Sgt. Saunders
05-17-2024, 08:57 AM
As a kid, I enjoyed watching “Combat” on ABC with my brothers and late father, who had been an infantryman in North Africa and Europe during World War II.
My father would tell us about the various weapons that Sergeant Saunders and his men used during a mission: Private Kirby’s Browning Automatic Rifle, Lieutenant Kirby’s M1 Carbine, the M1 Garand used by Privates Caje, Nelson and Littlejohn, of course, the M1928A1 Thompson (or “Tommy Gun”) that Sergeant Chip Saunders looked so cool employing, when he used it to knock off countless German soldiers on “Combat.”
And, the cast of “Combat” was absolutely superb in their roles. The late Vic Morrow as the unfailingly cool and competent Sergeant Chip Saunders was my favorite actor on the show. Mr. Morrow’s death and the deaths of two young children during the filming of “Twilight Zone:The Movie,” was a tragic and a completely preventable event if the director of that film had employed even basic caution and regard for their safety in filming that extremely dangerous scene.
The late Rick Jason was also outstanding as Second Lieutenant Gil Hanley, the tough, fair and courageous leader of the squad. Actors Pierre Jalbert (as Private Paul “Caje” LeMay), Jack Hogan (as the irrepressible Private William Kirby), Dick Peabody (as Private “Littlejohn”), Conlan Carter (as medic “Doc”) and Tom Lowell (as Private Billy Nelson) were all terrific in their respective roles on “Combat.”
Sadly, only Jack Hogan, Conlan Carter and Tom Lowell are still alive. I’m glad this superb series is available for viewing on YouTube. No doubt, many people today have fond memories of watching “Combat” as young kids with their World War II generation fathers back during the 1960s.
My father would tell us about the various weapons that Sergeant Saunders and his men used during a mission: Private Kirby’s Browning Automatic Rifle, Lieutenant Kirby’s M1 Carbine, the M1 Garand used by Privates Caje, Nelson and Littlejohn, of course, the M1928A1 Thompson (or “Tommy Gun”) that Sergeant Chip Saunders looked so cool employing, when he used it to knock off countless German soldiers on “Combat.”
And, the cast of “Combat” was absolutely superb in their roles. The late Vic Morrow as the unfailingly cool and competent Sergeant Chip Saunders was my favorite actor on the show. Mr. Morrow’s death and the deaths of two young children during the filming of “Twilight Zone:The Movie,” was a tragic and a completely preventable event if the director of that film had employed even basic caution and regard for their safety in filming that extremely dangerous scene.
The late Rick Jason was also outstanding as Second Lieutenant Gil Hanley, the tough, fair and courageous leader of the squad. Actors Pierre Jalbert (as Private Paul “Caje” LeMay), Jack Hogan (as the irrepressible Private William Kirby), Dick Peabody (as Private “Littlejohn”), Conlan Carter (as medic “Doc”) and Tom Lowell (as Private Billy Nelson) were all terrific in their respective roles on “Combat.”
Sadly, only Jack Hogan, Conlan Carter and Tom Lowell are still alive. I’m glad this superb series is available for viewing on YouTube. No doubt, many people today have fond memories of watching “Combat” as young kids with their World War II generation fathers back during the 1960s.