In 1965, I was an abused child, age 8, who would come home from school and watch Combat... it had taken me along to a better world for just a little while. Then after the show was over, I would get kicked out of our home and told not to come back again until it got dark. I'd have to walk around, all alone. I grew to love all the characters on Combat as if they were like my family. They were honest, honorable role models to me. Some tv shows don't just entertain.
So sorry that happened to you. I was. CASA (court appointed special advocate) and had children assigned to me. I represented abused and neglected children in family court. As a citizen unpaid volunteer I was there to investigate and report to the court separate from social services. I had a couple of assignees with situations similar to yours. My reports and testimony often contradicted social services recommendations but the family court judge usually went with mine which placed the children in a group home that taught them skills and provided them with therapy l. I glad to say both of those children eventually were adopted into good homes and one went on to get a full ride scholarship to college. I hope you are doing well.
There are children who mature in the shadow of a more notable parent. Sometimes the children will rise above it, while other children will make a living, sheltered behind. Many a Combat episodes offer a good lesson. As always, I enjoyed the writing and actors. Top notch.
My cousin grew up in the combat shadow of my uncle. Italian campaign and Battle of the Bulge when he got hit. He narrated stories of clandestine patrols in Laos and Cambodia where he was shot in the chest supposedly. It was all stolen valor. 2 hours after my uncle died he shot himself in the head. I talked to the VFW liasion to congress who told me not to confront him prior to this. Afterward I went back and asked him how did you know. Simple answer was he built himself up to be a hero he wasn't and when my uncle died his natural death at 93 his son couldn't face the scrutiny that would reveal 4 decades of fraud.
@@stevenwaskul9697 I am very sorry to read of this. I don't know why people will pose a fantasy. I myself often wondered about my own Godfather who brought up stories in childhood. As an adult and the internet, I soon found that he described places he could not have been a part of, yet he handed a down a scrapbook to his son. It held photographs he took with a Brownie. A tank driver; Africa into Germany. Also his bronze stars, purple hearts and commendations. That scrapbook contains the most horrific photos, anybody would want to see. We suspect that his tales replaced very hard truths, he could not ever be able to describe.
When I was in Vietnam, we used to watch Combat on Armed Forces TV. When we finished flying for the day we would race back to DiAn to get a good seat. We loved Combat.
Yes, every report I have read from front line soldiers say that artillery was the most cruel and inhumane part of the war. My Father (who NEVER) talked about the war just said he tried to hide inside his helmet or under a rock or anything and just pray..We developed the proximity fuse which made artillery much worse!.@Marki Faux
These are awesome! Watched them all w/Dad up until I was eight years old, around '67. Never saw reruns, even during the VHS era. Thanks for posting! I've been obtaining hard copies of the dvd's/box sets over the years, and this one is in my top three!
My nickname is "Kirby"... grew up watching this and it was the highlight of the week. We never saw any full season here and I never realised there were so many episodes. Some cringe worthy stuff and some of it is really passe' BUT there is a definite moral to the human story behind the character's, guest star's and event's of each episode. It will always remind me of my late father and the time's we shared, watching "Combat" is a real journey back to my childhood and also reminds me of how enchanted that was, despite the fact that we didn't have a lot, but we had love. Sincere, warm regards from Sydney :)
I was three years old when this episode was aired. I've watched about 15 episodes of Combat! now, and I am really enjoying this outstanding TV series. Rest in peace Andy...
This episode made me nostalgic for my field artillery days. During my first two years, I served in a firing battery FDC. We used old fashioned charts, darts, and slide rules. Computers came along and took all of the fun out of it. I cross trained as an observer but only called one live mission and that was from an OH-58.
@@zerep11 I was never awarded the MOS even though I went to ANCOC for it. I served in Schweinfurt January 80 to December 81 then later in Wuerzberg 85-88. In Schweinfurt one of my best friends married a German girl. I was his best man.
@@zerep11 I forgot to add that he was a 63B. I always had the greatest respect for maintenance. Those guys worked round the clock to keep things going. Even in the toughest weather.
