Combat! (1 Viewer)

[Sahara]

I finally broke down and bought all 5 seasons of Combat! I've been meaning to do this for some time but just never pulled the trigger until now. All I can say is that I'm glad that I did. My father and I use to watch this show all the time so its brought back some good memories. I'm really enjoying this series alot. Anyone else have a tv series or war movie that just seems to mean more or have a sentimental value to it?

 

[Jack]

I loved the series Combat as well - Sunday afternoons or early evening I think from memory. I also really loved The Rat Patrol but, as for many of us, the years have not been kind. That said I also loved Mash but find it now quite unwatchable. As I have got older I have moved a bit to the right and now find it a bit too far to the left.

 

[Go for Broke]

When I was a kid, Combat was my favorite show, but when I watch it now, it seems short on action. There was always great action in the beginning, then the action goes away as the plot of the episode begins. To be fair, I hardly watch the show as it starts at 3:00 am here. I used to like Tour of Duty, but I haven't seen it in over 10-years.

 

[villagehorse]

Yes grew up with Combat, think the first 4 seasons on DVD are black & white, with the remaining 2 in colour. You can find them on utube. Cheers, Robin.

 

[OzDigger]

Combat was a huge success in Australia, second only to The Samurai. Which was a bit strange considering the number of Aussies that fought against the Japanese in the Pacific. No doubt there were a number of ex army dads that were more than a bit concerned that their kids were practising Ninja kicks on each other and throwing homemade metal Ninja stars into timber fences.

Combat encouraged our gang to dig over 30 feet of command bunkers connected by trenches in my friends back yard. We put timber boards over the trenches, then roofing iron, which we covered with dirt so most of the tunnel system was hidden. My friends father was a mechanic and had several wrecked cars in the yard which were incorporated into the tunnel system where we could. Thinking back I was lucky to be raised in a country town where you had enough room in the yard to do all that, beats playing computer games imo.

 

[marco55]

My best memories were watching westerns with my grandfather,Bonanza,Cheyenne,Rawhide,The Rifleman,Gunsmoke,etc..And we also watched Combat.
Mark

 

[TomB]

I loved the series Combat as well - Sunday afternoons or early evening I think from memory. I also really loved The Rat Patrol but, as for many of us, the years have not been kind. That said I also loved Mash but find it now quite unwatchable. As I have got older I have moved a bit to the right and now find it a bit too far to the left.

Watched an episode of Rat Patrol on UTube because someone I knew was interested in doing some figure from it....I can understand the uproar the LRDG vets in England and NZ made over it ( Aussie troops were never in the LRDG as the Aust army at the time was short of diggers and would not release anybody to join the group)..the Yanks winning the war again...cheers TomB

 

[PanzerAce1944]

I finally broke down and bought all 5 seasons of Combat! I've been meaning to do this for some time but just never pulled the trigger until now. All I can say is that I'm glad that I did. My father and I use to watch this show all the time so its brought back some good memories. I'm really enjoying this series alot. Anyone else have a tv series or war movie that just seems to mean more or have a sentimental value to it?

I have 5 of the Combat DVD sets and 1 of the Rat Patrol series DVD sets. 2 really great tv series from the 60's IMO ^&cool

 

[OzDigger]

Watched an episode of Rat Patrol on UTube because someone I knew was interested in doing some figure from it....I can understand the uproar the LRDG vets in England and NZ made over it ( Aussie troops were never in the LRDG as the Aust army at the time was short of diggers and would not release anybody to join the group)..the Yanks winning the war again...cheers TomB

We only had Two tv channels when I was a kid and Rat Patrol wasn't on either.

Here's some interesting info about the slouch hat the American Sgt wore: "During the series, Sgt. Troy wore an Australian bush hat (the hat is actually a South African bush hat, different puggaree, two part chin strap, the crown of the hat is NOT rolled in the approved 2nd AIF manner and the "rising sun badge" is worn too high on the upturned hat brim). When the show aired in Australia, veterans of both World Wars there were critical of an American actor wearing such an important symbol of Australian courage and sacrifice. It was seen to cheapen and sensationalize the memory and spirit of those ANZACs who died fighting fascism. George, a U.S. Marine Korean War veteran, and of Greek extraction, said he insisted his character wear the slouch hat to honor the Australians who fought in Greece. Larry Casey stated in an interview that Tom Gries' original idea was that each of the characters would be from a different country and wear a different hat. However this was changed, and with Christopher George wishing to wear the Slouch Hat, his American helmet was given to Justin Tarr."

