I've said it before, this woman has TOP level perception and observation skills. I have an eye for detail (I thought, lol), but she's catching stuff that took me a dozen rewatches to pick out.
Malarkey was a friend of my grandfather’s and they are buried near one another. Last weekend, we laid my 101 yr old grandmother to rest. I took the opportunity to place a rose on Malarkey’s grave. Thank you for helping to keep these memories alive.
This episode isn’t entirely fair to Webster. The injuries he suffered in Holland were actually much more severe than portrayed in this series. As I understand, he was cut down by an MG42 and nearly died. He had to be evacuated all the way back to England for treatment. Now going AWOL from a field hospital in France to rejoin your unit elsewhere in France, or Holland or Belgium was one thing. Going AWOL from a rear echelon hospital in England, then somehow making it to the coast, crossing the channel, then trekking halfway across Europe to your unit all while dodging the Military Police (MPs) that would be looking for you? Yeah, that was next to impossible and had Webster tried it and been caught, he most certainly would’ve been court martialed. Furthermore, a lot of the guys who were in Bastogne expressed some amount of gratitude the Webster missed it. So while Webster may have gotten a but of cold shoulder when he returned, my understanding is that it was mostly from replacement who had no idea who he was or what had happened to him in Holland. Once they learned, they pretty much shut up after that. Also, in real life, Webster manned one of the machine guns on the river bank. He was not with the actual patrol. About Winters and the last patrol, he absolutely could have been court martialed and dishonorably discharged for what he did, even though he did what was in the best interest of his men. From what I understand, Colonel Sink was a hard drinker. So to cover their butts and make sure Sink never got wise to what they were doing, Nixon not only filed the bogus report, he also kept Sink good and drunk the night of the supposed second patrol. Which was good in my opinion because all Sink wanted at that point was bragging rights. Finally, in real life, yes Cobb was arrested and court-martialed for excessive drinking and punching 1ST Lieutenant Foley. Not sure what his ultimate fate was. Congratulations on catching the “blink-and-you’ve-missed-it” point where you see Cobb being driven off by the MPs. And yes, Cobb was the one yelling at Miller (James McAvoy) regarding the Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.
From my understanding, Webster was in a hospital in England, so there would not have been any "breaking out." It wasn't laziness or apathy, it was impossible. Once Webster explained this to the others, they stopped being so hard on him. This episode ramped up that tension for narrative purposes.
@@johanpersson6288 So we've been told by others. We actually have no idea what the real man was like. Also, if you remember, every Toccoa man was a volunteer and every Toccoa graduate was a paratrooper. He served in combat, so I think he deserves our respect for his sacrifice.
Saying he did bare minimum is harsh. He did everything asked of him, he just didn't volunteer for more. As well, he came from a wealthy and well connected family and could have been fast-tracked to a safer back-line role but he refused and volunteered to fight in the thick of it. I believe he also stated that he did not receive animosity on his return, because no member of Easy would have wished Bastogne on anyone. The show used it more to show us what it was like for replacements but using a familiar face we were already attached to. He also didn't go on the patrol, but was on the bank giving covering fire with the rest of the company. Oddly I think one of the men seen in the pre-episode interviews did go on the patrol, but his name was never mentioned in the series.
@ Of course he deserves every bit of respect. He is a damn hero like every soldier who volountered. This is just what other men have told us afterward, that he never really did any OTHER duties that others might have volounteered for.
I just read Websters book. He admitted he hated being in the Army, he wasn't one to volunteer for missions and did his best to keep himself out of danger. Yes, he's a hero for the company's accomplishments. But he certainly wasn't a Gung ho trooper. The animosity towards him in the episode was fiction. He was greeted warmly when he came back. They appreciated having another experienced trooper back.
Actually, there is what many consider an 11th episode - the documentary ‘We Stand Alone Together’, which contains all the veterans interviews at the beginning of episodes. It is available on TH-cam.
Nice suggestion. I made her aware of this as well. I have a good feeling that she will watch it, having grown the same attachment to these men as we all have since 2001.
Cobb probably had more combat experience than any other soldier in Easy Company. According to what I've read, he'd been in the Army since the 1930s and landed with the 1st Armoured in North Africa. When he was transferred back to the States, his troopship was torpedoed by a German U-boat, an ordeal which he survived. Back in the States, he volunteered for the Airborne and ended up in Easy Company but failed to fight in Normandy when he was hit by Anti-Air shrapnel in the plane, making it impossible for him to make the jump. He did fight in Holland and was nearly hit by a tank shell that blew a hole in the brick wall he was hiding behind. He also participated in the patrol to rescue Bull Randleman. He's the one who said, "I'm not going back out there." But ended up going anyway. He also fought in Bastogne. He was arrested after the "Last Patrol" because after getting drunk on Schnapps, he assaulted Lt. Foley, the Leader of First Platoon (he's one of the guys who asks Dike what they're going to do during the assault on Foy). Which is why he's depicted as being taken away by the MPs. Colonel Sink supposedly reprimanded Lt. Foley for not shooting Cobb then and there. "Would've saved us a lot of paperwork." Cobb seems to have been generally disliked by the rest of Easy Company. It wasn't uncommon for soldiers who'd been in the Army pre-war to not get on well with the wartime volunteers. He was also reported to have been busted back to Private a bunch of times, indicating he had a penchant for getting in trouble with his superiors. Ironically, Webster seems to have fondly remembered Cobb in his memoirs as "invariably good-natured."
The fight started between Cobb and another man. Foley separated them and was chewing out Cobb. Cobb charged him but was subdued. Martin had pulled his pistol during the scuffle. but Foley told him to stand down. When Foley did al the paper work for a court martial of Cobb and took it to Sink to brief him, Sink simply told him “Foley, you could have saved us all a lot of trouble. You should have shot him.” Cobb was court martialed but released at war’s end.
One thing about Cobb not covered in the series is he had much more combat experience than the other troopers. He had fought in the North African Campaign prior to joining Easy Company, so his breaking point may have already been reached.
@@donparnell309 The US Army did a study of combat fatigue and determined that EVERYBODY breaks after about 200 days of combat. Doesn't matter how tough you are, nobody can take that level of stress forever.
I believe they also used Cobb as sort of a catch-all character for complaints and less-than-awesome personality traits that came and went during the company's journey through the war. Kinda dirty pool to pile it all into a single character who really existed, but also logical from a film-making perspective. Cobb wasn't an angel in real life (Webster wrote that he was generally good natured), but also probably not the a-hole the series makes him.
@ Quite possibly, and with more down time and more alcohol being available the longer the war dragged on, the drinking was probably more and more often.
If a person can be proud of a person I don't even know . That would be me. I am sure you don't remember me I am a combat vet who watches every one of these with you. My chest swells with pride for the work you have done. WELL DONE and may God bless the rest of your life.
I enjoy watching your reactions because often your instincts are on point. You know enough about certain institutions and culture that you can extrapolate ; it's cool to see how intuitive you are.
Your memory of Webster is right. In "Crossroads," when he gets shot, he says "They got me!" which is a movie cliche. He was an English or Literature major in school until the war stopped his education.
You better be ready for Episode 9 because it is the Most Powerful, Emotional, and Importance to Remember and to Never Forget. Have the Tissues ready at all times for Ep 9!
I suspect Jackson died from massive internal bleeding. Fragmentaton grenades cause major concussive trauma, so even if you're not hit by shrapnel you can still get badly messed up just from the kinetic force of the blast itself.
Yes, I was just about to post the same comment but you beat me to it. One thing that Hollywood always gets wrong is that the pressure wave from explosions can kill and seriously injure people farther than shrapnel can reach, especially in enclosed areas like a house, and the damage would consist of ruptured organs, internal bleeding, and brain damage, and would be mostly invisible. As an example, that's how depth charges works against submarines: you don't have to hit the sub with the depth charge, as long as it explodes anywhere nearby, the pressure wave will injure the men inside
The interesting thing about David Webster is that he had what might be considered a fairly unusual outlook on the war. The book is filled with extracts from letters he wrote to his parents while he was in Europe and he seems to have viewed himself more as an impartial observer of the war rather than an active participant in it. He doesn’t seem to be particularly patriotic, he writes about engagements he was involved in quite a clinical, detached way. He even chastises his parents for worrying about his safety. He was also the only original Easy Company man never to have received any kind of promotion, not because he wasn’t capable, but because he just seemed not to want it. I’ve always thought that this maybe contributed to the cold shoulder he got when he came back.I find them one of them more interesting individuals that this show focuses on.
I also think he saw it as his duty to chronicle the war. I’ve read quite a few of his letters by this point and he was a very gifted writer. He had a real flair for the English language which makes a lot of sense given his educational background.
Stop with the spoilers for god's sake, just wait until she finishes the show to talk about which characters survive and what happens to them after the war.
