OT: New HBO WW2 series on horizon?

[ChezDaJez]

The Pacific took some liberties personalizing real events, but putting them on a different character. Sledge's and Lecke's autobiographies differed from their actions in the series by having the characters experience some 'common' events that didn't happen IRL. Sledge's aborted extrication of Japanese gold teeth comes to mind as an example (happened in the series, not IRL).

I did enjoy "The Pacific" but liked BoB better. After reading Sledge's and Leckie's books however, I had a more negative view on the accuracy of the series.

While I never expected extreme fidelity from the series to either book, I did expect that events that are protrayed in the series actually happen where and in relatively the same manner as they did IRL. Sledge's book, "With the Old Breed" mentions nothing about a heart murmer that kept him from enlisting. He actually was enrolled in ROTC at a college when he decided to enlist. And the series also doesn't mention the several months he spent on garrison duty in China immediately following the war. He didn't return home until the Spring of 46.

The series does seem to be more faithful to Leckie's book, "Helmet for my Pillow" though it does have its issues here also.

Chez

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: ChezDaJez

While I never expected extreme fidelity from the series to either book, I did expect that events that are protrayed in the series actually happen where and in relatively the same manner as they did IRL. Sledge's book, "With the Old Breed" mentions nothing about a heart murmer that kept him from enlisting. He actually was enrolled in ROTC at a college when he decided to enlist. And the series also doesn't mention the several months he spent on garrison duty in China immediately following the war. He didn't return home until the Spring of 46.

I see multiple references to Sid Phillips being the source of the heart condition story. Memories that old can fade, but Phillips was a doctor after the war and should understand murmurs. Sledge might have not wanted to mention it in his own book for personal reasons. I don't know who is right, but HBO didn't make it up from what I can tell.

[ChezDaJez]

I see multiple references to Sid Phillips being the source of the heart condition story. Memories that old can fade, but Phillips was a doctor after the war and should understand murmurs. Sledge might have not wanted to mention it in his own book for personal reasons. I don't know who is right, but HBO didn't make it up from what I can tell.

Sledge's father was also a physician and would understand murmers as well. And we have to remember that Philips graduated high school a year before Eugene and enlisted right after Pearl Harbor.

Sledge graduated high school in May 1942. He then attended the Marion Military Institute until May 1943 and while there, signed up for the Georgia Tech V12 officer training program. He started this training on 1 July 1943. According to his book, he purposely did poorly on his first semester exams so that he could become an enlisted Marine. He stated in his book that he was afraid that he would miss the war if he stayed in college.

Philips states that Sledge had rheumatic fever as a child yet Sledge makes no mention of this anywhere. It is not found in any of Sledge's books or the many biographies that aren't based on Philips' statements. It is possible that Sledge did have rheumatic fever that resulted in a heart murmer but if that were the case, he would either have not had the mumer upon graduation from high school and would have been eligible to enlist then - or - he still had the murmer in which case he would not been eligible for the military instutute or GT officer training programs.

Most of Philip's comments regarding Sledge were made to the producers of the HBO series. I'm inclined to believe Sledge's book more so than Philip's recollection 60+ years later. That is not to say his statements are false, just possibly distorted by the passage of time. I willing to bet that Sledge did have the murmer but at an early enough age that it was gone by the time he was in high school.

Chez

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: ChezDaJez

I see multiple references to Sid Phillips being the source of the heart condition story. Memories that old can fade, but Phillips was a doctor after the war and should understand murmurs. Sledge might have not wanted to mention it in his own book for personal reasons. I don't know who is right, but HBO didn't make it up from what I can tell.

Sledge's father was also a physician and would understand murmers as well. And we have to remember that Philips graduated high school a year before Eugene and enlisted right after Pearl Harbor.

Sledge graduated high school in May 1942. He then attended the Marion Military Institute until May 1943 and while there, signed up for the Georgia Tech V12 officer training program. He started this training on 1 July 1943. According to his book, he purposely did poorly on his first semester exams so that he could become an enlisted Marine. He stated in his book that he was afraid that he would miss the war if he stayed in college.