I retired 13F4 I was also a JTAC. I lived for calling and adjusting anything that fired indirect, the old fashioned way compass, bino's, map and radio also was a "Super Wizz" encrypting and decryption with the CEOI. this was some authentic old style CFF even down to the terrain sketch LOVED IT
This episode has a very high rating with viewers on IMDB and for good reason. What I really liked about this episode is the learning lesson that going by the book is sometimes very smart because the book has been created and assembled by learned men. So in this episode the very young Lt. Benton is going by the book ...with good results. This also happened in "Saving Private Ryan" when Tom Hanks character uses the training manual to create a "sticky bomb" to disable a German tank at the end of the movie. No one else in his platoon knows anything about sticky bombs but the school teacher turned Officer Tom Hanks knows enough about sticky bombs to disable this German tank.
Me too, I was Ten years old when this episode aired...My dad was a WWII Army Air Corp Vet...if he were alive today, he'd be glued to these episode like I am!...we used to watch these together...
Gotta love Kirby. When the artillery sergeant starts to pull out, Kirby utters a classic line: "Don't let those stripes get too heavy for you on the way back". Kirby can be a pain in the neck, but he's the kind of soldier you want watching your back when the going gets rough.
Vic Morrow had plenty of acting experience before Combat and even The Blackboard Jungle. Lots of stage work, including Shakespeare. A greatly underappreciated and underutilized actor. Too many typecast him, which seems to happen too often. He's on a bigger stage, now.
@@danrobinson572 If you are not a believer you are not going to with with God ( Jesus ( forever). If you do not acknowledge Jesus He in turn will not acknowledge you That's how that works!!!
The key to this show is Saunders' MBTI INFJ personality. With dominant introverted intuition combined with introverted thinking that gives him great foresight and planning. His secondary extroverted feeling is realized in his deep concern for squad hierarchy and survival of his men. Note Sarge's subtle facial expressions and remarks allowing him to zero in on squad sentiment, fears and concerns. Morrow's acting awesome. Made the show. Jason as Hanley didn't have this. Also, go back and note the piquancy of the orchestral accompaniment which is superb to match the moment to moment tensions and relief. Also
VIC MORROW WAS JUST AS COOL AS MCQUEEN,AND THATS A FACT,LOSING HIM WAS A DOWN RIGHT MAJOR LOSS TO US AND HOLLYWOOD,NO TELLING HOW MANY SERIOUSLY INTENSE MOVIES HE WOULD HAVE MADE,THE WORLD LOSES AGAIN,RIP VIC
MARILYN,behind every incredible person,MALE OR FEMALE,there were times people around him bent his ear,and told him they loved him and it wasn't true,it itakes two to become a complete one
strattuner Agree With You There! McQueen & Vic Morrow Were Some Of The BEST Of Their Time & Today! They Broke The Mold With Them Both! No, I Didn’t Forget The DUKE! He’s One Of A Kind!
Had a good friend who was a .155 towed artillery crew chief during Vietnam. Told the story of an FO whispering on the radio calling in fire coordinates on his position " I'm in a tree they're all around me" an NVA Detachment was moving through his position....The basically called an artillery down on himself!!!
A GOOD lieutenant listens to his Sergeant - especially a COMBAT VETERAN like Sgt. Saunders. In the end, both the Lt. and Stoner proved they were SOLDIERS.
This show was outstanding. Although not so prevalent in this episode, I wonder how they did all the French villages scenes destructed buildings, stone bridges, canals, churches, etc. Also great use of actual war footage from both sides. The special effects person was outstanding. I also love how all Germans spoke German and not English. So realistic. I wish my father, a WWII vet was still alive to allow me to ask questions of his 18 months in the ETO. He spoke so little of his war experiences with us kids.
In case anyone cares, Vic Morrow appears in the pilot for "Police Story" which was just posted on RU-vid(as far as I can tell the whole series was posted!!!!). Excellent acting. There was a platoon sergeant in 1 of my units just like him in the way he worked when on the job(Army MP's).
Right, Nancycatxx. Love everything about Combat even the ones on my list of 10 least favorites. I have 3 more episodes left in season 3 then on to season 4 & 5. I hope to have all 152 episodes watched by the end of 1/2013 (a little over 2 months to finish all of them.) I watch no less than 3 a day and have watched up to 8-10 sometimes. I’m addicted to this show. Not too bad for someone who grew up without a TV and this being the first time coming across this show. My son calls me Amish.
Looking at the title I see that this is 29th episode of the season which highlights one of the reasons that TV was better in olden days. Now you get three or four episodes and a break of a month or two and then a few more followed by another break and then a few more again. If you are lucky a current show has 20 episodes a year, some only have 12 or 14. Another thing is that in olden days, nearly every episode stood by itself so if you missed on, you weren't lost.