After the war, Webster wrote a book about his experiences but no publisher wanted it. They wanted hero books and his did not fit that genre. After Stephan Ambrose started interviewing for his book "Band of Brothers" he discovered that Webster had the unpublished book and was loaned the manuscript from his family. After reading it, Ambrose asked the family if he could publish it and they agreed. Some of the info you see in this series comes from that book. It is a very honest look at how Webster felt about his time in the army and there are stories he tells that are not in the series. It is very gritty and sometimes dark. It is a very good read if you really want to know how a private who could have been an officer, experienced the war. It is titled "Parachute Infantry: An American Paratrooper's Memoir of D-Day and the Fall of the Third Reich" by David Kenyon Webster.
@jamesellis1972 I read Webster's book recently. It was indeed dark. Webster hated the Army and did what he could do avoid fighting. The animosity towards him in the show didn't really happen. He was greeted warmly from his hospital stay.
@@DouglasJCook It wasn't that Webster avoided fighting...he had no problem doing it if he had to. What he did was that he didn't volunteer for anything. If a finger was pointed at him to go into the field, he'd go without complaining.
Sgt. Martin glared at Webster because he wasn’t going on the patrol until Webster helped Lt. Jones go instead of Malarkey. He noticed this when Webster gave that nod and smile to Lt Jones during the briefing.
4:12 That's probably one of my favorite parts. Speirs just stands there and watches the shell come in like it's nothing while everyone else ducks or cover. LOL
Chucking a grenade into a room and entering before it goes off happens more than you would think. There's an almost instinctual thing in your head telling you that surprise is your strength, to move fast and aggressively when you have surprise on your side. So throwing that grenade is almost like blowing the whistle in a race for guys that don't have a lot of combat experience. The voice in their head says "go go go" as soon as the grenade leaves the hand.
Ive never been in combat but knowing how i get all fuddled up under stress, i imagine youd be so full of adrenaline maybe you just wouldnt think straight , just charge!
There is a story from Vietnam of a trooper coming up to a grass hut, tossing in a grenade, then hugging the outside wall of the hut, as trained. Just not processing the grass wall would not stop the shrapnel. Adrenalin is a hell of a thing.
Once again you see the things that other people don't see. I love watching your reaction videos because despite the fact that I have watched this multiple times before I am still learning new things thanks to you! You're the best Teegan!
You are by far the most observant reactor I have seen for this series. It's quite amazing some of the things you instantly pick up or guess and are right on.
Ugh it’s been an awful month for health lol. Fingers crossed I can stay healthy for longer than a week this time! I’m feeling better, just very overwhelmed with how far behind I am lol
I absolutely love the fact you spotted Cobb with the MP's, that's why you're my favorite. In reality he got into that argument and refusal with Lt. Foley and and was subsequently court marshalled for it. Good shit.
Another small detail that’s so subtle it’s easy to miss, is Sgt Martin calling the second patrol briefing to attention when Winters came in. It shows that Lt Jones had gained his respect and that in a small way he agreed with him to try to keep up the regulations in some areas. That there is a middle ground that’s between a by the book guy like someone fresh from west point and too relaxed like the guys may have been after finally having some time indoors and not being under constant barrage.
One of the things about Webster was that while he was there on the front lines in D-Day and Market Garden, he didn't volunteer for stuff. So, for example, where other guys went AWOL from the hospital, Webster let the Army do its thing. (Not that he could've rejoined the company during the Bulge when they were cut off anyway.) He was a good soldier, but if I recall correctly he was one of the only original Toccoa men that never got promoted. I knew the type when I was in the Air Force - good people who were very capable and professional, but who were perfectly content to stay where they were and not get promoted.
I’ve seen BoB many times and each time it’s a hard watch. Your reaction even as a US veteran leaves me watery eyed. They were definitely part of “The Greatest Generation.”
Yep, that was Cobb ragging on the replacement about the unit citation and yep, Martin is pissed at Webster about the substitution. Webster wrote a book about his experiences and his recounting of these events is different from the film makers portrayed for dramatic effect. He was welcomed back and everyone was happy to see him again.
Thank you for your thoughtful and insightful reactions! You notice so many details that many reactors do not. Well done, and keep going, including the documentary, We Stand Alone Together; it's a MUST.
Colin Hanks has had a couple guest appearances on NCIS. And yes, soot from the lighters adds a matte black coating on areas where the black has worn off exposing shiny metal.
Always had the impression that Lt. Jones (played by Colin Hanks) was promoted to 1st Lt. and sent to battalion HQ as an unspoken trade-off for keeping his mouth shut about the faked patrol. Never read Ambrose's book, but one wonders ...
Just before Christmas I visited Arnhem and went to the airborne museum and cemetery. A bitterly cold, grey still winter day (just like Haguenau is in this episode). Walked over the new bridge named for John Frost. Easy never got to the bridge too far but a lot of their British brother paratroopers stayed there and never came home
Cobb is used in the series to be that aggravator. The men don't remember him fondly and he was repeatedly drunk. He also fell out of the boat. He is depicted differently to the others throughout, even using a different weapon, the grease-gun
Loving your reactions to this amazing series! The Gettysburg historical museum in Gettysburg Pa has a large section dedicated to Major Winters that includes most if not all of his collection from WWII and “Easy company”! It’s amazing to see after watching this!
This episode offers little in terms of relief from the horrors of the war that Easy Company has endured so far. All you need to know about the overall state of mind of the men at this point is written all over Malarky’s face. But Winters does provide a reminder that humanity is still at the center of what this war is all about. The simple gesture of telling his men to lie about going across the river for a second patrol so they can get a good night’s sleep, and spare the loss of more lives, is just further testament to his strength as a leader.
Great reaction Teegan like always. One thing to keep in mind, is Webster was changed a little for dramatic purposes in this episode. He wrote in his memoirs that when he returned to Easy Company, he almost cried when he saw how depleted it was and how many of the guys he'd been through the war with were gone. The Fact about this episode. In Webster's own book Easy didnt really criticize "Him" for his absence during bastogne. Infact they are glad and relief that he and the rest wasn't there because they dont want to see more of their comrades die in the battlefield. They just did that to give the show a little drama. But i really salute the "Actors" because they really did a great job portraying how much they've been truamatised and changed after bastogne. Honestly all the Actors did a really great performance not just in portraying the Easy Men throughout the series Lt. Jones was neither liked or hated by Easy Co. he was seen as the usual “fresh off the boat” type but never really gave any excuse for the men to hate him. After the patrol, he was viewed with a bit more respect, seen as someone who was capable and had the potential to be an effective combat leader. Horrible shame he was killed later in a car accident in Germany. Keep up the good work.
My Uncle went on this mission...he said he stayed out of the raft and just hung on to the side on the river crossing. Also told me that some Lieutenant took two prisoners and made them dig a hole. The LT asked one prisoner for info, when he didn't talk, he shot him....the other one talked. My Uncle was clearly not a fan of this method and argued with the LT about it....was proud of my Uncle for this. And my Uncle was not a replacement, had been with the 506th since D-day and survived Bastogne.
Welcome back. I've really missed your reactions. You're very perceptive, young lady. And yes; Cobb was the one who was a Richard in episode 4. No spoilers, but keep tissues handy for the last two episodes. There are tears of sorrow and tears of joy. Until the next one, CURRAHEE.
Tom Hanks even enlisted his own son into the War, that's hardcore...This is when Winters essentially "Dad arms" and protects his men of Easy Company in anyway he can, even by lying to command. I love the way they express so vividly by the soldiers experiences by the appearance of their uniforms. Webster's guilt is what leads him to volunteer...to earn the respect back from the men again and does thankfully. The shear pain in Malarky's eyes is overwhelming...now onto Germany. Currahee ♠
Tom Hanks was also the actor voicing the man screaming in the other side of the river. The one that they didn’t want to listen to. Cobb eventually got close enough to the river to chuck iver a grenade that killed him
You are correct about Cobb being the one who was wounded before jumping on Operation Overlord. And then gives Private Miller grief about the unit citation. Cobb was 30 in 1944, and had served in North Africa in tanks in 1942 before transferring to the airborne. So he wasn't an immature 19 year old. That evening after the patrol, Cobb, after drinking schnapps to intoxication, was arrested after assaulting Lt. Foley (the series depicted Cobb as, instead, verbally assaulting Sgt. Martin). During processing for a court-martial, a frustrated Colonel Sink told Foley "You could have saved us all a lot of trouble. You should have shot him." Cobb was court-martialed, eventually discharged from the Army (after Episode 10) and returned to the States.
When i was down at Ft Jackson for the Army i got to meet Earl McClung and Forrest Guth during a 4th of July Event. It was awesome getting a signed autograph of them and listening to their stories
At the Evergreen Air Museum, nearly 20 years ago, there was a Band of Brothers event, with many of the living guys attending, and I got to sit next to Forrest Guth at dinner and he was such a nice guy! I thought it was a shame he and so many others weren't portrayed, but then I understand that viewers can only get to know so many characters.
Malarky spent the most consecutive time, of any man in Easy, on the front lines. The actor portraying him does such a stunning job portraying the level of weariness that he’d be feeling at this point.
