[PEN-L:337] Re: Re: Saving Private Ryan

[Mike Yates <mikey+@xxxxxxxx>]

Friends,

I intend to see Spielberg's film, even though I know it will be a mixed bag, like
his other films.  My father was in the South Pacific war for a couple of years as
a radioman in theNavy.  WW2 was the most important event of his life, by far,
though he too seldom spoke of it.  He died last year, so in his memory, I have
begun to read war memoirs, mostly from WW2 and Vietnam.  I have to second Jay's
comments vis-a-vis the patriotism stuff.  And not all of the writers were keen on
the atomic bombings either, even though these brought them home so to speak.

By the way, if anyone on the list can recommend good memoirs to me (any war, any
country, but I like those of non-officers best), I'd be grateful.  And if you get
a chance read "Give Us This Day" by Sidney Stewart, an account of his four years
as a POW, including survival of the Bataan death march.  I really couldn't stop
crying.


Michael Yates


JayHecht@xxxxxxx wrote:

> I just read Valis' "review" of Saving Private Ryan.
>
> Sounds pretty depressing - especially going to a coffee bar afterwords.
>
> I haven't seen the movie but I thought I'd like to share some thoughts about
> the sentimentality associated with WW II, and perhaps Spielberg's motivation.
>
> My dad was a front-line grunt (infantryman) who, at 19, was fighting in the
> Battle of the Bulge.  He never, ever, spoke about his experiences in great
> detail, despite my prodding, and I have never pushed him to tell me.  Though
> I'd say his politics are conservative (but thoughtful), he NEVER embellished
> his war experiences in patriotic terms - in fact he never went in for the
> flag-waving VFW stuff.  A few years back, he finally made some comments about
> this latter point.  He said that when your under fire, your only concern is
> about staying alive and your concern for your buddy - all the other grander
> ideals don't mean anything.  You live for the moment; 99% of your time is
> spent trying to stave off the mind-numbing discomforts of cold, hunger and
> boredom.  Despite the US army's vaunted logistical support, they sent my dad
> and his division to the line in with summer boots!!!  My dad got frozen feet;
> he didn't have a bath or shower for a stretch of 6 weeks as they moved through
> Belgium and into Germany; often his squad would get a bit a head that they
> couldn't get k-rations.  One time, he told me how they came upon a farmhous
> where the German's had just abandoned and they found a fresh loaf of bread.
> My dad was starving and just devoured it, despite having been told that it
> might be poisoned.  These are the few types of stories he has told me.
>
> As a kid growing up, I was always very proud of my dad' having fought in the
> last "noble war" - even though he never, ever, expressed such pride.  He was
> just grateful to get through the experience in one piece, and saw death come
> too early to his buddies that did not come back.  I don't know if this is
> accurate, but of the millions of US soldiers that served in WW II, only about
> 800,000 actually experienced combat duty (in the European theatre).  Why is
> Spielberg making this movie at this time?  Perhaps because we are about to
> lose this generation, and he wants to remember something good and grand about
> America?  I don't know if his movie accomplishes this.  Maybe they should make
> a movie just of interviews of just infantrymen who have served in all the US
> wars.  Just let them speak for themselves and let all these idiots in Congress
> listen.  Maybe that would have some impact on them.
>
> Peace,
>
> Jason