"Old Age & Treachery - The Unstoppable 77th Infantry Division" | Kip Reacts to The Fat Electrician

[@aeonise]

The 77th ID, arriving on Leyte: "Hey, did you know the Marines say we're just like them?" Everyone: "ohno" 77th: *"OH YES!"* _aggression intensifies_

[@just_saying__]

Shit, we ran out of crayons.

[@ChrisTheGhostHunter]

@@just_saying__ I can confirm that marines do in fact eat crayons. One of my friends was in the marines and he ate crayons.He sent me a photo of him in uniform, munching on a crayon.

[@carbonwolf3865]

It's just the cloaker scream at the end

[@gacrux-ni7hw]

The 77th low POW ratio could also be attributed to most of them being dads and having children which are most likely drafted into the "not-as-successful younger divisions". Some might have lost sons in the war while others doesn't want to experience what their comrades experienced so they fought harder than the other divisions

[@rcslyman8929]

Or just the fact that they had full families to go home to. Where the younger divisions just had, maybe, a wife (until the Dear John letter came, that is). The mentality shifts to "I'm not going home in a forever box because I left your ass alive."

[@General_Weebus]

With an average age of 33 it's unlikely they'd have children old enough to be drafted

[@gacrux-ni7hw]

@@General_Weebus average does not mean that most of them are exactly 33 years old. Most of them would fall into the 28-38 age range. A significant percentage would be in their 40's. A very small number would be in their 50's.

[@nicholasroach880]

​@@General_Weebus actually makes it very likely that there would be quite a few like that.

[@gk5891]

My stepfather was at Okinawa. From what he told me the officers are the only reason any Japanese survived. I suspect the 77th was more adept at accomplishing desired outcomes while avoiding repercussions.

[@1rotzy]

I can't recommend the movie Hacksaw Ridge enough. When Doss would bring men to the Escarpment, he would pray, "Lord, give me the strength to save one more." He would say this every time he lowered a man down. A major event was that he saved a man and rubbed the mud out of his eyes, and the man's lit up as he said to Doss, "I thought I was blind," and the two had a laugh in joy. Also, the grenade that injured him only hurt him because he kicked it away from his brothers in arms. A true hero in such times of horror. The film only talks about what he did at Hacksaw Ridge, but the channel Simple History goes into more detail of his whole military career.

[@SgtSplatter782]

they had to tone down what he did for the movie. if they put in the truth everyone would have thought the film was making stuff up!

[@craig2196]

Should also watch the HBO WW2 shows; Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and Masters of the Air.

[@theroachden6195]

I didn't like they made him a Marine in the movie and Vince Vaughn basically doing a knock off R Lee Ermey routine from Full Metal Jacket.

[@craig2196]

@@theroachden6195 You mean a Drill Sargent/Drill instructor routine?...the occupation they both acted out? That's what they do, it's not copying Ermy lol.

[@reuz5462]

@@SgtSplatter782 They also had to shorten his career significantly, the things he did on Guadalcanal alone could've been another move.

[@SuperBossGiovanni]

I think I'm Safe from a draft. The military would take one look at my medical history and tell me to kick rocks

[@noname-dq9uf]

Same unless they want a dude with only one eye functioning while the other is basically useless

[@xboxplayer2899]

Same because autism and Asperger’s syndrome go brrrrrrr and I’m weak as hell

[@gearhooves5996]

@@xboxplayer2899 same though add tourettes to the mix with most of the tics being physical for me

[@aztumtheknightofwumbo7060]

Same. Mild aspergers and not super healthy.

[@Flakjacket96]

Robert McNamara: "You sure about that?"

[@mystic8585]

Fun Fact: on the UnSubscribe Podcast Ep 141 TFE actually talk about the reason me made this video. According to him he went to lunch with some dude who a big fan of him and he brought a bunch of books/newspaper/sources with him cause he wanted TFE to do a video of his dad old unit (77th ID) so yea that was cute. Video clip of the podcast: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3OvaHl8f6-de9Usi=uVU5WS4x8ozAgGth Recommand checking it out its a funny podcast

[@dangarrett8676]

Them talking about that whole thing is great. Also I love Brandon's take on Trophy Skulls

[@ktj9655]

That was one of their best episodes, too! Love that podcast. I highly recommend it to anyone who might have an interest in history, firearms, and just dumb bro humor in general.

[@InstrucTube]

Last I knew, the US has the third biggest by number of people, but the most funded by a considerable margin. 26:22 "'I'll go make my own army camp! With Blackjack! And hookers!"

[@davidkeese3372]

Yes active military is 3rd yet the technology is at minimum a decade better. The benefit to our military men and women is that they are all volunteers so the will to fight is much higher than the conscripted soldiers in other countries.

[@Ratkill9000]

And you can forget about the Blackjack.

[@Sourman1545]

The days of I have more people are more or less over. Think about it this way yo have a combat drone taking out the enemy and they get a lucky shot and take out the drone. That's just a drone the piolet just logs on to another drone and well takes out more people buildings supplies what ever the target is

[@arcticbanana66]

The 77th tapping OPFOR's communications during the Louisiana wargame makes me think of that famous painting "Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks".