It's one of the ironies of war: if you're wounded, you get a purple heart and actually get a bit of a break, while guys like Malarkey and Shifty Powers just stay on the line
@@davidpietarila699And it especially unusual because his biggest roles are usually comedic ones. He was on ER for a while and even then he was a semi-comedic relief character.
Wow, you blew my mind. I have watched this series countless times, and I never noticed Cobb being taken away. After looking it up, I guess he was taken away in real life for more than just being drunk. Apparently he also struck Lt. Foley. He was the one that criticized James Miller (played by McAvoy) about his pin and Webster shouted, "They got me" in Crossroads. Webster was another writer from Easy Company, so that's why he is narrating in this one. I love seeing Winters promoted. I have so much respect for that man. I believe the hand of God was on him to help lead these men. So many times I wanted to sing his praises, but I didn't want to spoil the story for you. Anyway, glad that one wasn't so hard on you as previous episodes.
David Webster studied literature at Harvard before the war. He wrote with insight and eloquently about his war experiences in his journals. According to the Band of Brothers novel, he considered himself an observer foremost and made a point to never speak up or volunteer for any duty, despite being fluent in German. He would fight and do what he was ordered to, but nothing else
So this is one of the reasons a lot of us really wanted you to watch this. You see all the little things that most miss. Also we all knew you would get attached to these truly amazing men. The next two episode are tissue episodes, both for happy and sad moments.
Loved your reaction. I had to smile when you noted a new member of easy company speaking at the beginning of the episode. No spoiler to give you his name as he wasn't featured in the series, despite being one of the more interesting members of Easy Company who was there from the start, as he was the company's unofficial armorer who could fix or upgrade the company's weapons, making their M-1 rifles fully automatic, as well as being something of a tailor who sewed new pockets on his buddies' uniforms. He also took his personal camera along on the D-Day jump and his photos were some of the only ones of Easy Company's actions in Normandy. One of the reasons he may have been left out of the series was because his name would cause confusion or mirth. His name? Forrest Guth.
Winters mentions a full moon. He wasn’t keen on putting men at unnecessary risk anyway. During the first raid that happened there happened to be cloud cover. But for the second, he knew cloud cover was gone and that the temperature has dropped freezing the snow they’d walk across, making it louder. He also knew that someone at Sink’s office had managed to get a fresh bottle of liquor. Sink’s unofficial moniker was “Bourbon Bob” and Winters knew that with a fresh bottle Sink would be long asleep by the time of the raid and wouldn’t have woken up even if the battalion had “opened up” with covering fire.
The man in the intro that you hadn’t seen before was not featured in the series. His name was Forrest Guth. Guth was a popular man in Easy, and was known for customizing gear. He’d add pockets to uniforms for spare ammo and rations, and figured out how to customize the M1 Garand to be fully automatic.
All this time (more than 20 years), I thought the sergeant killed while carrying potatoes, was Bill KING, not KIEHN. My box set of DVDs did not come with any subtitles, so I just found out a new detail after all these years. Thank you!
In David Webster's book he describes Jackson's death as even worse that this episode depicts. Grenade shrapnel in his brain. Nor did Jackson lie about his age when he joined the Army in 1940. He was born in 1922. As brilliant as BoB is, it does indulge in artistic license.
West Point, as you most likely know, graduates 2nd lieutenants for the US Army, akin to the Naval Academy graduating ensigns for the US Navy. The 2nd lieutenant (Jones) is given command of 2nd platoon by Spiers, as he is a replacement officer for Easy company. 2nd lieutenant is the lowest ranking for officers, but is above all enlisted rankings.
Great reactions! You really do catch so much that other reactors seem to miss. I want to mention to you to please be sure to include “Chapter 11” the documentary, “We Stand Alone Together”. It really puts the cap on this series incredibly well.
When Shifty was using his Zippo on his front sight post of his rifle, he was blackening it with soot to have a crisper sight picture. With all the handling and bumping around that rifles are subjected to, the finish will wear off over time and expose bare metal. That exposed metal will throw off your aim, especially in low light conditions. Yes! Those "bright ones" are tracer rounds. Typically, every fifth round in a magazine or ammo belt is a tracer. There's a small amount of phosphorus that burns when the round is fired. The Wermacht used green, and the US used red
Re: Webster/ From what I heard, the reason Webster couldn't return like some of the others is the others were still in France while Webster was in England to recover. So it would have been a lot harder to go AWOL from hospital. Plus we do not know what kind of wound Webster had. If he had broken bones it would have taken longer to heal. On the other hand it could have been that Webster did stretch out the hospital stay to avoid returning as long as possible, so the others were pissed at him for seemly shirking duty.
About Webster, it's basically that Bastogne was such a shitty situation for them (and made them so much closer) that him not being there it's like he isn't part of the 101st anymore. Also it wasn't only Popeye who went AWOL from a hospital, Toye and Guarnere did too, it was almost expected that you would escape to be with the men.
In reconnaissance, you're paying particular attention to the 5 S's...shape, shine, silhouette, sound, and sudden movement. Jackson rode his own grenade into the room. Aside from the shrapnel, the explosion also causes an overpressure wave. Overpressure plays hell with the soft tissue of internal organs and proximity to enough of it can liquefy them. He very likely had severe internal bleeding, which they wouldn't be able to see, and would have likely missed any indications due to their focus on the obvious facial wound. There's a reason we do rapid trauma assessments the way we do them...it's easy to get hung up on an obvious wound that may look worse than it actually is and miss the indications of a more severe, life-threatening wound. We had a guy in Iraq who had been in a vehicle when it hit an IED. He'd caught some shrapnel and the infantry battle buddy who was rendering aid was focused on that. The problem was, if he'd have rolled him over to do a full assessment, he'd have noticed that he was bleeding out his rectum due to severe internal hemorrhaging due to the overpressure. I noticed it when I got to him, but it didn't matter in the setting, there was nothing we could do for him without an emergency surgical unit right there and that sure wasn't happening on the X. He bled out internally in less than 5 minutes.
This is the episode with probably the most Hollywood liberties taken in it. 1-Webster was wounded in Episode 5 “Crossroads” (Sept 1944) and returns in February 1945, 5 months. He wasn’t gone that long because he “enjoyed” that hospital as Liebgott stated. In Ep 5 he was seen leaving nonchalantly and almost jokingly. In reality he was more seriously wounded and was transported to a hospital in England. 2-Webster wasn’t greeted with hostility upon his return but rather the men were happy that he was back. The hostility centered on Webster not “escaping” the hospital and finding his way to the way to the men while in Bastogne. Popeye and Alley were highlighted by Liebgott in doing just that. Ep 4 “Replacements” shows Popeye arriving while the group was still in England having escaped his hospital also in England. Alley, it’s said in Ep 7 “Breaking Point”, escaped from the hospital or Aid Station in Holland while the unit was also in Holland. The men were near the unit so it was easy for them to rejoin the company. For Webster to break out and join the unit in Bastogne he would have had to break out of the hospital, somehow make it to the English Channel, stowed away aboard a ship, and then gone all the way across France, and Holland and into Belgium to Bastogne where he would have had to break through enemy lines (remember Easy was surrounded) to get to the unit. A logistical impossibility. 3-Webster did not go on the patrol. He was on the machine gun that fired on the Germans as the patrol was escaping. Lt. Jones also did not go on the patrol. Lt. Foley did. He was the officer whom, in the previous episode Ep 7 “The Breaking Point”, was told by Dike, to go around the village and in this episode told Webster to go to 2nd Platoon. Sgt. Martin did not go on the patrol either. The Sergeant who led the patrol was not a character in the miniseries so the writers gave it to Martin. 4-The episode implied that Lt. Jones was only with the unit for a few days. In reality he was with Easy Company for a few months. The reason he was transferred out was because he was a graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point New York. Sensing that the war was going to be over soon the Army began protecting Junior officers who were West Point graduates since they would be remain the Army after the war while the draftees, volunteers & Reservists are sent home once the war was over. 5-The episode showed Cobb, drunk, mouthing off to Lt. Jones and Webster. Later, when Nixon is giving Winters the insignia of a Major you will see Cobb being escorted into a jeep by the MPs. What happened was that a drunken Cobb took a swing at Lt. Foley. So now Cobb’s on his way to a court-martial. 6-Winters was able to get away with not doing the 2nd patrol because Sink gave the order to do the patrol while drunk. Winters knew from past experience that after he sobers up Sink never remembers any verbal orders that he gave when he was drunk.
For me, Band of Brothers is one of the best series I've ever seen. The next episode 9 Why we fight touched me deeply as a German and I can very well understand your tears. Episode 9 hit me deep in my heart as a German. As a German today, I have a responsibility to ensure that something like this should never happen again on German soil. In memory of Hans and Sophie Scholl, Count Schenck von Stauffenberg, Hennig von Tresckow and so many more, we Germans have the responsibility to ensure that something so inhumane is never allowed to happen again on German soil. Many greetings from the south of Germany.
