter in the American revolution.. Compared to everybody else I think it was just a weird kid, but dad said it was five years more mature for my age than other kids, nine or 10 years old & perhaps I could somehow see things a little bit through their eyes after being abandoned at my grandparents house with my brother for 10 months. Dad left to go to Texas and mom took us over there and left. She was supposed to have custody and after about nine months she wrote dad and ask him to please come get us because she saw me and my brother and she was really worried about me because of the way our grandparents were treating us and these were her parents. Even though what we went through was nowhere near her in comparison, to anything that is for soldiers, and the nurses, even in the Philippines taken POW, and then the ones they were just shot and killed, for no reason on the beach is in the Philippines., & yet my heart went out to all of them, and they’ve always had my deepest sympathies and respect.

[@laurencetilley9194]

@@montrelouisebohon-harris7023If humanity does not learn from the past then we are bound to repeat those mistakes. That is what we are seeing today the rise of fascisim and the 4th Reich. Only this time many WW2 allied countries have become the Axis powers. Thank you for sharing.

[@montrelouisebohon-harris7023]

@@laurencetilley9194 I wholeheartedly agree with you!!! I keep thinking of America in the fall of the Roman Empire, even though we’re not an empire, nor have we ever been. Personally, I think after World War II NATO in the UN pretty much use Americans to be the police of the world and the proud government in Washington DC & the military in the thrill complex were all accommodating with American taxpayer money. Sad! The vast majority of Americans don’t want anything to do with foreign wars normal have we ever but the propaganda on TV and social media Bates people and even president Eisenhower warned about that when he left office in 1961

[@ritamedina-molina8550]

I admire these men...they did not have it easy

[@gruntengr4197]

The United States Marines and Navy Corpsmen that fought in the Pacific are the greatest men that ever walked the face of this earth. One by one, hour by hour, man by man, they fought the hell hole known as the Pacific. It was a war against thirst, malaria, typhoid, flu, hunger, yellow fever, starvation, typhus, dysentery, hepatitis, cholera, tetanus, and every other tropical island paradise disease you can think of. If they could they would join the battle to take their minds off of how sick they were. My Father his sister and three Brothers, my Mothers three Brothers, my Mothers two Brothers in law all fought in WWII. Two didn't make it home. Of the eight remaining to a person they all talk about hell in the Pacific. Europe was tough and sickening, the Pacific was pure hell in every way imaginable.

[@wattsnottaken1]

I’m watching the Pacific right now and it’s so fucking depressing I’m so thankful for what these men did for us they went through hell and back on many occasions for us

[@dbach1025]

If you want to put the impact of WW2 in perspective, 16 million US servicemen and women served between 1941 and 1945. Just about everyone nowadays knows someone who served in the Global War on Terror. After WW2, it wasn't just a matter of everybody knew someone who served. The anomaly was "do you know someone who did not serve?". That was more rare. Guys who 4F'd committed suicide. They were the exception to the rule. It's very difficult for anyone born after WW2 to understand the impact it had on every aspect of life. Truly a remarkable thing. God bless the Greatest Generation.

[@ReelHistory]

This is an important fact. I tend to think many never spoke about their service because all of it was traumatic, but because they did not think it anything special.

[@dbach1025]

@@ReelHistory it is amazing to think of someone doing something out of duty and it being the right thing to do. It is even more amazing when everything is on the line. The impression I got from my grandfather and his brothers was it was never a possibility that they would not fight. It was just what they had to do and they could not conceive not doing their duty. A lot of brave young people signed up for the recent war. But I often wonder if it was left to the bulk of our generation and the following, would we have been able do what they did then? Maybe Hitler was enough to rouse the duty. I just don't know. I hope so.

[@ReelHistory]

@@dbach1025, we often forget that over 2/3 of Americans who served in WWII were drafted. Not everybody was inclined to duty at first.

[@dbach1025]

@@ReelHistory fair point indeed.

[@allisterkeene6219]

Lllllll

[@333Alastair]

What a magnificent tribute to these amazing men and the supportive wives they came home to. The greatest generation!