[@stricklywicked1112]

Basically what the military did with the 77th without knowing was train Americas first special forces

[@stalinsoulz7872]

The alpha test before that one army field commander that trained with the British SAS

[@alexisrivera200xable]

Can confirm, you can join the Army at 35 but that is the cutoff, the Army is set up to both grow in size during wartime and to downsize during peacetime for cost reasons. Basically they are set up to only preserve the technology, expertise and training capability during peacetime and to ballon in size as needed. Politics and the budget being the limiting factor. (Caveat being that they don't always manage to retain enough personnel to keep up readiness when there is no big conflicts.)

[@ssfbob456]

For Air Force it was 36 when I joined up. We had a 34 year old in basic training we just called "Dorm Dad"

[@elapidpython4378]

army maybe 35 but navy is higher than that as I had a guy in my bootcamp division who was 41

[@sololobos6969]

*Sees a new Kip video* Me: HELL YEAH! *Sees what the reaction is to and mentally prepares to hear "I'm a civilian." a hundred times*

[@joshcurtis386]

58:14 to put into context those medals, he read them in order of most to less importance. And the Bronze Star, which was the most common and “least” important medal on that list, is higher up the list than the vast majority of troops will receive in their careers, and this 1 unit earned over 4,000 in just a year of combat.

[@ealtar]

recently found a show with casper van diem where he is some sort of trooper aboard a starship ^^ (salvage marines) they had a realy good line in episode 1 "we are aware we are too old to be new recruits, but the joke is on you , since in this job we'll be all dead withing six months, at least we got to live before "

[@fatcoyote2]

I joined up at 25, and I was considered an old man. Only two other people were older than me, and I wound up teaching the "youngsters" a bunch of shit they needed to know, like how to sew, use washing machines, set up bank accounts for themselves, etc. Older dudes don't wanna eff around. They already know where that leads. Governments don't give a damn when college kids protest. They get fucking terrified when people in their late twenties-early fifties start doing the same, because those people nominally have productive things to do, but chose to start making noise instead because they felt that was a better use of their time. And that leads to thinking things like, "you know, I could run things better than this, but I sure as hell don't want THIS ass-hat in my way anymore."

[@justinsimons4125]

44:50 there is now a monument at this exact point for Ernie Pyle and the 77th. I was on that island for 6 months back in 2018

[@Director_Orson_Krennic]

Fear an old man in a young man's game - yet further reasons as to why

[@niftynetty0129]

I have learned so much just by listening to Nic I wish my history teacher told stories like this lol

[@pyro1047]

With America's entry into WWI, a MASSIVE component our allies love to overlook and have essentially memory holed into non-existence is the fact that the BEF was considering if they should pull out of France, and the French had already mutineed once and were barely holding back from a second mutiny with morale in the toilet. Then when 100,000's of US Army soldiers and Marines started arriving, cheerful and looking for a fight, basically single handedly restoring morale across the entire front and convince the allies to continue the fight. Hell there were even battles where we'd win, yet the other allies would retreat in anticipation of the coming counter-attack; while our guys decided to stay and were able to hold off the counter offensive mostly by ourselves. So there was "PLENTY" of factors and actions by the US that influenced the entente and encouraged them to continue the fight, and even when they didn't, the US units picked up the slack and held the line for them. That's why they EARNED the nicknames like "The Rock of the Marne" and "The Devil Dogs". So while yes the US joined late, and the other allies got completely slaughtered in comparison to the US's casualties; the US also single handedly restored morale on the western front and held their own once acclimated to the new Era of Battle. And none of this is even mentioning the fact that the US basically armed the while ass allied army with pretty much EVERY US firearm manufacturer pumping out weapons at full capacity for European contracts. It took the UK until 2006 to pay off its WWI war debts to the US, AND that's after the US reduced the interest rates from 5% to 3% and eventually even reduced part of the debt itself. That's how much influence and effort the US had behind the allies, and that's just the numbers for the UK; so that's not including France, Belgium, Russia, the ANZAC's, etc.

[@arsenalxa4421]

36 is the cutoff age. When I was 19 and in Navy Boot Camp the oldest man in my division was 34. Graham, from Manhattan. Man pushed himself through to the end. EDIT: For clarification I enlisted in 2004, so things have changed in twenty years.

[@Jiffedup]

Navy recently raised it to 38 for enlisted and 42 for officers with specialty degrees like medical

[@JonathanH1253]

​@@Jiffedupyeah I was about to say, air force, space force, and navy are all 39 for enlisted now and the army is 35. The Marines and the coast guard are the two with the youngest cutoff, with 28 for the Marines and 31 for the coast guard.

[@Plastikdoom]

Well that’s new, we had a 38 yr old in my platoon. USMC in 2005 in boot camp.

[@nadjasunflower1387]

@@Plastikdoom probably got a waiver, I'd imagine.

