I started watching an old Gregory Peck film last night, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1956), based on a best-selling book.

Peck's character is portrayed as a paratrooper fighting in Italy during WWII. Later in the movie his unit is transferred to the Pacific to fight the Japanese, and does a combat jump.

This did not ring true to me, that a unit of paratroopers fought in both theaters.



I can't find much on Google. Anyone know?

To the best of my knowledge, the only airborne division that fought anywhere in the Mediterranian (North Aftrica, Sicily, Italy) was the 82nd.

Best I can find, the only parachute regiments in the Pacific were the 503rd PIR (independent) and the 511th PIR (11th Airborne Division). Neither fought in Europe.

I suppose it could be possible for individuals to have moved from one of the regiments of the 82nd to one in the Pacific.

Thank you for the response.

It's just that the movie was seen as sort of a sequel to The Best Years of Our Lives and was clearly aiming at a depiction of life after the war as well as the war itself that was realistic rather than mere flag-waving.

You would think that the book's author and the screenwriters would try to be as accurate as possible given the wide audience that would detect any major errors, but I guess Hollywood is Hollywood.

I'll be interested in what you think.

It was sort of all over the place in terms of plot, but was generally well-acted. Lee J Cobb, who is always top-notch, has a small but interesting role. Keenan Wynn has a sympathetic role.

Ken Tobey, who is one of my favorite character actors, has a brief role as Peck's best friend. Interestingly, Tobey had been in another movie with Peck, Twelve O'Clock High--he plays the sloppy sentry whom Gen. Savage (Peck) dresses down on his first day as commander. I see from the internet that Tobey and Peck were in a drama program together.

I thought the interaction with the main characters' three children was right on the money: they are all glued to the TV, which keeps playing the same cowboy film no matter what day or time. That must have been a fairly original idea in 1956.

The movie certainly introduced some uncomfortable ideas about the war: not just combat, but what soldiers did when they were not fighting.

It was too melodramatic for my tastes and I don't think it is a great movie, but I had never seen it and thought it worth the time.

Funny you mention Ken Tobey. I was deep diving something the other day about the Alamo movies and saw he was Jim Bowie in Walt Disney's version as well Jocko in Davy Crockett and the River Pirates.

CanyonAg77 said:

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You would think that the book's author and the screenwriters would try to be as accurate as possible given the wide audience that would detect any major errors, but I guess Hollywood is Hollywood.

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I think people used to be much more accepting of inaccuracies "back in the day". I know they weren't picky about what they saw on the screen, because the "special effects" were laughable.

And even though you may have 10 million plus WWII vets coming to the movies, they were not able to access even 1% of the info we can today. So a paratrooper may have known this movie was bullcrap, but a Air Corps guy, or tanker, or Marine, or Seaman might have no clue. I'd guess that most were experts on their little corner of the war, but not the Big Picture.


We have that movie on the VCR, plan to watch it soon.

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That is even true today. Lots of servicemen only know about the war that they took part in, not the larger scope/history of other units or services.

Did Easy Company not have guys go to the Pacific at the end of Band of Brothers? I feel like they were at least preparing for it after they took Eagle's Nest

JABQ04 said:

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I don't think any went to the Pacific but they were preparing for it.

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Mentioned in the Book and the Series. Those that didn't have enough points to go home were about the be sent for training.

Here is some information about combat jumps from WWII through Panama.
https://www.wearethemighty.com/lists/paratroopaloosa-these-are-all-the-times-america-did-large-scale-combat-jumps/

I'm sure the movie is Hollywooded up but, I found it very interesting that there were as many combat jumps as there were in the Pacific Theater in particular.

Hey Nav said:

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I participated in #16 and #17 on that list.

Pretty sure the first Ranger from the 75th to jump was on my plane .

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Did you know Ranger Mike Burton? He participated in #16

JABQ04 said:

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Without a doubt men would have been shuffled across the world to the Pacific.
Interesting pamphlet from my grandfather that I might need to dig out.

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Yup. I remember my Grandaddy telling me once that there was very much an attitude of "We did OUR part, now YOU do yours!" from the European theater guys towards the Pacific theater guys. Lots of resentment about the idea of having to shift theaters.

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Did you know Ranger Mike Burton? He participated in #16.

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Can't say that I do. We just tried to provide those guys pleasant and safe accommodations to their desired destination

Hey Nav said:

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Did you know Ranger Mike Burton? He participated in #16.

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Can't say that I do. We just tried to provide those guys pleasant and safe accommodations to their desired destination

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You sucky sucky? Love them long time?

I believe I remember reading that when the 11th Airborne Division jumped into Luzon they were back filled with officers and NCO's from the 82nd and 101st to provide experienced leadership on the the DZ. That might be the reference?

Thanks for sharing. I think it is Interesting they included the jump into Iraq, but nothing is mentioned about the combat jumps into Afghanistan.

Afghanistan was only the Rangers, and probably not big enough to qualify as "large scale."

I would personally question whether the jump into northern Iraq should really be called a combat jump, since the DZ was held by friendly Kurdish forces at the time.

Here's a resource some of you may appreciate, chronicling every military operational jump by anyone from 1939 to early 2013.

http://macvteam162.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Combat-Jump-Record-03.07.2013.pdf

It's fun to browse through if you're a like-minded nerd.

GTdad said:

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Here's a resource some of you may appreciate, chronicling every military operational jump by anyone from 1939 to early 2013.

http://macvteam162.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Combat-Jump-Record-03.07.2013.pdf

It's fun to browse through if you're a like-minded nerd.

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The French utilized paratroops in Vietnam in the 50's in the same manner as the U.S utilized helicopter air assault / insertion. What a difference 10 years made in combat tactics.

Also noted the US being the only country able to drop two full Divisions in a single operation at any point in time.

Rabid Cougar said:

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GTdad said:

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Here's a resource some of you may appreciate, chronicling every military operational jump by anyone from 1939 to early 2013.

http://macvteam162.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Combat-Jump-Record-03.07.2013.pdf

It's fun to browse through if you're a like-minded nerd.

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The French utilized paratroops in Vietnam in the 50's in the same manner as the U.S utilized helicopter air assault / insertion. What a difference 10 years made in combat tactics.

Also noted the US being the only country able to drop two full Divisions in a single operation at any point in time.

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Whereas today, dropping a single brigade would substantially hamper AMC's operations.