[@joehowarth8093]

I’ve read all the books written by those of the 506 Easy Company and the Marines who were portrayed in the mini series “ The Pacific”. As a son of a father who spent 4 years in the Pacific it was Truly an eye opening education. My dad passed Christmas Day, 2014 at the age of 91……He never spoke of his time in the pacific outside of what island he was on❤

[@your_royal_highness]

Go read the four books by Don Burgett. 506th A company, 1st battalion, vs E 2nd. Unf*cking believable what those guys went through.

[@214TwoOneFo]

Hard to find any records too, cause of a fire that burned most of the national archives in the 70s….

[@fishytautog]

Like most soldiers, my father (rip) rarely talked about the war until he was past seventy. Yet, they had a reunion every year and he never missed one to the best of my knowledge.. Their bond was so special, even I could see that as a young child. When they hugged, nobody wanted to let go, that image is still with me. The first one I attended was at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, I still remember my father saying "stand at attention son, a real general is speaking". He didn't have bad flashbacks, but he did have them while he was sleeping. He also woke up every day at 5AM for at least fifty years without ever using an alarm clock. It's just a shame that his unit, the 38th engineers, never received the recognition they deserved. They built an airstrip on the worlds most remote Island in ninety days and much more.

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks for sharing your family story.

[@nancysmith-baker1813]

Thank you for sharing , was your Dad in the Pacific ?? . The Pacific war seemed ten times more brutal and horrific . My heart goes out to the memory of these Young lads that came home as men.

[@bradr2142]

Yes good point. There's was alot goin in these. You dads a hero in my book just think of what he learned in the war. These guys could build anything and fight the war also.

[@brenthobby3282]

Those of us that still love this great country, we remember, we thank your father and are forever grateful for what he and his brothers did for us.

[@bobjones8864]

In the 90’s working night shift I had several WW2 vets as patients, some would ask if I was a vet then would seem more comfortable having me take care of their needs when they knew I was. I find it amazing how many came home, found a wife, started a family and they just wanted to be normal. Bless them all.

[@akiheavenly6]

My grandfather and father both fought in the Vietnam war and had seen death. They knew what I would feel if I make it back alive, so they held a mock funeral as a goodbye party for me. Made me give my own eulogy, lay down at the burial ground and everything. I thought it was quiet macabre, but I understood the significance once I came back. I was never the same person again after coming back from combat. My dad told me that I had already died, they already held a funeral and grieved over losing me, so there is no expectation at all for me to try and act the same as I was before. He said that I was a new person, that my old life wasn't mine so I can't sit around and regret having lost that old life and my old self. This helped my transition into civilian life more smoothly since my family and I were all mentally prepared. When I watched lieutenant Spiers give that speech in Band of Brothers about how the only hope for a soldier is knowing that he's already dead, I shouted out "Oh shit!". That was exactly what my father tried to instill in me by holding my funeral! You have to make peace with the eventuality that you'll die. Only when you are rid of the fear of death can you move in battle.

[@tarabennett6643]

Reading your comment it made me think of what Lt Spiers said in Bob.

[@333Alastair]

“As far as I’m concerned, I’m still married to Irene, and that’s the way I’ll be till I die” That really got me. They just don’t build people like this anymore

[@Scotty3949]

It seems so hollow, so little - but yet two words can convey a person's and people's true emotions - THANK YOU.

[@timothymccarthy4704]

I have to admit, Tom Hanks produces alot of EXCELLENT WW2 documentaries. No sugar coats. Real stuff.

[@aussiedownunder4186]

God bless them all and RIP to the ones who have passed away since the end of the war.

[@neilholmes8200]

Never seen this documentary before, but so glad I did, such amazing stories and people. Truly a wonderful generation. My paternal grandfather was in the British army as a supply truck driver from 1940 to 1946. He served in Africa, Normandy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. He would only rarely talk about his experiences and almost never with me, mostly he spoke to my oldest uncle. He vividly recounted driving through the Falaise pocket and being upset at seeing all the dead horses. He also spoke briefly about being involved in the liberation of a sub camp of Bergen Belsen, a sight he never forgot. My maternal grandfather saw action in Africa, Sicilly and Italy but spoke even less of his experiences. My two grandmother's came under fire because they lived in Merseyside (Liverpool in the UK) an area that was heavily bombed in 1940-41. Fortunately they avoided the worst of the bombs.