The animosity for Webster is because everyone went AWOL from medical to get back, Webster took him time, went through recovery and everything before he went back. Everyone else got stitched up and basically snuck back. The battle of the bulge was one of, if not the biggest and toughest battle for the 101st so if you missed it to sit in a hospital bed than people will look at treat you differently.
You're right, it was Cobb that gave Pvt Miller a hard time about the unit citation. He's a bully, who targets whomever he thinks is vulnerable at the moment. Also, you're right about the reason for the dirty look Martin gave him. It's because Martin was picked after Webster got Malarkey out of the patrol.
Grenades spit out shrapnel and can also be incredibly damaging to internal organs from the concussive shockwave. I imagine he ruptured something internally.
Great catch on Cobb and yes he was court-martial. Webster got the death stare because the Sgt wasn't suppose to go on the patrol but got picked when the switch got made. My dad said the was the scariest part of the war because as they said you had a feeling it was over so be careful. What made it worse was officers were making up dumb missions because they knew this was the last chance to get some bonus points for promotions after the war.
Clicked so fast, I love your Band Of Brothers series! Your Mass Effect playlists have been a constant in my house, inspired to play them again, thank you!
I watched this series when it was new in 2001 on DVD, and since then I've re-watched it at least 50 times. The thing that hurts me the most is that every man they interview at the start of each episode is dead now. 😢
Webster is what you call a sick call ranger in today’s terms. Everyone who got hit found a way to come back to the bros Webster stayed his full term in the hospital. It shows he doesn’t have my back mentality. Hard to explain
I know I can never compare to the utter studs that fought in WW2, but seeing them laugh from artillery that didn’t hit them reminds me of how everyone I served with acting about half way thought deployment. If it was gonna hit you then so be it, so you wouldn’t get out of bed or really care.
Great catch on Cobb, I didn't see that until my 3rd rewatch, he got arrested for being drunk and taking a swing at an officer (Lt. Foley I believe)The truth is that the guys were NOT upset with Webster, most of them were happy to see him back and glad one of them had not had to go through Bastogne. Webster's wounds from Holland were more severe than the Crossroads episode let on, and he had been evac'ed to a hospital in England. The guys who went AWOL from hospitals to make it back to the unit were only a few miles back from the frontlines.
Yes, you are correct about the tracers. They "glow" so you can adjust your aim on your target. Now, please understand that most ammo loadouts are 1 in 5 tracers. For every tracer round you see, there are 4 rounds flying that you won't notice.
LW - Great to see you back. I think you hit on something on how the soldiers treated Webster. From my perspective, I believe it was more likely how tired and angry they were in general and it was taken out on Webster, because he comes in smiling, well rested and clean shaven. Yes, he had fought and fought bravely before Bastogne, but like Winters said in the comment at the end of that episode, no one truly could understand the difficulty of the battle without being part of it (which surviving it created that unbreakable bond he notes). It wasn't Webster's fault that he missed it, but by this point in the war, and like you said, they were ready to go home. The Germans were for the most part finished. As the soldier said in the beginning 'ease up, you felt you had a good chance to make it', so every time a new assignment came in I am sure it must've have felt like please let this be the last one. Please just let me survive. Also good catch on Cobb with the MPs. I had not seen that before, perhaps he was getting disciplined for the drinking episode and insubordinate behavior to a higher ranking officer. And yes, you nailed it again on Martin. So observant. Martin was pissed, because Mularkey wasn't going so he was now the ranking officer and put in charge of the mission. The last two episodes to go, bittersweet.
Finally. someone noticed that even though the actors took less than a year, from actual basic training to the end, to complete the series they looked like they did go through the war. To me it looks like the actors aged several years doing this series. Yes, it was Cobb complaining about the D-Day pin. There was a lot of manipulating the facts in this episode. Webster was welcomed back. Webster did not go on the mission; he stayed on the allied side of the bank manning the 50-caliber guns. It is thought that they gave Webster a bigger portion of this episode because they took many of the stories from his book and letters for the series.
Webster was wounded in episode five, Crossroads his famous word were "they got me". Need a case of kleenix for nine. Yes it was Cobb who questioned the wearing the Presidential unit citation ribbon, I always point out as long as you are assigned to the unit you may display the ribbon.
You know, I’ve said it before, but you are such a sharp reactor, with a lot of emotional intelligence. You catch on the things quicker than most reactors that I see, to the point t that in my head I predicted that you were going to perfectly understand a few points in this episode that most people miss. For instance, that Webster’s attempt to get the other German translator off the patrol was misinterpreted as an attempt to get himself off the duty. Anyways, it’s one of the things I love about your reactions. PS: I found you thanks to Mass Effect, and I just want to say, despite your impressions about that community, the vast majority of us Loved your playthrough, and I’ll die on that hill. 💕
You do catch obscure moments brilliantly! It's only in intense war moments that you check put and are done with it! The entire series builds up in a sense and doesn't let up, save for a few notable moments?
I've heard from several places that they really dramatized the "welcome" that Webster got. In reality, he was welcomed back pretty warmly. He was hospitalized in England, so "going AWOL" to get back to the men would have required crossing an ocean - not really doable without assistance and a medical discharge.
Jackson's death: One thing Hollywood gets wrong is that the pressure wave from explosions can injure people farther than shrapnel can reach, especially in enclosed areas like a house, in the form of ruptured organs, internal bleeding, and brain damage. Likely Jackson had internal injuries from his grenade blast. As an example, that's how depth charges works against submarines: you don't have to hit the sub with the depth charge, as long as it explodes anywhere nearby the pressure wave will crush the men inside (sometimes barely damaging the sub itself) and water transmits pressure better than air
The book "Parachute Infantry" by David Kenyon Webster is available on kindle and is a very worthwhile read. It tells about the war from Webster's point of view, including many events also covered in this series. The line from episode #5 where he says "They got me." is straight out of his book. Having dropped out of Harvard where he was an English Literature major to join the paratroops, he thought he should have said something less trite.
I've watched 20+ reactors to this series - You are the only one who picked up that Cobb was detained by MP's. Well done
She picks up on a lot of stuff other reactors miss.
@ Indeed. It's one of the things that keeps me coming back for these reactions.
I never caught that until she mentioned it!
@ Ya I believe in addition to his drinking and insubordination, he also took a swing at an officer (Lt Foley)
I've said it before, this woman has TOP level perception and observation skills. I have an eye for detail (I thought, lol), but she's catching stuff that took me a dozen rewatches to pick out.
Malarkey was a friend of my grandfather’s and they are buried near one another. Last weekend, we laid my 101 yr old grandmother to rest. I took the opportunity to place a rose on Malarkey’s grave. Thank you for helping to keep these memories alive.
@@76JStucki spoiler alert. You should delete this before she sees.
@ Thanks, you're right
This episode isn’t entirely fair to Webster. The injuries he suffered in Holland were actually much more severe than portrayed in this series. As I understand, he was cut down by an MG42 and nearly died. He had to be evacuated all the way back to England for treatment. Now going AWOL from a field hospital in France to rejoin your unit elsewhere in France, or Holland or Belgium was one thing. Going AWOL from a rear echelon hospital in England, then somehow making it to the coast, crossing the channel, then trekking halfway across Europe to your unit all while dodging the Military Police (MPs) that would be looking for you? Yeah, that was next to impossible and had Webster tried it and been caught, he most certainly would’ve been court martialed.
Furthermore, a lot of the guys who were in Bastogne expressed some amount of gratitude the Webster missed it. So while Webster may have gotten a but of cold shoulder when he returned, my understanding is that it was mostly from replacement who had no idea who he was or what had happened to him in Holland. Once they learned, they pretty much shut up after that.
Also, in real life, Webster manned one of the machine guns on the river bank. He was not with the actual patrol.
About Winters and the last patrol, he absolutely could have been court martialed and dishonorably discharged for what he did, even though he did what was in the best interest of his men. From what I understand, Colonel Sink was a hard drinker. So to cover their butts and make sure Sink never got wise to what they were doing, Nixon not only filed the bogus report, he also kept Sink good and drunk the night of the supposed second patrol. Which was good in my opinion because all Sink wanted at that point was bragging rights.
Finally, in real life, yes Cobb was arrested and court-martialed for excessive drinking and punching 1ST Lieutenant Foley. Not sure what his ultimate fate was. Congratulations on catching the “blink-and-you’ve-missed-it” point where you see Cobb being driven off by the MPs. And yes, Cobb was the one yelling at Miller (James McAvoy) regarding the Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.
Oh my god!! I have seen this episode dozens of times and I have NEVER noticed Cobb in the Jeep being taken away by the MP's at 23:58. Nice catch!!
From my understanding, Webster was in a hospital in England, so there would not have been any "breaking out." It wasn't laziness or apathy, it was impossible. Once Webster explained this to the others, they stopped being so hard on him. This episode ramped up that tension for narrative purposes.
