Huge thank you to Jim Sciaretta, son of a 77th ID veteran, who helped tremendously with the research for this video. Links to his father's memoirs and the book 'Ours to Hold High' are in the description above if anyone is interested.

The Old Bastards: Channeling "get off my lawn" into "get off my island" since 1942.

I was teaching my wife firearms safety and we were talking guns in general. She was asking me about suppressors and couldn't remember the term "threaded barrel" so she said "ribbed for her silence." It might be the greatest thing i've ever heard.

The 77th ID is the military unit version of "get off my lawn". Also, "The Marines are called in if you want something dead, broken or pregnant" as a prior service Marine, I approve this quip 🤣

My 'battle buddy' in basic was 34, I was 17. It's _literally_ this story. He whooped my ass in _everything_ except the 2 mile run. And I only won in that because his philosophy was Patton's "don't die for your country, make the other poor bastard die for his." aka, "I ain't running from anyone." I learned young, I could not handle old age and treachery and now, I damn well am, old age and treachery, and I love it.

My Grandpa was in the 77th Signal Company. Served with them through the duration of the war. Bronze Star and still living at 104!

"The energy of 'dad didn't get his nap and now it's everyone's problem" I felt this in my bones.

As a Whiskey that joined at 33 specifically for an Airborne contract, this video has instantly relieved my knee and back pain.

USMC -- " Welcome to the Pacific." 77TH -- "This is mines now."

Man, I love this story, and let me tell you why. In 2003 when we called up all the National Guard to participate in the Invasion of Iraq, I was a 31 year old SSG in the 122nd Combat Engineer Battalion of the South Carolina National Guard. The average age for our battalion was 36, and we even had a few senior NCO's sporting combat patches from tours in Vietnam. We too were known as the Old Bastards. We were attached to the 3rd ACR, and they did not really like us until they figured out that because we were old and had civilian careers, we had guys who knew how to repair power lines, repair air conditioners, we had cops, trauma nurses, mechanics, welders, electricians, and tons of other skills that regiments of 18 year olds could not possibly have, and those skills were very handy to have around. Keep up the good work, and who gives a damn what some commenter says about America....They hate us cause they ain't us!!!

I'm a Canadian, and I just want to say, that yes, it's true that America entered the war 2 years late, but it's also true that without the Americans, the war would have been lost. So here's to my southern neighbors, Respect😎😎.

Churchill said "You can always count on Americans to do the right thing, after they've tried everything else." Brilliant!

6:28 "Cowabunga it is" I almost spit my drink across the room 💀

As a Brit fine, America didn't join WW2 straight away but what Americans DID do is go to factories all over the country to make stuff for us so we didn't starve and lose the Battle of Britain. So as a Brit i thank the US public AND the US military for helping us to remain free from fascism. Thank you.

In June my son will be turning 34. He's an A.F. CCT. I'll be sending him this story of yours on his B-Day!❤❤❤❤

This reminds me of back in high school. One night a week the school would open the gym to the public, open gym night. It always ended up with the current varsity basketball team against the varsity team from 20 years ago. And the old guys ALWAYS won.

Old men have a "fuck you" mentality as well. Not scared if shit or death. Which i remind people if sun tzu's art of war: "If you enter battle trying to live you will die, if you enter battle ready to die, you may live"

25:15 “dad didn’t get to take his nap now it’s everyone’s problem”. ❤

Joined at 34. Out willed, out pt'd, outsmarted out shot and flew totally under the radar. Due to life experience I had the advantage knowledge and experience that we are going to be broken, exercised(smoked) several times a day randomly for no reason and especially especially if we perform! I have had so many amazing opportunities in this wonderful family and continue in the oregon national guard as well as my local VA to continue my service for my community and our Vets that are in need of any service due to what they earned and to help when they have fallen and are in dier need of help to get back on the path they fell from.

20:31 No, I'm sorry, but that's wrong. General Ralph Smith was not replaced with a Marine General. He was relieved (rather unjustly) and replaced by General Jarman, who was an Army officer, who was then replaced by General Griner who was also an Army officer. At no point did a Marine command the 27th ID. Watch Indy Neidell's "World War Two" special "Smith vs Smith" episode for clarification. The 27th ID was basically treated like dirt by Holland Smith despite having some of the most difficult objectives on Saipan, and were later called cowards by Holland Smith and Robert Sherrod (Smith's pet war correspondent) right after the 27th stopped the biggest banzai charge of the war. I have no doubt that had Holland Smith been in direct command of the Guam invasion instead of General Roy Geiger, then the 77th ID would have gotten the same treatment. Holland Smith had really weird hang-ups with the Army that bordered on paranoid delusions, and it showed throughout the war and in his later memoirs.

