Tom Hanks was instrumental in raising funds for DC's WWII Memorial when Congress appropriated only 10 percent of the fun

[Irish_Dem]

15. Wow. Confirmation that Hanks and Spielberg got it right.

They were said to have WWII Vet consultants who made sure it was all accurate to the smallest detail.

The fighting in the Philippines was brutal, but there was a Philippine guerrilla resistance which helped.

Recon is quite dangerous because they are going bare bones into enemy territory. And will be killed on
the spot if detected. This group must have their wits about them and be thinking people every second
they are in the field.

Your Dad's story is giving me chills because it is an example of why the US won WWII.
NCOs. Non commissioned officers out in the filed making battle decisions every day.

Japan and Germany had a top down structure. All decisions has to be made at the top.
Even field generals had to wait for Hiltler's permission to make a move. This is why they
were slow to react to DDay. They could have wiped out the Americans right away but
the generals didn't want to wake up Hitler who was still sleeping. So they had to wait but
by then the Allies had a toe hold.

In the US military NCOs have authority to make decisions based on current conditions.
They get the job done the best way they can. To this day China and Russia cannot get the hang
of the US military NCO system. This is one reason Putin is losing in Ukraine. He is has no small unit
professional leadership.

The fact there was 100% survival in that Recon team in the Philippines is astounding.
They should make a movie about it! There is always one buck private who knows better than Sarge.
And learns the hardway. The guy you describe is lucky he is alive.

I bet your Dad had some stories. And now you get to watch those stories on TV.

So glad you are watching it.