This scene always hits me hard, especially when the orchestral music starts playing as the plane begins to take off. Will forever have respect and never forget these guys for what they did for our country and the world.
@@prollins6443 oh yeah,..he got bored bein a guard at cold mountain penitentiary & seein tom's face everyday..decided to enlist,..guess he got a shock of his life that someone did the same..
No matter how many times we in Europe give thanks to the bravery and determination of these brave boys, we will always have the debt of gratitude, Former captain of the parachute brigade of Spain
My son and I were watching this episode when it was aired on a June 6 anniversary. My son was only partly tuned in, he was 19 at the time. He and his grandfather have birthdays a day apart. As we watched it occurred to me that dad was just one day older than my son on June 6 44. I said to him “granddad was just one day older than you on this day”. He put his phone down and closely followed the rest of that episode. Dad, granddad jumped with 9 Para.
What's going to be so incredibly infuriating is that I'm sure when the COVID crisis is finally over, ad agencies will try to co-opt the "Greatest Generation" to sell shit to people who think they're living through true hardship. "You made it! Our national nightmare is over! Now's the *perfect* time to buy a Buick!" -_-
I'm not sure the term 'greatest generation' is true. The 58,000 US troops who died in Vietnam were average age 19 and the coffins coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan were not filled with old men. Young men and women have been fighting wars all over the world since 1939.
@@grahamdaley4224 most of these men who fought in world war 2 grew up in the great depression. They overcame the most adversity humanity has ever seen. They didn't get a chance to even start their lives until their 30's really. Sure there's been wars but people from later generations never had to deal what they had to deal with. That is why we call them the greatest generation.
@@grahamdaley4224 well my Pops was 17 when deployed to Vietnam for the first of two tours and myself I was 20 when I deployed for the first of four tours and we both still think that was the greatest generation.
My grandpa flew one of these planes into the battle of normandy. When i was a kid he would tell me of his adventures. He drew his flight route that he made during the war. From flying down to cuba and then over to africa. Then north to britain.. Then his many runs into france. He spoke alot about his motorcycle adventure while stationed over there. But he never spoke about the things he saw depicted in movies like this. It wasnt until very late in life that he spoke about what haunted him. Like dropping an entire planeload of troops.. none of which made it home. Landing a swiss cheesed plane while bleeding out from shrapnel wounds. 😢 It wasnt till after he passed at 97 years old that we found photos of his plane. Or the letters he wrote about his experiences. He was 18-20 years old. I will never compare. RIP Stanley R.
@ definitely not. The truth is that more and more people ignore all this history. They content themselves with all their liberties without even knowing the price of it, especially in France where I live.
Says war propaganda. They gave all for some greedy people. Poor foot soldiers, fight over nothing for some moronic reason. I talk about those young men of german, russian, british, american, japanese, italians kill and be killed for nothing but some bullshit propaganda.
Great cinematic shot but not true, the allies learned thier lesson with the invasion of sicily when the airborne troops were fired upon by friendly naval gunfire resulting in hundreds of casualties, when D Day came about they diverted the airborne armada around {both east and west} the Naval forces.
I gotta imagine for the guys on the ground, you’re probably simultaneously thanking your lucky stars you’re not on one of those planes, while also thinking you’d give anything to be on there.
Big time, sure remember it's the first line spoken in the entire show: "There were guys in our town who were 4F, who committed suicide because they *couldn't* go. It was a different time."
On your mind is I don't want to die but if I go some of the other guys are coming wirh me. Former 82nd Paratrooper and 101st Eagle. Was told that first time by the old vets on welcome home week.
truly the greatest generation. A whole lot of them were only 18 years old when they joined and went over there. I cannot imagine but so thankful for this generation
I've probably watched this scene 200 times, but when it pans out at 3:56 I always get chills. It's hard to fathom the sheer scale of the resources the Allies were devoting to the invasion of Normandy. It truly was one of the most momentous events in human history.
@@Trapster99 Hey not just American there were also British,Canadian and free French forces involved in the main invasion and many other nations and most of the ships were British.
@@Scottishlandwarrior To add to that list, there was even a Free Polish army in Normandy. Never the less, without the USA and the massive industrial production that went into the invasion, D-Day would never have happened.
@@Trapster99 And a staging area to assemble the forces which was the UK you could use carriers but america needed them to defend the US mainland from a possible japanese invasion.
Unfortunately, it was also a huge ritual. Look at the numerology. The invasion took place on June 6, at 6 in the morning. 666. Most of these generals and presidents, as well as Prime Minister Winston Churchill were High ranking freemasons. These men obviously did not care about preserving human life. I am sure that everyone can agree at least with that. George Patton actually thought he was a Roman emperor, as did Eisenhower. He was even labeled as the American Caesar.
My grand father was pow. But his father, my grand grand father was on the ground, with his three sons in law, their wiwes, all my family, in different places, waiting for them, to guide americans and britts commandos to farms for hidding before action. Those pictures are the best gift I could receive. THANK YOU ALL 🇫🇷🇬🇧🇺🇸
They too would go over the channel, UK planned and mostly executed a plan of converting their AA-gunners into infantry and field artillery as to make up for expected causalities (the V1 and V2 put something of the dampener to it)
@@hannahdyson7129 yes and no. From 1942-45, the bond was being forged. When you go through a war like that together, you stick together as two democratic countries. With the rise of a Soviet superpower, Britain knew it would have to take a backseat to the United States but still would be able to provide the US with an enormous amount of resources and bases from which to counter the Soviets. Both sides of that relationship relied heavily on the other. It took two world wars for America and Britain to put aside the differences of the previous two centuries and forge a bond that I pray lasts forever.
@@nickcalmes8987 As long as both have the same interest in any sort of way, politics for example, that "special relationship" won't fade just like that.
An event the history of the planet has never experienced before or since. I pray it was only then and we forever have the one, sole, greatest generation to idolize.
Possibly the most profound sequence in TV history, hard not to get choked up thinking about the sheer scale and effort. Don't let them win this time, America
I get chills every time when I see the planes take off. How each soldier doesn't say a word, some pray, some light smokes, some just sit and try to mentally prepare themselves for the long night ahead. Because of their actions and those that stormed the beach heads on June 6, 1944 I have freedom that I am allowed to have today. If I could I would say thank you to them so instead I will honor them with a moment of silence and continue to share their stories. It's important we pass them on to the next generation so they will never be forgotten.
@@ey7290 War is often best described by silence, because as time passes on, humanity's capabilities of war grows deadlier and deadlier. To the point where no word in any dictionary nor language can fully describe the destruction and the experience of just how devastatingly terrible war is. War certainly is hell, regardless of sides.
i watched Band of Brothers hundreds of times. This scene gives me everytime goosebumps when i see it and when i hear the theme.. When the liberation of Europe finally beginns.. I am german.. i owe big gratitude to all the allies and its veterans for doing so. Thank you Truly the greatest Generation
The atmosphere created here is absolutely gut wrenching. You knew, without seeing the events of the show, that many of these men wouldn't return home. Truly a masterpiece of a series.
Imagine sitting on that plane and knowing what you're heading into. This was a very special generation and they did it because they believed in country and freedom, something some today seemed to have lost.
indeed sir, I am a former paratrooper In Europe never been in a WAR , but evry time we been airborne I scare my ass off to have a bad opening of my conopy
The zoom-out shop after they started jumping made me chill. Imagine the sensation of jumping behind enemy lines, without being able to see anything other than flak fire, the planes above, and thousands of others who are in the same situation
@@rioamazoco before you continue to embarrass yourself more, the Ukrainian war is not comparable. Know that it is the Ukraine side that has mass abusers Nazi Batttalions like Azov, who have been harassing and killing civilians from 2014. This proxy war in Ukraine is a dirty war and yes if you really follow history this time Russia has the moral highground and it is winning right now.
My grandfather's brother was a medic in E 506th. He was assigned to the plane carrying Lt Meehan. The one that was never seen again. At the last minute they had to put an extra radio or something in the plane and he got moved to another plane. Cracked vertebrae when he landed. Spent the next couple weeks wandering around Normandy patching people up; he couldn't remember most of it. Pulled a commander of a tank battalion out of his cupola when the guy was in the lead tank blocking a column going down a causeway in Normandy; got a medal for it. Uncle Eddie.