I mean, he was also known for being the one doing bare minimum even on a good day. Its a reason why he was never even up for any promotion.
@@johanpersson6288 So we've been told by others. We actually have no idea what the real man was like. Also, if you remember, every Toccoa man was a volunteer and every Toccoa graduate was a paratrooper. He served in combat, so I think he deserves our respect for his sacrifice.
Saying he did bare minimum is harsh. He did everything asked of him, he just didn't volunteer for more. As well, he came from a wealthy and well connected family and could have been fast-tracked to a safer back-line role but he refused and volunteered to fight in the thick of it.
I believe he also stated that he did not receive animosity on his return, because no member of Easy would have wished Bastogne on anyone. The show used it more to show us what it was like for replacements but using a familiar face we were already attached to. He also didn't go on the patrol, but was on the bank giving covering fire with the rest of the company. Oddly I think one of the men seen in the pre-episode interviews did go on the patrol, but his name was never mentioned in the series.
@ Of course he deserves every bit of respect. He is a damn hero like every soldier who volountered. This is just what other men have told us afterward, that he never really did any OTHER duties that others might have volounteered for.
I just read Websters book. He admitted he hated being in the Army, he wasn't one to volunteer for missions and did his best to keep himself out of danger. Yes, he's a hero for the company's accomplishments. But he certainly wasn't a Gung ho trooper.
The animosity towards him in the episode was fiction. He was greeted warmly when he came back. They appreciated having another experienced trooper back.
Actually, there is what many consider an 11th episode - the documentary ‘We Stand Alone Together’, which contains all the veterans interviews at the beginning of episodes. It is available on TH-cam.
Nice suggestion. I made her aware of this as well. I have a good feeling that she will watch it, having grown the same attachment to these men as we all have since 2001.
I made the same suggestion in the previous episode. And she even responded and promised that she will watch it!!!
It's a companion documentary, it's CLEARLY not an 11th episode. Especially because episode 10 is so clearly the ending.
next episode have some tissues
It's a bona-fide episode to react to!
Christ, you catch every detail. I've been watching this series for 23 years and never noticed Spiers watching the mortar.
Cobb probably had more combat experience than any other soldier in Easy Company. According to what I've read, he'd been in the Army since the 1930s and landed with the 1st Armoured in North Africa. When he was transferred back to the States, his troopship was torpedoed by a German U-boat, an ordeal which he survived. Back in the States, he volunteered for the Airborne and ended up in Easy Company but failed to fight in Normandy when he was hit by Anti-Air shrapnel in the plane, making it impossible for him to make the jump. He did fight in Holland and was nearly hit by a tank shell that blew a hole in the brick wall he was hiding behind. He also participated in the patrol to rescue Bull Randleman. He's the one who said, "I'm not going back out there." But ended up going anyway. He also fought in Bastogne. He was arrested after the "Last Patrol" because after getting drunk on Schnapps, he assaulted Lt. Foley, the Leader of First Platoon (he's one of the guys who asks Dike what they're going to do during the assault on Foy). Which is why he's depicted as being taken away by the MPs. Colonel Sink supposedly reprimanded Lt. Foley for not shooting Cobb then and there. "Would've saved us a lot of paperwork." Cobb seems to have been generally disliked by the rest of Easy Company. It wasn't uncommon for soldiers who'd been in the Army pre-war to not get on well with the wartime volunteers. He was also reported to have been busted back to Private a bunch of times, indicating he had a penchant for getting in trouble with his superiors. Ironically, Webster seems to have fondly remembered Cobb in his memoirs as "invariably good-natured."
The actual Cobb was also popular with the other men.
GREAT catch on Cobb at the end there - almost nobody catches that. Cobb wound up being arrested for taking a swing at an officer I think.
Yeah - that’s frowned upon.
@@chrisg8767 I've seen the series so many time I can't even count and I've never caught that lol.
@@Stingsy I didn't until I read about it. Now I can't unsee it when this episode comes around.
The fight started between Cobb and another man. Foley separated them and was chewing out Cobb. Cobb charged him but was subdued. Martin had pulled his pistol during the scuffle. but Foley told him to stand down. When Foley did al the paper work for a court martial of Cobb and took it to Sink to brief him, Sink simply told him “Foley, you could have saved us all a lot of trouble. You should have shot him.” Cobb was court martialed but released at war’s end.
@@DirtnapJack Thanks for that - couldn't remember the specifics.
You're the only person I've seen catch Spiers watching the mortar, lmao. Dude is a machine.
favorite reactor, hands down. Was literally counting the time awaiting the upload for this episode. Always catching the lil' things, hats off to you!
One thing about Cobb not covered in the series is he had much more combat experience than the other troopers. He had fought in the North African Campaign prior to joining Easy Company, so his breaking point may have already been reached.
@@donparnell309 The US Army did a study of combat fatigue and determined that EVERYBODY breaks after about 200 days of combat. Doesn't matter how tough you are, nobody can take that level of stress forever.
I believe they also used Cobb as sort of a catch-all character for complaints and less-than-awesome personality traits that came and went during the company's journey through the war. Kinda dirty pool to pile it all into a single character who really existed, but also logical from a film-making perspective. Cobb wasn't an angel in real life (Webster wrote that he was generally good natured), but also probably not the a-hole the series makes him.
@@MaartenVet-ce9px I'm thinking that Cobb was generally good natured when sober but he's one of those guys whose switch flips when they drink.
@ Quite possibly, and with more down time and more alcohol being available the longer the war dragged on, the drinking was probably more and more often.
I love how many tiny details you pick up on. So refreshing to see such an observant and sharp reactor 😊
If a person can be proud of a person I don't even know . That would be me. I am sure you don't remember me I am a combat vet who watches every one of these with you. My chest swells with pride for the work you have done. WELL DONE and may God bless the rest of your life.
I enjoy watching your reactions because often your instincts are on point. You know enough about certain institutions and culture that you can extrapolate ; it's cool to see how intuitive you are.
Your memory of Webster is right. In "Crossroads," when he gets shot, he says "They got me!" which is a movie cliche. He was an English or Literature major in school until the war stopped his education.
Most perceptive reactor to this series that I've seen - and I've seen many. Great job, and very enjoyable!
You better be ready for Episode 9 because it is the Most Powerful, Emotional, and Importance to Remember and to Never Forget. Have the Tissues ready at all times for Ep 9!
I suspect Jackson died from massive internal bleeding. Fragmentaton grenades cause major concussive trauma, so even if you're not hit by shrapnel you can still get badly messed up just from the kinetic force of the blast itself.
Yes, I was just about to post the same comment but you beat me to it. One thing that Hollywood always gets wrong is that the pressure wave from explosions can kill and seriously injure people farther than shrapnel can reach, especially in enclosed areas like a house, and the damage would consist of ruptured organs, internal bleeding, and brain damage, and would be mostly invisible. As an example, that's how depth charges works against submarines: you don't have to hit the sub with the depth charge, as long as it explodes anywhere nearby, the pressure wave will injure the men inside
Yep. Lungs are particularly susceptible to blast effects.
From what I understand from the book, he took a fragment from the grenade into his brain.
The interesting thing about David Webster is that he had what might be considered a fairly unusual outlook on the war. The book is filled with extracts from letters he wrote to his parents while he was in Europe and he seems to have viewed himself more as an impartial observer of the war rather than an active participant in it. He doesn’t seem to be particularly patriotic, he writes about engagements he was involved in quite a clinical, detached way. He even chastises his parents for worrying about his safety. He was also the only original Easy Company man never to have received any kind of promotion, not because he wasn’t capable, but because he just seemed not to want it. I’ve always thought that this maybe contributed to the cold shoulder he got when he came back.I find them one of them more interesting individuals that this show focuses on.
He did his duty, but he wasnt inclined to go above and beyond. He wasnt going to volunteer to die, was probably his motivation.
I also think he saw it as his duty to chronicle the war. I’ve read quite a few of his letters by this point and he was a very gifted writer. He had a real flair for the English language which makes a lot of sense given his educational background.
Stop with the spoilers for god's sake, just wait until she finishes the show to talk about which characters survive and what happens to them after the war.
@@d.jparer5184
What are you talking about? I didn’t say anything about what happens to anybody after the war.
@@BlairKillgallon so Webster wrote his book in Hagenau?
After the war, Webster wrote a book about his experiences but no publisher wanted it. They wanted hero books and his did not fit that genre. After Stephan Ambrose started interviewing for his book "Band of Brothers" he discovered that Webster had the unpublished book and was loaned the manuscript from his family. After reading it, Ambrose asked the family if he could publish it and they agreed. Some of the info you see in this series comes from that book. It is a very honest look at how Webster felt about his time in the army and there are stories he tells that are not in the series. It is very gritty and sometimes dark. It is a very good read if you really want to know how a private who could have been an officer, experienced the war. It is titled "Parachute Infantry: An American Paratrooper's Memoir of D-Day and the Fall of the Third Reich" by David Kenyon Webster.
