PACIFIC, THE: HOME {EPISODE 10} {SERIES FINALE} (TV)

Summary

The final episode in this ten-part historical miniseries, a companion piece to 2001's "Band of Brothers," depicting the Pacific Theatre of World War II as described in the memoirs of several United States Marine Corps veterans. On August 15, 1945, at a veterans' hospital on Long Island, the staff and patients, including Leckie, are ecstatic to learn that the Japanese have surrendered and that the war is finally over. Sledge, Snafu, Burgin and the others celebrate VJ Day on Okinawa, wondering what the future holds for them as Leckie heads for home and has an awkward reunion with his parents. Six months later, having stayed behind to help "clean up," the members of K Company board a train and head for their respective hometowns. Burgin surprises the others by announcing that he intends to marry Florence, whom he met in Australia, though Sledge states that he himself has no plans for a job or a wife. Elsewhere, Lena finally meets the Basilone family and gives John's parents his Medal of Honor. She admits that he never signed the insurance papers that would provide her with $10,000, but states that she does not care and grieves with her husband's relatives. The train stops in Texas and Burgin gets off and reunites with his father and brother, with Snafu shyly thanking his sergeant for protecting them.

Leckie strolls into his old newspaper office and confidently asks for his job back, though at home he is nervous as he watches Vera through the window, and his mother notes that she is seeing someone. The train stops in New Orleans, and Snafu hesitates before deciding not to awaken a peacefully sleeping Sledge to say goodbye as he departs. Leckie dons his dress blues, for which he had no use overseas, and finally visits the Kellers' home. Vera's date, an Army man who "missed the whole show," is annoyed when Vera expresses interest in Leckie and leaves, and Leckie and Vera go out to dinner. He admits that he wrote her many letters during the war, though opted not to send them as he believed that he would not make it back, and they agree that the date is a fresh start for them. Sledge arrives in Mobile and Phillips greets him at the station, revealing on the drive home that he is soon to be married and wants Sledge as his best man. Sledge reunites with his parents and enjoys a family dinner, though he later suffers nightmares about the war. His brother Edward notes that he too has bad dreams and keeps his wife awake, surprised to learn that Eugene did not "date" any women during the war. He assures him that the local girls will appreciate a "fighting man," though Sledge declares that he will never wear a uniform again.

Later, Sledge attempts to sign up for classes at Alabama Polytechnic, but realizes that he gained no skills other than killing during the war. He attends a local dance, though Phillips finds him sitting alone outside, and Sledge asks him why they returned home safely when so many of their friends did not. Phillips reassures him and says that with time, he will "forget some things." Vera joins the Leckies for dinner as they debate about current events and the growing popularity of television, and Mrs. Leckie observes the two holding hands during grace. Sledge accompanies his father on a dove hunt, but breaks down as he realizes that he has experienced too much violence, and his father comforts him. Mrs. Sledge worries that her son is growing idle after he brushes off a job opportunity, but Dr. Sledge defends him, saying that he has been through a great ordeal. Later, he strolls through a flowery field, slowly regaining a sense of peace. The program concludes with notes about the characters' real-life counterparts and their lives after the war, revealing that Sledge eventually used his notes to write a memoir, "With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa," and died in 2001. Leckie married Vera and went on to write close to forty books, including "Helmet For My Pillow" about his experiences in the war, and also died in 2001. John Basilone posthumously received the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart, and Lena never remarried. "Snafu" did not speak to his fellow Marines for decades until reading Sledge's book, and Sledge eventually served as a pallbearer at his old friend's funeral. Burgin married Florence after all and remained in Texas, and Phillips and Sledge remained close friends for the rest of their lives.

Details

• NETWORK: HBO
• DATE: May 16, 2010 9:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:01:00
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: 110567
• GENRE: Drama, historical
• SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, historical; World War II - Pacific campaign; Miniseries
• SERIES RUN: HBO - TV series, 2010
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• Tom Hanks … Executive Producer
• Steven Spielberg … Executive Producer
• Gary Goetzman … Executive Producer
• Eugene Kelly … Co-Executive Producer
• Tony To … Co-Executive Producer
• Graham Yost … Co-Executive Producer
• Bruce C. McKenna … Co-Executive Producer, Writer
• Tim Van Patten … Supervising Producer
• Steven Shareshian … Producer
• Todd London … Producer
• Cherylanne Martin … Producer
• George Pelecanos … Co-Producer
• Kirk Saduski … Co-Producer
• Miura Kite … Co-Producer
• Robert Schenkkan … Co-Producer, Writer
• Jonathan Brytus … Associate Producer
• April Nocifora … Associate Producer
• Jennifer Jackson … Associate Producer
• David Taritero … Visual Effects Producer
• Ineke Majoor … Visual Effects Producer
• Christina Graff … Visual Effects Producer
• Jeremy Podeswa … Director
• Eugene B. Sledge … Based on the book by
• Robert Leckie … Based on the book by
• Chuck Tatum … Based on the book by
• Hans Zimmer … Music by
• Blake Neely … Music by
• Geoff Zanelli … Music by
• James Badge Dale … Cast, PFC Robert Leckie
• Joe Mazzello … Cast, PFC Eugene Sledge
• Jon Seda … Cast, Sgt. John Basilone
• Betty Buckley … Cast, Marion Leckie
• Josh Close … Cast, Edward Sledge
• Linda Cropper … Cast, Mary Frank Sledge
• Caroline Dhavernas … Cast, Vera Keller
• Ashton Holmes … Cast, PFC Sidney Phillips
• Brandon Keener … Cast, Charles Dunworthy
• Rami Malek … Cast, Cpl. Merriell "Snafu" Shelton
• Martin McCann … Cast, Sgt. R.V. Burgin
• Conor O'Farrell … Cast, Dr. Sledge
• Annie Parisse … Cast, Sgt. Lena Basilone
• Frank Aldridge … Cast, Troop Train Porter
• Kate Bell … Cast, Mary Houston Phillips
• Mark Casamento … Cast, George Basilone
• Adelaide Clemens … Cast, Registration Girl
• Lia Fisher … Cast, Rose
• Damien Freeleagus … Cast, Cab Driver
• Marian Frizelle … Cast, Martha
• James Gaylyn … Cast, Tee
• Lelia Goldoni … Cast, Dora Basilone
• Chris Haywood … Cast, John Leckie
• Cariba Heine … Cast, Phyllis
• Kristin Holland … Cast, Hospital Guard
• Kate Kendall … Cast, Betty Leckie
• Catherine McClements … Cast, Catherine Leckie
• Heather Mitchell … Cast, Mrs. Keller
• Stephen Pease … Cast, Betty's Husband
• Joseph R. Sicari … Cast, Salvatore Basilone
• Christopher Stollery … Cast, Catherine's Husband
• Nick Tate … Cast, Tom Smee
• Ashley Zukerman … Cast, 2nd Lt. Mac