Rodrigo Jose Samodal

LDS 102

Charles Powell

February 29, 2016

Saving Private Ryan

This film is particularly one of my favorite war films of all time. Very powerful and eye opening and it captures your attention and develops the viewer into the plot. It begins with a powerful opening scene with a veteran visiting a grave and dropping to his knees at a gravestone. Then it continues with a flashback to D-Day and the invasion of Normandy and all of its horrors and bloody battles.

The movie follows Captain John H. Miller, a company commander of the 2^nd Ranger Battalion. He survives the initial landing on Normandy and after recovering from the battle, is given the special mission to find and rescue Private James Francis Ryan and bring him home, since all of his brothers were killed in action. Captain Miller reluctantly takes upon this mission, and forms a squad to take with him. His men follow him and accompany him on his mission.

During the mission, his men follow orders and act like proper soldiers, but have doubts about this mission and the benefits of it. Some of them believe it to be a waste of time, resources, and man power. They do not believe it is worth it to risk an entire squad to find and rescue one man they do not know and do not have any connection with whatsoever. However they are under Captain Miller’s orders and he has orders to find Private Ryan and bring him home. Since they are soldiers, they follow orders and respect the chain of command of the system. All along the mission and the journey, they encounter conflict with enemy forces, and in the process, 2 of the men of the squad are killed in action. This causes tension to continue to grow amongst the men, as they start to question the mission and if it is worth it to risk their lives to save one man, and to follow the orders they were given.

These characters had to make very tough decision throughout the plot of the movie. Every decision they made had the possibility of getting someone killed. However, some of these decisions are not their own, because they are soldiers, and trained to receive and follow orders. However, one must consider if following an order is worth sacrificing their lives for. And the movie expertly portrays this concept. Captain Miller has been in service for an extensive period of time, and has lost many men throughout the time span of the war. He always has followed orders, even though he had doubts about them. Even with the mission he was given to find and rescue Private Ryan, he quietly and subliminally showed that he did not completely agree with the orders he was given. And his own men started to even doubt Miller’s orders and authority. However, ultimately they all follow their orders and complete their mission.

This film did a good job portraying the tension between following orders and self-preservation. The soldiers in Captain Miller’s squad did not completely agree with the orders and the mission they were given. If I were in their situation, I too would be questioning if the mission would be worth risking lives for. I feel like I would still do my best to carry out the mission I was given. But once my comrades and I start getting hurt or killed, I believe that to be the threshold on the value of the mission. At that point, I am not entirely sure about what I would do, but I honestly would make a decision that would be best for my men and their well-being. I had to think hard about this decision. But I personally value the health and safety of my comrades and myself.

Rodrigo Samodal

LDS 102

Charles Powell

February 20, 2016

A Bridge Too Far

Amidst the Second World War, there have been successes and failures from both the Allied and the Axis powers. Although the Allies have had great success during the European theatre, they had failures as well. One of the most notable failures was Operation Market Garden; the main event portrayed in the film. Operation Market Garden was intended to help the Allied powers break through the German defense line and shorten the war. It was considered one of the largest invasion operations since D-Day, and the largest airborne invasion ever attempted. Lieutenant-General Frederick Browning stated “We are going to lay a carpet, as it were, of airborne troops.” The Allies hoped to end the war by the end of 1944 with this operation.

There were to be 4 different divisions to be involved in the invasion. The US 82^nd and 101^st Airborne divisions led by commanders Taylor and Gavin, the British 1^st Airborne led by Major-General Urquhart, and a Polish paratrooper brigade led by General Sosabowski. They needed to secure several bridges and defend their positions to break the German defense line. This group effort would require the cooperation and success of each group.

Upon the commencement of the operation and once the paratroopers were deployed and grounded, the Allies would run into several problems that would delay schedule and cause complications in the operation. One of the bridges, the Son Bridge, was destroyed before the US 101^st Airborne could capture it. General Urquhart’s division also experiences trouble, as they lose most of their jeep transportation vehicles and their radio communication is rendered useless. And once the British capture Arnhem, the key city to the operation, they are trapped and cut off from the others, with their supply drop zones overrun by German forces. The Allied forces are not in the best situation, but had to do their best.