As an old bastard that enlisted at 33, and became a 12B I can confirm that there is an extra layer of no fucks to give when you know coming home alive means going back to having a mortgage. If I get taken out by an IED it just means I don't have to do PT in the morning.

The marines adopting the 77th as one of their own is actually the most marine thing ever

America not only sent their own young men to fight and die, but also provided a great deal of food and military material aid to every other ally. They also fought on two different fronts. It was definitely not a lone effort, but it was damn impressive and is absolutely worthy of respect and gratitude. This from a Canadian.

71 yo x marine Just found your channel LOVE IT! Thank you thank you for the time you spend putting these stories! GOD Bless you and your family

"If you want it dead, broken, or pregnant, call the Marines." God if thats not the most accurate thing ive heard all day...

“The best tactics are written by the survivors.” -KuFucis

I don't know much about military history or organization, but the medal count at the end is impressive. If there's 15,000 men in the division, and like 4800 of them earned a medal, that's crazy. Every 3rd guy is a badass. Also, if you think about it, most of these guys were born just before or during WWI. Grew up on the stories from their parents and older siblings, AND were young adults during the depression. No wonder they went so hard.

That was one of the best summations of WW2 I've heard. The story of the 77th is the stuff of legend. Epic. Thank you for sharing it. My Dad fought in WW2 from '39 to '45 in Europe. He was English and rarely talked about it, but one thing he told me as a kid was to thank any American Vet I met for their part in the war. Most of that generation is dead now, but I know what they did and I will not forget what he told me. My mother was also very fond of G.I.'s but I think it was for other reasons I will not go into.

I want to offer my sincerest thanks to you Nick. My daughter has shown zero interest in history, right up to me showing her the Sergeant Reckless video. We now watch all of your stuff together religiously. You have a gift sir, keep up the great work!

"Got fuxking Jimmy who worked for the phone company for ten years!" ....Dad!?

Nick, this is the best historical compilation of disciplined American grit, courage and heart that is summarized so well by you, and exemplified by the 77th ID! I’ve watched it twice and each time it just makes me cry. My dad was a CB Guadalcanal, and loved those guys at the 77th. They fought together with them at Okinawa and helped take out the enemy and hoist Stars and Stripes forever! Honorable older men…. Men with grit and an atititude of we can do! Thank all ourfreast generation stilll living today. Keep telling your stories.

As an older Army guy I endorse this message. OMFG I laughed so hard at your presentation. Thank you.

I knew a guy who was a "young guy" from Wisconsin assigned to the 77th. He told me he was "lightly wounded" but spent a few months in the hospital. I'll never forget when this 90 year old pulled himself up out of his chair with his walker to salute my drum and bugle corps as we played the Army song for him....fuck you, I'm not crying, your crying! God bless you Johnny

Something you have to think about is every one of these men were already Veterans...of the great depression. They had already lived through hardship and deprivation, now they had steady pay, 3 square meals a day and a goal.

"probably" is a cherry on top that never loses its sweetness

I'm only at 19:15 and after nick has said how much training these MEN have gone through, no one can EVER say this was not this the greatest generation to EVER live. No this was and is THE greatest generation to EVER live.

You did the 77th Proud. My Grandfather was in the 77th.

"Dad didn't get to take his nap and now it's going to be everybody's problem." This is one of the greatest contextual lines I have ever heard from any video. Perfection.

Thank you for another great history lesson. December 7th, 1941, is the day my uncle, I never got to meet, died on the USS Arizona. I visited the Memorial there a few times when I was working in the Navy in the Merchant Marine.

This is one of the best KZfaq vids I've ever seen. I'm a WWII documentary junky, and I've never heard of this division (perhaps had I watched Hacksaw Ridge I would have, but I spend my lazy time watching docs, not Hollywood crap... One instance where I might have missed out) I've seen your stuff before but I don't remember it being THIS good. Perhaps I need to watch more often.

"If they don't stink stick them" was obviously taken to heart.

15,000 angry drills and their drill sergeant senses are tingling

@The Fat Electrician I listened to this the day it came out. Taking my youngest son on a trip to see his older brother. Whenever I relisten to this I can vividly feel and remember a particular train station we were in. Thanks for that, much appreciated. Keep kicking ass.