In a time where war criminals who shoots civilians for fun are being held up as heros and kneeling for BLM is being treated as a threat to white fragility.. Sniper Kyle was NOT a hero.. Sniper Kyle was the same kind of fascist bastard the band of brothers would fight against. Compare that to Colin Kapernick who at least are not shooting at civilians in other countries for a living, or advocting for American made war crimes. This coming from a veteran who have served in someone's army. The chickenhwak perspective of flag waving punks only looks pathetic in my eyes. If you're a veteran today, and a minority, you risk being harassed and assaulted by fat white slobs in uniform on a power trip. Perhaps even arrested and convicted for carrying legal medical weed. So, ya'll can romanticise and fantasize about those "real heros" from times gone by and bitch about football players who triggers the all white, fragile American male by kneeling for a fucking piece of cloth and a disgustingly poorly written anthem from times where black folks were held as slave and native Americans viewed as savages with no right to life, liberty or happiness If you are a veteran today who are against all that shit and war, you're no longer a part of the "Patriot's Club",...
There'll never be another generation like this. Nobody alive today has any business thinking they're tough unless they can say they've gone through what the men of the greatest generation went through
I am 75 years old and I am a paratrooper 38 SF and all my children's are Army paratroopers , even my daughter. Every time I watch this scene I still get chills. Today as a Nation we once more face the evil in this world ; however , there are many good men and ladies that are ready to fight for humanity. God bless them and God speed young soldiers.
@@screenwriter44 I am 80 yo and am not a paratrooper. Any one man or woman who enters into armed conflict for their country is a hero in my book! These men in WWll who jumped into the unknown with parachutes and equipment weighing as much as they did not knowing if the chute would be sufficient to safely get to the ground and the crews that flew they planes not being sure it would get off the ground or make it back in one piece are the bravest of the brave. Noting the tires on the C47's were almost flat from the wight of the men and equipment is telling in itself. I am the kid of a WWll vet and have many in my family who served in WWll. I have watched Band of Brothers many times and have an over whelming feeling of sadness for those brave men who saved our world! God bless warriors of every branch.
Well said Terry. The whole of the democratic world needs Ukraine to stop the Russian threat. We need to pay the price to enable them or face the consequences later.
The American way of life is no different to the rest of the western world just centuries younger. The entire West needed a strong president as you are the biggest and most powerful democracy on the planet and the leaders of the free world. Personally I’m delighted your country made the right decision on the 5th of November.
@@Jonesyb90 FDR overall was a great president. The Japanese internment camps though are forever a stain on his legacy. That said when your legacy is overall legendary a stain even a large one does not dent it that much.
@ fair play, legendary legacy is a stretch, amazing country you are, you are pipsqueaks compared to the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, just to name a few. There’s a house 200 yards away from me which is older than the US.
76 Years ago today these men made that jump and begun the assualt that changed the world. 6/6/1944-6/6/2020. Rip to all the soldiers lost in that horrible event and rip to all of easy company that is no longer with us.
I don’t want to take away from their sacrifice but militarily, it wasn’t all that important. The USSR pushed the Germans back. Overlord got the glory, meanwhile Bagration completely destroyed German Army Group Center, killed, wounded or POWed 1 million men and drove the front from deep Russia to Warsaw (several hundred kilometers). To this date the biggest loss in German military history. Overlord accelerated the demise but it was inevitable
@@Sedna063 Some how I get the feeling your trying to diminish that invasion. The Germans line of supply was way over extended. They started out with summer cloths, and they wound up starving and freezing to death. The German soldiers had to walk home from Russia. Many did not make it. That's one hell of a walk.
May it be, the Russians had Germany by the balls. You just can't take away how important it was for the future, for the Rest of Europe or the whole damn world, that the West put their feet on that continent. Every Thing can be debated, criticized and turned upside down. These men sacrificed their lifes for a greater GOOD, no matter what you armchair historians ever make of it.
@@Zaluskowsky Without the Soviet union we British and Americans would have lost the war to the Germans period. As much as we hated the commies it was nice to see enemies come together and fight the biggest threat in the world!
It doesnt matter how many times i have seen this scene, it makes me cry. The silent, the music, the fear in those men eyes. I respect them so much and thank them for liberating my country. I will never forget.
im 20yo and I have seen this show so many times and is by far my favorite. it saddens me to know very few people of my age and even older have seen this show or even care for what these people did for future generations: i am surely born in the wrong one. i will be eternally grateful to them. rest easy!
The greatest gift from America to Western Europe that will last for over a thousand years. This. As a Western European I say that no words of "thank you" will ever be enough. I always get tears in my eyes when I watch the end of this scene.
@@darksoulsgt5006 Oh don't worry, I am perfectly calm. Europe under Nazi opression and possibly Soviet communist opression for hundreds of years was the alternative to D-Day with mostly U.S., but also British, Canadian and various other forces liberating Western Europe. And with no liberation of Western Europe there would have been no liberation of Eastern Europe from opression either. And no de-colonization, which was a process the British and French were compelled to undertake through pressure from the U.S., stated in the Atlantic Charter during World War II. With all due respect but I don't think that you appreciate the importance of D-Day for world history. And had it failed, Hitler might have acquired nuclear weapons just a few years don the road. And then what? Finally, I do get tears in my eyes when I see bravery, self-sacrifice, defiance and a fight against tyranny. That is some of the finest ways for me to express one's humanity. To stand up for humanity. And D-Day was just that.
@@thabomuso2575 you do realize that the role of the Soviets in the defeat of Nazi's was just as crucial as the role of the Americans, British, Canadians and all others that took part? The battle of Stalingrad is recognized by most experts seen as the turning point of the war. That was just as important as D-day. On the other hand, by 1943 the US was producing so much weapons the needed the limit the production, they had simply to much. Meaning, according to experts, they would have won the war also without the Soviets, but that would have taken at least a couple of years more, considering they wouldn't drop nukes on Europe. Last but not least, the Nazi's were not close to building nuclear weapons, they underestimated the amount of money, resources that would take. The Manhattan project had at some point 120.000 people employed, and invested 2 billion dollars. The Nazi's had in comparison a very small team, and there budget was about 0,1% of that off the Manhattan project. And frustrated over the lack of progress and tight budgets over all by losing at most fronts, they were already moving budget to other projects which were very impressive on itself and would have made a turning point in the war if they had some significant numbers. At the end of the war the Germans had much better fighter jets, tanks, rockets, etc. but lost simply by numbers. For every Tiger tank, they were dozens of Shermans available. Important lesson in war, at some point you need to stop investing to much money in development, and put your money in getting numbers.
@@maartenbonhof1271 to make things short. Thanks for the lecture. I am aware of everything that you describe and I know that you are correct. However, I think that you missed my main point. If there had been no D-Day, most of Europe would likely have ended under Stalin's yoke. So not only did the Western Allies have a decicive effect in defeating the Nazis (although the Red Army was the most instrumental factor in defeating Germany). The Western Allies ensured that Nazism was not replaced by communists.
@@thabomuso2575 Thanks, I didn't get that point indeed. Probably correct, the Soviets had an important victory at Stalingrad, but the second battle of El Alemein was also important, just like Operation Overlord. Because it meant that the Nazi's had problems on multiple battlefields all over the map. My point, if d-day didn't happen, the Soviets would have had much more problems with the Nazi's, but surely they had the numbers to win it at the end. Also very relevant is strategic power; I think everyone in the Western Europe was happy with and grateful for D-day, but not doing it would also not have been an option for the US. The amount of influence and power they gained with the NATO, Marshallplan, etc. wouldn't have been far less without it. Everyone knew that the cold war was coming, end their position would have been very difficult without their position in Western Europe. Looking back at it, again, everyone is happy on European & US side, and being grateful is absolutely in order. That being said, I believe it is also valid to remark that it was not only from the goodness of their hart, they did it as well for gaining power, and being in the position for winning the cold war and become the one and only super power for at least 50 years. Sending those troops over the big pond, has been their best strategic decision ever if you look at it from a US point of view.