Despite the extreme troubles, the commanding officers needed to lead their forces nonetheless. Commanders Taylor, Gavin, Urquhart, and Sosbowski all had their unique leadership styles. Gavin and Sosabowski are rather cautious of the operation. They are concerned about having to parachute in broad daylight. The British and General Urquhart were much more optimistic of the operation, and believe that the plan will be able to work. Amidst the variety of problems the Allied forces had, all these leaders had to perform their best in their situation. Gavin and Taylor had problems capturing their assigned bridges and connecting with the other forces, especially when Son Bridge was destroyed. So Taylor had to build a Bailey bridge to replace it and get his forces moving as fast and as soon as possible. Now Gavin and the 82^nd were able to make their way towards Nijmengen, but were halted. Gavin decided to make a river crossing in wooden and canvas assault boats. Their assault time kept getting delayed but Gavin had to make the best of the situation and continue regardless. Urquhart had serious issues of his own; He captured Arnhem but was trapped and cut off with dwindling supplies and suffering heavy casualties. He had to make very tough decisions to survive long days of fighting with limited supplies. And once reinforcements from Sosabowski finally arrive, most are gunned down and few survive to reinforce the British. All of these leaders were stuck in terrible situations, but had to make use of what limited resources they had. However, ultimately the operation had to be withdrawn.

All of these commanders during Operation Market Garden encountered many difficulties and problems during the mission. From equipment failures to communication difficulties to heavy resistance, the Allied invasion force had to push through several problems to complete the mission. The commanders, Gavin, Taylor, Urquhart, and Sosabowski, had limited resources and were on their own to complete their assigned mission. They all had to remain optimistic and make the best of what they had to fight, progress, and survive. They exhibited excellent leadership qualities such as bravery in the face of adversary. They all had to stay focused on their task at hand and improvise when they needed to. And although they consider the operation as a failure themselves, British General Montgomery states that it was “90% successful.”

Works Cited

Bridge Too Far. Dir. Richard Attenborough. Prod. Joseph E. Levine and Richard P. Levine.                        Screenplay by William Goldman. Perf. Dirk Bogarde, James Caan, Michael Caine, Sean                Connery, Edward Fox, Anthony Hopkins, Gene Hackman, Hardy Krüger, Laurence   Olivier, Robert Redford, Maximilian Schell. Mgm, 1977. Web.

Rodrigo Samodal

LDS 102

Charles Powell

February 13, 2016

Gettysburg

The Civil War-one of America’s most prominent and important struggles in its period of development. With the country divided in half between the southern and northern states, civil war plagues the still young and developing nation of the United States of America. As both sides fight for their beliefs and their lifestyles, great leaders begin to emerge from both sides. One of the most esteemed and famous military leaders from the northern union army was Colonel Chamberlain from the 40^th division from Maine.

All throughout the long years of the Civil War, many barbarous and bloody battles were fought. But no battle became more famous than the battle of Gettysburg; one of the most important battles in the course of the war and one that is considered the major turning point of the war. It was during the battle of Gettysburg that Colonel Chamberlain became a renowned military leader for his bravery and strength in defending the strategic point of Little Round Top, for if it fell, the Confederacy would have broken through an important line of defense of the Union Army.

Colonel Chamberlain’s character and leadership style was well portrayed in the movie, and I admire him. He is calm, collected, cautious, brave, and quick-witted. He is also a kind and philosophical leader. When he first received command of a new regiment, he also receives another batch of contracted soldiers. He is told he is to keep these men in line by using any means necessary to do so, even if it means having to shoot them at the first sign of defiance or resistance to orders. But Chamberlain does not use any of these methods of force. Instead he preaches to the, about what the Union is fighting for in this war and what he is fighting for. He states that he is fighting for what he believes is right and what will make a better future for the Unites States. And finally, he does not force or threaten any of them to make them stay and fight, but instead he personally asks them to help him in the fight for the Union cause and he states that he will be ever so grateful to them if they choose to do so. Any man who chooses to leave would be allowed to do so without fear of capital punishment. I personally prefer this leadership style and admire Colonel Chamberlain for these characteristics.