[@Plastikdoom]

@@nadjasunflower1387 him? Or me? He very well could’ve got one, but was never mentioned, he was a cool and great guy, he legit taught or tried to as many life lessons as he could that people didn’t know, was never a problem. Sure he had a few issues, but never discipline related or anything like that. I was definitely waivered in from previous injuries, and had to retake the asvab, IST, and all the paper work. As u almost died, shoulda died between my 17th birthday, the day I joined, and before I shipped, after graduation. I rematches day I signed up, I wanted 0331, that was my goal, and what I went for, my recruiter was pissed, as I could do every MOS, but told them no. Well to be fair not mine, at the RSS, the head one from my region wasn’t happy, came down to me telling him to get the fucking papers for 0331 or I’m walking. Right now, yelling at him in front of his junior Marines, he was mad. Said I couldn’t do that, told him to fuck off, I’m a 17 yr old civilian, I can say anything I want to you and you can’t do shit about it. I know what I want, and what I’m gonna do, or I’m leaving. I didn’t sign anything yet, mind you, nor did my parents either, as no papers to sign. As he was holding it up. They had bonuses for different MOS’s and the kore they got for higher end stuff, at least in my area, the better it looked, I coulda been counter intel, or drones, if I wanted, but nope, forced them to take me as an assault man, ahaha. Then a car accident almost and shoulda killed me, was a passenger, we weren’t at fault, legit accident, parts failure caused it. Got medically disqualified, had to fight to get reconsidered, the. Lie to my doctor, so he’d lie to the government, so I could join, almost died in boot camp from pneumonia, but only needed a weeks worth antibiotics and was right as the rain. More or less. My Senior drill instructor kinda freaked out when I was falling out some, and coughing up blood and fluid, going up the reaper, I made it up that bitch. Only a few yards behind my platoon though. And finished the rest of the easier down hill part, the. Took me to medical at Edson, the blood oxygen monitor said I had 53% oxygen, they gave me antibiotics for pneumonia and said I should be dead right now. Told them not the first time I heard it, this is the fourth time, as soon as we got back to MCRD San Diego, my senior drove me to balboa in his car, they tried to get me to take medical discharge, the audacity, told the doc, no, I’m getting out, quitting ever, of my own will. I just finished the entire crucible coughing up blood when I shoulda been dead, do yuh think I’m the type to quit? My car accident, right lung completely collapsed on impact, left lung punctured low and high by two broken ribs. I was still moving. Up and conscious after over 30 minutes after it happened, lived in the country, and was needed to a point afterwards to try to help and help some. Was on less than a 1/3 of my left lung still inflated by the time the meats got to me, after I made the. The only other two survivors, my friend and the guy we hit cause the left front an arm broke in a right hand corner. Who was elderly and found out afterwards, a retired senator from our state. As far as dying was going, I was the worst, by far, but my buddy broke the steering wheel off the column with his face. About 1/3 of his face is titanium after that, he was constantly blacking out, they wanted to take me me first, told then no, you’re taking him, as head injuries can kill you in the blink of an eye. Made them take the old guy next. Who didn’t seem so bad, but he was old as dirt, and hitting, he needed uk being perfectly fine. I was the last to go. As his gf and also my friend burned in the car, the floor board crumpled around her legs, couldn’t get her out, I got my self out and my friend who was driving. Was too much on fire, and well, being mostly dead, couldn’t even try to bend the steel that held her, even if only sheet metal, and no tools. To this day, beside one time in Iraq, that day when I was 17 messes me up the most, at times. I got myself out, as no one to help me, and I noticed it was catching fire and only one conscious, kicked open and broke the steel latch on the older car, got out, ripped out the window, got my buddy out, checked I. The old guy real quick, see if he had anything that could help, he didn’t, then tried to get her out, couldn’t and got pulled out, while still trying by people who seen the wreck and tried helping. Oh yeah, lost another of blood of internally by the time I was in the ambulance and leaving too, it was a bad day. All around for everyone. The worst part, like 6 months after the accident I’m still at home, about to go to school again, happened in end of November, day before thanks giving, also my mom’s birthday. So right in that last couple weeks of May, after my birthday, right when about released to go back to school and journal life, get a knock, it was like 6 pm…and her parents where there when I opened the door, first time I really seen them, like personally since then, and the hardest part, they apologized to me. I still can’t cope with that one, I’m the one that failed, I got out, got someone else out, made sure then only other one who lived was gonna be immediately ok, but couldn’t get her out…and they apologized to me, about it. Every November or when I think about it too much, I hate myself for not doing more, and failing her. I was the inky at the time. Conscious that can and does remember it all, no one else does, my which is good for my buddy, he was suicidal enough for years and years after that, eve with me always talking him down, at least he was still able to join also, or else he woulda killed himself of if I was gone and he was stuck back home, I was the only one he’d listen to early on. He had a severe concussion and thankfully didn’t remember anything nuke the first few seconds. Cause well, trapped in a burning car, that’s, that’s hell, I don’t know or can’t say if it’s real, hell that is, in the religious sense, if it is real, then it’s what I already went through at 17. Not fun or pretty’s I’m Not particularly religious, especially after that happened. As after living g that, if god is real, he’s a piece of shit with a magnifying glass, burning bugs for fun and a total sociopath. There I said it, but is the truth, no all powerful being would let a 17 yr old girl burn to death, while she begged and pleaded and I had to be dragged out by others, while I’m dying, trying to save her, and if that’s god, well he’s fucking useless. When I do more than he ever did.

[@nadzach]

My Dad was there. The old men of the army. He was a driver of both amphibious vehicles and jeeps. He never said much except he dove in a ditch with Ernie Pyle. It wasn't a funny war. (He was over 30 when drafted and spent several months in a hospital during his service.) Ernie was a beloved war correspondent. I guess Ernie wanted to stand up and see what was going on. So Ernie was shot. I believe the war was supposed to be over, but the Japanese didn't get the message. The 77th did land and enter Japan. He remarked that the Japanese wouldn't even help there own injured. This was a difference in culture.

[@Blitzwaffen]

If youve never heard of Desmond Doss, there is a Simple History vodeo that does a good overview of most of the details for him in particular. Doesnt have to be a reaction. Its just a good video to watch.