@jamesellis1972 I read Webster's book recently. It was indeed dark. Webster hated the Army and did what he could do avoid fighting.
The animosity towards him in the show didn't really happen. He was greeted warmly from his hospital stay.
@@DouglasJCook It wasn't that Webster avoided fighting...he had no problem doing it if he had to. What he did was that he didn't volunteer for anything. If a finger was pointed at him to go into the field, he'd go without complaining.
Sgt. Martin glared at Webster because he wasn’t going on the patrol until Webster helped Lt. Jones go instead of Malarkey. He noticed this when Webster gave that nod and smile to Lt Jones during the briefing.
Band of Brothers is the greatest piece of cinema ever made.
4:12 That's probably one of my favorite parts. Speirs just stands there and watches the shell come in like it's nothing while everyone else ducks or cover. LOL
Chucking a grenade into a room and entering before it goes off happens more than you would think.
There's an almost instinctual thing in your head telling you that surprise is your strength, to move fast and aggressively when you have surprise on your side.
So throwing that grenade is almost like blowing the whistle in a race for guys that don't have a lot of combat experience. The voice in their head says "go go go" as soon as the grenade leaves the hand.
Ive never been in combat but knowing how i get all fuddled up under stress, i imagine youd be so full of adrenaline maybe you just wouldnt think straight , just charge!
There is a story from Vietnam of a trooper coming up to a grass hut, tossing in a grenade, then hugging the outside wall of the hut, as trained. Just not processing the grass wall would not stop the shrapnel. Adrenalin is a hell of a thing.
Once again you see the things that other people don't see. I love watching your reaction videos because despite the fact that I have watched this multiple times before I am still learning new things thanks to you! You're the best Teegan!
I’m a simple man. I see a Liteweight video, I click, I enjoy. It’s a good life
You are by far the most observant reactor I have seen for this series. It's quite amazing some of the things you instantly pick up or guess and are right on.
So good to see this series back, I was really looking forward to it! Hope you're feeling better by now too :)
Ugh it’s been an awful month for health lol. Fingers crossed I can stay healthy for longer than a week this time! I’m feeling better, just very overwhelmed with how far behind I am lol
@@LiteWeightReacting Oh that sounds rough, glad you're getting better at least. Take care!
I absolutely love the fact you spotted Cobb with the MP's, that's why you're my favorite. In reality he got into that argument and refusal with Lt. Foley and and was subsequently court marshalled for it. Good shit.
Another small detail that’s so subtle it’s easy to miss, is Sgt Martin calling the second patrol briefing to attention when Winters came in. It shows that Lt Jones had gained his respect and that in a small way he agreed with him to try to keep up the regulations in some areas. That there is a middle ground that’s between a by the book guy like someone fresh from west point and too relaxed like the guys may have been after finally having some time indoors and not being under constant barrage.
One of the things about Webster was that while he was there on the front lines in D-Day and Market Garden, he didn't volunteer for stuff. So, for example, where other guys went AWOL from the hospital, Webster let the Army do its thing. (Not that he could've rejoined the company during the Bulge when they were cut off anyway.) He was a good soldier, but if I recall correctly he was one of the only original Toccoa men that never got promoted. I knew the type when I was in the Air Force - good people who were very capable and professional, but who were perfectly content to stay where they were and not get promoted.
He also couldn't have rejoined the company because he was in a hospital in England.
@@stephenschaffner2387 Exactly.
Promotion brings responsibility. I had a brother in the police who could easily have made sergeant. He never wanted to rise above constable.
I’ve seen BoB many times and each time it’s a hard watch. Your reaction even as a US veteran leaves me watery eyed. They were definitely part of “The Greatest Generation.”
Yep, that was Cobb ragging on the replacement about the unit citation and yep, Martin is pissed at Webster about the substitution. Webster wrote a book about his experiences and his recounting of these events is different from the film makers portrayed for dramatic effect. He was welcomed back and everyone was happy to see him again.
Right, Martin is pissed off at Webster because Webster got Malarkey to sit out the patrol, so Martin was ordered to take his place.
Don't spoil if for her by telling her which men survive and what happens to them after the war.
@@d.jparer5184 Lighten up Francis.
watched this series so many times, never realised Cobb was in the MPs jeep until now. And even that he got arrested.
Thank you for your thoughtful and insightful reactions! You notice so many details that many reactors do not. Well done, and keep going, including the documentary, We Stand Alone Together; it's a MUST.
"I hope that we have a little bit of a break from the heartbreak"...
Oh my sweet summer child...
😭 this show has been so beautiful but it is destroying me!
@@LiteWeightReacting The next two episodes are all sunshine and rainbows, promise >:)
@@dropkick9517 Yeah, episode 9 is almost a comedy... 👀
@@bujin1977 "Yeah, it's a real corker." (yswidt)
Colin Hanks has had a couple guest appearances on NCIS. And yes, soot from the lighters adds a matte black coating on areas where the black has worn off exposing shiny metal.
Always had the impression that Lt. Jones (played by Colin Hanks) was promoted to 1st Lt. and sent to battalion HQ as an unspoken trade-off for keeping his mouth shut about the faked patrol. Never read Ambrose's book, but one wonders ...
Just before Christmas I visited Arnhem and went to the airborne museum and cemetery. A bitterly cold, grey still winter day (just like Haguenau is in this episode). Walked over the new bridge named for John Frost. Easy never got to the bridge too far but a lot of their British brother paratroopers stayed there and never came home
I visited the Airborne Museum near Arnhem as well last summer. I've bought myself a copy of David Webster's book in the museum's gift shop.
Cobb is used in the series to be that aggravator.
The men don't remember him fondly and he was repeatedly drunk.
He also fell out of the boat.
He is depicted differently to the others throughout, even using a different weapon, the grease-gun
Loving your reactions to this amazing series! The Gettysburg historical museum in Gettysburg Pa has a large section dedicated to Major Winters that includes most if not all of his collection from WWII and “Easy company”! It’s amazing to see after watching this!
This episode offers little in terms of relief from the horrors of the war that Easy Company has endured so far. All you need to know about the overall state of mind of the men at this point is written all over Malarky’s face. But Winters does provide a reminder that humanity is still at the center of what this war is all about. The simple gesture of telling his men to lie about going across the river for a second patrol so they can get a good night’s sleep, and spare the loss of more lives, is just further testament to his strength as a leader.
Even Spiers seemed worn out 😭
@@LiteWeightReacting When Captain America looks beat down, you know things are bleak.
Great reaction Teegan like always. One thing to keep in mind, is Webster was changed a little for dramatic purposes in this episode. He wrote in his memoirs that when he returned to Easy Company, he almost cried when he saw how depleted it was and how many of the guys he'd been through the war with were gone.
The Fact about this episode. In Webster's own book Easy didnt really criticize "Him" for his absence during bastogne. Infact they are glad and relief that he and the rest wasn't there because they dont want to see more of their comrades die in the battlefield. They just did that to give the show a little drama. But i really salute the "Actors" because they really did a great job portraying how much they've been truamatised and changed after bastogne. Honestly all the Actors did a really great performance not just in portraying the Easy Men throughout the series
Lt. Jones was neither liked or hated by Easy Co. he was seen as the usual “fresh off the boat” type but never really gave any excuse for the men to hate him. After the patrol, he was viewed with a bit more respect, seen as someone who was capable and had the potential to be an effective combat leader. Horrible shame he was killed later in a car accident in Germany. Keep up the good work.
Still have to smile a bit hearing Damien Lewis talking with an American accent after knowing him from his British roles.
My Uncle went on this mission...he said he stayed out of the raft and just hung on to the side on the river crossing. Also told me that some Lieutenant took two prisoners and made them dig a hole. The LT asked one prisoner for info, when he didn't talk, he shot him....the other one talked. My Uncle was clearly not a fan of this method and argued with the LT about it....was proud of my Uncle for this. And my Uncle was not a replacement, had been with the 506th since D-day and survived Bastogne.
The story about the officer killing the German soldier who wouldn't answer questions is attributed to Lt. Spiers by the men of easy.
Welcome back. I've really missed your reactions. You're very perceptive, young lady. And yes; Cobb was the one who was a Richard in episode 4. No spoilers, but keep tissues handy for the last two episodes. There are tears of sorrow and tears of joy. Until the next one, CURRAHEE.
Tom Hanks even enlisted his own son into the War, that's hardcore...This is when Winters essentially "Dad arms" and protects his men of Easy Company in anyway he can, even by lying to command. I love the way they express so vividly by the soldiers experiences by the appearance of their uniforms. Webster's guilt is what leads him to volunteer...to earn the respect back from the men again and does thankfully. The shear pain in Malarky's eyes is overwhelming...now onto Germany. Currahee ♠
Tom Hanks was also the actor voicing the man screaming in the other side of the river. The one that they didn’t want to listen to. Cobb eventually got close enough to the river to chuck iver a grenade that killed him
He didn’t enlist him, he made sure he was commissioned into the war!
