Posts from The Ringo Kid in thread „Historical Events That Must Be Filmed“

IHW, I definitely hear ya on that. I was bewildered on some of the things they announced about my flight from DFW to CC Int'l. Get this, I was sitting next to a Preacher and we chatted quite alot that day to pass the time. OK, some of the things they announced about our flights went like this (and I ain't kidding either)

1) (My flight) Flight "" "" is delayed because the crew has not showed up yet.

2) Flight "" "" is again delayed because the plane is not yet clean.

3) Flight "" "" is delayed because we can't find the flight crew, but the plane is now being cleaned.

4) Flight "" "" is still being delayed because there are no maintenance guys working on it.

5) Flight "" "" will be delayed at least 2 hrs untill we can find the Pilot.

6) Flight "" "" is delayed until we can find out why one of it's engines is not working.

At the announcment for that one, the Preacher and I both looked at each other in astonishment and he said to me: "I have been Preaching for almost 40 years, flying on aircraft wherever I go for the past 30 ++ years, and in all my time flying I never heard anything like this before. I may be a bit closer to GOD and I just might have a bit more "pull" with him but, I don't think my praying about this will help out."

I told him: "Amen to that."

Needless to say, he called for a Taxi--cancelling his return flight, went to the bus station taking a bus ride home. Needless to say, I did not blame him.

When we finally made it aboard our prop job, the M~o~R~o~N who was loading our luggage threw my nice expensive leather bag (which had three Beer Steins I had just bought in Germany) ripping my bag and breaking all three steins.

Hi JWFan, like IHW says, it's no big deal. I was about 11 or so the first time I ever got on a plane. The fight took only about 30 minutes. I never had time to get used to being on the plane before we landed. The next time I was on a flight we flew through a thunder and lightning storm at night. This flight lasted the same as the first one did years earlier. The first and only time I flew a long flight was when I flew from Corpus Christi, to Dallas then to Frankfurt, Germany. Going over the flight lasted about 11 hours. Coming back was about 10 (to Dallas) I spent the next 10 hours at Dallas waiting for my flight to CC Int'l which should have been at 2:00 pm instead of midnight.

Anyway, I stared out the window more than half of the time on the way over. Leaving in the afternoon I watched until you could not see terreigh features because of nightfall. I still looked out on occasion during the night seeing the lights of cities, and sometimes we were low enough to watch individual cars driving around. I thought it funny to see the Police in action as well. I remember one decent sized town we flew over and saw that the Cops were making traffic stops etc. The experiance of going was most excellent. The staff on the plane I was on were great.

On the way back from Germany was a different deal. We left late, the staff left alot to be desired, and I had someone from Pakistan sitting next to me, this person smelled so bad and must have not bathed for a month. 10 hrs + I had to smell that guy.

Hi Jay, heh heh, that story reminds me of one about me being in Germany.

I was near Lace Konstanz (The Bodensee) and I was on a bus one afternoon heading from the small Stadt of Dingelsdorf to the city of Konstanz. Well, along the route this bus stopped at 3 or 4 other little Stadts before we got to the one that you can take to go to a small island (which I never did unfortunately) and at this stop, knowing that everybody on the bus knew I was an Anerican, I sorta kept to myself unless spoken to. Well, I had been riding on that bus by that time, everyday for about a week and the Germans were already used to me by then and a few even speaking to me (or trying to in their limited English and my limited German)

Well, at that said stop, a family of four irritating and loud people were getting on the bus. They were American tourists. There is a phrase I always disliked which is: "C'mon, were burnin' daylight" which is what the father said. I can tell that those noisy people irritated everyone else on that otherwise quiet bus.

I was embarassed because all these people were loud and irritating and that they were American. I felt like the behavior of these representatives from my country were also having an effect on me as well. The Germans I had been getting to know on the bus kept looking at me watching for a reaction. Well, the dad came up to me speaking English and asked me what time it was. I played like I did not hear him nor understand what he said.

The guy asked me for the time and I said in my terrible version of German: Ich bin ein kine sprechen sie Amerikanisch. They guy grabbed my wrist, raised my sleeve and looked at my watch. I was so embarassed and peeved at the same time. Well, shortly later, the bus stopped and these irritationg people left. Every German on that bus clapped their hands at my behavior.

