OT- Anyone Else Watching "The War" on PBS?

Well last night finally broke down and started weeping. That wonderful young man "Babe", from Waterbury Conn; whose story was told through those wonderful letters he wrote home, was killed at the battle for Cisterna.

He sounded so upbeat in his letters, such a lively go lucky boy; nothing seemed to bother him and he always thought of others instead of himself. His letters were full of such optimism, his plans for the future after the war, and of course his wee babies. He died about 8 days before his birthday, and his family not knowing, wrote to him wishing him many returns on the day and with news of home. Babe never got to see that letter.

Guess I really lost it upon realising that unlike today, those fallen soldiers would not be sent home for burial. There would be no funeral, flag draped coffin, final good-byes, etc. IIRC all families got was an envelope containing any personal effects.

Candide

It was a disgraceful episode in our history, and reparations to the survivors and their descendents is poor compensation for being treated that way.

Our spy problems during the war were on the European side, too. I guess any potential Japanese spy was languishing in a camp, struggling to survive. But we did had German sympathizers and spies that made life difficult for some of our forces. I don't know if we had Italian spies or not - I really don't remember hearing of any, but that's no sure indication.

"Scare Crowe" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@storefull-3235.bay.webtv.net...

What is striking to me, is the intensity of spousal/family relationships compared today. To me it seems people were much closer than they are today. You hear people speak of their brothers and sisters in such a manner that you just know that there is no daylight between them. As for dating/spouses, story after story so far is of people meeting either at a dance, or movie and "BAM", it hits like a thundercloud and they "know" this is the one. Girls go home and confide in their sisters (who one guesses always shared rooms/beds), that they just met the man they are going to marry. One woman told of going down to Times Square for New Years Eve, from Conn with her girlfriends (and she had to BEG her mother, who apparently felt only "bad girls" went into the City. The woman only relented because a group of about 10 girls were going, so the mother figured with that many eyes, her daughter couldn't get into trouble), anyway the girls arrive in Times Square and off they go to find an Automat. On the way they meet a group of sailors, and one good-looking on in particular takes a liking to the story teller, and before you know it off the entire group goes to the Automat. At the end of the night the guy kisses the girl and says he is going to marry her, and guess what, he did! Found it interesting that the girl had to tell her mother the sailor was related to one of her girlfriends. Apparently if the mother found out her daughter had been "picked up" by a sailor, she would have been confined for the duration! *LOL*

Candide

I won't fry more than one egg for my breakfast. I'm told that this is because Mom had her own flock of laying hens during WWII -- and was deathly afraid that her children would get tired of eggs. So she made a big fuss about not having more than one at a meal, in hopes that we wouldn't mind having them at *every* meal.

I never tasted gingerbread when I was growing up. My older sisters say that gingerbread mix was the only sweet that wasn't rationed, so once the war was over, Mom never made gingerbread again -- not even the real stuff from scratch.

Despite shortages, my family was quite comfortable during the war -- we moved into town, into a house that had electricity and running water, and Dad earned so much at the war plant that when we went back to the farm, we could afford to have electricity and running water installed in the farmhouse.

Joy Beeson

A lot of that was because people didn't have the choices we have today. Families were connected not just by blood, but by economic necessity. They had the same problems we have now, they just didn't have the variety of solutions. Some siblings were close, others were not, but they still might have had to work together on the family farm or in the family business, or just continue to live in the same small town or neighborhood of a city, and so have to swallow their anger and resentment as far as others were concerned.

Wives and husbands stayed together through horrendous problems because divorce was not easy to get, and women were faced with poverty if they abandoned the marriage. Many stayed in truly bad relationships so they could be with their children.

My parents divorced in 1945, and my mother had very good reason, but she lived in fear that my father would take me and get custody. In spite of the history of abuse, he was a small town doctor, well-to-do, and with more clout than she.

It's so easy to look back at the "good old days" through rosy glasses, and not see all the warts and contusions.