[@marethyu7593]

That castle is a mission in COD WAW Final Fronts for the PS2. This mission, including the lead up mission, is infuriating if you get lost and can’t find the checkpoints, even on the easiest difficulty. I completed both European and Pacific campaigns right after waking up from getting wisdom teeth pulled and only died twice while playing upside down on the couch with my feet against the wall and my head hanging off the couch

[@docsavage7163]

As someone who got stuck in sugarsand and had to stand in cold water while I pulled my boot that I had to leave in the sand and wear those same boots for the rest of the day. Wet socks do take a toll on you and it sucks. For context, sugarsand is a white sandy material that when it is dry it is almost like concrete, but when it gets wet from rain it becomes quicksand. When I got stuck it was a day or two after it rained and I sank halfway to my knees and couldn’t get out without leaving my boots behind. I spent 5 hours and 22 minutes waiting for quitting time so I could take my boots off.

[@mikeavina168]

Former Marine here, I entered at 18 and left at 23, that being said I’m 5’6” and very upbeat so I’m never the old guy. Having a couple old guys in every squad is sooo useful and awesome now that I look back at it, (I’m 35now) our “old guys” were guys that joined late like 25+ are kinda like built in “dads” in the lower ranks, they have life experience to lead 19s. So most get promoted quicker and it’s fun to have them around on libo because they’re the ones able to rent vehicles 😂❤

[@nadjasunflower1387]

same. during boot we had a guy. Simpson, medically retired police officer from Prince George's County, 28 years old. Remember distinctly one day the Kill Hat messing with him bad, as Kill Hats are prone to do. While in mid yell with his finger in Simpson's face he asks him what his MOS is. Simpson just calmly looked back at him, and said...Intelligence. D.I. froze, with his finger still in his face, then just walked off. LOL we were left alone pretty much the rest of the day.

[@Rednecknerd_rob9634]

Rent or "rent" lol.

[@IONATVS]

Yeah, the system the US Army has to expand basically infinitely was developed in the leadup to WWII. (1) When a draft is declared the Regular Army is replaced by the US Army, and all former members of the Regular Army get new, higher US Army ranks. (2) Veterans from each professional/regular army Division get “voluntold” to transfer to otherwise brand new divisions and become their senior officers and NCOs, while their places in their old units are taken by other veterans moving up the chain and eventually backfilled with OTHER new recruits. (3) Every Army Division we’ve ever had has SOME historian in charge of maintaining their old regalia, battle honors etc, which are waiting in mothballed deep storage for the essentially new Divisions who inherited their name and number to look over and build their espririt d’corps and identity around. (4) Every bit of how basic training is supposed to work is written down in excruciating detail so the new senior NCOs and officers of these new units know exactly how to run boot camp when the actual career drill sergeants are dying of overwork.

[@c0baltl1ghtn1ng]

He did indeed the razer ad-read before, I remember the 'if you don't like it don't endorse it' line and that they didn't want him to say that. Still a good read and a based company.

[@ZoneXV]

Yep, that is the ad read from an earlier video he did, forgot which one. He likely re-used it for time constraints and he said this video took a lot of time.

[@iainmcdonalds4018]

I actually saw an interesting youtube short with a historian positing that the dropping of the nukes might have actually saved lives. Not just of the troops that would have had to invade mainland Japan, but because of the starvation and lack of able bodied people to farm, the fact that the war ended and you could start reassigning the population back to farming so abruptly that in the end, the nukes likely saved more *Japanese* lives than it took. Not sure how true, but that is a super interesting idea.

[@IONATVS]

That was 100% the US justification for doing so. Some may disagree whether such a cold, utilitarian moral calculus can justify such a horrible decision, but a US invasion of the Japanese mainland, and what the Japanese military had planned to stop it, would likely have been a truly SICKENING bloodbath. They were drilling schoolchildren to counterassult beaches with spears, and to use poison gas on their own troops. They had been telling mothers for years at this point that Americans would eat their babies, and effectively enough that women were lining up to toss said babies off cliffs to mercy kill them in Okinawa before the Marines got there. Dropping the bombs not only saved a generation of Americans, but quite possibly saved Japan from “never surrender”-ing itself until nothing but the bare rock of their island remained.

[@Lam6da98]

The oldest guy in my basic training was 33 and managed to become a tanker

[@DerpyDaringDitzyDoo]

45:30 So that's actually a very good question. It's one of the things that really sets the US military apart from most other militaries. In the field, both officers and Non Commissioned Officers have the freedom and authority to alter plans and adjust what they're doing on the fly as they encounter things. Of course communication is key as this can cause a trickle-down problem, but it allows the sort of quick thinking and fast reactions for competent leadership to overcome obstacles that otherwise wouldn't be possible. The Battle of 73 Easting is a prime example of this.

[@toad6284]

40:50 A 36:1 ratio! Hey any historians, how does that K/D ratio stack against other historical combat units. I imagine there's not many that, especially if you only take offensive battles into count.

[@slayerofmankind]

As a boy scout I had to learn some military training for survival

[@KipReacts]

That's so cool!

[@lenny_has_arived6679]

This was honestly one of my favorite of the stories I have heard from Fat Electrician. It was a fantastic story

[@anlydaly5726]

The 77th Division was like fine cheese and wine. Cheese as in it gets really hard and dence perfect for cracking your teeth, and wine as in even a taste of it is enough to knock you out cold 😂.