Just goes to show you how different people see things differently.

 

[lancer]

In my humble opinion, memory, and for the sake of nostalgia, Combat was the greatest single TV show, EVER!^&grin Watched it every week for it's entire 5 year run from 1962-1967. Only the final season was done in color but that was ok as I preferred the b/w anyway. Never missed an episode. My daughter gave me the entire DVD boxed set for Christmas some years back, so I have continued to watch and enjoy the show. Like all shows it had some less than great episodes but most are well done and well worth re-watching. It became one of those hit shows that everyone who was somebody in the business wanted to guest star on it (much like Miami Vice became in the 80's) and as a result many of Hollywood's leading actors appeared on the show. I was always amazed that Saunders and his men never came down with hernias from hauling around their Purple Heart medals. Saunders appeared in 121 of the 152 episodes and managed to survive 39 wounds! The other 8 regular characters that were in the show accounted for another 101 woundings.
Also watched the Rat Patrol and a one season showing of The Gallant Men but neither of these were anywhere near as good as Combat. Just as a matter of trivia, the actor Hans Gudegeist, who played the German foil to Chris George's character on The Rat Patrol, also appeared in at least 2 Combat episodes as a German soldier. -- Al

 

[Buster]

In my humble opinion, memory, and for the sake of nostalgia, Combat was the greatest single TV show, EVER!^&grin Watched it every week for it's entire 5 year run from 1962-1967. Only the final season was done in color but that was ok as I preferred the b/w anyway. Never missed an episode. My daughter gave me the entire DVD boxed set for Christmas some years back, so I have continued to watch and enjoy the show. Like all shows it had some less than great episodes but most are well done and well worth re-watching. It became one of those hit shows that everyone who was somebody in the business wanted to guest star on it (much like Miami Vice became in the 80's) and as a result many of Hollywood's leading actors appeared on the show. I was always amazed that Saunders and his men never came down with hernias from hauling around their Purple Heart medals. Saunders appeared in 121 of the 152 episodes and managed to survive 39 wounds! The other 8 regular characters that were in the show accounted for another 101 woundings. Also watched the Rat Patrol and a one season showing of The Gallant Men but neither of these were anywhere near as good as Combat. Just as a matter of trivia, the actor Hans Gudegeist, who played the German foil to Chris George's character on The Rat Patrol, also appeared in at least 2 Combat episodes as a German soldier. -- Al

Al, are you sure about those stats, I could have sworn that it was Little John that was wounded in EVERY episode he appeared in, :rolleyes2: but I'll take your word for it ..... maybe it only seemed like it at the time. ^&grin As a kid growing up in the 60's Combat was the best WWII series on TV, the first year was little disjointed and it kind of stumbled around a bit as the characters were developing. But by the start of season two it all came together and in the next three years or so there were some really great eposides. And yes, the B&W years are the best. :wink2:

B

 

[Combat]

I was watching this series back when I first joined this forum and picked it as my user name. It is a great series if you can suspend belief just a bit that Sgt. Saunders and Co. could mow down half the German army every week. Some great character actors made appearances. One of the best war shows - if not the best - ever. I really give them credit for keeping the storylines as real as possible in the context of TV land of the 1960's.