You are correct about Cobb being the one who was wounded before jumping on Operation Overlord. And then gives Private Miller grief about the unit citation.
Cobb was 30 in 1944, and had served in North Africa in tanks in 1942 before transferring to the airborne. So he wasn't an immature 19 year old.
That evening after the patrol, Cobb, after drinking schnapps to intoxication, was arrested after assaulting Lt. Foley (the series depicted Cobb as, instead, verbally assaulting Sgt. Martin). During processing for a court-martial, a frustrated Colonel Sink told Foley "You could have saved us all a lot of trouble. You should have shot him." Cobb was court-martialed, eventually discharged from the Army (after Episode 10) and returned to the States.
When i was down at Ft Jackson for the Army i got to meet Earl McClung and Forrest Guth during a 4th of July Event. It was awesome getting a signed autograph of them and listening to their stories
At the Evergreen Air Museum, nearly 20 years ago, there was a Band of Brothers event, with many of the living guys attending, and I got to sit next to Forrest Guth at dinner and he was such a nice guy! I thought it was a shame he and so many others weren't portrayed, but then I understand that viewers can only get to know so many characters.
Malarky spent the most consecutive time, of any man in Easy, on the front lines. The actor portraying him does such a stunning job portraying the level of weariness that he’d be feeling at this point.
I completely agree, unfortunately he did SUCH A GOOD JOB that I have a hard time taking him seriously in any other role.
It's one of the ironies of war: if you're wounded, you get a purple heart and actually get a bit of a break, while guys like Malarkey and Shifty Powers just stay on the line
@@davidpietarila699And it especially unusual because his biggest roles are usually comedic ones. He was on ER for a while and even then he was a semi-comedic relief character.
Every time you ask a question I'm nodding my head at the screen.But of course you can't see me.
Wow, you blew my mind. I have watched this series countless times, and I never noticed Cobb being taken away. After looking it up, I guess he was taken away in real life for more than just being drunk. Apparently he also struck Lt. Foley. He was the one that criticized James Miller (played by McAvoy) about his pin and Webster shouted, "They got me" in Crossroads. Webster was another writer from Easy Company, so that's why he is narrating in this one. I love seeing Winters promoted. I have so much respect for that man. I believe the hand of God was on him to help lead these men. So many times I wanted to sing his praises, but I didn't want to spoil the story for you. Anyway, glad that one wasn't so hard on you as previous episodes.
You are correct about the use of the lighter to soot-up the exposed barrel metal and front sight of the M-1.
David Webster studied literature at Harvard before the war. He wrote with insight and eloquently about his war experiences in his journals.
According to the Band of Brothers novel, he considered himself an observer foremost and made a point to never speak up or volunteer for any duty, despite being fluent in German. He would fight and do what he was ordered to, but nothing else
So this is one of the reasons a lot of us really wanted you to watch this. You see all the little things that most miss.
Also we all knew you would get attached to these truly amazing men.
The next two episode are tissue episodes, both for happy and sad moments.
Loved your reaction. I had to smile when you noted a new member of easy company speaking at the beginning of the episode. No spoiler to give you his name as he wasn't featured in the series, despite being one of the more interesting members of Easy Company who was there from the start, as he was the company's unofficial armorer who could fix or upgrade the company's weapons, making their M-1 rifles fully automatic, as well as being something of a tailor who sewed new pockets on his buddies' uniforms. He also took his personal camera along on the D-Day jump and his photos were some of the only ones of Easy Company's actions in Normandy. One of the reasons he may have been left out of the series was because his name would cause confusion or mirth. His name? Forrest Guth.
Winters mentions a full moon. He wasn’t keen on putting men at unnecessary risk anyway. During the first raid that happened there happened to be cloud cover. But for the second, he knew cloud cover was gone and that the temperature has dropped freezing the snow they’d walk across, making it louder. He also knew that someone at Sink’s office had managed to get a fresh bottle of liquor. Sink’s unofficial moniker was “Bourbon Bob” and Winters knew that with a fresh bottle Sink would be long asleep by the time of the raid and wouldn’t have woken up even if the battalion had “opened up” with covering fire.
_Outstanding move_ …
Boy you don’t miss a thing! Really enjoy your reactions!
The man in the intro that you hadn’t seen before was not featured in the series. His name was Forrest Guth. Guth was a popular man in Easy, and was known for customizing gear. He’d add pockets to uniforms for spare ammo and rations, and figured out how to customize the M1 Garand to be fully automatic.
All this time (more than 20 years), I thought the sergeant killed while carrying potatoes, was Bill KING, not KIEHN. My box set of DVDs did not come with any subtitles, so I just found out a new detail after all these years. Thank you!
In David Webster's book he describes Jackson's death as even worse that this episode depicts. Grenade shrapnel in his brain. Nor did Jackson lie about his age when he joined the Army in 1940. He was born in 1922. As brilliant as BoB is, it does indulge in artistic license.
Don't spoil who survives the war or what happens to them after.
West Point, as you most likely know, graduates 2nd lieutenants for the US Army, akin to the Naval Academy graduating ensigns for the US Navy. The 2nd lieutenant (Jones) is given command of 2nd platoon by Spiers, as he is a replacement officer for Easy company. 2nd lieutenant is the lowest ranking for officers, but is above all enlisted rankings.
Great reactions! You really do catch so much that other reactors seem to miss. I want to mention to you to please be sure to include “Chapter 11” the documentary, “We Stand Alone Together”. It really puts the cap on this series incredibly well.
When Shifty was using his Zippo on his front sight post of his rifle, he was blackening it with soot to have a crisper sight picture. With all the handling and bumping around that rifles are subjected to, the finish will wear off over time and expose bare metal. That exposed metal will throw off your aim, especially in low light conditions.
Yes! Those "bright ones" are tracer rounds. Typically, every fifth round in a magazine or ammo belt is a tracer. There's a small amount of phosphorus that burns when the round is fired. The Wermacht used green, and the US used red
Re: Webster/ From what I heard, the reason Webster couldn't return like some of the others is the others were still in France while Webster was in England to recover. So it would have been a lot harder to go AWOL from hospital. Plus we do not know what kind of wound Webster had. If he had broken bones it would have taken longer to heal. On the other hand it could have been that Webster did stretch out the hospital stay to avoid returning as long as possible, so the others were pissed at him for seemly shirking duty.
About Webster, it's basically that Bastogne was such a shitty situation for them (and made them so much closer) that him not being there it's like he isn't part of the 101st anymore. Also it wasn't only Popeye who went AWOL from a hospital, Toye and Guarnere did too, it was almost expected that you would escape to be with the men.
In reconnaissance, you're paying particular attention to the 5 S's...shape, shine, silhouette, sound, and sudden movement.
Jackson rode his own grenade into the room. Aside from the shrapnel, the explosion also causes an overpressure wave. Overpressure plays hell with the soft tissue of internal organs and proximity to enough of it can liquefy them. He very likely had severe internal bleeding, which they wouldn't be able to see, and would have likely missed any indications due to their focus on the obvious facial wound. There's a reason we do rapid trauma assessments the way we do them...it's easy to get hung up on an obvious wound that may look worse than it actually is and miss the indications of a more severe, life-threatening wound.
We had a guy in Iraq who had been in a vehicle when it hit an IED. He'd caught some shrapnel and the infantry battle buddy who was rendering aid was focused on that. The problem was, if he'd have rolled him over to do a full assessment, he'd have noticed that he was bleeding out his rectum due to severe internal hemorrhaging due to the overpressure. I noticed it when I got to him, but it didn't matter in the setting, there was nothing we could do for him without an emergency surgical unit right there and that sure wasn't happening on the X. He bled out internally in less than 5 minutes.
Tom Hanks’ son in this episode is playing LT. Henry Jones Jr. A real man that served in easy company but also, the same name as Indiana Jones.
This is the episode with probably the most Hollywood liberties taken in it.
1-Webster was wounded in Episode 5 “Crossroads” (Sept 1944) and returns in February 1945, 5 months. He wasn’t gone that long because he “enjoyed” that hospital as Liebgott stated. In Ep 5 he was seen leaving nonchalantly and almost jokingly. In reality he was more seriously wounded and was transported to a hospital in England.
2-Webster wasn’t greeted with hostility upon his return but rather the men were happy that he was back. The hostility centered on Webster not “escaping” the hospital and finding his way to the way to the men while in Bastogne. Popeye and Alley were highlighted by Liebgott in doing just that. Ep 4 “Replacements” shows Popeye arriving while the group was still in England having escaped his hospital also in England. Alley, it’s said in Ep 7 “Breaking Point”, escaped from the hospital or Aid Station in Holland while the unit was also in Holland. The men were near the unit so it was easy for them to rejoin the company. For Webster to break out and join the unit in Bastogne he would have had to break out of the hospital, somehow make it to the English Channel, stowed away aboard a ship, and then gone all the way across France, and Holland and into Belgium to Bastogne where he would have had to break through enemy lines (remember Easy was surrounded) to get to the unit. A logistical impossibility.