TV doesn't give you long to succeed, lots of shows die after six episodes, old days of Combat , the season was 30 plus episodes, today a season is about 22 episodes, hard to build a character with so little time
Saunders is always so professional. He knows the young Lt. is green and experienced. Still he gives him the respect an officer is supposed to get, and doesn't let another sargeant bad mouth him.
All I remember from watching Combat as a kid were all those firefights with conveniently placed rocks and logs. Also, that Saunders sure had an impressive body count 🤣
Just want to add some praise for the musical background of this entire series. Bassoon, clarinet, and woodwinds prevail rendering a sound that is unmistakably “Combat”. Trumpets and trombones for sure, but the bassoon player…magical!
I retired 13F4 I was also a JTAC. I lived for calling and adjusting anything that fired indirect, the old fashioned way compass, bino's, map and radio also was a "Super Wizz" encrypting and decryption with the CEOI. this was some authentic old style CCF even down to the terrain sketch LOVED IT
Another great episode! Thanks a lot for posting these Classics. I remember watching these when they were first run when I was a kid. Tactics change with the weapons, but war IS war whether with clubs and rocks or "Drones". Now we try to fight "safe" and even up armor our Humvees (fancy jeeps). If we ever have to fight a worthy opponent I don't think the modern Army would have a clue. One casualty and everyone would freeze in stunned silence until they got counseling and Xanax...
Why do you disparage our current military by sayin that they’ll need counseling and Xanax during battle or right after it ? PTSD IS VERY REAL. It’s been around in one form or another since the very first battles with rocks and sticks. This country is starting to deal with these injuries. But Rusia and Middle East terrorist fighters will carry their injuries forever and will damage their own communities for a long time. Just advising …
I'm 68, so another old dog who was just a pup when we watched this show. Me and my neighborhood chums would grab our toy guns and play Combat in all the neighbors yards. Those were the days.
I bought a bunch of them recently and place them around the back yard (we're rural) for the grandsons to snipe with their Red Ryders and scoped pellet rifles. Of course, I had the "chore" of zeroing all the airguns before turning the kids loose...
It's bull crap that he was lost making a movie 15 plus years later by a stunt that went so tragically bad that was not planned out on a movie with a budget of millions of dollars. He was on this tv show, with fake explosions, stunts etc etc, budgets were tight, safety wasn't the same concern and never ever got hurt.
@@gssheriff7278 your right.a Nick here or there. All that had to be done was use Vic and 2 mannaqins with the wind machines. Everything else could have been computerized!!!
Combat! S03E29 "Billy the Kid" (1965) 6 Stars [******] Sgt. Saunders and the Squad our called to a special Mission. To knock out a 30inch German Railroad Gun. This was the Best Episode for Military Operations during World War II. This German Gun is Firing on U.S.Troops and Knocking out Bridges.However, Lt. Benson is in command and his Father is a 3 Star General. Benson is smart on the Orders but has no Field Experience. The American infantry pulls back and the Squad is left alone on the Hill looking for the Gun. Smart thinking from Sgt. Saunders when he plants a Hand grenade under a Radio Pack. Sgt. Stoner assigned to the group becomes the Underdog when he saves Saunders life later in the Episode. Excellent Writing, Good Acting and Directing makes this a real Mission. Real Artillery Footage and real Artillery sound Effects. 6 Stars and Beyond [******]
Yeah, great actor, but personally, I would prefer friendship with Morrows co-star and friend, Rick Jason. Jason embraced the 2nd amendment, Vic Morrow hated firearms, kind of hard to like anyone who hates firearms.
@@waynebhase4436 different background can give vastly different point of view. When Vic saw a gun on the street it was usually in the hand of a punk wanting an edge. At that age when I saw a gun it was usually in the hand of a family man stopping a home invader.
