I'm a huge film fanatic and this particular one has ALWAYS been in my top five. It was the first truly HONEST depiction of those scarred individuals returning from war. I'm an Army vet, my recently-deceased dad was a Navy (Korean war era 51-59) vet and I love love love military films of all stripes - the Frank Capra type rah rah morale-boosters, etc - but this one always stood out for its CANDOR and caused QUITE the stir upon its release.
My Mom's Uncle did that. He was the first soldier to enter battle on D-Day. Refused to send his troops in to do anything he wouldn't. Insisted on going in first. You can see pics of him jumping. He was shot before he landed, and shot several more times in the next few weeks.
Then getting hit by artillery took him off the battlefield. After less than 3 weeks recovering in the hospital he decided it was time to rejoin his men. Doctors wouldn't release him. Nobody found out how he rejoined his battle group, but he was punished for doing so by being kicked out of his beloved Pathfinders. He wound up in the battle of Bastogne, on the NW corner where German armor attacked first. Which means Patton saved his life by getting his men to do what everyone else said was impossible.
He returned home in one piece both physically and mentally, and lived the rest of his days in his tiny hometown. Not quite the Hollywood version, lol
I'm a huge film fanatic and this particular one has ALWAYS been in my top five. It was the first truly HONEST depiction of those scarred individuals returning from war. I'm an Army vet, my recently-deceased dad was a Navy (Korean war era 51-59) vet and I love love love military films of all stripes - the Frank Capra type rah rah morale-boosters, etc - but this one always stood out for its CANDOR and caused QUITE the stir upon its release.
My Mom's Uncle did that. He was the first soldier to enter battle on D-Day. Refused to send his troops in to do anything he wouldn't. Insisted on going in first. You can see pics of him jumping. He was shot before he landed, and shot several more times in the next few weeks.
Then getting hit by artillery took him off the battlefield. After less than 3 weeks recovering in the hospital he decided it was time to rejoin his men. Doctors wouldn't release him. Nobody found out how he rejoined his battle group, but he was punished for doing so by being kicked out of his beloved Pathfinders. He wound up in the battle of Bastogne, on the NW corner where German armor attacked first. Which means Patton saved his life by getting his men to do what everyone else said was impossible.
He returned home in one piece both physically and mentally, and lived the rest of his days in his tiny hometown. Not quite the Hollywood version, lol
this is what our lives were supposed to be like