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks for sharing your stories. This is one of the reasons we love sharing content like this.

[@joeraptor1]

My grandfather fought in North Africa during WW2 with the Italian army. He was taken prisoner by U.S troops in 1942 and was sent to the States where he was a POW until October of 1945. He never spoke much about his experiences except to say, "None of you will ever understand what we went through." Once he returned to Italy, he refused to ever leave his small village. When asked why, he said, "I made it back once....I'm not testing fate again." I also recall a Canadian veteran (Canada is where I was born and live) coming to speak to us on Remembrance Day when I was in high school. When my classmates asked, "What did the war teach you?" His response was, "To appreciate life. Even a little bug crawling across a sidewalk is sacred to me. I could never bring myself to harm it." The men and women of that era are truly "the greatest generation" and were so profoundly impacted by what happened to them but still bravely forged ahead with life. Definitely a generation whose story must be told to all future ones as well.

[@jjcon01]

I had Jared as a professor in college, he was an awesome guy and a great teacher ! Also a great advisor !

[@ChuckJansenII]

I met men who fought in World War II. Many when I was growing up and many when I was older. One stormed the beach on the first wave at Omaha Beach. Another was a B-29 Bomber pilot in the Pacific. I had an ex-Marine who was on Guadalcanal and Okinawa. Living next door to me was a medic who served in the Pacific. I met the only survivor of Torpedo 8 at the Battle of Midway then Ensign George Gay. There were many others, too numerous to count. Maybe because I new about history I had stories about the war that others did not get. Maybe it was because I was not a relative making it easier for them to open up. Their stories always left an impression to me. The soldier leaves the war but the war never leaves the soldier.

[@mikeflo6459]

As a combat veteran I relate to this great and wonderful documentary. My great grandfather was wounded at the battle of the bulge and I didn’t know this u til I went to Kosovo in 1999. Then I seen combat in afghanistan and iraq and he said now we have something to talk about. Just check on your veteran from time to time whether they are Vietnam vets or Korean War vets or the iraq afghan vets. Simple things can change the outlook on others life’s. I’ve lost buddies from suicide because they couldn’t cope with the civilian world. Please please please talk to vets for a few moments. It could be life changing. Thanks for reading my comment and please be safe out there. Love and respect

[@griz6282]

I can't begin to imagine what it's like, to come from years of seeing your friends die and never knowing if you were next... Then, to come home and think "my God, what do I do now that I'm home?"

[@ReelHistory]

Like we said, a universal question across the centuries.

[@timkeenan7419]

I may have PTSD, but I got it from dealing with veterans affairs after my war was over.

[@GURU714_OC]

Man I’m so happy I found this! I’ve been a WW2 fanatic since a kid , band of brothers and the pacific my fav shows ever

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks for visiting!

[@blusnuby2]

My Father, WW2 Combat Veteran, U.S. Army FAC/ETO, 11 months, from Normandy to Vienna. In between: Operation Cobra, Metz, The Bulge, Dachau, Berchtesgaden/Eagle Nest & Operation Cowboy. Only spoke about The War once to me---on the 30th Anniversary of D-Day. Hardest part, he said, was often being amongst the first GI`s to walk/drive through The Aftermath of what (he/they had just 'called in'). His was a 'high functioning' PTSD, which remained with him till the end of his trail.....His closest post war buddies were ALL Combat Vets (U.S. Army Infantry, Army Air Corps, Marines & Navy). Every one a strong MAN.

[@darcybushman5548]

Thank you so much, as a desert storm veteran I find it very hard to explain my experience. This video has summarizes my personal experience perfectly

[@bradr2142]

Thanks Bushman for your service welcome home. Love you bro.

