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MARNE · #3 (**permalink**) June 30th, 2006, 05:37 PM

Thanks for the welcome Martin, I've been looking around here on the forum and I'm REALLY glad to be here.

I love the MTO, I portray a soldier of the MTO because of the fact that its the "forgotten front" and not many people portray those soldiers. The one division that I am a strong supporter is of the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division. Primarily my interest sparked up further for the 3rd because the active duty division is stationed right up the road from me. If you've ever read anything on this particular division it is mind boggling to me how no one in this day and age has been able to create a 20-30 part mini-series of the Band of Brothers caliber off this one division.

The Englsh army could easily surpass even this division considering the English had been fighting since before the Americans Arrived during Op. "Torch" in late 42'. But the division in the U.S. Army that while in Europe is practically no. 1 in everything on the list has only ONE film done of it and thats for Audie Murphy. Granted his exploits are well-worth mentioning them in its own film he was quite an extrodinary soldier.

But I mean how could you not make a mini-series of BoB or SPR caliber off a division with this record....

U.S. 3rd Infantry Division....

Days in Combat: 531(most in the MTO/ETO)*
*Second only to the 37th Division in the Pacific for days in combat (603).
CMH: 36
Bronze Star: 3,415
Silver Star: 4,345
DFC: 83
Legion of Merit: 91
DSC: 43
Combat Casualties: 24,316*
The most of any combat division in Europe or the Mediterranean.

This is just the tip of the sword with this division...it goes on and on....I recently finish a REALLY good book called "The Battle For Rome" by Robert Katz, it was excellent it talks about all of the parties involved in the Italian theatre and the way they all worked it out as to who would clam rights to Rome once captured, the Pope was in on it too!...etc...

Acouple of other good books I've read are...

"Cassino" by Fred Majdalany

"An Army At Dawn" by Rick Atkinson

These two are excellent....as for the films there are a couple of others on the italian theatre other that those mentioned "A Force of Arms" with William Holden and 36th Division in Italy. As well as "Go For Broke" about the 442nd RCT "Nieci'" it discusses their stint in Italy before going to Southern Europe with the 36th Division. Also "To Hell and Back " The Audie Murphy Story..

If you have had the chance to see those three films their a definite must definitely check em' out!

Well, enough of my rambling....

Regards,
MARNE