These three Genadagefraus got off the bus where I did. One took me by the hand and took me to a Bistro serving Teas and cakes and they bought me some. They knew the exact reason why I did not let on that I was an Ami, and it's not anything against my country but was against those who greatly embarass us by their irritating behavior in public.

If you had been there and seen this, you would have thought the whole thing funny. I did when I later thought about it.

Heh heh heh, my Mother was afraid of heights. Once we were in San Antonio and wanted to have lunch in the Hemisphere Tower Restaurant. Well, it has more than one elevator that hugs the outside of the building and the side looking out is clear glass. My mother stood in the very back of the elavator while I stood leaning against the glass. (Joe)

Hi JWFan, you name it and there's probably a statue of them.

There are numerous statues with people like: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Robert E. Lee, U.S. Grant, Patton, Ike, Stonewall Jackson, Custer, Blacjack Pershing, JEB Stuart, Ben Franklin, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, etc etc.

Hope this helps?

Hi JWFan, yep, there are many statues all around the States as well. Most I have personally seen were to do with the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and both World Wars. Over the last 15-20 years there have been several added on the Korean and Vietnam Wars as well. Last time I went to San Antonio, I saw one that I think was a new WWII staute. It showed a soldier kneeling next to a fallen comrade. This one I think is located close to downtown San Antonio.

Hi Stumpy/JWFan, Stumpy, thank you for the link about Oberst Werner Molders. It is true he flew in the Legion Condor in the Spanish Civil War and it is true he was only there in the capacity as a Fighter Pilot/Squadron Leader. Werner Molders definately was NOT a Nazi, and hated them. He was definately a Catholic and lived his life by the beliefs. He attended Church regularly as the war permitted.

He was one of several Luftwaffe Pilots who was a Ritterkreuzetrager (Knights Cross Recipient--which is Germany's equal to our Medal of Honor and the U.K's Victoria Cross). Molders was one of only 27 German soldiers in WWII to be a winner of not only the Knights Cross but also the Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. Other names that some might have heard that are in this group of 27 are: Erich Alfred Hartmann who had 352 aerial victories, Erich Topp, who was one of the top scoring Uboat aces of WWII and one of only 2 or 3 Kriegsmarine servicemen to win the Diamonds, and of course Adolf Ferdinand Galland, another Luftwaffe pilot who shot down over 100 aircraft.

BTW, Erich Topp became an Admiral in the West German Navy and retired I think in the 1980s and is still alive. He currently lives peacefully in Remagen, Germany.

Erich Hartmann (one of many) served in the West German Air force and he too retired in the 70s or 80s and as an Oberst. This Gentleman spent several years living here in the USA, and was a teacher to our fighter pilots in the 1950's and 1960's. He was a favored guest at the Air Force Academy and several AFBs here and in England.

One thing on Erich Topp, he was in fact a member of the nazi party but when he joined the Kriegsmarine, he had to quit the party. He also is not a believer in the nazi policies but joined the party because he was forced to by his father. That reason was so Herr Topp could get a good job or it be easier for him to advance in rank. Well, the Kriegsmarine had no nazis serving in their ranks and they in fact did not support nazi beliefs.

Sorry for my rant. When I get started on history, it's hard to quit. ;-D

JWFan, I almost forgot, if you do get a chance to see the movie, I recommend it. It's not a great movie but is entertaining. Also, thanks for the name of that instrument, I can't think of it's name in English either

Hi JWFan, might have been Dutch Marines not sure. I know little or nothing about that part of the war but do plan on reading up on soon. At either rate, i'd hated to have tangled with those soldiers.

Though this movie is fiction, it gave a bit of understanding (at least to me) on the chaos the Dutch faced at that time. The movie is "Operation Amsterdam" w/ Peter Finch.

BTW, what is the name of that huge Piano-like instrument that is set up and played on streets there? This instrument is on 4 wheels and is the size of a super large piano or organ?

Hi JWFan, one thing I have to differ from you on is that granted Holland might not have produced many great ground commanders but, the average Dutch Soldier was as tough as they get. I know a few German veterans who told me of their experiances about fighting Dutch soldiers when they first invaded. I don't know what units they came up against but I remember two of the German vets told me that the Dutch on average were taller and heavier than the average Lanser at least in their unts.

