diverdriver 7 #1 January 31, 2003 I just got done watching Band of Brothers on DVD. If you don't know what it is it is the story of Easy Company during WWII. They were paratroopers dropped on Normandy. It is an amazing take and Stephen Spielberg and Tom Hanks have really done a great job with all the actors involved to bring Hi-Fidelity to this story. The reason I make this post is because it reminds me of the many relationships I've had during my skydiving career. All 7 years of it. The buddies you make in training. Your first jump. Aircraft emergencies (ok engine failure is not the same as getting shot at. Didn't mean to make it sound like I understand combat when I've never been there.). Helping out wherever necessary. Losing friends. Meeting the "replacements". Promotions, coming up through the ranks. It all seemed a bit familiar. It also made me once again appreciate what fathers, grandfathers and the whole country endured during that time. We all know how the war ended. We read about it. But how did they feel when the war was going on? Were they sure of the outcome? Maybe, maybe not. I asked Australian George (a summer regular at SDC who's still jumping at age 70+) what it was like during that time (Pearl Harbor) and comparing it to the events of Sept. 11, 2001. He said that even though they didn't know what was going to happen they did know that the world was not going to sit by and let things continue as they were. And yes, things have certainly changed in the days following Sept. 11, 2001. We fight what we think is a righteous fight. Some say for oil. Some say for our freedom from Terrorism. We don't use the word Tyranny anymore I guess. But one of the Easy Company veterans who were interviewed at the beginning of each episode in Band of Brothers said that even though they fought and killed Germans that probably under other circumstances that the man he was killing could have been his best friend. Maybe they like to go fishing or hunting too and they could talk about doing those activities. But they both knew they had a job to do right there and they were going to carry it out. I think about skydivers the same way. Maybe if we could get more people across the world into skydiving then we could have more common ground. They wouldn't want to blow us up. And we wouldn't want to retaliate against them. What a missed oportunity it is. And also I see the "tribal warfare" among DZs. Not really among DZs that are in other states. But the DZ down the street. "Us" vs. "Them". What do they know? We're skydivers remember? We are a Band of Brothers because so few understand why we do what we do. We don't have to be doing this activity unlike being drafted for the Army. We do this because we want it to be fun. We have to spread information so that we can survive doing this voluntary activity. We have to look out for each other for no one else will care. Ok...I think I'm done rambling. If you have the chance get the Band of Brothers box set and watch all of the episodes. It's truly remarkable and well done.Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bbarnhouse 0 #2 January 31, 2003 Quote And also I see the "tribal warfare" among DZs. Not really among DZs that are in other states. But the DZ down the street. "Us" vs. "Them". What do they know? We're skydivers remember? We are a Band of Brothers because so few understand why we do what we do. We don't have to be doing this activity unlike being drafted for the Army. We do this because we want it to be fun. We have to spread information so that we can survive doing this voluntary activity. We have to look out for each other for no one else will care. Nicely put....it's called community. Thanks Chris! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eeneR 3 #3 January 31, 2003 I had the honor as well to watch this series....it is intense. It gives a realitly check of what war is, and how much these men did to save our freedom as people. I could go on and on.... I will tell you this, it is worth every dime it costs...and then some. I spent days\hours trying to find a store that had this around christmas. Everyone was sold out. I was worth all the time and effort....its an amazing series. Then again, coming from Spielberg and Hanks... Be prepared, it is a 10 part series...1 hour each. Riviting the entire way....She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway." eeneR TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnnyD 0 #4 January 31, 2003 I watched them all and thought they were AWESOME! Not only entertaining, but an exceptional learning experience as well. I especially liked the part when they found the concentration camp and didn't know what it was. I always assumed that we knew it was going on beforehand. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #5 January 31, 2003 I have them in my Netflix queue...actually I think the first one should be on its way to me right now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gemini 0 #6 February 1, 2003 Got the DVD's for Christmas. Very moving, intense series. Really allowed you to get to know the characters and see them change ...some for the better and some for the worse! The people that I have felt closest to outside my family are the guys I served with and the people I now jump with. I've always thought it strange that there is such a strong bond between jumpers because I always felt my bond to veterans was because of our shared experiences during Vietnam. Blue skies, Jim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