@@maartenbonhof1271 sure. No sane country would sacrifice hundreds of thousands of wounded and dead soldiers only out of the general goodness of mankind. The Americans overall did few things for free during World War II. The federal US government loaned money to it's other allies and it required the British colonial empire to be dismantled and to allow free trade with the former European colonies. That was also a good thing.
"My plane took off at 11:15 PM. As I remember, it was not quite dark at this time. There was some flying time used to get this huge number of planes in the proper formation for the flight to Normandy. We eventually headed south toward our destination and found ourselves flying at about 500 feet elevation over the English Channel. There was not a lot of talking during the flight across the Channel. I think most of the men were contemplating what was about to happen." - PFC David M Rogers. Hq Co. 1st Bn/506th PIR. June 5th, 1944.
I've taken off and jumped from a C-47 as part of the World War Two Airborne Demonstration Team. There is nothing, nothing like the feeling of being in that aircraft, surrounded by photos of veterans, wearing the uniform and hearing "Get READY! stand UP!, hook UP!..." The palpable weight of history and their legacy surrounds and envelopes you...
Flew formation with two D-Day C-47s this week. Can completely relate. Absolutely nothing like this feeling. Tears were hitting the floor...Couldn’t help but think of this scene
Please never forget the other side General major Kurt students brave Falschrimjaeger who proudly wore the cuff title Kreta !! They were brave men too and pioneers
@@shouvikgupta6498 I'm sorry but I respectfully disagree. They fought for a regime seeking to enslave millions no matter how brave they may have been. They invaded, not liberated the Low Countries, invaded Greece and invaded Crete-- all independent countries. They weren't fighting to liberate them, but to conquer them. What if their bravery had won WWII for them? How many more millions would've died? Their pioneering efforts, while historically significant, played a role in four more years of bloodletting that should have never happened. Remember-- they killed British, New Zealanders and native Cretans during Operation Mercury. The FJ occupation of Crete was not exactly a passive one either.
At the Air Force museum in Dayton they have a C-47 Skytrain painted with invasion stripes, just like the one shown here. I've been there a few times, most recently last week. Every time I see it, I get goosebumps and think of this scene. I also have a cousin who landed in Normandy with the 82nd Airborne division and was later killed in Holland during Operation Market Garden. God bless these men and others like them who saved the world for the rest of us to enjoy.
@jshephqrd152 I’ve been there and when I saw the C-47 I immediately thought of my great grandpa who was a paratrooper in World War II. He was in the 82nd Airborne and parachuted into Sicily and the Salerno Beachhead. He was transferred from the 82nd to the 101st Airborne and jumped into Normandy on D-Day and Market Garden in Holland. He also served at Bastogne. After the war had ended, he volunteered for railway service in Europe until 1947 in the Army Service Forces. I am also in the same Native American tribe (Choctaw) as 1Sgt. Jake McNiece who was the leader of the “Filthy Thirteen”/ 1st demolition section of the HQ company, 3rd Battalion, 506th Regiment, 101st division. They were the 101st troopers who wore warpaint and Mohawks on Normandy. He jumped into Normandy and Holland until he voluntarily joined the pathfinders where he jumped into Bastogne and as an observer with the 17th Airborne in Operation Varsity. Another Choctaw Indian, 2nd Lieutenant Van T Barfoot who was in the 3rd platoon L company, 3rd Battalion, 157th Regiment, 45th Division who earned the Medal of Honor at Anzio but he wasn’t at Normandy but still thought I’d mention it. Sorry that’s a lot to read.
A very brave generation. I'm a proud English man having a great uncle buried in Normandy may He RIP. You answered the call. My prayer is that this generation never has to answer that call like these brave men and women did.
They were cabbies and accountants and iron workers and fry cooks and they saved the world. Could we do that today? Does this generation have what it takes? I don’t know. I hope we never have to find out.
Violence is in our DNA, there is a script surviving from just before the English civil war saying that the English people have gone soft and thus won't fight, similar texts can be found from at least the times of Socrates, the older generations have always complained about the young. If anything the current generation would be exceptionally cruel given it's the loneliest and most depressed generation ever and videogames and tv have desensitized us to violence, just find some drone footage from Ukraine and watch the comments, people are cheering over the pointless deaths of soldiers like the Romans cheered over the bloodbaths in their arenas.
Todays generation could still do it. You just feel they cant because those who cant are noisy and all over the media. Those who can are busy providing for their families. But when the time calls them, they would stood up and go without hesitation.
KrzYsieK ChiggY Agreed. I’m not British, but I have the utmost respect for the Poles who fought in the war. You guys had the highest percentage of your population that died in this awful war.
Eisenhower talked with the men of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division the evening before D-Day. He then waited while the 502nd boarded their transports and saluted each plane as it took off.
Every staff officer had told him the PIR was a mistake and they would take about 90% causalities. Yet he needed them to help nullify the defenses on the beachhead. Yet as he visited and spent time with the 502nd all he could think about was 9 out of every 10 kids he saw there would be dead. He ordered it anyway. Sometimes the hardest thing to do as a commander is to make that call. In the end, they suffered about 25% causalities, and the staff officers apologized for adding to the Allied Commander's burden.
First time I saw this show was on the History channel in 2006 during a D-Day. I was utterly in awe of what I saw. I rewatch it every winter along with The Pacific, and now probably Masters of the Air.
One of the greatest scenes in cinematic history! The score and the pan wide pan to give us an idea of the massive armada headed to liberate Europe from Nazi Germany. Always give me goose bumps.
@birdsonthebat9452, not necessarily… my parents were boomers. My dad served 2 tours in Vietnam in 2nd battalion 75th Rangers, and I served in the 1st Marine Division 2/5. So at least some of the Boomers and Generation X knows what it is to serve.
@@MrSpudz2 Serve or not, the boomers are the worst generation by a country mile. They continue to have a detrimental effect on the US to this day since they are the primary decision making demographic.
My grandfather served in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam, he never talked about his service but I knew it was bad. Bless these paratroopers and the next and what they do for our Nation.
Kills me - the modern headset at 2:10 other than that, one of the best film scenes in terms of setting the stage, the heroism and the sacrifices to be made. The Michael Kamen music just SHINES here
"How do you prepare yourself, mentally? Each man must do that himself. Each man must prepare himself to make that jump." - Maj. Richard Winters I cannot imagine the feeling these men must have felt. Relief, fear, excitement, anger, depression, all of the above. Two years of relentless training, runs up Currahee, train rides, boat rides, drills, jumps, all culminating to this moment. It was for real this time. Real bullets being fired back at you. How would you perform in real combat? Would fear overwhelm you? Or would your training kick in? Was command just sending them right into a buzzsaw? Was this going to become the most infamous massacre in US history? The gravity of this moment (no pun intended) must have been immense. Each man thinking these thoughts, or trying not to.
At 1:49, when the planes start taking off, help was on it’s way. Thousands of young men did what they had to do and never asked something back. We couldn’t thank them enough for the sacrifices they made. Thank you, known and unknown, for liberating us from the nazi terror and giving us the peace that we still have today.
aujourdhui , 6 juin 2023 , il y'a 79 ans , des jeunes americains ont sautės en normandie pour liberer mon pays , la France , je n'ose pas imaginer le courage qu'ils devaient avoir sachant pour certains que ce serait un aller sans retour , gloire eternelles a ces heros 🇫🇷🇺🇸
No solo francia, si no el mundo, sin los aliados sur américa ahora sería todos nazi, era vencer o morir, para librar a la humanidad. Saludos desde el estrecho de magallanes
The era when USA were the real saviour, the Eagle has Landed motto. The freedom fighters. Despite i'm not USA, i salute for the bravery of USA man and woman for the services and sacrifice. May God Almighty bless u all. Ameen
The weight of this scene sealed my watching of the series. It’s one man Then many men into one aircraft Left engine - right engine 1-plane behind dozens. Then dozens joining hundreds… That is just beautiful Perfection.
From this day until the ending of the world, we in it shall too be remembered, we few, we lucky few, we band of brothers, for whomever sheds blood with me today shall be my brother.
Incredible tribute to the pathfinders. Some of the bravest men to come out of this past century. Salute to those still living and respect to those that have passed on.