[@raymondswift9332]

Wow I'm not usually an emotional person but I shed many tears watching this my father served in the blackwatch royal Engineers on a churchill AVRE landed in Normandy 6.6.44 never once talked about war he tore strips of of me when I volunteered for service in the RNZAC Scottish regiment fortunately I never saw active service many thanks for an amazing mind blowing experience

[@mikloowl4899]

When the divorce rate was mentioned, I remember watching the first one you posted and if i recall there was a story of a guy who came home to find his wife basically mad that he had survived the war because he was supposed to be dead so she could move on with another guy she wanted to marry Makes you wonder how many of those stories occurred.

[@ReelHistory]

I believe that was a story chuck told during one of our episodes. I could be mistaken though.

[@jimstone6750]

She must have been a real piece of crap. He was better off without her

[@bradr2142]

She wanted his death benefits.

[@wolfeusmc2011]

​@@bradr2142yup 10000 dollars was a lot back then.

[@AlanMydland-fq2vs]

thats really fked up

[@TR00P]

Very powerful documentary! HE has seen war, but we can’t see videos of it on YT….It always struck me when watching interviews with these heroes. They so often break down when talking about their experiences even 40-60 years later. The war never leaves them.

[@Lue_Ghosted]

as a Veteran of two branches of the military, it was an honor to watch this outstanding video. 🇺🇸

[@jamesbryson575]

Thank you for honoring these men with your tribute.

[@stefanlaskowski6660]

My uncle served as a Ranger in Vietnam. He's never talked about the war.

[@rickthompson4315]

Thank You. Bring em Home with Open Arms. My dad fought in Korea 50-53. I fought in Iraq 04-05. He's long gone. I'm still working on going home.

[@MontyXZ]

I saw it when you first published and as you say it's a great document to remember the "not so glamorous" reality of war and the sequels that people has to deal after it. It's a shame YT blocked your original video but I really appreciate you for re-publishing. One more reason become a Patreon.

[@ReelHistory]

Our hero! I will be publishing the outline of our q&a participation soon.

[@scottphilip3836]

Illeutllao guy pool lloo k i pool jou o opkoop lookout

[@Giantist]

Heroes, we owe so much to them. Not gonna lie a welled up through this. In many ways the horrors of war was internalised and never left. We must learn through their experiences, and be grateful that it has been shared.

[@NewEngland462]

That woman from mobile Alabama. My god. That voice. Beautiful.

[@Rattlesnake12]

My grandfather never talked about the war until one night before he died. We were sitting in the living room and I asked him if he was scared. He took a long pause and the look in his face changed a little bit and what he said to I have never forgotten.. " I have seen the worst thing in man a literal hell on earth and I was lucky enough to survive that even though I thought I would die a multitude of times. This life is coming to an end and I am not scared one bit I'm ready". He died early the next morning. He received 5 bronze stars for his survival of hell on earth. Him and all those who went where their country sent them are definitely worthy of the honor of the greatest generation. Less we never forget their Sacrifice at the alter of freedom

[@Nowun_Toospecial]

Fascinating... "The Pacific" was filmed, in part, where I live in North East Australia. The Daintree coast has hosted the filming of several Hollywood films, and domestic TV Series. It was kinda surreal watching 'the Pacific' while being very familiar with many of the places, seeing them in the context of a battlefield.

[@dirtcop11]

My Dad was a Marine during WWII. He was in the 6th Division, 29th Regiment and he served on Okinawa. His unit took heavy casualties. Replacements were brought up and many of them got killed or wounded and more replacements were brought up. He couldn't stand fireworks and had night sweats.

[@R2Manny]

Never forget these brave American heroes! Thank you for ensuring not only our freedoms but the civil rights and liberties for millions who lived under the tyrannical rule throughout the world during this awful time period in human history

[@nateallen8409]

10:32 I love that old southern lady accent. Reminds me of childhood in SC.

[@michaelloud5206]

She's great, isn't she? She appears a lot in another documentary...I can't remember the name but it was incredible...3 or 4 CDs.

[@justinplaysguitar]

Wow. I was wounded in 2007 in Afghanistan and this just hit home Wow

[@alanwilson6367]

God bless all these heroes of the greatest generation and there family’s. Forever remembered and forever loved. God bless from Calgary canada.a once proud canadian and ex Brit.😅😅

[@andreasjohansson2490]

This men are super strong. Can't believe how the manage to live day by day going through this. Makes you feel tiny when you have anxiety sometimes for smal things.