Best regards--C.

Hi Mrs. McClintock and JWFan.

Mrs. McM, nice quote. My favorite Lee quote is: "It is well that war is so terrible lest we grow too fond of it."

JwFan, Thanks for the info on Tromp, Blake and de Ruyter. I'm going to have to do some reading on them when time permits. One thing I did learn that I did not know was Nelson being killed by the French.

The deal on being political is because if you have allies, one must be able to cut oneself a bit short in order to placate the ally in order to win a battle, campaign and or war. Ike was a perfect commander/politician. Same goes for Marshall. Now, someone who made a great field commander but a lousy politician was Patton (need I say more? ). Another was Monty.

One thing extra I will say is that I have always greatly admired tough soldiers and the Dutch certainly never lacked for good soldiers.

Oh and one more thing about Zhukov (not that it is important but) he IMO greatly resembles the actor Pat O'Brien.

Hi JWFan, too late on Nimitz. He has already been placed on a list of 100 top senior commanders of all time. I do not recall where this list was posted except that it was posted on a few sites in the Military History web ring. I never heard of Tromp or Blake. What were they famous for? and Whar war(s).

Georgy K. Zhukov was the General in command of the Siberian troops at the beginning stages of the war. When the Japanese decided that they were going to invade Russia from the area closest to them, well, they made a big mistake. They attacked Zhukov's forces and literally Zhukov wasted them. Gave them more than a bloody nose so to speak. The Japanese never again tried to fight the Russians after losing two huge battles to the Russians commanded by Zhukov. Because of these victories, this is how he really came to the attention of Joe Steel (Joseph Stalin).

Konstantin Rokkosovsky was a great Infantry General and fought most excellently against the Germans even when the Germans were beating the Russians battle after battle after battle. He quickly came to Stalins attention too.

Vasilly Chuikov, was also another great Infantry Commander and was always known to be VERY tough but as well as caring for his men. He had a great reputation before Stalingrad but with his victory there, he was one of the top 4-5 Russian commanders of the war.

One important Russian General I forgot to mention was Budenny. He was an excellent Armor warfare General.

Geo C. Marshall was THE one who ran the war for the Amis, and was the General in charge over MacArthur, and Ike. They took orders from him and he made many an important decision. This General was a "behind - the - scenes - General.

In my HO, some qualities that makes a great commander are:

1) His battlefield successes.
2) His tactical successes.
3) His leadership skills.
4) His ability to act decisively under great stresses and at the proper place and time.
5) His ability to being a bit political as well.

Some extras I will throw in are:

6) The trust that the men under his command have for him.
7) Having his men's respect.
Being practically loved by his men (though not required)
9) The "drive" to get things done.
10) Being practical with his decisions but not too cautious.

Quite welcome about the Civil War info. Before a few days ago, I never knew this info myself.

Cheers--C.

Hi JWFan, Jackson was Lee's right hand man. It would be very difficult to get better than that. Jackson helped Lee plan many of the larger campaigns.

Oh BTW, here are some Civil War battles stats I came across yesterday.

All total, there were approx 385 actions during the Civil War. These include skirmishes, small actions and major engagements and campaigns.

Of those some 385 actions, the Union Army won 179 of those.

The Confederacy won 124 of the engagements.

From the total, some 62 actions were too close to call so they are all considered a Tie.

The remaining 20 actions which were called union victories, were actions the Union Army fought against Plaines Indians. Those actions were nothing at all to do with the Confederacy as well as did not have any Confederate leadership involved. Also of these 20 engagements between the Union Army and the Indian Tribes, approx 10 were nothing but downright massacres including the killing of elderly indians, to women and children.

Also to enclude in the Union victories tally, that they were credited with the winnings of about another 40 victories simply because the Confederates withdrew. Had they not withdrawn, these actions would have also been called a Tie. That would have knocked the Union victories tally down to approx 139 wins. This is only 15 more legit victories over the Confederates. Not too bad if I do say so myself considering the North had twice the number of manpower, more food and supplies, a much bigger Navy, better supply system, and much more manufacturing capability.