I was impressed with Vic Morrows acting ability, and did a Google search on him. The poor guy died from being decapatated in a helicopter accident on a movie set. What a terrible way to go!
what this green inexperienced 2nd Looey was nothing short of brilliant. He knew the Germans would be hunting an American forward observer, so he set up one place, and knowing the Krauts would direction-find the position, abandoned the pos and left the equipment for them to find, and report that the FO had fled, leaving his gear behind, meanwhile a half mile away the real FO position is set up just waiting for the big gun to come out. His only mistake was 1) not letting the squad in on the plan from the get-go. Yes I know in combat, you are supposed to question orders, just carry them out, but every good leader knows that his men will follow him if they know what his intent is. and 2) not abandoning the position fast enough before the Kraut artillery started shelling them. What I really like seeing was the procedure for registering in the artillery using known points visible and identifiable on the map
One of my post-retirement "between jobs jobs" was driving a taxi. During the Obamination era, we had a sizeable influx of, well, not to put too fine a point on it, potential enemy personnel. There is a concentration point where said personnel regularly gather. One young-ish member of said group was a regular patron of the taxi company; after I had driven him a few times he started requesting me. That happens. About the fourth round trip to this enemy personnel concentration point, he asked me, with a smirk, whether I knew "what that place is". I tried to channel Morrow's voice as I replied, "Sure - that's TRP1." He didn't get it, and after I dropped him off I had to call every former FO I knew and tell them about it. I also started referring to that location as such on the company radio net. Several of the drivers were veterans and enjoyed that immensely.
I don't know why, but this episode reminds me a small incident my Battalion experience in Iraq. Unit got a brand new 2LT from West Point. Son of some 3 star general. Went on a Battalion size raid (which they are a big waste of time) in the AO. Hours after they return, they found out that the 2LT "loss" his M4 carbine. The BC order the entire Battalion to the area to look for the M4. It was never found.
Who would you want to play Sargent Saunders and Lieutenant Hanly?? No one could do it like Morrow or Jason could in these Combat episodes. Just wouldn’t be the same. Also modern movie technology today! What can I say; these back and white episodes are good. I like the use of the historical film footage too, even if they keep repeating the same thing over & over in many episodes.
I'm bingeing every episode from 1:1 and I'm here right now (09-11-22). I've been thinking about this question all along. Berenson obviously modeled his onscreen persona after Saunders, but he's a little long in the tooth. Too bad, because he could have been believable. Bruce Willis and Tom Hanks are getting too old as well. The primary current actor I could suggest for Saunders would be Odenkirk. The way he trained for and acted in "Nobody" would make him a good candidate. Now, Hanley? Maybe, and I cringe saying this due to his early stoner persona, but just maybe Keanu Reeves, since his character in the John Wick series (Баба́йка) has matured him (I suspect as much the training he's done as the role's mindset factors).
I've seen FOs set up acoustic directional scopes in several locations, cross multiple intersecting azmuiths on a map, and fire at targets miles away with out ever seeing the target. They adjusted fire using the same method listening to the rounds impact. I think this was a Hollywood abreviated version of that method of fire control. They dont have to see the gun they're firing at or the rounds of our guns impacting. Just hearing them is enough. I've witnessed it!
"Flash to bang time." You can tell the approximate range to an arty piece (or lightning, for that matter), by counting the seconds that pass between seeing the flash and hearing the bang. Roughly 5 seconds per mile away.
@@kensellers4082 I know. I wish there was more info on Vic. He got blaclisted for sure. I wanted to know more about. Hollyweird is still very guarded about Vic. And yet the murderer walks free!!!!
"Tonight,watching this specific episode(just one, of quite a few),titled 'Billy The Kid',was even more interesting,than last year/2021':Since age 10,I've been intrigued in watch T.V.1970's'Combat."Bridgehead"is another favorite." 5--4--2022'
Are always love the show when I was a kid but even then I always wondered where Sergeant Saunders managed to have all the magazines he shot up one or two in a jacket wouldn't do
Saunders frequently disdained medals, always saying that everyone should get one. Although I could see him recommending 2LT Benton for a medal for the planning and execution of this mission
This show aired every weeknight on our local UHF station in the mid-late 70's. If it was on we'd watch it with great intensity. If it wasn't on we would not watch it, and without any intensity either. If it was on but with an episode that billed Rick Jason first, then my friend would call the station and threatened them to have a Morrow first-billed epidode on the next day if they knew what was good for them. And that's what always happened. But we were not sure if it was because they were intimidated by the phone call, or because of the back and forth rotation between the first-billing of Jason and Morrow. There was one in our group who we suspected of liking the Jason episodes better, but we could never prove it to a certainty.
