Watching for the second time the 'Band of Brothers' series, I am again moved by it. Reminded again of the harsh training physical/mind bending conditions to bring men to fighting pitch, regardless of nationality and circumstance, is food for thought. I rarely like music to a series but this sad - almost maudlin accompaniment underpins the many miseries of war as well as highlighting quiet and generous courage..... much as that relentless theme of Schindler's List depicts sawing, gnawing doom enhances emotion.

The sequal to Band of Brothers, The Pacific, is an astonishing series. Not the same format though it does follow some men through the carnage, it is as riveting. It is ten   times more harrowing than the opening D Day scene of Saving Private Ryan and having seen much film footage of this awful conflict, so very  true.

Tom Hanks and Spielburg have caught and reminded us of what that part of WW2 was about. We can but salute the young marines who went through that hell on earth. I hope it will be shown again on more accessible TV channels in UK because less is known of those island by island battles; beachhead after beachhead - and what followed.  The price of freedom is horrendous.

Yes Priscilla, the Marines were magnificent. They had tough training and an esprit de corps that few other groups did. The Navy took it hits too, especially during the kamikaze attacks but not at the level of the marine losses.
That was another era, when the citizenry supported it's military.