These stats can be found on Http://scv.secure-sites.us/statistics/

and or on:

http://members.aol.com/veterans/warlib61.htm

That is if these links are still working since yesterday.

As for the Russians I listed, the name I could not remember yesterday was Vasiliy Chuikov. This is the man who stopped the Germans at Stalingrad when the Germans owned 90% of the city. He then stedily pushed them back while other Russian formations slowly and systematically surrounded the area around Stalingrad making it The Stalingrad Pocket. Chuikov came back from the brink of destruction to win this battle. At one point, he and his HQ staff had to abandon their bunker do to advancing Panzers and German Engineers with Flamethrowers who were assaulting his bunker.

But by all right, Zhukov, Chuikov and Rokkosovsky all deserve to be on the list of greats.

Chester Nimitz is not to be confused with the Chester Nimitz from your side of the world. That Chester too was an Admiral. Chester Nimitz (the Ami) was our best Admiral of WWII. Frank Jack King was a great tactician but was not a combat Admiral. Oh and George C. Marshal should be added to the list of greats as well.

I'll "give ya" on P.G.T.Beauregard. I listed him because he has a cool name. But seriously on him though, he was an excellent general.

Best regards--C.

Hi JWFan/Cole.

JWFan, I liked some from your list like: Hannibal, Napoleon, Alexander the Great, Patton, Nelson, Frederick the Great and Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel. Some I would add are:

Robert Edward Lee, Erich von Manstein, Ewald von Kleist, Kurt Student, Erich Raeder, Karl Donitz, Gotthard Heinrici (never lost a battle) Chester W. Nimitz, Frank Jack King, Stonewall Jackson, James Ewell Brown (JEB) Stuart, Pierre Gustav Toutant Beauregard, Murat, Georgy K. Zhukov, Rokkosovsky and there is another great Russian General I am picturing but I cannot think of his name at this time.

HI JWFan, W-P Fellgiebel was just one of probably hundreds who commanded firefighting units on the Eastern Front. The ones you do here more of are Waffen SS units used in that capacity as well.

My history interests go back to the Roman conquest times up to the Vietnam War. Years ago all I studied about were the Romans, Greeks and the barbarians. Then I switched to Napoleanic Wars, then to the Revolutionary War, Civil War, War with Mexico, The Spanish - American War, The Russo - Japanese War, The Russian Revolution, The German (rather) Austrian Constitution War, The Frano - Prussian War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Boxer Rebellion, The French and Indian War, The War of 1812, The wars between Spain and England, France and England etc. Right now I am mainly centered on the battles on the Eastern Front. Stalingrad, Leningrad, Kharkov and Kursk are my favorites to study about.

I have heard and even read a bit about some of the names you listed like: Gustav Adolphus, Cromwell, Rembrandt (because I thought it interesting a man w/ that name that I had thought that someone made a huge mistake on the spelling of his name and I long ago, had thought that he was being confused with the famed artist, but I found out that definately was not the case) and I do know some on Peter the Great and Frederick the Great.

Now if you give me a quiz on these guys at this time, i would fail because my military historical mindset is on the events of Stalingrad and Kursk.

TRK.

An easier way to show you what I mean on not being familiar with someone as great as de Ruyter.

Have you ever heard of Walther-Peer Fellgiebel? In his right he is as great as de Ruyter was. By the way, this man recieved his Knights Cross as an Oberleutnant and as an Adjutant of 2nd light army artillery detachment 935 (Motorized) He recieved his KC on: Sept 7th 1943 while serving in one of the Army Groups in Russia. His detachment was one that kept on stopping the Russian hordes time after time after time. His unit was known as a "Firefighting" unit because when they put out one fire, they were needed to put out another. In this case, the "fires" were Russian tank units that had broken through the front somewhere and were in the immediate German rear areas creating havoc. It was his units job to stop such troubles. Now can you imagine having to do this over a distance of some 3,000 miles? He had to do this almost constantly for 3 years.

Hi Cole, Itdo, JWFan, Chester & the Mrs.

Cole, thanks for that title, I had forgotten about it. Yep it was a decent Korean War film and I liked the actors in it.Another Korean War film that is regarded highly is The Steel Helmet. I saw it years ago but did not see what was so boo coo about it other than Gene Evans was the star of the movie, and I have always liked him as well.