My great uncle was in the 82nd he didn't jump into Normandy but he served in Belgium he was an aussie and my Great grandpa served in North Africa with the royal engineers
My Grandfather was part of the on beach D-Day invasion and later was in the battle of the bulge at age 17. He finished the war as corporal in a field artillery battalion with two bronze stars. He came home at 21 years old and married my grandmother a year later. He rarely ever talked about the war and suffered with PTSD the rest of his life. Just months before he passed, he talked to me about the war as he sat on the back porch; I'll never forget the haunting look of sadness and seriousness in his eyes as he recounted some of the things he saw and did 65 years after the war. Hated loud noises, understandably. He always had a deep disdain for men with bravado who boasted about their accomplishments. And taught me never to trust a man with a weak handshake and who doesn't look you in the eye. He was blessed to live his last 15 years in a quiet, peaceful community. A remarkable man and an American hero. He was given a true soldier's burial at a veteran cemetery in 2009. 🇺🇲 🫡 🪖
God bless your family and your brave grandparents… I’m sure that they are in Paradise together, full of joy and happiness. No more sorrow, no more PTSD. We need more men like your grandfather in todays world…
I think there's a quote from Eisenhower that after he gave the go ahead for D-Day he said he felt like the most helpless man in the world because now it's up the men and boys doing the fighting to execute the plan.
Let us never forget, what they have sacrificed, young men, never went to a dance with a girl...never had families and raised children...never spent Christmas with the beloved ones around them. Not,as we Do. Pray for the heroes still unfound abroad and all those who came home. Thank you for your Service! Great Men,thank you
Notice how the invasion stripes on the planes are crudely painted on. This is how they actually would have looked compared to the clean lines you see depicted on warbirds flying around today. I believe the ground crews actually only got the orders to paint them a day or 2 before the actual mission and had to rush to find enough paint to apply it.
@@Sedna063 The black and white striping was so that soldiers, sailors, and airmen didn't shoot friendly aircraft. In short they were IFF markings that later became iconic.
Some were painted not long before take off. I believe that in the famous photo of two of the Filthy Thirteen (comrades of Jake McNiece) applying warpaint next to an aircraft before embarking for the drop, they are using paint from the open cans just after it had been applied to the wings and fuselage. There had been tragedies in the Salerno landings (OP Avalanche) and elsewhere on which friendly aircraft were shot down. The decision to use invasion markings was made for that reason. Paint stocks were made plentiful, but the order to mark the 'planes was made only hours before take off, for obvious security reasons.
May sound really stupid, but I cry at this scene. At the music, at the visuals, at the thought that this was real, and that these men took on the responsibility of restoring peace to the world, and were prepared to face death for it. Some came home, lots didn’t. a very noble undertaking. Without a doubt the very bravest generation ❤❤❤
Generation of complete bad asses!! My grandpa served in Europe and Korea. Once, I asked why he signed back up for Korea, his response, "SON! We were art war! The men went and fought..the women, children, and sick stayed home! Its what a man did in those days." I still remember his arms scared from knife fights via hand to hand combat. When he was around, I swear you could smell the testosterone coming out of him! He was tough as nails til' the day he died...he even died being tough! A real man!
This scene always hits me hard, especially when the orchestral music starts playing as the plane begins to take off. Will forever have respect and never forget these guys for what they did for our country and the world.
What is the title of music?
@@SultanCAHAYAPUTRA Nicely said...!
@@ricardoaguirre7694 hombres comprometidos
@@ricardoaguirre7694 combatieron
@@SultanCAHAYAPUTRA I think it is Band of Brothers suite 1 at about 1:30
Anyone else watching this in the eve of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day?
I'm watching it D Day 80 eve at 1150hrs, the time they would have been about to jump. I feel a great affinity and awe for these men.
I’m watching this on D-Day 80 Eve at 0136 BST, which, I believe, is right about the time the first airborne units were landing on French soil.
Sí.
Yes🥲
Every year on 6 june i come back here
and somewhere down those ships, tom hanks, tom sizemore, & vin diesel..
You forgot Barry Pepper!
John Wayne in another Dakota. I think half of male Hollywood has been there.
You also forgot wolverine and sabretooth!
@@prollins6443 oh yeah,..he got bored bein a guard at cold mountain penitentiary & seein tom's face everyday..decided to enlist,..guess he got a shock of his life that someone did the same..
i like to think to myself that SPR and BoB take place in the same universe.
80 years later! We still remember you guys, thank you
Currahee!
No matter how many times we in Europe give thanks to the bravery and determination of these brave boys, we will always have the debt of gratitude, Former captain of the parachute brigade of Spain
Isn´t it our holy duty to keep the freedom in piece alive wherever and whenever because this guys and so may other died for us ...
My son and I were watching this episode when it was aired on a June 6 anniversary. My son was only partly tuned in, he was 19 at the time. He and his grandfather have birthdays a day apart. As we watched it occurred to me that dad was just one day older than my son on June 6 44. I said to him “granddad was just one day older than you on this day”. He put his phone down and closely followed the rest of that episode. Dad, granddad jumped with 9 Para.
Great meaningful anecdote
Nice, my grandma strapped bombs to planes. I'ma have to come back with more information. To be continued...😎
Here we remember and honor, D-Day 80. These soldiers were the real heroes. Salute and many thanks for their service.
Love how Winters helps each man to his feet with a reassuring 'I'm with you' nod.
That’s what leadership looks like.
A true leader
Greatest Generation ever we owe those lads all that we have
It will exists only in combat
What's going to be so incredibly infuriating is that I'm sure when the COVID crisis is finally over, ad agencies will try to co-opt the "Greatest Generation" to sell shit to people who think they're living through true hardship. "You made it! Our national nightmare is over! Now's the *perfect* time to buy a Buick!" -_-
I'm not sure the term 'greatest generation' is true. The 58,000 US troops who died in Vietnam were average age 19 and the coffins coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan were not filled with old men. Young men and women have been fighting wars all over the world since 1939.
@@grahamdaley4224 most of these men who fought in world war 2 grew up in the great depression. They overcame the most adversity humanity has ever seen. They didn't get a chance to even start their lives until their 30's really. Sure there's been wars but people from later generations never had to deal what they had to deal with. That is why we call them the greatest generation.
@@grahamdaley4224 well my Pops was 17 when deployed to Vietnam for the first of two tours and myself I was 20 when I deployed for the first of four tours and we both still think that was the greatest generation.
My grandpa flew one of these planes into the battle of normandy. When i was a kid he would tell me of his adventures. He drew his flight route that he made during the war. From flying down to cuba and then over to africa. Then north to britain.. Then his many runs into france. He spoke alot about his motorcycle adventure while stationed over there. But he never spoke about the things he saw depicted in movies like this. It wasnt until very late in life that he spoke about what haunted him. Like dropping an entire planeload of troops.. none of which made it home. Landing a swiss cheesed plane while bleeding out from shrapnel wounds. 😢
It wasnt till after he passed at 97 years old that we found photos of his plane. Or the letters he wrote about his experiences.
He was 18-20 years old. I will never compare. RIP Stanley R.
Brave and honor
Your fight, like mine own, is a different one. X
Interessant stuff
It can NEVER be said enough, they gave ALL their tomorrow’s for our today.
@ no, I don't think so.
@ definitely not. The truth is that more and more people ignore all this history. They content themselves with all their liberties without even knowing the price of it, especially in France where I live.
And it's so sad to see what we have come down to again.
Financial uncertainty
Fear mongering against outsiders
Blaming others for everything
Says war propaganda. They gave all for some greedy people. Poor foot soldiers, fight over nothing for some moronic reason. I talk about those young men of german, russian, british, american, japanese, italians kill and be killed for nothing but some bullshit propaganda.
We can never thank them enough.
I miss you Dad. ❤
That ending shot with the naval armada and aircraft gives me chills every time.
Me too…I think of my grandfather…who’s since passed a b-17 gunner…but every bit as brave as those fine young men.
Great cinematic shot but not true, the allies learned thier lesson with the invasion of sicily when the airborne troops were fired upon by friendly naval gunfire resulting in hundreds of casualties, when D Day came about they diverted the airborne armada around {both east and west} the Naval forces.
Largest amphibious invasion in all of history
Burrrr!
The germans said there were ships as far as the eye could see
There are only 2 members of Easy Company left alive today. Time will never diminish the Glory of their Deeds.