[@StormyTehWolf]

Quick edit (putting at top so it can be seen): his nickname was actually just Devil Doc and it was the SEALS that did the claymore fishing, not him. Still proud of my Old Man though. This just reminds me of my dad's nickname he got during his time as a Navy Corpsman with the Marines: Triple D, aka Devil Dog Doc. One of my favorite stories from him was when he was on a riverboat and fished with a claymore, cooked the fish right on the Deisel Engine.

[@ealtar]

about the henson ad .. EVERYBODY says the same "i'm not supposed to disclose bit" yeah it is 1000x more preped

[@gothicpando]

They touched our fuckin BOATS!!!!!

[@Jiffedup]

Kip the US does not have the largest in manpower but the biggest in budget. Manpower wise we have about 300,000-350,000 active duty in the army alone with the navy about the same airforce about 200,000 something and the marine corps is about 100,000. Now include guard and reserver forces that damn near doubles it for a total of 2.8 million personnel. As of 2024.. and we are in a decline on recuitment. During the 2nd gulf war we were between 3.2 and 3.5 million strong

[@joshuaturcotte6724]

The issue of military understanding is the fact that having numbers is an advantage but that doesn't mean you have the equipment, logistical knowledge and power, and command structure to make use of said forces. A Great example of this is Korea, 4 times the Americans were encircled (Specifically twice by a force that was nearly 20x the Marines size), it was basically a bunch of soldiers fighting the American Marines and America had more bullets even while firing every day then the enemy had per supply given. Keep in mind there is also the factors that if America was in the fray that usually means everyone in the alliance with America joins in. Canada, Australia, and Scottland are the equivalent writers of Geneva and they make up a good 2/3rd the list. The problem isn't that the United States is the 3rd largest army, its more like large armies require the support and backing. Reason I mention backing is because during Vietnam, when America left due to civil unrest over political understanding and backing of the war, allied powers stayed in the fray. Longest lasting was South Korea, they built up good logistics, they had no stupid bureaucracy running the show, and by the time they left the South Korea Military had done the same amount of damage as the United States and they had less then 1/8th of our soldier population in the conflict. The issue is not that America cant win, nor does this mean anyone cant with realistically. Its all about who has there supply or weapons and ammunition sorted out first. This is why America is so dangerous because we don't stop producing weapons. Drafting is usually a requirement to fill in the blanks of lower staffed units and getting new Divisions brought into the fold. Drafts are usually pulled once war is fully on the table. So basically if there is a "Draft" for military then its 99% guaranteed the big one is kicking off, not a "Police Action". Draft requirements in the United States allows to to the age of 40 to be pulled, with command officers being allowed to join if they do so wish being any able body willing to fire a rifle so long as they can handle there own. Its not realistically a thing but people can pop up where age 62 old men with M16s who are fuming pissed and looking for ass to kick, and looking for a grunt stack to work under them to kick that ass in premium. Push come to shove the leadership will even turn the Bureaucrats away and put them in the corner till everything was over. They can also reduce the requirements of medical for Drafts as well, its just really not preferred. Everything is relevant to "Do we realistically need the manpower: this will strain logistics, economic, weapon development, and civilian moral" Edit: There is a note to the fact that this is the area that U.S.S. Washington pounded with 4 Cruisers for the duration of which Lee was in charge. Lee's ship was the only ship to land repeated strikes on enemy fortifications under call by the Marines radios. The Escarpment was targeted by 4 cruisers under the ranging fire from day 1 from Lee, Lee was tasked with bombarding another position instead. They pounded that ridge for 6 hours with "High Capacity Common" turning the area that Japanese were trying to man into craters and it was so drastic that only the defenders that were inside the tunnels and deep in dugouts and bunkers survived. So that 3.5k number is just what was accounted for, not the battle losses prior or the two days of absolute annihilation that was dropped on there heads. On the Second round on the Escarpment they managed to break into the enemy battlements in less then an hour and fought there ass off till nightfall winning the fight. There was also a stronger presence on the field as the Battle for Okinawa had Japan start using snipers to target medics. This is what prompted a lot of soldiers to take off there markers as Snipers were told to focus on Command, then Medics, then Operators such as Artillarymen, Mortarmen, & Engineers/Sappers

[@jdunn5128]

I love the fact that of the like 5-10 reactions to TFE's video no one comments that his background changes, shirt changes, and one less KZbin awards in the ad

[@josho712]

HIGHLY suggest watching hacksaw ridge the movie. Fantastic ww2 movie and it follows Desmond doss. So good

[@koosh138]

My high school kind of implied that America won WW2 on its own. Granted, it might have been mostly what the criteria was for the teacher to cover, but also it was a school in Alabama. You can kinda see why I felt the need to pick up history as a hobby on my own.

[@prestonjones1653]

Mine barely covered WWII at all, although my junior hear history teacher was a Holocaust denier so...

[@cornblaster7003]

most American education literally does that, which is exactly why people get so aggressive against the idea that America won the war on it's own, half of the citizens in America believe it bc their education system gave them that impression and people are tired of it, also the US education system tried to cover a lot of soviet contributions to the war as well, even in places where they are teaching about the other countries involved sometimes, American education is like a step away from a propaganda machine at the best of times

[@Ratkill9000]

I'm kind of safe from the draft, being 31 almost 32. But there could always be a reason why stuff like the 77th could return. If that's the case, I'll do my best to end up as a mechanic to keep vehicles rolling. Could use my mechanical and welding skills to some degree if need be.