I’m Guamanian and love hearing stories about the war in the Pacific! My grandparents who survived the Japanese occupation of Guam were an absolute treasure trove of history!

My great grandfather was in the 77th. Staff Sergeant Russell J Scott, 77th infantry division, 307th infantry regiment, A Company. He entered combat in Guam, and finished on Okinawa. He got out in December of 1945. During the war he almost lost his life twice that I know of. Once I know was on Okinawa. He was in the middle of digging his foxhole when a Japanese artillery bombardment struck. A shell landed near him and the shock from it knocked the shovel out of his hand. When he found it, he only found the handle. He spent the rest of that bombardment in a shallow foxhole. I don’t know where the second time was, but I know it was in a rice paddy which doesn’t really narrow it down. Him and another soldier were scouting, and they got caught in the middle of a rice paddy by Japanese machine guns. They couldn’t move at all because the Japanese shot at even the tiniest of movements. Because of that, he couldn’t get it his rifle, and that’s what saved him. I don’t know how long they were laying there, but eventually the machine guns got cleared by friendly troops. When my great grandfather stood up and took his rifle from his side, he counted 7 bullet holes in the side of it. That refurbished M1903 saved his life by simply sitting by his side. When I looked at “Ours to Hold High” a while back, I remember looking at the casualties across the 77th. The 307th infantry had the highest out of every regiment attached to the 77th.

Hey there Nick! Filipino here from the Philippines living in Cebu and Leyte. Thank you for telling the stories from WW2 in our country that isn't talked about that much. My great grandfather was guerrila fighter from Cebu and performed resupply missions to Leyte in the cover of night on a pumpboat. The Battle of Leyte was brutal and the 77th really did deliver the blow that ended the battle. Not a lot of it is taught here in history class, so I really appreciate you sharing the story of the 77th ID and their involvement in liberating my hometowns. There's a statue on the city square of Ormoc City by the bay that commemorates their amphibious landing. On the other hand, I didn't even know about the 77th's story in Cebu, so it makes me really glad knowing more about thr history of my city which isn't really that easy to find in our history books! More power to you Nick, and thank you again! Can't wait for new videos here and episodes on the Unsubscribe Podcast! 💪

This was one of your best yet....I watch/share ALL of your videos with my 12 year old son.... yeah... his history teacher complained to me at conferences that my boy knows more about military history than the teacher... thanks in part to you and your excellent videos...I recommended to the teacher to watch your videos... he might learn something. Thanks again for all you do brother! 🇺🇸

That was FOOKIN GREAT!!! Thank you for all of that hard work to put this together and bring it to us so Amazingly!!!

Suggestions for future videos. - John Paul Jones. - The Battle of Dorchester Heights. - The Russian Decembrists “Union of Salvation” revolution. A bunch of classical liberal NCO’s coming back from the Napoleonic wars and trying to establish an American style constitutional republic to replace Tsarist Imperial Russia.

We had a 34 year old during Basic training and he was a great dude... he was pre Rated for Air Traffic Controller ... he failed a hearing check and they wanted to switch his job rating... the whole division took their shirts off and threw them in a pile as protest 😳 . I had never heard of a division doing anything like that during basic training and I'm sure we payed for it later but the moral of the story is he ended up getting to re take the test ... he passed the test and kept his rating it was a victory for all of us and one of the coolest signs of loyalty I've ever seen considering the rest of us were closer to 19 years old at the time .....

I'm ex military, 2 combat tours, 22 years as a deputy sheriff now retired. The biggest difference is we don't give a shit anymore. I'm not afraid of death. My hobbies after the military were parachuting, demolition derby, circle track & figure 8 racing. We get old, and no longer fear dying. It's getting closer every day anyhow.

Thanks Nick. Great piece of content. Hooah 77th. Old age and treachery will always prevail.

Some movie w/ Willie Nelson: Young guy: "Why are we being so careful with some old guys? Young guy leader: "How do you think they got that way?"

Look, it's a 40 minute video and I'm only 6 and a half minutes in, but "America went from 'we don't want to be involved' to 'cowabunga, it is!'" is the exact thing my Friday evening needed. Thank you.

Best video ever. I commissioned at 47 in the Army Medical Corps. Great experience

I've watched this 4 or 5 times. I even made my kids sit down and watch it. I'm a Marine and this is one of the most inspiring WWII stories I've ever heard.