 

[lancer]

Al, are you sure about those stats, I could have sworn that it was Little John that was wounded in EVERY episode he appeared in, :rolleyes2: but I'll take your word for it ..... maybe it only seemed like it at the time. ^&grin As a kid growing up in the 60's Combat was the best WWII series on TV, the first year was little disjointed and it kind of stumbled around a bit as the characters were developing. But by the start of season two it all came together and in the next three years or so there were some really great eposides. And yes, the B&W years are the best. :wink2:

B

Hi B. I took my stats from the Combat bible, "Combat: A Viewers Companion to the Classic TV Series" by Jo Davidsmeyer, who apparently has studied every episode hundreds of times and has accounted for such arcane bits of trivia. It is an excellent book with everything one could want to know about the series. The wound tally, from her book:
Sauders; 121 episodes, 39 wounds, captured 16 times
Hanley; 111 episodes, 16 wounds, captured 10
Doc; 63 episodes, 6 wounds, captured 3
Kirby; 120 episodes, 37 wounds, captured 10
Cage; 114 episodes, 18 wounds, captured 10
Little John; 103 episodes, 15 wounds, captured 6
Billy; 27 episodes, 7 wounds, captured 4
There were 2 other 1st season characters, the original Doc (played by Steven Rogers); 21 episodes, 0 wounds, captured 1 and a character named Braddock (played by Shecky Greene); 8 episodes, 2 wounds, 2 captures.

I don't know how any of these guys survived. They were one shot-up and capture prone squad.:rolleyes2:^&grin -- Al

 

[lancer]

A little further info for you Combat! fans about the series stars. Of the 6 main actors, 3 are still alive and kicking.
Pierre Jalbert (Caje) is 88 years old, living in Canada
Jack Hogan (Kirby) is 83
Conlan Carter (Doc) is 78
The other 3 main actors have passed on;
Vic Morrow (Saunders) died July 23, 1982, killed in accident while filming The Twilight Zone movie
Rick Jason (Hanley) died October 16, 2000, self-inflicted GSW
Dick Peabody (Little John) died December 27, 1999 from cancer

Sorry for the news on the 3 who have passed. Morrow's death was widely known and reported on because of the circumstances. -- Al

 

[glossman]

The Combat TV series was a "must watch" for me back in the 1960's. It was the first WWII TV series I had the opportunity to view. It was released here about the time the Longest Day movie hit the big screen.

The phrase "Checkmate King 2, this is White Rook, over! " was so often used in the episodes that it is still etched in my memory. (White Rook was Sgt. Saunder's callsign and Checkmate King 2 was the Lt.'s callsign.)

Raymond

 

[TomB]

We only had Two tv channels when I was a kid and Rat Patrol wasn't on either.

Here's some interesting info about the slouch hat the American Sgt wore: "During the series, Sgt. Troy wore an Australian bush hat (the hat is actually a South African bush hat, different puggaree, two part chin strap, the crown of the hat is NOT rolled in the approved 2nd AIF manner and the "rising sun badge" is worn too high on the upturned hat brim). When the show aired in Australia, veterans of both World Wars there were critical of an American actor wearing such an important symbol of Australian courage and sacrifice. It was seen to cheapen and sensationalize the memory and spirit of those ANZACs who died fighting fascism. George, a U.S. Marine Korean War veteran, and of Greek extraction, said he insisted his character wear the slouch hat to honor the Australians who fought in Greece. Larry Casey stated in an interview that Tom Gries' original idea was that each of the characters would be from a different country and wear a different hat. However this was changed, and with Christopher George wishing to wear the Slouch Hat, his American helmet was given to Justin Tarr."

Just goes to show you how different people see things differently.

Interesting.....his idea of different country s being represented was okay...except The LRDG was mainly Brit..Kiwi and a few Sth Africans etc...no Aussie's as previously explained....the LRDG vets really hated the series ....and I understand the Aussie vets going off ..."Just an old slouch hat with its side turned up that means the world to me..its a symbol of our nation... and our fight for liberty"..... pardon the quote.....I think a bit of homework on the subject may have produced a better series and less panning...cheers TomB

 

[UKReb]

Loved this series as a kid-only managed to catch series 2 and a bit of series 3 over here in the UK as it was only shown on Anglia TV a county area sub station of ITV and then one week it abruptly disappeared.

A couple of episodes I remember-although not the titles-Lee Marvin guesting as a tough demolition expert who the squad have to accompany to blow a bridge. And a strange tale of Saunders being captured by a WWI Yank who believes he is still fighting the First War but ends up leading the squad to a large German gun they have to destroy.