[@Maeshalanadae]

People also seem to forget Canada’s role in WWII as well. They entered in before we did and truly wreaked some havoc themselves.

[@davidnguyen4266]

Fun fact the 77 Infantry Division turn into the 77th Sustainment Brigade which is now an Army Reserve unit that I am apart of now

[@markbowerii7632]

I literally just commented on your Ching Lee video that you should check out exactly this video and here it is. Thanks Kip, love this video.

[@theabomb8305]

The predicted casualties that would have occurred from just the initial invasion of Japan would have eclipsed the casualties of the nukes by multiple magnitudes

[@gamereditor59ner22]

Never mess with old men who see sh!t and probably say, " Hold my beer. I will get this done right now.🍺" Edit: Great video and keep it up!

[@DecentCanvas-mt1bk]

Got back from class turned on my tv and this was posted 2 minutes ago

[@vincentconnett5358]

I just realized after 7 minutes as well

[@Pitbully59243]

Kip "you are fighting a fortress at that point" the 77 " show me a fortress and I will show you a crater

[@dustinfritzfarr9529]

Bro... kip watches patriciantv's morrowind video on repeat?! I knew I loved this guy, I just couldn't put my finger on why! I've "watched" it while driving for my job maybe a dozen times now.

[@bigfoot_huntr2964]

Hell yeah a new kip reacts video! Hope your taking it easy broski!

[@patrickjones1380]

My grandfather was in the 77th during ww2, it was nice to see his unit talked about.

[@crimsongogeta6810]

18:44 same, honestly. I always get along better with people older than me, which may be partly because of spending so much time as one of the younger kids in my extended family as well as being a military grand-brat, so some of the mannerisms from my grandparents that did serve passed on to me. May only be 25 (turning 26 soon), but I’m an old soul as I’ve been told.

[@justinbriley2531]

this was actually a fan suggested video. TFE told the story on the unsubscribe pod cast about one of the sons of a 77th infantry division messaged the fat electrician and invited him to lunch. while there he showed him the book he had written about it, and all the old newspaper articles he had collected about them.

[@distracting_games]

Desmond Doss was amazing, many of the movie clips he used are from the movie Hacksaw Ridge, which is specifically about Doss. And as a fun fact, the official number of soldiers Doss is credited with saving is 75. Doss claimed 50, while soldiers who were there to witness the event have credited him with saving between 100 and 150 soldiers.

[@Daniel-u7d9h]

My army unit had to replace a marine unit in 2011 after they took to many casualties. You may need to look at some more iconic army units.

[@jeffjag2691]

12:10 all branches can do that it’s why we have multiple levels of NCO and Officer l, they can break off some “lower levels” and stick them in charge of new units. Also the rebuilding of the military for WW2 is why the military industrial complex exists. Edit: 28:00 US military was probably trying to figure out how to consistently supply their units in mobile warfare as the last time they had to figure out supply it was WW1. 10th mountain is the current “experimental” unit, they get to test all the gear first.

[@noxiplays]

25:10 that exact talk that they had, insert captain barbossa laughing with his crew meme as they discuss the absolute chaos they´re gonna put up for the poor younglings

[@animeyhem9780]

"#1 seed in the tournament gets a buy....don't hate the player, hate the game." Welp, I can't find a flaw in that logic. Also, let's not forget we were supplying the Allies with all or almost all of the three B's (that's beans, bandages and bullets for the non-military types out there) they needed to be able to fight off the Axis forces...

[@ATippePodcast]

A lot of people don’t talk about the fact that America was the only nation present on all the fronts either by military or by supply or both. We either supplied or fought on the European theatre both the East and west fronts, North Africa and subsequently the southern European front. The Northern European front up in Norway. China, so the Asia-Japan war. And the pacific theatre. We literally fought like 7 fronts, supplied 29 other nations with most of their guns, planes, ships and food, plus our own.

[@twylanaythias]

Japan and Germany both also made one other crucial mistake: They both believed that Americans were far too interested in their leisure activities to put up much of a fight, even if they did get involved in WWII. "Damnit, I've been marinating these ribs for three days to have a big Sunday cookout with my friends and family and now I can't because you guys wanted to start some sh*t?!? Time for daddy to do a little ass-whooping!"

[@moser502]

Every week I watch the fat electrician. At the end of every video, I go can’t wait to watch kips reaction.

[@ChrisKelly-t6t]

Kip you need to watch Hacksaw Ridge, it’s quite a movie. Also check out documentaries about his life to get the more grounded story.

[@TheDgamesD]

45:50 that verticality is why the italian front of WW1 is so interesting and terrifying. mountains firing upon other mountains.

[@m3tr0id86]

In the words of CJ DaChamp "The old heads are always cracked!"

[@steel8231]

Hacksaw Ridge got an entire movie made about it btw.