Do you happen to know what two?
@@ddbronco1873 Edward D. Shames is one of them
@@kingmalric6571 who’s that?
@@andresramirez3840 he's the guy Winters describes as shouting at everything in Bastogne
Shames is now the only one now... as of 2020
I gotta imagine for the guys on the ground, you’re probably simultaneously thanking your lucky stars you’re not on one of those planes, while also thinking you’d give anything to be on there.
Big time, sure remember it's the first line spoken in the entire show:
"There were guys in our town who were 4F, who committed suicide because they *couldn't* go. It was a different time."
my God is in control of my destiny, not stars!
Imagine they saw the world today. I don't think they'd get on😂
On your mind is I don't want to die but if I go some of the other guys are coming wirh me. Former 82nd Paratrooper and 101st Eagle. Was told that first time by the old vets on welcome home week.
@@happyzone1000I’d rather have the World right now as it is than what the fascist pigs wanted.
truly the greatest generation. A whole lot of them were only 18 years old when they joined and went over there. I cannot imagine but so thankful for this generation
I've probably watched this scene 200 times, but when it pans out at 3:56 I always get chills. It's hard to fathom the sheer scale of the resources the Allies were devoting to the invasion of Normandy. It truly was one of the most momentous events in human history.
All I can think of when I see that great pan out is, "Hey Germany, America is coming."
@@Trapster99 Hey not just American there were also British,Canadian and free French forces involved in the main invasion and many other nations and most of the ships were British.
@@Scottishlandwarrior To add to that list, there was even a Free Polish army in Normandy. Never the less, without the USA and the massive industrial production that went into the invasion, D-Day would never have happened.
@@Trapster99 And a staging area to assemble the forces which was the UK you could use carriers but america needed them to defend the US mainland from a possible japanese invasion.
Unfortunately, it was also a huge ritual. Look at the numerology. The invasion took place on June 6, at 6 in the morning. 666. Most of these generals and presidents, as well as Prime Minister Winston Churchill were High ranking freemasons. These men obviously did not care about preserving human life. I am sure that everyone can agree at least with that. George Patton actually thought he was a Roman emperor, as did Eisenhower. He was even labeled as the American Caesar.
73 years old and every time I watch this, my eyes tear up.
My grand father was pow.
But his father, my grand grand father was on the ground, with his three sons in law, their wiwes, all my family, in different places, waiting for them, to guide americans and britts commandos to farms for hidding before action.
Those pictures are the best gift I could receive.
THANK YOU ALL 🇫🇷🇬🇧🇺🇸
80 years ago my great grandfather jumped into Normandy with the 101st. He was only 17. Crazy.
Before my enlistment I watch Bob and did my 1st jump in sg as a 181 airborne course 20yo paratrooper in 2005
The silent stare of those Brit gunners says it all. A silent salute from brothers on each side of the Special Relationship.
They too would go over the channel, UK planned and mostly executed a plan of converting their AA-gunners into infantry and field artillery as to make up for expected causalities (the V1 and V2 put something of the dampener to it)
The special relationship didn't exist until after the war
@@hannahdyson7129 would also have been nothing without the war
@@hannahdyson7129 yes and no. From 1942-45, the bond was being forged. When you go through a war like that together, you stick together as two democratic countries. With the rise of a Soviet superpower, Britain knew it would have to take a backseat to the United States but still would be able to provide the US with an enormous amount of resources and bases from which to counter the Soviets. Both sides of that relationship relied heavily on the other. It took two world wars for America and Britain to put aside the differences of the previous two centuries and forge a bond that I pray lasts forever.
@@nickcalmes8987 As long as both have the same interest in any sort of way, politics for example, that "special relationship" won't fade just like that.
it saddens me that this generation of heroes will soon no longer be with us
If you were 20 on June 6 1944, you'd now be 99. Very very few of them left :(
An event the history of the planet has never experienced before or since. I pray it was only then and we forever have the one, sole, greatest generation to idolize.
All of them already passed away, salute to these great war veterans
Saddens me that they had to watch what their sacrifice was used to create.
They may leave us, but their stories and what they fought for will live on forever…
Possibly the most profound sequence in TV history, hard not to get choked up thinking about the sheer scale and effort. Don't let them win this time, America
I get chills every time when I see the planes take off. How each soldier doesn't say a word, some pray, some light smokes, some just sit and try to mentally prepare themselves for the long night ahead. Because of their actions and those that stormed the beach heads on June 6, 1944 I have freedom that I am allowed to have today. If I could I would say thank you to them so instead I will honor them with a moment of silence and continue to share their stories. It's important we pass them on to the next generation so they will never be forgotten.
Are u from france sir?
@@ahmadshasha3632 Brazil mate, I think he is talking about the Brazilians smoking snakes during ww2 (reading off from the translation)
Not a single word prononced during the whole scene. Just powerful images and mind blowing music !
That soundtrack though.... it's perfect
Words cant describe war, only personal experience, and the personal experience here is silence and anticipation for whats next
@@ey7290 War is often best described by silence, because as time passes on, humanity's capabilities of war grows deadlier and deadlier. To the point where no word in any dictionary nor language can fully describe the destruction and the experience of just how devastatingly terrible war is.
War certainly is hell, regardless of sides.
@@flankspeed bjqv,jv
Well said! Not a word need to be pronounced…
i watched Band of Brothers hundreds of times.
This scene gives me everytime goosebumps when i see it and when i hear the theme..
When the liberation of Europe finally beginns..
I am german.. i owe big gratitude to all the allies and its veterans for doing so. Thank you
Truly the greatest Generation
The atmosphere created here is absolutely gut wrenching. You knew, without seeing the events of the show, that many of these men wouldn't return home.
Truly a masterpiece of a series.
It warms my heart to know that brave men are still being remembered and honored as people still watch this video in 2022
I will watch it forever
Imagine sitting on that plane and knowing what you're heading into. This was a very special generation and they did it because they believed in country and freedom, something some today seemed to have lost.
indeed sir, I am a former paratrooper In Europe never been in a WAR , but evry time we been airborne I scare my ass off to have a bad opening of my conopy
It has not been lost in Ukraine.
The zoom-out shop after they started jumping made me chill. Imagine the sensation of jumping behind enemy lines, without being able to see anything other than flak fire, the planes above, and thousands of others who are in the same situation
@@rioamazoco before you continue to embarrass yourself more, the Ukrainian war is not comparable. Know that it is the Ukraine side that has mass abusers Nazi Batttalions like Azov, who have been harassing and killing civilians from 2014.
This proxy war in Ukraine is a dirty war and yes if you really follow history this time Russia has the moral highground and it is winning right now.
My grandfather's brother was a medic in E 506th. He was assigned to the plane carrying Lt Meehan. The one that was never seen again. At the last minute they had to put an extra radio or something in the plane and he got moved to another plane. Cracked vertebrae when he landed. Spent the next couple weeks wandering around Normandy patching people up; he couldn't remember most of it. Pulled a commander of a tank battalion out of his cupola when the guy was in the lead tank blocking a column going down a causeway in Normandy; got a medal for it. Uncle Eddie.
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers-for whoever sheds his blood with me today shall be my brother."
St. Crispen's Day.
Thank you, rest in peace. Heros. 80 years today.
Who else is here 79 years later in the early hours of June 6 thinking about the kids?
80 years. A bit late for your comment, but their sacrifices will be remembered.
Great camera shots and editing. The plane flying over the British antiaircraft guns. Thank for taking over mates.
In a time when footballers are called hero's, these men were,and for ever will be real hero's
you speak truth
Footballers and others like them are ''sports celebrities' '' and no way are they heroes. Irks me everytime I hear ''sports hero.''
steve Cater , indeed footballers are noting it all
Incredible how the world changed this way so fast
In a time where war criminals who shoots civilians for fun are being held up as heros and kneeling for BLM is being treated as a threat to white fragility..
Sniper Kyle was NOT a hero.. Sniper Kyle was the same kind of fascist bastard the band of brothers would fight against.
Compare that to Colin Kapernick who at least are not shooting at civilians in other countries for a living, or advocting for American made war crimes.
This coming from a veteran who have served in someone's army.
The chickenhwak perspective of flag waving punks only looks pathetic in my eyes.