[@pdrphil8159]

My fathers oldest brother fought in the pacific war... I loved this guy ... He was the most gentle man I ever knew... When I was 8 or 9 we stopped to see him .. He said , "Sprout" (thats what he called me) , go in on my night stand & there's something for you... It was a pocket knife.. Brand new in the box . I was thrilled... Later I saw his army picture on the mantle & asked him about it . He said , I fought in the pacific... I immediately knew where that was even at 10/11 yrs old because I read every book I could understand about American wars ... I asked if he was on Iwo Jima ? He was surprised... He said no , I was on Okinawa & Pelilu.. I kept asking about his experiences & he'd say , Oh I'll tell you some day... I realized later he didnt want to tell me things at my young age.. But when I was 16/17 he started telling me . He said , a man should'nt see the things I've seen because you can never unsee it.. He showed me his metals in the bottom of a drawer ... He told me what they were & I felt like I was related to a real hero .. In truth , I was... When he was 54 he went into the hospital with pneumonia.. He never came out alive... My dad & I had stopped by to see him at about 3 p.m. He seemed fine. He laughed & talked to me & my dad.. At 10 p.m. they called & said he had died.. I was was shocked ! It took me weeks before I could have a simple conversation. And more weeks before I could laugh... It worried my parents . My dad said , son he's gone . You need to accept it & move on.. That taught me something I've used all my life when tragedy hit home... A few years later his wife , my aunt was failing & didnt have long... She called me & said I want you to come by.. I went there & she said , I think he would want you to have these .. It was his metals & his pocket knife collection... I teared up instantly ... She said , you know , we were never blessed with a son , but you were a fine substitute .. Yrs later my cousin , their only daughter & I were talking .. I said , you know I have his metals .. She said yes , and I want you to keep them. Maybe give them to your son...He will get them. He loves history just like me . He's seen the metals & knows all about my uncle.. I said to my cousin , he used to sit out back on the porch & tell me about the war . She was stunned ! She said , he never once mentioned it to me ... Mind you , he had been gone for 15 yrs.. She was an only child , so she asked me to tell her what he had told me... As I began telling her , she cried . I asked her if she wanted me to stop.. She said no...I want to know. So I told her all I could remember over the nxt hour ... These were things she had no idea he had been through... He was hit in Okinawa with shrapnel & it tore his right ear all but off & he was unconcious for 3 days . She knew nothing off it.. He said his best friend was behind a tank talking to the crew telling them where to direct the fire.. He was shot .. My uncle ran to help him , but first he told the tank to adjust their fire & they took out a machine gun nest.. As he turned to help his friend , he said I saw the fear in his eyes . He knew he was done for because he was shot through the neck.. My uncle called for a medic & the medic hit him with morphine & told him , stay with him . He's only got a couple minutes.. My uncle said his friend could'nt speak , so he held his hand and while looking in his eyes , his friend died... Why he told me these stories I dont know.. But he said , war is the most inhumane thing fought by young men.. He said , look at WW2 . Two men set the world ablaze & millions of people died... Young men who never got to live a life . He was right..Hitler & Tojo started that world war & over 60 million people died... Think about that ...60 million people . Im almost retirement age now & I served in the U.S. Navy . My dad worried the whole time I was in because the cold war was at its height.. I can truely say , the really were the greatest generation...

[@johnroy2567]

I think people seem to forget that it wasn't just the G.I.'s that fought their way through Normandy to Berlin & the South Pacific...what about the British & Commonwealth armies of Canada, Australia & New Zealand & South Africa....not to mention the free french & polish

[@tarabennett6643]

This was such an excellent video. As a veteran I didn’t know what happened to shoulders after WW2. They paved the way for the future service members to thrive upon return.

[@davehossack7191]

Thank you so much for posting this Jarred...you do a great service. All North Americans should watch this to get a better perspective on today.

[@tracygibson5783]

They were truly the greatest and bravest generation!!

