"The Pacific" wrapping up Sunday

For those of you who haven't had the opportunity to view the HBO miniseries The Pacific, I encourage you to either find a friend with OnDemand or immediately purchase the series when it comes out on DVD. HBO had invested more money and resources into this TV series than any series in modern history. The series follows the lives of three marines (Eugene Sledge, John Basilone, and Robert Leckie) spread throughout the Pacific Theatre during different stages in the war.

I had been anticipating this series ever since I received the Band of Brothers DVD set for a Christmas gift my freshmen year of college. Now, I am a pretty big World War 2 fanatic, so obviously it was not hard for me to get into either of the series. The interesting thing has been the response of my friends who had not been huge fans of the war.

In viewing this series, one must be prepared to be challenged, as the majority of the action scenes are gruesome beyond belief. Whereas Band of Brothers had a tone of commonality and cohesion, The Pacific resonates with its portrayal of destruction and corruption of the human mind. What the Marines on Pelilu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa saw is beyond our understanding, even with a portrayal as true as the Pacific. Tom Hanks had described this war as one of "racism", which, to my displeasure, was an unneeded opinion for a series that just needed, well, to BE. What grabs the viewer's attention are not the words and stories told by the soldiers, but the actions and outcomes, which often cause you to question how far the soldiers have slipped mentally. I cannot even imagine what my actions would be in situations that dire and I hope I never have to.

The one character I do encourage careful judgement being passed upon is Eugene Sledge. He is quite the unlikeable character in the beginning, not for his actions, but for his LACK of action. Slowly and surely, Sledge gives in to the hardships and atrocities of battle, culminating in Episode 8 with a chilling portrayal of pure innocence becoming forever corrupted.

I won't give away much more, but I really do encourage all of you to give this a shot. While you wait, go grab Band of Brothers and you will get a light taste of what The Pacific has to offer. I must warn you, be willing to be moved, both mentally and in your stomach. It's important we all are willing to hear the story of those who made our lives possible today. We must never forget the sacrifice so many gave upon the alter of freedom.

The light of America burns brightly because of the men of the Pacific and the dream that was and still is the United States can live on because of their sacrifice.