I've watched several of these shows, and I'm a big fan of 1950's movies, because they don't have foul language or nudity. I'm not saying it didn't exist, as there were a few "Silver Screen" films with content just as bad as what you see today, only in black and white, but those are rare, and not something I look for. I've been a gamer for life, and I was commenting on some kids language, and he surprised me by telling me its a war game, where people are dying, so of course foul language is supposed to fit in, ...but I haven't heard any foul language in these 1950's war movies, so it must be a new thing.
Don't worry, it was there all right. We Boomers learned profanity at our Greatest Generation parents' knees. Yes, "parents" - My folks and all my aunts & uncles could out-cuss any mule skinner. There's a meme going around that shows a kid standing on a milk crate next to his Dad at the front of a car, with the hood open. The caption is: "Held the flashlight for Daddy today...learned sixteen new curse words!"
@@edbecka233 That's true, my friend, in so many cases, including my own as well. Just speaking for me, I've been able to rid myself of my own older traditions of the occasional slip of the mouth. I think when people, like even in my family, notice we don't use profanity, they feel out of place when they do, and refrain just out of friendship or love. It's a two-way street as well, when they do use foul language, we ignore it out of love, based on their relation to us, and the circumstances of our encounter, whether they are family members, or friends of the family, or just acquaintances, versus the common person that we are in close proximity to. I guess it's based on personal conviction we have for one another, whether we prefer peace, or conflict. We prefer peace and love by example, rather than to say, "don't talk like that or your, going to hell". Don't get me wrong, I do believe in Jesus, but "Repent or go to hell" hasn't had much success.
@@edbecka233 P.S. If you want to watch a free good movie, do a YT search for "Titanic II". I would give you the link, but then YT would delete the entire comment :(
Yes, thank you! I've heard talk of a movie and who would play who, and frankly I'd rather the character be retired than have someone else play him. Vic Morrow BUILT Saunders, with his own personal idiosynchrasies and mannerisms; from the look to the voice to that insolent walk.
spacepatrolman - Why yes, yes they did sing such a song. The fact your listening to it explains an awful lot about you and the "space" between your ears, little Spaceboy!! Your nemesis, Els
Hi Sarg- Perhaps you might be able to address something which has been bugging me about the Combat series: Why is it that whenever 'we' knock out a strong hold belonging to 'them', we don't take their weapons? It seems to me that a machine gun, grenades or a bazooka, plus ammo would come in handy at the next go-round. But no, they walk away with a BAR and their M-1s. Is that really how things were done or is it just an oversight on the part of the writers?
i'd reckon writer oversight of the last. As you said... it would well have made for a more logical portrayal of Saunders squad to have used @ least the grenades, or disabled the defeated German's array of firearms from being later utilized on their fellow U.S. infantrymen. Instances of our Soldiers using the enemy's weaponry, certainly must have occurred from time to time, especially the Luger pistol. Given the fact that, when even empty... it was a great bartering tool among fellow soldiers. The old saying "Adapt and Overcome" went a long way when any Soldier on either side, runs out of ammo. From my 71-74 model experience... Once the objective was secured. The next order of business was to redistribute our ammo evenly within the squad and stand ready for any counter attack. Meanwhile designated members of the squad searched for, and seized, any enemy documentation/mappings etc. Then demo any enemy arms and ammo left on the objective before moving out. "For there are none closer to Him than those who bare themselves to His Presence during physical danger." -Former Recondo Sgt. "Rock' 82nd Abn. 1/504 Inf. 71-74 11-7-16
Soldiers of equal rank are allowed to address each other by their first names. It avoids confusion. Patton, Abrams, and Eisenhower's sons all had distinguished careers and retired as generals. John Eisenhower left active duty in 1963 but retired from the reserves as a brigadier general. I could name countless others.
I'm re-reading "The Victors". Ambrose describes Ike, in his chummy manner, trying to pat Marshall on the back and calling him by his first name. That shit did not fly. Marshall recoiled and told Ike, "My name is GENERAL MARSHALL!" Ike called him "General" for the rest of his life. I recommend The Victors to anyone interested in WWII history; the book is a compendium of elements of Ambrose's other books about the War, arranged in a cohesive, chronological timeline. Ike is necessarily the central figure, and there is much insight into the way he conceived and ran the ETO.
I haven't seen ComEd since I was a kid and all these shows are like brand new to me again man if they could just bring back some of the old shows back the way they were we have all new series
This episode reminds me of the first couple episodes of the show Tour of Duty from the 80s. Lt Goldman came in as green as one could get and Sergeant Anderson was the same way as Sergeant Saunders.