If you're a veteran today, and a minority, you risk being harassed and assaulted by fat white slobs in uniform on a power trip.
Perhaps even arrested and convicted for carrying legal medical weed.
So, ya'll can romanticise and fantasize about those "real heros" from times gone by and bitch about football players who triggers the all white, fragile American male by kneeling for a fucking piece of cloth and a disgustingly poorly written anthem from times where black folks were held as slave and native Americans viewed as savages with no right to life, liberty or happiness
If you are a veteran today who are against all that shit and war, you're no longer a part of the "Patriot's Club",...
Respect from France 🇫🇷🇺🇸👍
🇺🇸❤️🇫🇷
“Goodbye USA, hello france! We’ll square our debt to you!”
Lifelong allies!
There'll never be another generation like this. Nobody alive today has any business thinking they're tough unless they can say they've gone through what the men of the greatest generation went through
thankyou ,my father was a world war 2 vet, what a cowardly joke most people are today in comparison
The easy thing is to call them unique...the greatest generation. The right thing is to see it in ourselves, and do the right thing if our time comes.
I do not think we will ever see the like of the bravery of courage like this again. Truly the greatest generation.
I am 75 years old and I am a paratrooper 38 SF and all my children's are Army paratroopers , even my daughter. Every time I watch this scene I still get chills. Today as a Nation we once more face the evil in this world ; however , there are many good men and ladies that are ready to fight for humanity. God bless them and God speed young soldiers.
God Bless and Garryowen from the 7th Cav
@@screenwriter44 I am 80 yo and am not a paratrooper. Any one man or woman who enters into armed conflict for their country is a hero in my book! These men in WWll who jumped into the unknown with parachutes and equipment weighing as much as they did not knowing if the chute would be sufficient to safely get to the ground and the crews that flew they planes not being sure it would get off the ground or make it back in one piece are the bravest of the brave. Noting the tires on the C47's were almost flat from the wight of the men and equipment is telling in itself. I am the kid of a WWll vet and have many in my family who served in WWll. I have watched Band of Brothers many times and have an over whelming feeling of sadness for those brave men who saved our world! God bless warriors of every branch.
Yes, God's blessings on them all! "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the Lord" Proverbs 21:31
38 SF?
Well said Terry. The whole of the democratic world needs Ukraine to stop the Russian threat. We need to pay the price to enable them or face the consequences later.
This scene precedes the greatest hour of television ever produced.
Teach your kids and your grandkids - that day must never be forgotten!
We need a president like Eisenhower back on the helm of this great country to bring things back to prospective and preserve our American way of life.
The American way of life is no different to the rest of the western world just centuries younger. The entire West needed a strong president as you are the biggest and most powerful democracy on the planet and the leaders of the free world. Personally I’m delighted your country made the right decision on the 5th of November.
@Jonesyb90 both of our options were bad. I would love to be able to vote for someone like Eisenhower.
@@ssgus3682 what about FDR?
@@Jonesyb90 FDR overall was a great president. The Japanese internment camps though are forever a stain on his legacy. That said when your legacy is overall legendary a stain even a large one does not dent it that much.
@ fair play, legendary legacy is a stretch, amazing country you are, you are pipsqueaks compared to the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, just to name a few. There’s a house 200 yards away from me which is older than the US.
76 Years ago today these men made that jump and begun the assualt that changed the world. 6/6/1944-6/6/2020. Rip to all the soldiers lost in that horrible event and rip to all of easy company that is no longer with us.
❤️
Let's not forget the efforts of all the allies during the war...
TH-cam is showing this as 1 year ago, instead of 18 mos, that bothers me some.
*Lest we forget*
Lest we forget
I hope we will see another generation like this... soon. We need them.
The greatest TV show there ever was. Ahead of its time.
A pure masterpiece.
To this day it’s hard to wrap your brain around just how massive and important this day was for all of history. Thanks to this generation.
I don’t want to take away from their sacrifice but militarily, it wasn’t all that important. The USSR pushed the Germans back. Overlord got the glory, meanwhile Bagration completely destroyed German Army Group Center, killed, wounded or POWed 1 million men and drove the front from deep Russia to Warsaw (several hundred kilometers). To this date the biggest loss in German military history.
Overlord accelerated the demise but it was inevitable
@@Sedna063 Some how I get the feeling your trying to diminish that invasion. The Germans line of supply was way over extended. They started out with summer cloths, and they wound up starving and freezing to death. The German soldiers had to walk home from Russia. Many did not make it. That's one hell of a walk.
May it be, the Russians had Germany by the balls.
You just can't take away how important it was for the future, for the Rest of Europe or the whole damn world, that the West put their feet on that continent.
Every Thing can be debated, criticized and turned upside down.
These men sacrificed their lifes for a greater GOOD, no matter what you armchair historians ever make of it.
@@Zaluskowsky Without the Soviet union we British and Americans would have lost the war to the Germans period. As much as we hated the commies it was nice to see enemies come together and fight the biggest threat in the world!
@@CptNeogene dude you are the most ignorant person on this thread…
At 2:58 I love the subtle detail of the guy saluting the planes and another guy (presumably British) seemingly doing the “V for Victory” gesture!
I only just noticed. Now i can’t see anything else. Thank you for that heads up, and thank you for those that allowed my children to be free.
That were american paratroopers, part of the second wave. They jumped in two waves, it think 4 hours apart.
It doesnt matter how many times i have seen this scene, it makes me cry. The silent, the music, the fear in those men eyes. I respect them so much and thank them for liberating my country.
I will never forget.
What a scene with all those men on the ground, watching these guys go and fly right into the jaws of the beast in complete silence.
im 20yo and I have seen this show so many times and is by far my favorite. it saddens me to know very few people of my age and even older have seen this show or even care for what these people did for future generations: i am surely born in the wrong one. i will be eternally grateful to them. rest easy!
The greatest gift from America to Western Europe that will last for over a thousand years. This. As a Western European I say that no words of "thank you" will ever be enough.
I always get tears in my eyes when I watch the end of this scene.
@@darksoulsgt5006 Oh don't worry, I am perfectly calm. Europe under Nazi opression and possibly Soviet communist opression for hundreds of years was the alternative to D-Day with mostly U.S., but also British, Canadian and various other forces liberating Western Europe. And with no liberation of Western Europe there would have been no liberation of Eastern Europe from opression either.
And no de-colonization, which was a process the British and French were compelled to undertake through pressure from the U.S., stated in the Atlantic Charter during World War II.
With all due respect but I don't think that you appreciate the importance of D-Day for world history. And had it failed, Hitler might have acquired nuclear weapons just a few years don the road. And then what?
Finally, I do get tears in my eyes when I see bravery, self-sacrifice, defiance and a fight against tyranny. That is some of the finest ways for me to express one's humanity. To stand up for humanity. And D-Day was just that.
@@thabomuso2575 you do realize that the role of the Soviets in the defeat of Nazi's was just as crucial as the role of the Americans, British, Canadians and all others that took part? The battle of Stalingrad is recognized by most experts seen as the turning point of the war. That was just as important as D-day.
On the other hand, by 1943 the US was producing so much weapons the needed the limit the production, they had simply to much. Meaning, according to experts, they would have won the war also without the Soviets, but that would have taken at least a couple of years more, considering they wouldn't drop nukes on Europe.
Last but not least, the Nazi's were not close to building nuclear weapons, they underestimated the amount of money, resources that would take. The Manhattan project had at some point 120.000 people employed, and invested 2 billion dollars. The Nazi's had in comparison a very small team, and there budget was about 0,1% of that off the Manhattan project. And frustrated over the lack of progress and tight budgets over all by losing at most fronts, they were already moving budget to other projects which were very impressive on itself and would have made a turning point in the war if they had some significant numbers. At the end of the war the Germans had much better fighter jets, tanks, rockets, etc. but lost simply by numbers. For every Tiger tank, they were dozens of Shermans available. Important lesson in war, at some point you need to stop investing to much money in development, and put your money in getting numbers.
@@maartenbonhof1271 to make things short. Thanks for the lecture. I am aware of everything that you describe and I know that you are correct.