One of the prominent leaders on the Southern side was General Robert E. Lee, the core commanding officer of the Confederate army. He was personally there to comman the battle of Gettysburg and witness the events that followed. General Lee put everything on the line for this attack, pouring out all of the artillery ammunition he could onto the Union and sending out nearly 15,000 men charging straight into almost certain death. One of his comrades, Lt. Longstreet, knew that this attack was doomed to fail and that it would be a massacre out there. He pointed out that the Union soldiers had the advantage of higher ground and the Confederate soldiers would be charging through almost a mile of complete open ground. Despite the advice Lee is given, he is hasty for battle, ignores anyone else, and proceeds with the attack, thus beginning the battle of Gettysburg. Before he realizes his mistake, it is too late and the Confederate army suffers a massacre on the battlefield.

Compared to Colonel Chamberlain, I would consider General Lee’s leadership style to be quite hasty, He was overconfident with his strategy for victory and was willing to make great sacrifices to achieve victory. He ignores any advice he is given and commences attack nonetheless because he wanted a swift victory to speed up the war and end it sooner. Amidst his own ego, he paid no attention to any of his officers and sent almost 3 divisions of almost 15,000 men to their deaths. Colonel Chamberlain was much more cautious, knowing how important his defense point was. He was courageous and quick witted while he led his troops to victory, although they were running low on man power and ammunition. Also, Colonel Chamberlain was understanding and passionate about the cause he fought for and compassionate about his comrades and even for enemy soldiers. When he captured a contingent of enemy soldiers after a battle, he fed them, cared for them, and treated them humanely. This shows that he is more than just a great soldier, but a good person.

Citation

Gettysburg. Dir. Ronald F. Maxwell. By Ronald F. Maxwell. Perf. Tom Berenger, Martin Sheen,

Stephen Lang, and Jeff Daniels. New Line Cinema, 1993. Web.

Rodrigo Jose Samodal

LDS 102

Charles Powell

February 6, 2016

Glory

            The film Glory portrayed the Civil War in a different perspective than most other war films on this war. It focused primarily on the 54^th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first all African American regiment, under the command of abolitionist Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. It focused on this major turning point in the course of the war, when African Americans were given the right to enlist and fight for the Union and for their own freedom. The film emphasized on the fact that the Union Army was becoming integrated and more diverse. It thoroughly portrayed the development of this regiment, from the time of formation up until the assault on Fort Wagner. It made comparisons from how these African American volunteers fought and performed on the battlefield. The film showed how important diversity can be a positive aspect of the military and how important it is.

This particular film was not very attention grabbing for the most part, but I did thoroughly enjoy the story. The characters were well portrayed and the story flowed from scene to scene. The emotions from the 54^th regiment were portrayed excellently as well. I felt all the pride, joy, sorrow, fear, and determination of these men. Colonel Shaw’s personality and character was well developed throughout the plot of the movie. I liked how the plot followed all of his actions and emotions while he was raising and leading this newly formed regiment. He was very eager and felt honored to be in command of the first African American regiment, and even though he treated these men rather harshly and without mercy, he never lost his faith and his pride in his men.

Throughout the entire film, many characters outside the regiment did not share the same feeling towards the 54^th as Colonel Shaw. Many other white Union Army officers and soldiers looked down upon them, as if they were below them and inferior in every way. Other regiments saw them as “children with guns” that cannot fight like the ideal soldier and will never be able to participate in actual combat. They were also treated rather unfairly, being denied adequate supplies and equipment, receiving less pay than other soldiers, and superior commanding officers wanted to use them for other purposes such as construction and manual labor. However Colonel Shaw continuous to support and fight for his men who fight for him.

Shaw and his officers who helped train and prepare the men have seen the regiment learn and grow as one. They bear witness to the sheer dedication and passion of these men to fight for their freedom. The men learn fast and train hard, and eventually catch up to the standards of the Union Army. Many others commemorate the men of the 54^th, stating that they march, fight, and perform just as good, and if not better than some other regiments of white soldiers. These men inspired other African Americans to join the cause and fight for their freedom. This highlighted the differences between black and white soldiers and how they can perform just as well.

