War Stories

Atlas Video's latest offering is a five-volume compilation of "war stories" told by WWII vets, with bridging narration from Edwin Newman. We watched two episodes: D-Day Omaha Beach and Remembering Pearl Harbor. Watching both programs we were often aware of what will separate a good show from a really good show: editing. In D-Day Omaha Beach, veterans, many from the 116th Infantry, recount what June 6, 1944 on Omaha Beach was like for them. Bob Slaughter, Ray Nance, Felix Branham, Bob Sales, Locksley Woolridge, and many others talk about the horror of men dying in the water before reaching shore (Sales claims that he was the only man to survive from his landing craft). "All hell broke loose" is the standard refrain, and many of the testimonials make that abundantly clear. Footage ranging from preparatory training to actual combat shots varies in both interest and quality. Remembering Pearl Harbor details, in a similar vein, what happened on another famous day in American military history--December 7, 1941, when Japanese air forces attacked the naval fleet at Pearl Harbor. In the fighting during the early morning hours, 18 battleships were sunk or damaged, 188 American aircraft were damaged, and 2,403 Americans lost their lives. Survivors from the U.S.S. Virginia, Helena, Chew, Pelias, Hull, and the Arizona talk about the confusion that reigned. One seaman who went below to tell his shipmates that the ship was under attack was told "you been drinkin' too much milk." Like the D-Day program, not all of the "story" tellers are equally gifted. Still, the programs are interesting overall, well-produced, and sure to be popular. A bonus is the stirring score by Grammy award winning composer Jon Carroll. The other volumes in the series are: Airmen of World War II, The Fighting Marines, and The Merchant Marine. Recommended. (Available from most distributors.)