Itdo, Wolfgang Priess and H-C Blech are two of my favorite German actors along of course with Curt Jurgens and Oskar Werner and the one who played Corporal Kreuger in Cross of Iron--Klaus Lowitsch. When I am able to get a copy of Hunde, i'm going to have to watch both movies back to back. It's been almost 5 years since I watched Hunde.

I've never seen 08/15, can you please tell me about them? From what little I have been able to find on them in English, they do look rather interesting.

I vastly enjoyed E.A.t.G. too but, I disliked that they it is claimed that Soviet Sniper Vasily Zaitzev shot a "Maj Koenigs who was the top German sniper and sniper instructor at the sniper school in Zosssen. Firstly, no such school in a town of that name ever existed nor was there a Major Koenigs nor was there a sniper at the rank of Major even fighting on the front lines. However, I do have an original Heinrich Hoffmann PK press foto of an Oberstleutnant (Lt. Col) who is posing with a sniper rifle. This man's name is Joachim Heidschmidt. Now, he was a sniper instructor for several months but only at the rank of Hauptmann (Captain) and he indeed had been a sniper but was taken off the front lines when he was an Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant) and was promoted to Captain and made said instructor at a sniper school (I don't yet know which one)

Anyway, sorry for my rant on the gross historical injustices that are touted as real actual history in E.A.t.G. Stalingrad and the Eastern Front are my favorite areas of study. You are totally correct though, the film is made of false legends. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed the film and will eventually have it on DVD. Ed Harris made a great Jager Officer.

I've always wanted Die Brucke. I think this is the story of a group of Hitler Youth who were tasked with halting a column of American Sherman tanks. This is another definate on my list of to get DVDs. Another is both the original and remade versions of Der Teufels General. I saw the movie poster advertising the remake when I was in Hagen and then again in Lubeck.

JWFan, i'm just not familiar with de Ruyter. I'm more into military history dating after the Napoleanic Wars (except fro our Revolutionary War) the U.S. Civil War, WW!, and especially WWII primarily Eastern Front and Western Front. I am into the Korean War some and a bit less into the Nam War. My tastes will probably change in the future and i'll probably get back into the Krimean War or The Boxer Rebellion or something just to take a break from WWII.

I cannot make an honest choice between those two on who is better than whom simply because I have never read up on either and know so little.

Like Chester said, i'm more familiar with Admiral Nelson because of Trafalgar and I am fairly sure I have heard of de Ruyter's name at sometime but, in the fog that makes up my brain, his name just is not appearing in my memory banks unfortunately.

Hi IHW, Cole, Itdo, JWFan, Viper.

IHW, I saw I think 5 of those H.Hornblower movies and I think I have at least 4 taped. I thought they were VERY well made and I liked Ioan Griffudd. He is a good actor. I have not had a chance to watch him in newer King Arthur movie and darn it, I was just in a video store last night picking out two titles I had not seen. But back on the H.H. movies. I liked them all and I think they are better than all the Sharpes Rifles movies made--though I loved those as well.

Cole, quite welcome. I might have forgotten about a few good Korean War movies, and as a matter of fact, there was one made with Humphrey Bogart as a M*A*S*H Doctor. I can't remember it's titile and it might be Battle Circus? not sure. Anyway, if I recall, it was a hokey movie and did not hold my interest.

Oh as I now remember, DID leave out a VERY good Korean War movie. This one is Time Limit w/ Richard Basehart, Richard Widmark, Joe Di Rida (SP?) and a few other good actors. This one is to do with American officers while imporisoned in a Chinese POW camp (under the control of Russians) and they murder a fellow officer but all of them made up a story about his death as being from a case of Acute Appendicitus (SP?) or something like that. Anyway, they wanted the character played by Richard Basehart to take heat because he decided to keep quiet about it. Anyway, this is one of my all-time favorite movies. Every actor and actress in this film did an excellent job. BTW, this is a Richard Widmark production.

Like you, I was never a fan of the M*A*S*H movie. I thought it had VERY few good moments in it and thought it weas very boring. I'm highly surprised it was well tought enough to be made into the good TV series it was.

What's CGI? i'm not familiar with that one.