[@GregAtlas]

27:42 You have to understand that America didn't have much of an updated battle doctrine. These tests were brutal BECAUSE the bean counters need data to go off of. They needed experiments like this to know where the limitations were so strategists could take into account "hey, under these conditions, what can we expect to happen and how can we improve our odds of winning against an enemy? What kind of training can additionally improve those odds?" Because sometimes you have the worst conditions possible where you're low on supplies and have to ration or are stuck in the desert in the sun. Sometimes you're on the offense and sometimes you're on the defense. There's sections of the military that use this kind of info and theorycraft and wargame strategies as a sort of pre-programmed response if there ever were a need to go and fight. Obviously these strategies are prioritized to the primary potential opponents, but it even includes small countries that aren't even a threat. There's no kill like overkill and that goes for the planning stage as well. This is especially critical for logistics purposes because then they know specifically how much food, water, fuel, etc. Is needed per day before performance is reduced or outright collapses, which is especially important during shortages.

[@GregAtlas]

As an example to highlight why they would need such information: The US was so unprepared at the beginning of WWII that the military higher ups were seriously considering focusing on cavalry divisions instead of tank divisions purely based on the experiences of WWI, which was largely trench warfare. Luckily, they were able to get info on how things turned out in Poland and France as they were developing the new mobile warfare doctrine. US tank development during WWII was pretty sketchy, but imagine WWII with horses instead of tanks facing Panzers and Tigers.

[@Wearywastrel]

I've been waiting for you to find this one

[@prestonjones1653]

I tried to join the Navy, but they turned away after I mentioned having autism (I thought they looked at medical records, and you needed to be honest). Army, same thing, Marines, same thing. I had previously spent over a year and a half getting to the point of being able to not only meet but exceed all physical the requirements and was studying for the ASVAB. I pretty much just gave up on caring about my health for the past ten years, and now they changed the rules this year for Autists like me to join. So yeah, guess who now has a reason to care about their health. 😊 I want to be a submariner. I'm currently 26 and the cutoff is now 29.

[@SilentEclipse4166]

It’s crazy how my unit never talks about where our unit patch came from, even more so DID NOT know we had a history being the 77th ID in WW2. May not be old infantryman anymore🤣but young bat shit crazy mechanics

[@guardianboreal1432]

Fat Electrician does such a good ad read he can re-use an older ad clip, kupo. Also shows that Henson's didn't complain about the fact he read the "prompt" aloud, kupo. Not even being sarcastic, kupo.

[@veteranhoffman6776]

10:39 actually the Draft age limits are 18-35, I’ll be 59 this August (currently in May), they can’t draft me even though I’m “Prior Service” 😏

[@shivm941]

Fin fact: Since they were training in Louisiana, and the humidity is so high, it takes *significantly longer* to have any kind of equipment to dry out. **Especially** sleeping bags.

[@kizunadragon9]

I was 27 when I went to Basic, i was called grandpa, on the plus side i was very popular because i was old enough to buy beer.

[@KipReacts]

Fantastic.

[@ForgottenHonor0]

These guys had the same energy as Alucard has whenever he "goes for a walk."

[@carbonwolf3865]

25:42 - 30:12 keep in mind that what Army command did to the 77th infantry is tame compared to Unit 731 and their shenanigans. To answer your question about the lawfullness of the orders, from what i know, it would be a lawful order as what was being instructed was not interfering with moral standards of warfare. Yes, its pretty messed up to do what command instructed them to go under. But rules of war A: historically only applies to the defeated nations. And B: it was a sovereign nation doing it to their own people. If it was a foreign nation subjecting POWs to said treatment, it would likely count as a war crime. Please keep in mind i could be wrong. Im going off of what i know about the Geneva conventions on the conduct of warfare.

[@Tomas-qk5fy]

If you see the video by laserpig that talks about the T-34 he says "Do you want 100 cheap tanks or 50 expensive ones" That the US military quality over quantity, and plus last time I remember we ditched our drafting law, the only time we'd draft is if the military had a STRONG manpower shortage, i.e. a lot of deaths by bad military leaders

[@HutchTheWolf]

The ad was the exact same as a previous one from the same sponsor; which is why it probably felt “off”. He probably reused the same one to save time.

[@ernesielta]

11:12 Indeed

[@Plastikdoom]

