The Man Behind 'The War'

THE WAR. Listened today to TELL ME MORE regarding lack of coverage of Latinos and Blacks on this show, and excess coverage of Japanese Americans. I watched the Sunday show and I thought the show covered the Latino involvement and Black involvement in the war from Dec 41-into 1942 well. Latino men and Black men are also being drafted, the Blacks are being segregated in the Army as in the society - specifically the Black unit shown training was an all black with white officer construction battalion. The show also described the racial policies applied against Japanese Americans in Hawaii and on the West Coast (but not elsewhere). On TELL ME MORE there were complaints the show hadn't shown the discrimination Black army veterans and service members met in the United States and after discharge. I also note it hasn't shown the college program for white volunteers, the Tuskagee Airmen and the USAAF 56th (?) all black Fighter Group, the Black Tank Battalions and Tank Destroyer Battalions fighting in Europe, nor the integration of Black soldiers into US Army infantry units in Europe in 1945. The 402nd and 100th Infantry Regiments were also not mentioned. Perhaps this is because so far the first night's show only covers pre-war and up through the Battle of Midway in 1942. Discrimination against Black veterans hasn't been shown because they haven't been discharged. The College program may come up in 1944-45 when it was ended and they were all drafted into the infantry due to the infantry shortage - the reason for integration of Black volunteerins into US Infantry Divisions in Europe as well.
Graphic? Yes. I noted where it was pointed out that the pictures being shown were NOT shown to the public during WW2; that the loss of life and damage to the USN at Pearl Harbour wasn't released to the public, and the loss of troops in the Army's early combat actions in the Pacific weren't released at the time they incurred. Look up the release of an article later in the war by a US newspaper regarding the way US submarines were escaping Japanese escorts due to the Japanese setting their depth charges to explode at too shallow a depth to find an interesting discussion on censorship and freedom of the press. ALL of the nations in WW2 censored pictures and articles written during the war, and letters and other correspondence by the soldiers, sailors, and airmen. Censorship was standard. Like the problem shown getting coastal cities to black-out their lights censorship problems also incurred - like publishing shipping schedules. This program not only shows a pretty good historical perspective of just how WW2 and the US differed in 1939-45 from now, it also is bringing out questions relevent to the U.S. now. Technically I have spotted only one definite historical error in the photography - you saw it too, right? - and possibly a second error as well (black tank crew reloading ammunition on their vehicle). Can you tell why the crew picture was wrong? Sunday's program overall was excellent. Historically MUCH better then the History Channel, Military Channel, or many earlier WDET WW2 historical programs, and very moving.

Sent by Mike Reese | 2:02 PM ET | 09-24-2007

I have watched every night so far, and feel that nothing has been left out. Since there are additional shows that have yet to air, how can anyone criticize on what has or has not been included. I am more concerned with Burns vilifying the American soldier for atrocities that happened in the heat of battle. The soldiers speak with candor when discussing these topics and you have to wonder if this is not a "distant comparison" to what is happening in Iraq.

While watching, I have to ask, is this supposed to show us what happens in war, so that we will not support the war (Iraq), because we just cannot bear the "Graphic" images? I hope this is not the underlying purpose of the film. I am not sure if Burns is Pro-American, or Anti-American, I have yet to make up my mind. I can't say that I have enjoyed every bit of the film. I have watched and teared up as aged soldiers from the pages of history discuss their experiences in the midst of all of the crazy circumstances they encountered. At times, I was appealed at what some of the commanders chose to put our American soldiers through with no regards to the countless men that paved the way for the defeats which happened. I am so proud of our soldiers and the Generals that did finally see the contributions of the Black and Japanese soldiers. What great men, men who fought for our freedom and allowed the comfort and prosperity we share in today.

As I reflect on this show, I have a couple of questions that pertain to "today's issues". The first is Global Warming. We are told that every thing we do and every decision we make effects the environment in a negative way. After seeing the footage of THE WAR and the way Burns presented it, I have to ask, what are we doing that causes Global Warming? The mass of industry that started in the thirties and continued through the war and afterwards, not to mention tens of thousands of war planes, ships and bombers just on our side, contributing to the "environmental" effect is unbelievable. That does not even include all of the other countries contributions with their industries and war machines. What about all of the bombs that were dropped daily for years? What about all of the burning cities that contributed to the air quality? And all of the destroyed equipment, leaking into the ocean and contaminating the land. All of the shells and the shot down airplanes, the bunkers and foxholes and defense systems that were placed into the country sides, what did they contribute? After seeing THE WAR, global warming just seems like a non-issue.

My second is the war in Iraq. If we had the ability to do what we did then, why can't we do the same thing now in Iraq? Where are the generals that are making strides in rooting out the terrorists, the way the Soldiers conquered the Germans and Japs, etc.? The way American soldiers took over territory in World War Two is the way you would expect the war to be fought, as Burns so beautifully displays in the war maps. Why can't we conquer Iraq the same way? Why are people so against a war that will promote the safety of American citizens for the future? Why does the media not believe in promoting America's safety? You look at the media reports from the time, that Burns peppered into THE WAR, and there is support for the war from reporters on the front lines, and they see the atrocities happening. Why is todays media wearing blinders when looking at the dangers of the Islamic terrorist? How many more Americans will have to have 9-11's before the media speaks truth without PC filtering? Why does today's media proclaim that they are reporters first and Americans second. In THE WAR, reporters come across to me as American first. Today's media should take notes from the reporters of The Greatest Generation.

I look forward to watching the other shows in the series.

Sent by MT Champion | 6:19 AM ET | 09-28-2007