Itdo, thanks for the correct title. My memory is definately rusty and needs oiling. I don't know about it not being the one that was remade. I was in Switzerland in 2000 and my friend Juerg played it and said it was remade as Stalingrad. If Stalingrad is not a remade version od "Dogs" then it does have many many similarities in it. Anyway, that was the first time I had ever seen or heard about this movie. If i'm not mistaken, I think Wolfgang Priess was in it as the Feldgendarmerie Officer? Either way, I like both movies. There is another that I hear is good and I want a copy of which is Die Brucke (The Bridge) and a trio of movies called 08/15 w/ Hans-Christian Bleth (SP?) in them. And lastly, I'd like a copy of Colonel Redl, it sounds like a good story and also has H-C B in it.

JWFan, I do not have a reasonable explanation of why I think C.W.Nimitz is better than those others mentioned, or I would give you a reason. One of my personal reasons sounds lame but it's because he was a Texan. Born and raised in Johnson City--which is not but maybe an hour or so's drive from San Antonio, Texas and near where Ladybird Johnson still lives.

Vipor hit the nail on the head with his explanation. For me it's just a matter of preferance. Just like I prefer John Wayne over Clint Eastwood. Or James Cagney over Humphrey Bogart though I like all these listed. See what I mean?

Best regards and Cheers--TRK.

Hi ya all.

Cole, there are a few good Korean War movies made but I would like to see them remade using the proper people in them.

Some of the best Korean War movies I have ever seen are:

Fixed Bayonets w/ Richard Basehart. This one is about our guys who got trapped at the Frozen Chosin. Excellent movie.

Target Zero, gerat movie which had an American Infantry patrol and a British Tank crew who fought side by side. This one has Charles Bronson, Chuck Connors, L.Q.Jones and so many others. This one is excellent as well.

The Hunters. Great jet fighter movie w/ Robert Mitchum and Robert Wagner.

10 Seconds to zero. Another Mitchum Korean War movie.

Pork Chop Hill. Great movie with the Americans and Chinese doing the eyeball stuff. Gregory Peck, Norman Fell, and so many others.

Prisoner of War w/ Ronald Reagan and Steve Forrest. G.I's in a Chinese POW camp with Russian "advisors" in charge. Ronald Reagan is an American intelligence officer who is assigned to be dropped behind enemy lines and to be taken capture so he can infiltrate the POW camp. This movie is excellent.

The Glory Brigade w/ Victor Mature and Lee Marvin. This was about an American Engineer Platoon who was attched to a Greek Infantry Company. Really a good movie.

Ice Cold in Alex. This one is from the UK point of view and was excellent if I recall. What I don't recall is if this one was a WWII or Korean War movie.

Itdo, I have a copy of Stalingrad which is in German and Russian but also has translated English. This movie is excellent and it is a remake of one made in the lats 1950's which translated the title is Stalingrad Dogs, Dso You Want To Live Forever? or something like that.

Hi JWFan, I did see TRL but I absolutely disliked it. The original was not much better.

Itdo, I have a copy of Guadalcanal Diary and though it is full of propaganda, it is a well made movie and I liked it. I mainly got this movie because of Anthony Quinn being in it.

JWFan, i'll toss a monkey wrench into your question on who was the greatest Naval Commander by saying that Admiral Chester W. Nimitz was. He also has my vote because he is a Texan as well.

Great topic, where to begin (rubbing hands together)

I'd like to see more films made of the Roma conquest through Europe and being stopped by the savage hords at the border with what became Germany.

I'd love to see an American version of the Battle of Stalingrad (not that one that came out a few years ago that was not factual)

I would LOVE to see one on the Battle of Kursk.
One on Trafalgar, more on The Crimean War, more on the Napoleanic Wars, The Revolutionary War, Another good one on The Boxer Rebellion, several good ones on WWI, WWII, Korea.

A remake on Horatio Hornblower, Seahawk, Captain Blood.

More Viking movies.

One about the Austrailians and the Japanese fighting along the Kokoda Trail. Another where they are in Burma fighting for Imphal-Kohima.

A good remake of Wake Island.

A good movie about Guadalcanal.

A good remake of Hell To Eternity.

A good remake of Hell's Angels.

I'll think of more later.