However, I think that you missed my main point. If there had been no D-Day, most of Europe would likely have ended under Stalin's yoke. So not only did the Western Allies have a decicive effect in defeating the Nazis (although the Red Army was the most instrumental factor in defeating Germany). The Western Allies ensured that Nazism was not replaced by communists.
@@thabomuso2575 Thanks, I didn't get that point indeed. Probably correct, the Soviets had an important victory at Stalingrad, but the second battle of El Alemein was also important, just like Operation Overlord. Because it meant that the Nazi's had problems on multiple battlefields all over the map. My point, if d-day didn't happen, the Soviets would have had much more problems with the Nazi's, but surely they had the numbers to win it at the end.
Also very relevant is strategic power; I think everyone in the Western Europe was happy with and grateful for D-day, but not doing it would also not have been an option for the US. The amount of influence and power they gained with the NATO, Marshallplan, etc. wouldn't have been far less without it. Everyone knew that the cold war was coming, end their position would have been very difficult without their position in Western Europe. Looking back at it, again, everyone is happy on European & US side, and being grateful is absolutely in order. That being said, I believe it is also valid to remark that it was not only from the goodness of their hart, they did it as well for gaining power, and being in the position for winning the cold war and become the one and only super power for at least 50 years. Sending those troops over the big pond, has been their best strategic decision ever if you look at it from a US point of view.
@@maartenbonhof1271 sure. No sane country would sacrifice hundreds of thousands of wounded and dead soldiers only out of the general goodness of mankind. The Americans overall did few things for free during World War II. The federal US government loaned money to it's other allies and it required the British colonial empire to be dismantled and to allow free trade with the former European colonies. That was also a good thing.
"My plane took off at 11:15 PM. As I remember, it was not quite dark at this time. There was some flying time used to get this huge number of planes in the proper formation for the flight to Normandy. We eventually headed south toward our destination and found ourselves flying at about 500 feet elevation over the English Channel. There was not a lot of talking during the flight across the Channel. I think most of the men were contemplating what was about to happen."
- PFC David M Rogers. Hq Co. 1st Bn/506th PIR. June 5th, 1944.
this scene is very powerful the music is just perfect to accompanied the event
I've taken off and jumped from a C-47 as part of the World War Two Airborne Demonstration Team. There is nothing, nothing like the feeling of being in that aircraft, surrounded by photos of veterans, wearing the uniform and hearing "Get READY! stand UP!, hook UP!..." The palpable weight of history and their legacy surrounds and envelopes you...
Flew formation with two D-Day C-47s this week. Can completely relate. Absolutely nothing like this feeling. Tears were hitting the floor...Couldn’t help but think of this scene
Please never forget the other side General major Kurt students brave Falschrimjaeger who proudly wore the cuff title Kreta !! They were brave men too and pioneers
@@shouvikgupta6498 I'm sorry but I respectfully disagree. They fought for a regime seeking to enslave millions no matter how brave they may have been. They invaded, not liberated the Low Countries, invaded Greece and invaded Crete-- all independent countries. They weren't fighting to liberate them, but to conquer them.
What if their bravery had won WWII for them? How many more millions would've died? Their pioneering efforts, while historically significant, played a role in four more years of bloodletting that should have never happened.
Remember-- they killed British, New Zealanders and native Cretans during Operation Mercury. The FJ occupation of Crete was not exactly a passive one either.
I did the same on June 6th 1994, Sicily DZ
@@u.s.paratroops4633 Awesome! Have you jumped with us in Frederick?
At the Air Force museum in Dayton they have a C-47 Skytrain painted with invasion stripes, just like the one shown here. I've been there a few times, most recently last week. Every time I see it, I get goosebumps and think of this scene. I also have a cousin who landed in Normandy with the 82nd Airborne division and was later killed in Holland during Operation Market Garden. God bless these men and others like them who saved the world for the rest of us to enjoy.
@jshephqrd152
I’ve been there and when I saw the C-47 I immediately thought of my great grandpa who was a paratrooper in World War II. He was in the 82nd Airborne and parachuted into Sicily and the Salerno Beachhead.
He was transferred from the 82nd to the 101st Airborne and jumped into Normandy on D-Day and Market Garden in Holland. He also served at Bastogne. After the war had ended, he volunteered for railway service in Europe until 1947 in the Army Service Forces. I am also in the same Native American tribe (Choctaw) as 1Sgt. Jake McNiece who was the leader of the “Filthy Thirteen”/ 1st demolition section of the HQ company, 3rd Battalion, 506th Regiment, 101st division. They were the 101st troopers who wore warpaint and Mohawks on Normandy. He jumped into Normandy and Holland until he voluntarily joined the pathfinders where he jumped into Bastogne and as an observer with the 17th Airborne in Operation Varsity. Another Choctaw Indian, 2nd Lieutenant Van T Barfoot who was in the 3rd platoon L company, 3rd Battalion, 157th Regiment, 45th Division who earned the Medal of Honor at Anzio but he wasn’t at Normandy but still thought I’d mention it. Sorry that’s a lot to read.
@@cameronkedas3375
It's well worth reading. We should all be thankful for those men.
A very brave generation. I'm a proud English man having a great uncle buried in Normandy may He RIP. You answered the call. My prayer is that this generation never has to answer that call like these brave men and women did.
May God watch over your great uncle, sir.
They were cabbies and accountants and iron workers and fry cooks and they saved the world. Could we do that today? Does this generation have what it takes? I don’t know. I hope we never have to find out.
Violence is in our DNA, there is a script surviving from just before the English civil war saying that the English people have gone soft and thus won't fight, similar texts can be found from at least the times of Socrates, the older generations have always complained about the young.
If anything the current generation would be exceptionally cruel given it's the loneliest and most depressed generation ever and videogames and tv have desensitized us to violence, just find some drone footage from Ukraine and watch the comments, people are cheering over the pointless deaths of soldiers like the Romans cheered over the bloodbaths in their arenas.
I believe those who go into the military especially those who volunteer for combat roles could.
The issue is the public at large could not.
It's an all volunteer force. I imagine those who signed up will have what it takes.
Yes we could s a currently surving combat engineer in the Canadian armed forces we could.We just as a society have to relocate and identify our balls.
Todays generation could still do it. You just feel they cant because those who cant are noisy and all over the media. Those who can are busy providing for their families. But when the time calls them, they would stood up and go without hesitation.
Thanks Greatest Generation! For those still with us, can imagine what you think of today's America.
80 years ago🫡
Polish uploader?
We should never forget the brave Poles who fought in the skies over Britain.
"For your freedom and for ours."
Yes
KrzYsieK ChiggY Agreed. I’m not British, but I have the utmost respect for the Poles who fought in the war. You guys had the highest percentage of your population that died in this awful war.
Liam Weaver wait I thought the hightest percent was the ussr and Germany?
Furnil those were the highest in total death count.
And were royally screwed over after the end. Churchill saw what was happening. FDR, and later Truman, wouldn't support him.
The music was something else in this scene. Really set the scene for the rest of the series.
I come back to this series almost every year. Such a good one.
Eisenhower talked with the men of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division the evening before D-Day. He then waited while the 502nd boarded their transports and saluted each plane as it took off.
Every staff officer had told him the PIR was a mistake and they would take about 90% causalities. Yet he needed them to help nullify the defenses on the beachhead. Yet as he visited and spent time with the 502nd all he could think about was 9 out of every 10 kids he saw there would be dead. He ordered it anyway. Sometimes the hardest thing to do as a commander is to make that call. In the end, they suffered about 25% causalities, and the staff officers apologized for adding to the Allied Commander's burden.
First time I saw this show was on the History channel in 2006 during a D-Day. I was utterly in awe of what I saw. I rewatch it every winter along with The Pacific, and now probably Masters of the Air.
"There are no great men. There are only ordinary men facing great challenges."
'Bull" Halsey
utter crap!!!!!
One of the greatest scenes in cinematic history! The score and the pan wide pan to give us an idea of the massive armada headed to liberate Europe from Nazi Germany. Always give me goose bumps.
Tonight 80 years ago, for the liberation from Nazi tyranny
From the Greatest Generation to the entitled brats we have today…. Where did we go wrong?
@@MrSpudz2Blame it on the parents. It starts there..
@@MrSpudz2 the boomers.