Nostalgia: a sentimental yearning for the way things never were.

Bingo!

A follow-up on the re-runs. They will begin within a few days of the end of this first showing, sometime next week or the week after. DS is very diligent about disposing of the newspapers, so I can't tell you the exact date, but look under Google, it is there. Emily

I did that with my husband and more recently my daughter did the same thing with her husband. She and I were talking about it one day within the hearing of her father and her husband and they both looked at each other and then acting all offended that my daughter and I had been the ones to instantly decide that they were for us and that we'd marry them.

They seem to fail to understand that a man can pursue a woman till he's blue in the face and unless she agrees to his approach, he won't get anywhere unless she lets him. Must have done something right as I've been married to him for 36 years now and still enjoy his company (99.9% of the time).

this hit me, too, because in today's society, big funerals and even bigger weddings come off as if the family has to proove feelings exist for and to their children. i for one often think about my own mom and dad. he was a sailor and she a secretary. they met thru her sister and boyfriend, and now mom & dad have been married for 54 yrs. i kinda am a little jealous. wish people were more like that now. commitment has become a convenience and when it's not convenient anymore, divorce happens. i know. i was divorced twice. this program opens up alot of eyes. i really like the marine pilot...cant remember his name. the one that became a Captain and was in the castle that got bombed. he seems like such a nice guy. And the lady from down south. she's so gentile and they had such fun. amy

FYI: Anyone who hasn't heard, THE WAR is out on DVD as of today. A couple stores advertised it in last Sunday ads. DS and I are big History buffs, and of course, I lived through WW2; we didn't watch it, preferring to wait for the DVD. It arrived just in time for his birthday tomorrow. Emily

Yes, I like him as well, and his wife,with whom he gave dating "directions" before being sent overseas when they just started courting. Imagine being told by your beau that you could only date any one fella three times, and sticking to the bargain!

And the lady from down south. she's so gentile and

Oh she is a hoot! Loved the story about her and her girlfriends doing refreshment duty for troop trains when a train load of marines pulls in that hadn't seen an American woman in ages as they just came back from over seas. Her brother Sidney also as that wonderful gentile "deep south" accent. Mobile, Alabama is such a lovely place.

Candide

i missed the last episode, thought it was on friday nite, but was on last nite here. UGH!!! good thing Emily told us it is now out on DVD!!! i missed the 2nd nite and the last.....not like i dont know how it came out, but looking forward to the "happy" ending! amy

Check your local PBS listing, as it is bound to be repeated.

Well won't spoil things for you, but the ending was "happy" but bittersweet IMHO, as it was for those who fought and or lived through the war. Does touch upon some of the difficulties veterans faced upon returning home.

Must say saw the ending twice (local PBS station ran the episodes twice) and each time by the ending was weeping; which was not a very good thing as was eating dinner the first time, and ironing the second.

Personally think everyone under the age of 30, especially the wee ones should watch this program. Same should speak with some of the veterans of the war to gain insight. One thousand WWII veterans die each day (according to the film), and with them goes a valuable resource . They have been called the "Greatest Generation" but many today either are ignorant of their sacrifices or take them as their due. When you see the end of the series you will understand.

Candide

I intend to watch it but now is a terrible time for me - I'm winding up my touring season. I am sure my local PBS station will be repeating it and hopefully by then I will have found the remote and can record it!

Wendy Z

If Pogonip would be so kind as to post the lyrics to the Momsense song I would surely appreciate it.

My husband and I are both professional violinists and have played the William Tell overture many times. (That's the tune). However we have both retired and my husband has lost so much of his hearing that he doesn't even enjoy going to concerts any more.

That doesn't mean he has lost his sense of humor, though, and I know he would get a huge kick out of the words. We can play the tune over inside our heads to go with the words...

I haven't shown the clip to my husband yet because it would just frustrate him. However, if he could read the words while listening, I think he would find it hilarious.

So, if Pogonip doesn't mind...???

Thanks.

Lilajane