Pat Shingleton for Monday, May 28, 2012

Steven Ambrose’s books “Band of Brothers” and “D-Day” portrayed the experiences of individual soldiers during World War II. As noted in a previous column, excerpts included references to the difficulties of the elements in America’s victories. “Band of Brothers” became a mini-series on HBO. Tom Brokaw’s book, “The Greatest Generation,” describes soldiers of both the European and Pacific theaters being subjected to extreme weather conditions.

The Battle of the Bulge found the soldiers of Easy Company without adequate winter clothing, maneuvering through mud, snow and sub-zero weather. The Steven Spielberg-Tom Hanks production “Pacific” also depicted challenging weather conditions where tropical rains slowed the advance of armaments and supplies.

These are examples of service and those who served during tough times and tough conditions. Fastcast: Hot, humid and hazy.