@birdsonthebat9452, not necessarily… my parents were boomers. My dad served 2 tours in Vietnam in 2nd battalion 75th Rangers, and I served in the 1st Marine Division 2/5. So at least some of the Boomers and Generation X knows what it is to serve.
@@MrSpudz2 Serve or not, the boomers are the worst generation by a country mile. They continue to have a detrimental effect on the US to this day since they are the primary decision making demographic.
To the greatest generation that never got to see how it all turned out!
Best War show i've ever watched.
Yeap, I remembered I watched this with my grandma back during my kindergarten days
Don't forget the Pacific too
@@stephenlewis2975 sure
My grandfather served in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam, he never talked about his service but I knew it was bad. Bless these paratroopers and the next and what they do for our Nation.
This generation of American warriors did the impossible. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten. Even in 2023. God Bless the greatest generation.
Kills me - the modern headset at 2:10 other than that, one of the best film scenes in terms of setting the stage, the heroism and the sacrifices to be made. The Michael Kamen music just SHINES here
"How do you prepare yourself, mentally? Each man must do that himself. Each man must prepare himself to make that jump." - Maj. Richard Winters
I cannot imagine the feeling these men must have felt. Relief, fear, excitement, anger, depression, all of the above. Two years of relentless training, runs up Currahee, train rides, boat rides, drills, jumps, all culminating to this moment. It was for real this time. Real bullets being fired back at you. How would you perform in real combat? Would fear overwhelm you? Or would your training kick in? Was command just sending them right into a buzzsaw? Was this going to become the most infamous massacre in US history? The gravity of this moment (no pun intended) must have been immense. Each man thinking these thoughts, or trying not to.
C 47
Eu penso o mesmo, o sentimento de estar indo para o meio do inferno, e saber disso, deve ter sido muito aterrorizante
At 1:49, when the planes start taking off, help was on it’s way. Thousands of young men did what they had to do and never asked something back. We couldn’t thank them enough for the sacrifices they made.
Thank you, known and unknown, for liberating us from the nazi terror and giving us the peace that we still have today.
These planes taking off is a beautiful sighting
means hope
and still the best show I have ever watched
The best TV series ever. Looking back now you do not realise how good it was.
The Pacific was good too
aujourdhui , 6 juin 2023 , il y'a 79 ans , des jeunes americains ont sautės en normandie pour liberer mon pays , la France , je n'ose pas imaginer le courage qu'ils devaient avoir sachant pour certains que ce serait un aller sans retour , gloire eternelles a ces heros 🇫🇷🇺🇸
No solo francia, si no el mundo, sin los aliados sur américa ahora sería todos nazi, era vencer o morir, para librar a la humanidad.
Saludos desde el estrecho de magallanes
Kids going into hell and defeating it. Truly the Greatest Generation.
The era when USA were the real saviour, the Eagle has Landed motto. The freedom fighters. Despite i'm not USA, i salute for the bravery of USA man and woman for the services and sacrifice. May God Almighty bless u all. Ameen
向所有為自由而奮戰的人們致上最高的敬意！
Those men flew right into the mouth of hell.
The weight of this scene sealed my watching of the series.
It’s one man
Then many men into one aircraft
Left engine - right engine
1-plane behind dozens.
Then dozens joining hundreds…
That is just beautiful
Perfection.
From this day until the ending of the world, we in it shall too be remembered, we few, we lucky few, we band of brothers, for whomever sheds blood with me today shall be my brother.
Also, it's Operation Overlord.
Incredible tribute to the pathfinders. Some of the bravest men to come out of this past century. Salute to those still living and respect to those that have passed on.
Cant imagine how winters must have felt when he saw those other planes flying besides him other than"......shit......this is it, no turning back now"
That's exactly the feeling he had on 6/06/1944.
I love this scene and I love all the comments here. God Bless you boys...
Any amount of gratitude is not enough for all those brave Allied soldiers who gave everything for us. Love to our American brothers from the UK 🇬🇧 🇺🇸
🇺🇸❤️🇬🇧
🇬🇧🇺🇲❤❤👍👍
My Dad and uncle fought in Europe in WW2 they both always talked about what great soldiers their British comrades were!
🇺🇸 💕 🇰🇷
Rule Britannia! Salute to all the UK from a retired U.S. Navy chief petty officer.
The shot of the invasion fleet gives me chills everytime. The greatest seaborne invasion of all time.
My great uncle was in the 82nd he didn't jump into Normandy but he served in Belgium he was an aussie and my Great grandpa served in North Africa with the royal engineers
My Grandfather was part of the on beach D-Day invasion and later was in the battle of the bulge at age 17. He finished the war as corporal in a field artillery battalion with two bronze stars. He came home at 21 years old and married my grandmother a year later. He rarely ever talked about the war and suffered with PTSD the rest of his life. Just months before he passed, he talked to me about the war as he sat on the back porch; I'll never forget the haunting look of sadness and seriousness in his eyes as he recounted some of the things he saw and did 65 years after the war. Hated loud noises, understandably. He always had a deep disdain for men with bravado who boasted about their accomplishments. And taught me never to trust a man with a weak handshake and who doesn't look you in the eye. He was blessed to live his last 15 years in a quiet, peaceful community. A remarkable man and an American hero. He was given a true soldier's burial at a veteran cemetery in 2009. 🇺🇲 🫡 🪖
Sounds like a man I 'll like to spend time with >with a beer on a porch 🎉
Niech żyje Rzeczpospolita
God bless your family and your brave grandparents… I’m sure that they are in Paradise together, full of joy and happiness. No more sorrow, no more PTSD. We need more men like your grandfather in todays world…
I think there's a quote from Eisenhower that after he gave the go ahead for D-Day he said he felt like the most helpless man in the world because now it's up the men and boys doing the fighting to execute the plan.
Off to save the world along with all the other allied troops that day.
The Greatest Generation
One of the best movie shots - EVER !
Absolutely the greatest generation.
An era when men placed a greater value on ridding the world of tyranny above personal sacrifice.
Let us never forget, what they have sacrificed, young men, never went to a dance with a girl...never had families and raised children...never spent Christmas with the beloved ones around them. Not,as we Do.
Pray for the heroes still unfound abroad and all those who came home. Thank you for your Service! Great Men,thank you
Notice how the invasion stripes on the planes are crudely painted on. This is how they actually would have looked compared to the clean lines you see depicted on warbirds flying around today. I believe the ground crews actually only got the orders to paint them a day or 2 before the actual mission and had to rush to find enough paint to apply it.
Some got the word hours before. Taking off with wet paint.
You don’t need fancy paint jobs. Just working equipment.
@@Sedna063 The black and white striping was so that soldiers, sailors, and airmen didn't shoot friendly aircraft.
In short they were IFF markings that later became iconic.
Some were painted not long before take off. I believe that in the famous photo of two of the Filthy Thirteen (comrades of Jake McNiece) applying warpaint next to an aircraft before embarking for the drop, they are using paint from the open cans just after it had been applied to the wings and fuselage.
There had been tragedies in the Salerno landings (OP Avalanche) and elsewhere on which friendly aircraft were shot down.
The decision to use invasion markings was made for that reason. Paint stocks were made plentiful, but the order to mark the 'planes was made only hours before take off, for obvious security reasons.
@@Predator42ID thx, didn't know that
May sound really stupid, but I cry at this scene. At the music, at the visuals, at the thought that this was real, and that these men took on the responsibility of restoring peace to the world, and were prepared to face death for it. Some came home, lots didn’t. a very noble undertaking. Without a doubt the very bravest generation ❤❤❤
You’re not the only one…..God bless
Thank you for everything. Heroes. The lot of you. 80 years on.
Still the greatest series ever made.
Yep. Nothing else comes close. It blew me away the first time I watched it. It was like I was there fighting along side of them.
Generation of complete bad asses!! My grandpa served in Europe and Korea. Once, I asked why he signed back up for Korea, his response, "SON! We were art war! The men went and fought..the women, children, and sick stayed home! Its what a man did in those days." I still remember his arms scared from knife fights via hand to hand combat. When he was around, I swear you could smell the testosterone coming out of him! He was tough as nails til' the day he died...he even died being tough! A real man!
God damn did he get the knife scars from Korea or Europe?
From what I understood it was from fighting in Europe.