3-Webster did not go on the patrol. He was on the machine gun that fired on the Germans as the patrol was escaping. Lt. Jones also did not go on the patrol. Lt. Foley did. He was the officer whom, in the previous episode Ep 7 “The Breaking Point”, was told by Dike, to go around the village and in this episode told Webster to go to 2nd Platoon. Sgt. Martin did not go on the patrol either. The Sergeant who led the patrol was not a character in the miniseries so the writers gave it to Martin.
4-The episode implied that Lt. Jones was only with the unit for a few days. In reality he was with Easy Company for a few months. The reason he was transferred out was because he was a graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point New York. Sensing that the war was going to be over soon the Army began protecting Junior officers who were West Point graduates since they would be remain the Army after the war while the draftees, volunteers & Reservists are sent home once the war was over.
5-The episode showed Cobb, drunk, mouthing off to Lt. Jones and Webster. Later, when Nixon is giving Winters the insignia of a Major you will see Cobb being escorted into a jeep by the MPs. What happened was that a drunken Cobb took a swing at Lt. Foley. So now Cobb’s on his way to a court-martial.
6-Winters was able to get away with not doing the 2nd patrol because Sink gave the order to do the patrol while drunk. Winters knew from past experience that after he sobers up Sink never remembers any verbal orders that he gave when he was drunk.
For me, Band of Brothers is one of the best series I've ever seen.
The next episode 9 Why we fight touched me deeply as a German and I can very well understand your tears. Episode 9 hit me deep in my heart as a German. As a German today, I have a responsibility to ensure that something like this should never happen again on German soil. In memory of Hans and Sophie Scholl, Count Schenck von Stauffenberg, Hennig von Tresckow and so many more, we Germans have the responsibility to ensure that something so inhumane is never allowed to happen again on German soil. Many greetings from the south of Germany.
Why would you place a comment like this about episode 9 under this episode, it's kinda spoilery IMO.
She more than likely already watched it but still....
@@Leppi72 Dude...spoilers!
The animosity for Webster is because everyone went AWOL from medical to get back, Webster took him time, went through recovery and everything before he went back. Everyone else got stitched up and basically snuck back. The battle of the bulge was one of, if not the biggest and toughest battle for the 101st so if you missed it to sit in a hospital bed than people will look at treat you differently.
You're right, it was Cobb that gave Pvt Miller a hard time about the unit citation. He's a bully, who targets whomever he thinks is vulnerable at the moment. Also, you're right about the reason for the dirty look Martin gave him. It's because Martin was picked after Webster got Malarkey out of the patrol.
love everytime you enjoy the music! so empathic, in your being! ty for sharing!
Grenades spit out shrapnel and can also be incredibly damaging to internal organs from the concussive shockwave. I imagine he ruptured something internally.
Great catch on Cobb and yes he was court-martial. Webster got the death stare because the Sgt wasn't suppose to go on the patrol but got picked when the switch got made. My dad said the was the scariest part of the war because as they said you had a feeling it was over so be careful. What made it worse was officers were making up dumb missions because they knew this was the last chance to get some bonus points for promotions after the war.
There is also a follow up documentary you do not want to miss!
Glad to see new content on your channel, Teegan! Hopefully that means you and Baby Lite are back to full health. 🤞
Clicked so fast, I love your Band Of Brothers series!
Your Mass Effect playlists have been a constant in my house, inspired to play them again, thank you!
Oh, and have a box of tissues ready for the forthcoming. I'll say no more :)
I watched this series when it was new in 2001 on DVD, and since then I've re-watched it at least 50 times. The thing that hurts me the most is that every man they interview at the start of each episode is dead now. 😢
Webster is what you call a sick call ranger in today’s terms. Everyone who got hit found a way to come back to the bros Webster stayed his full term in the hospital. It shows he doesn’t have my back mentality. Hard to explain
Great catch on Cobbs! I love watching your reactions, amazing job!!!!😊
I know I can never compare to the utter studs that fought in WW2, but seeing them laugh from artillery that didn’t hit them reminds me of how everyone I served with acting about half way thought deployment. If it was gonna hit you then so be it, so you wouldn’t get out of bed or really care.
Great catch on Cobb, I didn't see that until my 3rd rewatch, he got arrested for being drunk and taking a swing at an officer (Lt. Foley I believe)The truth is that the guys were NOT upset with Webster, most of them were happy to see him back and glad one of them had not had to go through Bastogne. Webster's wounds from Holland were more severe than the Crossroads episode let on, and he had been evac'ed to a hospital in England. The guys who went AWOL from hospitals to make it back to the unit were only a few miles back from the frontlines.
The great thing about winters being promoted to major is hes now at ranks Sobel
Yes, you are correct about the tracers. They "glow" so you can adjust your aim on your target. Now, please understand that most ammo loadouts are 1 in 5 tracers. For every tracer round you see, there are 4 rounds flying that you won't notice.
LW - Great to see you back. I think you hit on something on how the soldiers treated Webster. From my perspective, I believe it was more likely how tired and angry they were in general and it was taken out on Webster, because he comes in smiling, well rested and clean shaven. Yes, he had fought and fought bravely before Bastogne, but like Winters said in the comment at the end of that episode, no one truly could understand the difficulty of the battle without being part of it (which surviving it created that unbreakable bond he notes). It wasn't Webster's fault that he missed it, but by this point in the war, and like you said, they were ready to go home. The Germans were for the most part finished. As the soldier said in the beginning 'ease up, you felt you had a good chance to make it', so every time a new assignment came in I am sure it must've have felt like please let this be the last one. Please just let me survive. Also good catch on Cobb with the MPs. I had not seen that before, perhaps he was getting disciplined for the drinking episode and insubordinate behavior to a higher ranking officer. And yes, you nailed it again on Martin. So observant. Martin was pissed, because Mularkey wasn't going so he was now the ranking officer and put in charge of the mission. The last two episodes to go, bittersweet.
Oh boy episode 9 is up next. I won't ruin anything but mentally prepare yourself for a very rough episode
YES, Cobb was the one that gave Miller (James Macavoy) the hard time over the unit citation.
It’s always a great day when liteweight post!
Finally. someone noticed that even though the actors took less than a year, from actual basic training to the end, to complete the series they looked like they did go through the war. To me it looks like the actors aged several years doing this series.
Yes, it was Cobb complaining about the D-Day pin.
There was a lot of manipulating the facts in this episode. Webster was welcomed back. Webster did not go on the mission; he stayed on the allied side of the bank manning the 50-caliber guns. It is thought that they gave Webster a bigger portion of this episode because they took many of the stories from his book and letters for the series.
Webster was wounded in episode five, Crossroads his famous word were "they got me". Need a case of kleenix for nine. Yes it was Cobb who questioned the wearing the Presidential unit citation ribbon, I always point out as long as you are assigned to the unit you may display the ribbon.
Awesome reaction, as usual. I love the heartfelt nature of your reactions.
War is Brutal. I admire you watching this series.
You know, I’ve said it before, but you are such a sharp reactor, with a lot of emotional intelligence. You catch on the things quicker than most reactors that I see, to the point t that in my head I predicted that you were going to perfectly understand a few points in this episode that most people miss. For instance, that Webster’s attempt to get the other German translator off the patrol was misinterpreted as an attempt to get himself off the duty.
Anyways, it’s one of the things I love about your reactions.
PS: I found you thanks to Mass Effect, and I just want to say, despite your impressions about that community, the vast majority of us Loved your playthrough, and I’ll die on that hill. 💕
You do catch obscure moments brilliantly! It's only in intense war moments that you check put and are done with it! The entire series builds up in a sense and doesn't let up, save for a few notable moments?
I've heard from several places that they really dramatized the "welcome" that Webster got. In reality, he was welcomed back pretty warmly. He was hospitalized in England, so "going AWOL" to get back to the men would have required crossing an ocean - not really doable without assistance and a medical discharge.
I was wondering when I'd see the next episode with you. Glad you are continuing this amazing series.
Hate to see this series end, but also looking forward to seeing your reaction to the final episodes and hearing your commentary about it!
Jackson's death: One thing Hollywood gets wrong is that the pressure wave from explosions can injure people farther than shrapnel can reach, especially in enclosed areas like a house, in the form of ruptured organs, internal bleeding, and brain damage. Likely Jackson had internal injuries from his grenade blast. As an example, that's how depth charges works against submarines: you don't have to hit the sub with the depth charge, as long as it explodes anywhere nearby the pressure wave will crush the men inside (sometimes barely damaging the sub itself) and water transmits pressure better than air
The book "Parachute Infantry" by David Kenyon Webster is available on kindle and is a very worthwhile read. It tells about the war from Webster's point of view, including many events also covered in this series. The line from episode #5 where he says "They got me." is straight out of his book. Having dropped out of Harvard where he was an English Literature major to join the paratroops, he thought he should have said something less trite.