[@vito9674]

Each time I watch read or hear the stories about any soldiers I try and put myself in their shoes but cant bc just the thought of it strikes a FEAR in me thats beyond belief ! I cant imagine what it must have been or is like ! My respect for Vets has no bounds ! No matter the time frame or year each Vet IMO are REAL HERO'S ! Not the BS movie kind that some ppl me included have held so dear but the 💯 bonafide REAL LIFE HERO'S ! I give you all as much repect as I have in my body ++ then add more ! Thank You to each of you and your families ! My Gratitude to you all !

[@johnnybyrne2565]

This documentary from probably 5 minutes in had me watching with tears in my eyes. Those who fought in WW11 are often described as 'the greatest generation' but I always add in 'the bravest generation'. The men interviewed sadly have all passed but their memoirs /stories can still be heard within their books they've written and I have read most of them - Sledge, Burgin, Leckie, Malarkey, Guarnere/Heffron, Compton and others such as Winters, Webster, Powers. Donald L Miller who was telling the stories herein wrote a book in 2007 Masters Of The Air about young bomber crew's of the US 8th Air Force and is being adapted into a Mini Series by Apple TV, release date should be later this year.

[@elizabethmartin4328]

Thank You!!!!!

[@papasmodelcarroom8450]

I have watched a lot of WWll documentaries and this has to be one of if not the best one I have seen. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[@hachimanjiro]

It's like a MASSIVELY INTENSE form of institutionalisation,my grandfather served in the Royal Navy in ww1 and the merchant navy in ww2, he never spoke about it,his ship was sunk by a u boat and he was picked up by a US Navy ship ,I remember my dad telling me about the blitz on Clydebank,I had uncles who served in various services,god bless them all.sending love and respect to our US brothers in arms. Royal Marine 42 Commando ret

[@sarahbedford3223]

Thank you for sharing. I've watched Band of Brothers and The Pacific several times but have never come across this before. Very emotional and moving to find out what happened to these brave men after the war. Thank you so much to all the amazng veterans and their families.

[@calvinsmith8913]

God bless are veterans. May we charish them. They stood up.

[@katherinecooper6159]

I was on active duty s a nurse from 66 to 69. I volunteered to go to Vietnam and was surprised years later when I was informed I turned down orders - I never found out who canceled my orders I just know it was not me. Sometime later I was seated in the back of a civilian airplane which at that time was the smoking area.. I was the only female. The men were quiet until they discovered I was a nurse. It seemed that they felt I was trustworthy because they slowly began talking about their war experiences. I listened quietly to everything they had to say. I remember this incident as clearly as if it was yesterday. I realized they needed to talk and they trusted me so they talked. I am happy that I was there for them.

[@thepeskytraveller3870]

My uncle never spoke about the war in the pacific. At least not to me. He did leave some of his equipment with me. I have them still. Now family heirlooms of ordinary men, doing extraordinary things. May he, and all of those from the greatest generation who have gone ahead, RIP peace.

[@philmay7834]

I don’t know why, but I’m crying my eyes out…..so much trauma- why are we like this? The men of this time in history all seem so stoic. Vastly different from the “woke-generation “ of today. My guess is a balance is what’s needed!

[@judithcampbell1705]

My heart goes out to all veterans and anyone who has been exposed to war. They are heroes and they secured our freedom. Thank you for your Service Sir's. God bless you and keep you safe. 🙏

[@robl39]

God bless these amazing and brave men

[@richardmardis2492]

My great grandfather fought in the civil war from almost from day one until almost the lasts months. Lost his younger brother at second Manassas, lost his leg just before his unit was wiped out at the crater. Post war he was the poorest of the poor. The cycle of child abusing ended with my father. My father who went through Tet, would get drunk sometimes, and would cry, but it was not about his war that he cried about- it was the abuse that he suffered as a child. Remanence of PTSD passed on from generation to generation from the Civil War.

[@elizabethmartin4328]

God Bless You!!!!