I still love the quote, " beware of old men in a job where men die young" Lived by that one for years

I had the honor of meeting and talking to Desmond T. Doss on several occasions. He was an extremely humble kind man that loved his country and more importantly God. Really cool guy

The dodge ball clip was so unexpected, but so perfect," bold strategy Cotton, lets see if it pays off for them."

I loved this one. I shared it with my vet friends and family and my great nephew who's currently serving. Fantastic.

I was just watching the podcast where you talked about the old guy who asked you to make a video about is dads unit.

I have to say, the story of Desmond Doss is one of the very few stories I’ve heard that I genuinely find inspiring. Not only did he stand by his principles, but he went above and beyond the call of duty to save his comrades, basically only stopping when he was so injured he could no longer continue.

This is the funniest military history video I have ever listened to. The number of times I laughed out loud while driving made me look like a lunatic! Thank you. Great work. Keep it up!

I really appreciate this video. I've been studying military history for 30 years of relatives grandfather in World War II. And I still learned lots of things about this mighty division which has a highway named after in Queens, New York Queens, New York. Again, your delivery and style and can really made this much more enjoyable and informative. I only recommend you add a little bit more maps to your next production.

I saw you talk about this on the podcast. I'm excited that you made a video and congratulations for hitting 1 million our favorite overweight power ranger

I love how the story starts with the enemy sinking boats, then ends with the old men telling the enemy “get on the damn boat”

Love this channel! Thanks for reminding us that we are a people descended from heroes.

I am a 59 year old lady. Love your episodes. I wasn't in the military but my husband was before we married. Love history and America.

A 41 minute video? We have been blessed! Congratulations on 1 million subscribers!

I have to tell you that I found your channel by coming across other channels reacting to your videos and I got addicted to your special way of breaking the stories down and have to say keep up the great job and I along with shit ton of others will be waiting for you to post them.

Love your history lessons, lots of energy in your clips. LOVE IT!!!

My little girl has made the 77th quite frequently discussed in our house. Last semester for her school’s “Hall of Fame” project she decided she wanted someone who combined medical and military “like [me]”. Besides successfully buttering up her father I was darn proud of her. I immediately suggested the perfect candidate…Dr. Mary Walker, Union surgeon and MoH winner. My kid said, “No. I was thinking of this Desmond Doss guy I heard you talking about with Papa”. Tried to explain to her there was no way she was watching “Hacksaw Ridge” and all the other caveats but she went for it. Ten years old and she would have made Doss proud with the job she did (Colorado having changed since I was young, I was saddened to see she was the only historical military figure represented and we have also spent the last year explaining we are not Seventh Day :) ). Along the way she became engrossed in learning more about things like the 77th and it’s freaking awesome. She saw your video on my subscription notices but not sure she’s quite ready yet; we’ll see. Maybe this can be an exception to the salty language rules I’ve got on her viewing. :) Thanks for another great history lesson for people!

I'm a 30 year old pipeliner , always been a history buff, these videos are the best content I've ever found to listen to on my drive home! My only regret is watching them all to fast now I always gotta wait for the new one! Your awesome man keep doing your thing, even got my 8yr old boy interested in ww2 now. Kick ass man

The longer the better!!! You are amazing at research and I love all of this! If I could have you teach classes on a college campus anywhere those students would have the most amazing education ever

Found you today. Love these nuggets of history..... makes me feel a stronger love of our country, which didn't know was possible. Thanks to our service people.... stand with you!!!!

*Places all his guns on the tax break couch*

I was prior service Navy in the early 90's. 2003 comes around and I joined the Army. I was 30 years old, and the Drill Sergeants were all at least three years younger. They knew not to fuck around so hard with us after I was told to "Drop forever" (pushups until you die, for the un-initiated), and I proceeded to call out "One ever, two ever, three ever, four ever" after my reps. The look on that dude's face when I looked up at him from the ground when I requested permission to recover. I had better mind games than they did.

Thank you so much for your videos. They are so good. I hooked my family on them and we now watch them together. This one was super special because my great grandpa was in the 77th. He never really told many stories, so we learned a lot in this video. One of the few stories we know about is that he was within 100 yards of Ernie Pyle when he was killed. He was also one of the ones that made the original sign where he was killed, very possibly the one showed in this video. Again, thank you so much for putting this history out there, people need to know these stories.

SGT hoj here... 92F... Best channel on the Internet for us military history. I use it for my kids homeschool all the time

I've had a beard for 15 years and don't plan on starting to shave again but I'm buying this razor. I HATE Ads and can't believe I listen to one I loved.