Also as far as people around the world saying the US came in late and claimed winning, he has covered this, on the unsubscribe podcast he is frequently part of, and others have also, no, I can’t remember which episode of that podcast, there are over a hundred of them, also can’t remember which people covered this topic, as I’ve watched more YT videos than I could ever hope to remember I have a great memory, damn near perfect, but I’ve probably watched 10,000 plus vids easy covering every topic available, let alone before YT came out, on the be old, fun and absolutely insane old internet, haha. But a ton of other countries aren’t taught that fighting Japan was WWII, they literally don’t know that even happened, or were taught that’s not part of WWII, something separate, so a stupid amount of people are taught that the us only fought from June 6th, 1944, until May 7/8th, 1945 depending on who you ask. Also apparently they weren’t taught who supplied all the allied nations, or anyone fighting against the Nazis and imperial Japan, and at least in the pacific, did their best to protect all friendly areas. Even to our detriment. TFE covers this slighty in this vid, and lore in that episode of the podcast, but even there…he doesn’t even begin to cover to aid we gave to everyone. While fighting an island hopping campaign, and supplying Europe and the USSR, and every free nation willing to fight our mutual enemies. Some of it is covered in the vid where we stole the U Boat, he gives the number and tonnage of US merchant ships sunk, now think of how many more we made, crewed, filled with goods, everything from clothes, to fuel, food, bullets, guns artillery, locomotive engines, and rail cars. Built to each nations rail gauge. Extremely well made and reliable. Functional, even to this day, even now this many years later. Some of Russias active locomotives and rail cars were made in the early 40’s and shipped to them. We have them hundreds of locomotives and thousands of rail cars, that made it through the u boat scourge and were delivered. Thousands of tanks. Trucks, etc. we have them so much canned food that they were still eating it into the 1980’s, and it was still safe to eat, over 44 years old, that’s how much and how well we made things. We literally supplied the entire free world, and ourselves, all while fighting a two front war, and becoming the only true power. We also gave so many aircraft to the UK and USSR, most of what either fought with, at large amounts of time. Was American made, either wholly. Or only cause of American parts, weapons, munitions and fuel. Not too mention synthetic rubber and oil, both invented by the US during WWII, and oh yeah, nylon for chutes and well stockings and all kinds of stuff, also invented by us in WWII and the modern military ration, the only nation that used a semi auto rifle as standard issue. Before it even started and all through it, that heavily inspired the AK, it was a blatant copy in like 80% of everything of an M1, except for caliber. Over all length and removable magazines. And sights, the whole operation system, gas system, fire control group. Flat out copies of the M1. Down to the bolt, two lug. Rotating bolt. For those who don’t know. We adopted the M1 in 1936, during the Great Depression. Even that couldn’t stop us, we adopted the first. Practical, useful, and effective semi auto rifle the world had ever seen in the midst of the worst economic times in recorded history, for the entire planet. In 1944 we made more planes than everyone put together, Allie’s and enemies put together in all of WWII, from 39-45, also in 44, we made and commissioned more ships that the imperial Japanese had ever made, period. Plus the literal best all around tank, ever made, that was successful in every hit of its mission, no matter where it served, from the tropics, the Sahara to the Soviet Union in dead of winter, and Western Europe to Germany, in all seasons. TOT barrage? American atomic bombs, American, hospital ships, the biggest and most made, best ones made, American. The list goes on and on, so yes we definitely won it, and ensured that the Allie’s won, that being said, yes we were the most important for overall success, no we didn’t win alone, we broth the most to the table in all aspects, that mattered and forwarded technology.

[@caseyturner6906]

I think COD World at World US Campaign had you play as the 77th if not featured them in the Campaign as a Easter Egg.

[@marine5480]

Hacksaw ridge is a great movie and even worth making a reaction to

[@fluffycakes5898]

I highly recommend watching the hacksaw ridge movie in the credits there are interview clips of him

[@Batmans_Pet_Goldfish]

I was waiting for this one!

[@katelynnarn8743]

56:37, they've been smackledorfed! (kudos to anyone who gets the reference 👏)

[@MasterCrawford343]

Based on my medical history I know for a fact I would be exempt from the draft but I would still be willing to help out in any way I can especially cooking for the soldiers

[@attackinglizard3429]

I'm just sitting here like " an experimental unit that immediately starts kicking ass? So their Spartans :)"

[@billlovell5185]

The movie Hacksaw Ridge tells the story of Desmond Doss. It is a very good movie starring Andrew Garfield.

[@adambloodsong25]

I am 27 years old as a batista and haven't had a bad employee moment yet.

[@steel8231]

Fun fact: Most of the "extreme spending" the US does on their average grunt is for Armor and Medical supplies. Neither of which China or India bothers supplying to or training their infantry grunts with how to use.

[@ulyssessix1772]

Hey Kip if you want know there were plans to naval invasion for mainland Japanese it was called operation downfall but was stop due to the two atomic bombs. It would have been the largest military operation in human history. A KZbinr called “RealLifeLore” made a video about it call “the insane American plan to invade Japan in 1945”

[@cavemanjoe79]

America may not have been fighting since 1939 although America was supplying the United Kingdom and the USSR with war materials and supplies before we entered.

[@Crazycoyote-we7ey]

Kip "Beware of the one man with the one rifle because he knows how to use it."

[@czarnynight]

Ad read was from old video from few months ago... i believe it was in video first fight of WW2 in Polish Postal office but i can be wrong as i do it from memory

[@black1917]

We did win the war. The Soviets held off the Germans thanks to the Lend Lease program. They would have ground to a halt and starved without it. England was being supplied by us before we even entered the war, and likely would have fallen without that crucial aid. We were the spear head and front line in EVERY theatre. We WERE the industrial and logistical might of the Allied Forces. We did not pioneer many of the techniques and technologies of the war, we are the ones who perfected them.

[@Crazycoyote-we7ey]

Fun Fact kip In 1929 the U.S Army/Navy/Marines court Marshall's a Three star General fir saying Aircarft Carrier's ans Aircarft were superior to Battleships They kicked him out for saying Japan was arming up and ready for war This was 1929

[@AlienWare_1700]

If i were to get drafted(I'm in my teens) they would look at my medical history and tell me to fucking run home while i was specifically wanting to go

[@korimiller379]

Ahh Draft arguments. I'm clear there, what with being over 40, already had 11 years in active duty and all but ~2 years since then being a civilian employee of the government. Furloughs are a pain, but pretty solid job security as long as you can, you know, do what you were hired for.

[@gacrux-ni7hw]

Here it is

[@whatsup1041]

China has the largest standing army in the world followed by India and Russian. American has the fourth largest in the world by numbers. Just an FYI. And I hope they start the draft up again. The people that want their student loans paid off by the tax payers should be first in line in the draft.

[@emperorconstantine1.361]

Wait, you never saw the Hacksaw Ridge movie?? With the guy who played the second spider-man?