[@jeffreym.keilen1095]

It is amazing how me,a non combat vet can equally relate to these men. All of us that have raised our hands to defend our counrty have a bond that is unbreakable. I find it funny that guys you spend only a couplea years together, are your brothers for life. We all have our ways of coping. Adjusting back to civie life. Ever last one of us can relate and be there for one another. That is a priceless gift. 🇺🇸 God bless Don Marlarkey for his values,humor, love and devotion to his brothers in arms and his wife.

[@andrewwillard5625]

Thank you from the bottom of my heart nobody on KZbin would post something just for people to know the truth and real history so sad KZbin would ever try to hide real world history.

[@oldmike7239]

Excellent video. Almost brought tears to my eyes. The horror and terror that these men went through during combat had to be beyond rational comprehension. Read both “Helmet…” and “Pillow…” and I’m going to pull them both out to reread. As a veteran myself, they have my undying gratitude and respect for what they endured. Well done.

[@markmiller4595]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@eamo106]

Thanks for this, I had never seen it, even though its edited. The Americans had the GI bill and what a bill it was ! The Brits and Commonwealth troops had been in battle since 1939, globally, land, sea and air , despite the narrator's error at 9 minutes. I knew a handyman as a youngster, he was a British Paratrooper. I asked him about the war as a kid will do, he bust patted me on the head and walked away.

[@davidkimmel4216]

This explains some of my family’s struggles. Thank You They are all gone now without taking. So sad.

[@johnnymaclq]

that was amazing to watch .... thank you

[@jdw80229]

Thank you, from son of a WWII veteran.

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks for visiting!

[@christopherskuster6029]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@Nyllsor]

Great introduction! Thanks for posting this.

[@nyykSIUUU]

Thanks for showing this to us

[@bigdeal6852]

The Greatest Generation ! 👍 🇺🇸

[@elizabethmartin4328]

Except most of them spoiled their kids, who rioted against Vietnam war, racial & other grievances. We lost Vietnam in the streets of the USA & other countries.

[@bigdeal6852]

@@elizabethmartin4328 Uhhh No. We lost Vietnam (which we should of "never" been there) because of the leaders of that time. Yes, maybe a lot of their kids were spoiled...but some respected their parents and country and served. But what really did it was the Marxism that invaded the colleges and universities. Those liberal professor's back then were the Frankenstein's that created the monsters, who also continued creating the monsters we have today. An example is Bill Maher who bitches about this generation but it was him and people like him who were the Hippies and leftist that created what we have today...and NOW they don't like it. What audacity !

[@singinginthedark2786]

this is why I bought 12 acres of river front property in the middle of nowhere, my dream is to help other combat vets to acclimate back into society and give a place that is safe and will also teach life skills such as sustainable farming and animal husbandry and well as a place to create art and crafts. soon will have the first tiny home built, my goal would be to have 8 tiny homes and a large barn for storage and a cellar for food storage. soon as i get first tiny home up I will be applying for grants to build the rest.

[@neilholmes8200]

Saving this for later to watch when I have time. Absolutely love your stuff and can't wait to see each new release

[@ReelHistory]

It's a very good documentary. It's a shame youtube did everything they could to make sure no one saw it

[@neilholmes8200]

@@ReelHistory yes that is quite typical sadly! Anyone would think they didn't want people's videos to be seen haha

[@alanwilson6367]

Fantastic documentary. Thank not a dry eye in pure house. God bless.😢😢

[@alanwilson6367]

I said our house.😢

[@brettcurtis5710]

My father spent one week short of four years overseas - serving with the 2nd New Zealand Division in Nth Africa and Italy! He was the only one of 3 brothers to serve - one classed unfit (deaf) and another in a reserved occupation! He and my mother had married in Aug 1940 and he was called up in January 1941 - he arrived back in NZ in Sept 1945. He served with the Division's 21st Battalion right through the Nth African campaign - and then with promotion went up to the Divisional Staff, serving as a CQMS with the NZ Forces Clubs in Florence and Venice in 44/45 and then with the NZ PoW Commision repatriating NZ PoWs captured by Italy and Germany. I often wonder how he and my mother picked up their lives again, built a home, had 2 sons and good long lives (88 & 92). This programme answers a few questions - these men & women were indeed the Greatest Generation!

[@peterballauthor]

Excellent. About time this issue was addressed. Well done.

