"Combat!", Vic Morrow, and a Rolex Sub?

[Steve O.]

One of my favorite TV shows when I was a kid was Combat! starring Vic Morrow. I believe the show ran from 1962-67, so they were re-runs even back when I was watching them. For those not familiar with the show, Morrow played tough WWII Sergeant Saunders, who's squad always managed to kill lots of Germans with little of no casualties of their own.

Anyway, a new local Atlanta station has started running episodes of the show and I caught one last night. It was one of the later color episodes called "The Losers" in which Saunders is ordered to blow up a German controlled bridge. I was half asleep, but perked up when I noticed that Morrow's character was checking the time with what appeared to be a Rolex 5512 or 5513 Submariner! As most know, the first Sub wasn't introduced until 1953. Whichever it was, it was definitely on an Oyster bracelet. Interesting how they obviously went to great lengths to depict the combat sequences as accurately as possible (even giving credit to the Department of the Army), but overlooked such an obvious error. Well, maybe an error that only a WIS nerd would notice fifty years later...

[River Rat]

Me and my brother had to fight with my sister just to watch that show in the 1960's. Vic Morrow died before his time during filming in a movie the twilight zone .

[59yukon01]

I watched that as a kid from the 60's also. Watched all the good ones like Rat Patrol, 12 O'Clock High, Hogan's Heros, McHales Navy. Great old classics now.

[River Rat]

I watched that as a kid from the 60's also. Watched all the good ones like Rat Patrol, 12 O'Clock High, Hogan's Heros, McHales Navy. Great old classics now.

I remember Rat Patrol came on right after the monkeys surprised I remember that never cared for the Monkeys had to watch that due to my sister. They got Rat Patrol on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxcmDCo9LLI
And Combat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QvFVGF ... cL0vJ9hWi5

[HapaHapa]

I've never watched Combat but one of my brother in laws in Mexico is an old fan. He used to say "Combate' " and flourish his fist when he saw an armed forces commercial.

[aikiman44]

I still watch it on cable. I saw an interview with Hanks and Speilberg about how they copied specific scenes from Combat for Saving Private Ryan.

[gr8sw]

yep, Combat was a favorite growing up, Sarge tough as nails... that and the Rifleman

great to see so many classic oldies back up on the tube

maybe Vic Morrow had enough dough for a Rolex once they started shooting in color?

[93 Turbo]

I remember "Combat" being aired here in Australia in the late 60's early to mid 70's. I was always keen to watch this when I was a kid. J

[hazmatman]

Loved that show as a kid. Twelve O'Clock High. Rat Patrol. Baa Baa Black Sheep. Good stuff.

[toxicavenger]

Loved that show as a kid. Twelve O'Clock High. Rat Patrol. Baa Baa Black Sheep. Good stuff.

we use to watch the reruns of them on the USA network back in the day.

[Steve O.]

Loved that show as a kid. Twelve O'Clock High. Rat Patrol. Baa Baa Black Sheep. Good stuff.

Wow, forgot about Baa Baa Black Sheep. Haven't seen that one in years.

[hazmatman]

Loved that show as a kid. Twelve O'Clock High. Rat Patrol. Baa Baa Black Sheep. Good stuff.

Wow, forgot about Baa Baa Black Sheep. Haven't seen that one in years.

My dad was Navy, Carrier Aviation, during Korea. Black Sheep, The World at War (with Sir Laurence Olivier), and Victory at Sea were the shows I remember us watching together. Robert Conrad reminds me a lot of my father. Although by the time Baa Baa Black Sheep come out, I was in that teen phase where I knew what I was doing and where I was going. Dad was subliminally pushing the Navy - rather hard as I remember. So there was no way I was going to end up on an GD boat by the time it came to walk into a recruiter.

[BBK357]

Cool.
I'll have to ask my gramps if he watched it.

[poppydog]

Loved Combat, although I was quite young and rarely allowed to watch it. I also liked Garrion's Gorillas.

[marchone]

I want The Monkees in reruns.

[pete26]

Yes Vic Morrow was a Rolex guy, he wore one in Combat and in many other shows and movies, not sure what he was wearing in the Twilight Zone. I remember he guest starred in Magnum before his death as a corrupt cop, wearing a Casio G-Shock.

[dnslater]

My first thought: Wayne is back! Then I saw that Peter bumped a 7 year old thread!

[River Rat]

Funny lately I been thinking of stuff I watched as a kid, Like Combat, Twelve O Clock High, Rat Patrol, Voyage to the bottom of the sea, anyone remember Land of the giants I am showing my age now.

[Wario406]

Funny lately I been thinking of stuff I watched as a kid, Like Combat, Twelve O Clock High, Rat Patrol, Voyage to the bottom of the sea, anyone remember Land of the giants I am showing my age now.

I loved Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Land of the Giants!

And, what about Lost in Space and Flipper?!?

Rat Patrol and Combat were my favs.

[pete26]

Jeez, I didn't realise, sorry about that.

[Bob1035]

Jeez, I didn't realise, sorry about that.

Well it is the vintage forum after all

[Henryj]

Funny lately I been thinking of stuff I watched as a kid, Like Combat, Twelve O Clock High, Rat Patrol, Voyage to the bottom of the sea, anyone remember Land of the giants I am showing my age now.

I loved Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Land of the Giants!

And, what about Lost in Space and Flipper?!?

Rat Patrol and Combat were my favs.

Mike, I used to watch Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea with my dad. It was quite an experience to watch it with his commentary. Ya see, he’d been a BM1 (SS) and made six war patrols on Sealion (SS-315), then changed rate in the mid-50’s to ET and went nuke. So, I had a WW2 submarine BM turned nuke with a running commentary on the show, sort of a semi-profane MST3K. A unique life experience for a growing boy.

[Wario406]

Funny lately I been thinking of stuff I watched as a kid, Like Combat, Twelve O Clock High, Rat Patrol, Voyage to the bottom of the sea, anyone remember Land of the giants I am showing my age now.

I loved Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Land of the Giants!

And, what about Lost in Space and Flipper?!?

Rat Patrol and Combat were my favs.

Mike, I used to watch Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea with my dad. It was quite an experience to watch it with his commentary. Ya see, he’d been a BM1 (SS) and made six war patrols on Sealion (SS-315), then changed rate in the mid-50’s to ET and went nuke. So, I had a WW2 submarine BM turned nuke with a running commentary on the show, sort of a semi-profane MST3K. A unique life experience for a growing boy.

Holy Shit! That dude was Neptune! F’ing Sealion?! Then, swapped to ET/Nuke?!? Did you need extra wheel barrows around the house for him to haul his balls around? Fuck!

Thanks for sharing. You have an experience with one of a very few people that really lived the dream.

I remember Commander VanSean - an instructor in C school. He spoke with a thick New England accent, called everyone a lad, and looked like he been in a fight with Poseidon and was still standing. He commanded 3 subs in WWII and all three got sunk at some point. He also said that there was only two things a man could be in life. You could either be a hero, or a bum. And there was no other choices. Sounds like your dad was in the hero category.

Good on you! I’d love to buy you some beers some day!

[pete26]

I loved all these shows when I was a kid. Combat, Voyage to the Bottom of The Sea, Wackiest Ship in the Army, McHales Navy, Hogan's Heroes.

[bauertime]

I have the dvd boxset and in the commentary they tell that Vic bought the whole cast a Rolex. I think in some Scenes you can see other members wearing one.