Congratulations on getting 1 Million Subscribers!!!

you’re quickly becoming one of my favorite people on youtube, keep up the good work man!

One of the best stories I've heard on your amazing channel

As veteran of the Marine Corps. And now the old guy at work all the new guys always ask how I got to where I’m at I get left alone and just do my job. And make significantly more money than them. I tell them it’s simple. Be on time, do your job, don’t do dumb shit. I can’t properly express how much my time in the Marine Corps changed my life for the better. I say all that to say I served under a crusty grumpy grouchy Gunny. He was a great leader and teacher. Every job I’ve had I go and find old dude and learn as much I can. Hats off to the old dudes.

Sir, Your energetic narrative and ability to recite historical moments with a modern deliver is remarkable. I highly enjoy your channel.

Man I have to tell you. I just discovered your channel this week and I’m hooked. This is high quality edutainment. 👍🏾🙌🏾💪🏾

One of the "Old Bastards" at the Battle of Ormoc Bay was Lt Robert B. Nett who would later retire as Colonel Robert Nett. Who would later enter both the Ranger and OCS Hall of Fame, and would be called "The Father of OCS". The OCS Classroom building is named after him, the OCS Distinguished Leadership Graduate (DLG) Award is named after him, as is a National Guard Training Base. He also met his wife in the army, as she was the nurse that patched him up.

"I wouldn't call up the Marine Corps unless I wanted something dead broken or pregnant" This is the reason I always look forward to your videos. Pure gold! Keep up the great work!

Outstanding job of telling this story! I’m really enjoying your work. Thanks

One of the best I've seen u do. Thank you kindly

As a Marine, I love this! We all trash talk in good competitive fun but at the end of the day we’re on the same team and I love seeing deserved military units (regardless of branch) get the credit they deserve. And yes, 77th “Marine” division is a compliment of epic proportions. We don’t even like to compliment eachother. 😂

I had the pleasure of knowing a gentleman in the army, who was part of or served with General MacArthur during World War II . He was a high-ranking enlisted and basically he served as a liaison to different units during their amphibious Landings through the South pacific. During World War II he made a total of 12 amphibious Landings, with eight of those being in the first two waves . He actually went to shore with the 77th in the Philippines at ormec bay. And I got the opportunity to talk to him many times, and he told me that the 77th ID who was the best one he ever served alongside. I'm a giant World War II history geek, and because of him and his stories it fueled my passion. And I've read up on the 77th and your video was magnificent, but it still doesn't do justice to just how badass these men were. But thank you for making this video and bringing their story to light, so it's not forgotten

Your story-telling is great fun and very informative. Thanks!

I don’t normally comment on videos. But I wanted to say your stuff is great. I absolutely love your channel. Has become one of my favorite things to watch lately. It’s hard to explain to people what “veteran” humor is but with your channel I’ve been able to able to show a couple people. Well done. I did want to make the suggestion (assuming you haven’t already started one) but if you could do a video on Roy Benavidez I’m positive it would be a great episode for you. Thank you again for kicking so much ass at what you’re doing here.

Never stop digging out these OLD gems, they deserve to be told and retold again and your style is excellent.

They arrive with the energy of “Dad didn’t get to take his nap, and now it’s gonna be everybody’s fuckin problem.”😂😂 Dude I love your work. The earlier quip about them showing up like “Dad getting home from work, the Japanese just don’t know it yet” got me too. I gotta comment for the algorithm, because I’m pretty sure this is my favorite ep and I gotta boost your signal

Been waiting for this video since you talked about this on unsubscribe, awesome job and well done man! My nephews who are 17 and 15 are getting into history because of you and my delivery on topics, keep up the amazing work man! A true fan of what you do!

That was mind-blowing. Thank you, and thanks to the Old Bastards!

Guam: 11 to 1 kill ratio when traditionally attacking a fortified position requires 3 to 1 kills favoring the defenders. Leyte: Essentially re-enact Sherman's March to the Sea across the entire island, cut loose of supply lines and living off the enemy. Accepted by the USMC as their own, almost exclusively reserved for Navy corpsmen acting as USMC medics. This 55 year old bastard just shed a tear. Thank you, Chubby Electron Guy.

Back in 2005, I went BCT and we had at 39 year old dude in one of the platoons. Drill Sergeants were listing off PT requirements, and they got to him and his age bracket and went "Breathe air and done die." He was a pretty chill dude.