Diversity is an important aspect in almost any aspect in life. It is important for the survival of all living species. Even in the military, diversity can be very advantageous. If every soldier was identical, then their weaknesses would be as well and the entire army would be exposed and vulnerable. Every single soldier has different ideals, purposes, talents, motives, and personalities. However they all fight together, as brothers, for one cause. It is they’re differences that bring them together, as they learn and teach one another every moment they are together. Each soldier has a different outlook and opinion on the challenges that they face, and they may not agree, but their differences support each other’s strengths and cover their weaknesses. It’s not just diversity of race, but in almost every other way that makes someone unique. The men of the 54^th regiment were different from one another and from the rest of the Union Army in a plethora of ways, but in the end they all fight for the same cause and for each other. And that is something that I find inspiring.

Citation

Glory. Dir. Edward Zwick. Perf. Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2016.

Rodrigo Samodal

LDS 102

Charles Powell

January 31, 2016

Patton

In times of war, there have been a great many leaders, warriors and war heroes. One of these esteemed heroes was General George S. Patton, one of the commanding officers in the Second World War. Patton participated in commanding the African, Sicilian, and European campaigns. These were known as Operation Torch, Operation Husky, and Operation Overlord respectively.

The movie Patton which portrayed a reenactment of General Patton’s World War II career, was a very interesting film. I do believe that Patton’s character was accurately and excellently portrayed, as well as General Bradley, although Patton was more prevalent in the film. Patton’s passion, hardiness, and aggression were well captured. He is a very straightforward man, always doing what is necessary to get the job done. He expects the best, and nothing less from his men. He is the embodiment of patriotism and what it means to be a true American soldier.

Although his methods can be quite unconventional, Patton demands only the best from his army. During battles, some may think he is reckless, charging straight into battle with guns blazing. Many of his comrades did not share in his eager for battle, and many men were not pleased with Patton. However, this did not stop Patton. “I do not want these men to like me, I only want them to fight for me,” said Patton. General Patton is also very harsh in his disciplinary methods. He has ways of getting what he wants done, speaks his mind openly and clearly, but often does not know when to keep his mouth shut. During Operation Husky when the Allies invaded Sicily, Patton deliberately denied and disobeyed the orders he was given, and rushed his army to the key city of Messina, attempting to beat British General Montgomery to the target and to speed up the campaign on his own terms. Another specific incident involved his outburst on a shell-shocked soldier when he physical and verbally abused him of being a coward. The consequences of his actions lost him respect from almost everyone, and his actions overall has caused him to lose his position of command, as well as participation in D-Day and Operation Overlord. Although Patton is a reckless and aggressive leader, he was also very successful.

General Bradley, Patton’s right hand man, was often against many of Patton’s decisions and often reprimanded him for his lack of self-control over his words and his actions. Bradley is a more cautious man, not as hard-headed as Patton, and is much quieter when making remarks. His leadership style was very different to that of Patton, and often their differences caused disputes. However they both were still capable of doing their job. Eventually, after the incident’s with Patton’s aggressive actions in Italy and he is relieved of command, Bradley gets promoted to a higher position than Patton.

Both Patton and Bradley were very successful military leaders, but had different methods and styles. Patton is very aggressive, straightforward, and often reckless, and Bradley is more cautious and careful.  Patton openly speaks his mind on whatever he thinks while Bradley knows when to choose and use his words. Both were effective at getting their jobs done, but if I were to choose one leader to emulate, I would personally choose General Bradley. Although I admire and respect General Patton’s patriotism, courage, and bravery, I do not approve of his methods and recklessness, especially when his victory comes at the cost of the men who fight for him. I would not want to make unnecessary risks and rush into action without careful consideration. I also would treat my subordinates much better than Patton did. I would want to earn the respect of my fellow men instead of commanding it. And I would not be harsh with anyone and be careful not to offend anyone, especially in important political matters. I feel like I would be more of a leader like General Bradley. He is careful and considerate of the decisions he makes. And he is also careful with what he says, often having to remind Patton of his words. I believe I would want to emulate the leadership of General Bradley, learn from his words and actions, and apply them to my own life to help me grow as a student, as a person, and as a leader.

Citation

Patton. Dir. Franklin J. Schaffner. Perf. George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Stephen Young.

Twentieth Centruy Fox Film Corporation, 1970. Putlocker. Web. 01 Feb. 2016. <http://putlocker.is/watch-patton-online-free-putlocker.html>.