[@pop401k]

An excellent movie made at that time: The Best Years of Our Lives

[@jesseray9944]

man this makes me happy but also made me shed a tier makes me happy seeing are men come home even tho this was like 90 something years agos it is sadning to see that in the next few years there will be no more wonderful ww2 vets and there storys thank you guys for telling us the storys may god bless yall

[@slurge21]

What a great documentary. Bravo!

[@johnnydernberger7795]

Thank you for your sacrifices good sir's

[@brianh.5727]

Awesome Video. Words cannot express.

[@tinastagg6258]

Hey Professor Dr J (that’s your rapper name), thanks so much from the colonies for correcting that really weird erroneous statement about the American contribution vs the other Allied countries. Love your work! Hi from Tasmania

[@sherylwalker5904]

Thank You ,,Johnny Mac....

[@polydueres]

thank you--for my Dad -he died in 97-PFC Burlin Beam-4th Marine Div. I wo Jima-I grew up being awaken by his screams at night. I have cried all through this video. I served in Iraq and Afghanistan-God bless you.

[@ozonedick53]

Thank you all for your service to all America. This was one of the best stories I've seen.

[@Essey1982]

Such a good documentary. Thank you

[@pauldeamer9581]

My dad was happy that he had the points necessary to stay on occupation duty in Europe. But then the war ended in the pacific. He was One of the last ones home. He told me how the good jobs were already taken by other returning vets. Good luck, bad luck, one never knows.

[@Likwidfox]

Great job with this channel Fred so interesting.

[@Stunter378]

Thank you for showing this film. Donna London UK 2023.

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks for visiting!

[@MikeyD22]

Absolutely amazing documentary. Every high school in every state should make it mandatory for all students to watch this on Veteran's Day to gain an understanding of why they live in a free society today.

[@henryteja860]

As a Combat vet in a Spec-Ops unit during the Vietnam War Era, I can tell you war and treatment of those affects of your experiences were not available, formally, until after 1986 when PTSD became a formal psychological illness. I, today, am the lone survivor of a specialized brigade of 790 men operating in Southeast Asia, but not in Vietnam. 213 of 790 came home and only 20 came home without losing a body part and of them 51 committed suicide within the first 3 years. I was only 19 and half years old and an E-8 and saw what man can do to another, but I was a survivor because my father died when I was 5 years old because of his war depression of WWII and drinking, a disability while driving! I was treat for PTSD 4xs, 2 by Army doctors and 2 private doctors. I wanted to live but still have reservations about why I was the few to survive over there and here at home! It was not until the doctor told me to get a dog to replace my lost comrades and divert my depression. My depression, like many Vietnam vets, were compounded by the disrespect for us by the American public when we came back!

[@ReelHistory]

Henry, much respect and warm wishes to you. Welcome home.

[@333Alastair]

You just know that if the veterans were coming home and openly communicating how difficult it was, it must’ve been 10 times more difficult than they let on. I can’t even imagine, I’m just grateful they did what they did or I’d be speaking German right now

[@timalexander7758]

I have both box sets but not the combined. Never have seen this. Thanks so much!!!

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks for tuning in.

[@JoseFlores-xc7wu]

This documentary was beautify something that i have always wonder how soldiers in ancient times dealt with the trauma of war we always hear about the great generals that lead them but we never hear anything about the lives of the common foot soldiers

[@tarabennett6643]

I don’t think we will fully understand what these men went through. The greatest generation ever. They literally saved the world. We are forever indebted to them ❤

[@John-vw7wf]

Damn, thanks for this. A perspective I haven't had before or at least not articulated before. This is, like you said, "Something for every generation to see." Guys like Wild Bill and Donald Malarkey have been heroes of mine for a long time, and I haven't heard these conversations from them, so thank you

[@idahomike4254]

Thank you.

[@CRUSH71]

What an outstanding documentary!

[@llokkee]

This is the first time in all my years watching videos on the internet seeing an American channel correct a narrative that says the US was 'the only nation' that did such and such.. by stating that there were plenty of nations that did 'whatever it is the US thinks it did alone'. Its about time too. Well done.