Veteran’s Day TV Viewing

Today we honor the courageous men and women who have served, and are now serving, our country in the military. Initially called Armistice Day, President Woodrow Wilson said, “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.” (Wikipedia)

In 1953, Emporia, Kansas man, Stephen Riod thought that Armistice Day should honor all military personnel, including those living and still serving. He proposed changing the name of the day to (All) Veteran’s Day. President Eisenhower made the change a law in 1954.

Television remembers these brave soldiers with movies and shows which honor them.

AMC:

[easyazon-link asin=”B005OOSPZO”]Tora Tora Tora[/easyazon-link] – An account of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the events surrounding it.

[easyazon-link asin=”B00008AOTR”]Sink the Bismarck![/easyazon-link] – Based on the true World War 2 story of how the British Navy hunted down and destroyed the deadly German war ship.

[easyazon-link asin=”B003ELKNH2″]Apocalypse Now[/easyazon-link] – Francis Ford Coppola’s epic Vietnam War film starring Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall and many more names that are huge today.

[easyazon-link asin=”B000068TPN”]We Were Soldiers[/easyazon-link] – The story of the first major battle of the American phase of the Vietnam War and the soldiers on both sides that fought it. (IMDb)

USA Network:

NCIS (Veteran’s Day Marathon) – Beginning at 11 a.m./10c with “Shalom” and continuing with “Escaped”, “Singled Out”, “Faking It”, “Witch Hunt”, “Sandblast”, “Once a Hero”, “Twisted Sister”, “Smoked”, “Driven”, “Suspicion” and “Sharif Returns”.

Bravo:

[easyazon-link asin=”B00004XPPG”]The Patriot[/easyazon-link] – In 1776 South Carolina, a pacifist plantation owner (Mel Gibson) joins the War for Independence after a British officer murders his 15 year-old son. Heath Ledger and Jason Isaacs also star.

HBO:

[easyazon-link asin=”B001IBIHQ4″]The Pacific[/easyazon-link] – The 10-part miniseries about U.S. Marines fighting the Japanese in the Pacific in World War II begins in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and follows the 1st Marine Division landing on Guadalcanal in August 1942. HBO airs all 10 episodes today beginning at 10 a.m.

TCM:

[easyazon-link asin=”6305077959″]Buck Privates[/easyazon-link] – The 1941 comedy finds Abbott and Costello enlisting in the Army to avoid being arrested and sent to jail. Unfortunately, their drill instructor turns out to be the same cop who was after them.

The Navy Comes Through – The U.S. Navy battle Nazis in this 1942 drama.

God Is My Co-Pilot – The Flying Tigers battle to keep the Burma Road open while trying to strike down the Japanese Navy.

[easyazon-link asin=”B000MTEFWS”]The Fighting 69th[/easyazon-link] – “The Fighting 69th” is a First World War regiment of mostly New York-Irish soldiers. Amongst a cocky crew, perhaps the cockiest is Jerry Plunkett (James Cagney), a scrappy fellow who looks out only for himself. The officers and non-coms of the regiment do their best to instill discipline in Plunkett, and the chaplain, Father Duffy (Pat O’Brien), tries to make Plunkett see the greater good, all to no avail. A final act of cowardice leads to terrible consequences, but Plunkett sees in them a chance to redeem himself…if only he can. (IMDb)

[easyazon-link asin=”B00178U3CY”]Never So Few[/easyazon-link] – O.S.S. operatives are in WWII Burma to train the Kachin natives in modern warfare.

A Walk in the Sun – In the 1943 invasion of Italy, one American platoon lands, digs in, then makes its way inland to attempt to take a fortified farmhouse, as tension and casualties mount. (IMDb)

[easyazon-link asin=”B00096S4BW”]To the Shores of Tripoli[/easyazon-link] – Sergeant Dixie Smith has more raw recruits to turn into Marines.

[easyazon-link asin=”B0029778T8″]Darby’s Rangers[/easyazon-link] – Follows the Army’s First Ranger Battalion during WWII.

[easyazon-link asin=”B00005JN9P”]Up Periscope[/easyazon-link] – Lieutenant Braden discovers is assigned to be smuggled into a Japanese-held island via submarine to photograph radio codes.

ABC:

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition – A Veteran’s Day Special – In a fund-raiser for veterans and their families, Ty Pennington and cohost Jewel recall past shows involving military families. Included are follow-up segments visiting the families who were helped.

(Source)