Great TV series never bettered

Take the Point

Bob

 

[lancer]

Loved this series as a kid-only managed to catch series 2 and a bit of series 3 over here in the UK as it was only shown on Anglia TV a county area sub station of ITV and then one week it abruptly disappeared.

A couple of episodes I remember-although not the titles-Lee Marvin guesting as a tough demolition expert who the squad have to accompany to blow a bridge. And a strange tale of Saunders being captured by a WWI Yank who believes he is still fighting the First War but ends up leading the squad to a large German gun they have to destroy.

Great TV series never bettered

Take the Point

Bob

Good memory, Bob. The episode with Lee Marvin was called "Bridge at Chalons" and was #34 in the series, 2nd season. The other show you remember is called "Doughboy" and starred Eddie Albert as the doughboy. It was #35 in the series, 2nd season. Both Marvin and Albert were actual WW2 vets. Both were excellent episodes, IMO. :smile2: -- Al

 

[Buster]

Hi B. I took my stats from the Combat bible, "Combat: A Viewers Companion to the Classic TV Series" by Jo Davidsmeyer, who apparently has studied every episode hundreds of times and has accounted for such arcane bits of trivia. It is an excellent book with everything one could want to know about the series. The wound tally, from her book:
Sauders; 121 episodes, 39 wounds, captured 16 times
Hanley; 111 episodes, 16 wounds, captured 10
Doc; 63 episodes, 6 wounds, captured 3
Kirby; 120 episodes, 37 wounds, captured 10
Cage; 114 episodes, 18 wounds, captured 10
Little John; 103 episodes, 15 wounds, captured 6
Billy; 27 episodes, 7 wounds, captured 4
There were 2 other 1st season characters, the original Doc (played by Steven Rogers); 21 episodes, 0 wounds, captured 1 and a character named Braddock (played by Shecky Greene); 8 episodes, 2 wounds, 2 captures.

I don't know how any of these guys survived. They were one shot-up and capture prone squad.:rolleyes2:^&grin -- Al

Thanks for the info Al, come to think of it I'm not surprised that Kirby was runner-up in the wounds category. If I remember right he was a kind of an argumentative, pain-the- neck, wise guy when he first joined the squad and had Saunders snapping "shut up Kirby" to him quite often. But after he became the BAR man he his disposition seemed to mellow a bit ..... wonder how Germans wandered into Kirby's BAR over the years ..... is that in Davidsmeyer's book? :smile2:

One of my favorites was a two part episode at a railway station held by the Brits where the squad teamed up them with to hold off a German counterattack.

B.

 

[lancer]

Thanks for the info Al, come to think of it I'm not surprised that Kirby was runner-up in the wounds category. If I remember right he was a kind of an argumentative, pain-the- neck, wise guy when he first joined the squad and had Saunders snapping "shut up Kirby" to him quite often. But after he became the BAR man he his disposition seemed to mellow a bit ..... wonder how Germans wandered into Kirby's BAR over the years ..... is that in Davidsmeyer's book? :smile2:

One of my favorites was a two part episode at a railway station held by the Brits where the squad teamed up them with to hold off a German counterattack.

B.

There are no KIA stats in the book in terms of overall numbers. Back when I was in college (early 70's), I would watch the midnight repeats and I actually did a count (as best as I could) on the 86 episodes I tracked. The numbers killed by 'the squad' in those episodes was astounding. Keeping in mind that not all the characters appeared in all the episodes, I came up with the following numbers for those 86 shows:
Saunders got 347 Germans
Kirby got 159
Little John 54
Caje 110
Hanley 75
Doc 1
Not a bad haul for just 6 men, and this is just over half the episodes.:wink2:
The 2-part railway episode is titled "What Are The Bugles Blowin' For?". It is an excellent 2-parter. Also has a neat blooper in it. Near the end of the show, if you watch carefully, you can see modern California highway traffic going by on the freeway in the background. It's a brief glimpse, but it's there.^&grin -- Al