Philips states that Sledge had rheumatic fever as a child yet Sledge makes no mention of this anywhere. It is not found in any of Sledge's books or the many biographies that aren't based on Philips' statements. It is possible that Sledge did have rheumatic fever that resulted in a heart murmer but if that were the case, he would either have not had the mumer upon graduation from high school and would have been eligible to enlist then - or - he still had the murmer in which case he would not been eligible for the military instutute or GT officer training programs.

Most of Philip's comments regarding Sledge were made to the producers of the HBO series. I'm inclined to believe Sledge's book more so than Philip's recollection 60+ years later. That is not to say his statements are false, just possibly distorted by the passage of time. I willing to bet that Sledge did have the murmer but at an early enough age that it was gone by the time he was in high school.

Chez

I haven't seen "The Paciifc" yet, but I will now that we have HBO. My exposure to Phillips is from "The War" as well as his sister's extensivve on-screen time from that documentary. My impression was Phillips and Sledge were boyhood friends (the sister might have been sweet on Sledge too from what I gathered) and close friends for decades after the war.

I don't know which is true. I can't recall details of childhood ailments now and I'm in my 50s. I only wanted to say that HBO didn't make up the murmur for dramatic reasons out of whole cloth. Also, regardless of whether he had it or not, it didn't affect his war record.

[GI Jive]

Interesting news... Steven Spielberg's father was a B-25 pilot in the CBI theater. I think he has always been an aviation buff.

[Thayne]

The series that I have always wanted to see would follow the USS Enterprse through the war.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Thayne

The series that I have always wanted to see would follow the USS Enterprse through the war.

"Battle 360" covered that a few years ago. Kind of CGI heavy, but still modestly interesting. I think that this recent 'coverage' of the Enterprise story would impact the marketability for a dedicated miniseries, but what do I know?

[jcjordan]

I'd prefer a historical Wake remake that shows what happened to those that had to endure the surrender aftermath. As far as an AF theme to it, the only story I see there would be a possible AVG remake even though it's been done & after the MTSNBN rendition of Doolittle's Raid I'd imagine no one is willing to touch the subject. Is there a single compelling story of the B29 crews like a Memphis Belle type thing? I don't really know of one so I'd think the AF being main theme would be out. Navy storylines???

[ChezDaJez]

My impression was Phillips and Sledge were boyhood friends (the sister might have been sweet on Sledge too from what I gathered) and close friends for decades after the war.

They were and Sledge was best man at Philip's wedding. Philip's did provide the series producers some backgraound on Sledge. I just think Philips got his timeline mixed up. Anyways not a big deal.

Interesting to note that Leckie and Philips both served in the same company at the same time.

Chez

[JamesM]

If it is based on naval/marine aviation in the Pacific, could be plot be based around the USS Enterprise. I can not recall if there were any major actions that this ship was not part of.

[spence]

A flick/series that concerns itself with DD sailors: "Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" or some such.

As I previously mentioned you had Cdr E N (Butch) Parker skippering the USS Parrott through the battles of Balikpapan, Bandoeng Strait and Java Sea; then getting a "new" ship and sailing her into the 1st night of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Likewise you have a 2nd character, Cdr E. Evans being exec on another 4-piper in the Asiatic Fleet, fighting at Java Sea, then escaping the DEI and getting command of USS Johnson and taking her into the action off Samar at Leyte Gulf. You could even throw in IJN Cdr T(?) Hara (of "Japanese Destroyer Captain" fame) since he fought at Java Sea and later on the 1st night of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (not sure where he was at Leyte Gulf but must have been somewhere nearby since the IJN threw in everything but the kitchen sink).

[SargeantTex]

How bout a 4 part 8 hour series on Chesty Puller!!

[Sardaukar]

I think good miniseries of Air War would be really great, given todays CGI technology.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: spence

A flick/series that concerns itself with DD sailors: "Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" or some such.

That could be monumentally awesome, spence. Follow a select few DDs from Savo through Okinawa? Yeah-I'd watch that...