Pierre Jalbert (1925-2014) of COMBAT! with Omaha Steve photo

[Omaha Steve]

Pierre's passing in LBN: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014706934

Here I am with Pierre on the RECON 2000 Lake Mead boat ride (not to be confused with the COMBOAT cruise):

I still have the hat. The shirt is now covered with autographs of actors that appeared in COMBAT!.

[dchill]

1. I love that show!

I watched it as a kid in the 60s, and I watch it now. Color me jealous!

[whathehell]

7. Me too!...I watched it as a thirteen year old

and was quite smitten with the handsome, world-weary "Chip", aka Vic Morrow.

The actor was the father of Jennifer Jason Leigh.

I was saddened to learn of his accidental death on a movie set some years later.

[dchill]

17. Always thought he was a great actor.

Really too bad about "Twilight Zone: the Movie. "

[whathehell]

20. He really was...

although I think he tended to get routed into "bad guy" roles a lot after Combat, which seems

like a mistake since he was perfect as Sgt. Saunders.


RIP Vic and Pierre.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Very cool, my dear Omaha Steve!

[panader0]

3. I used to watch as a kid

For that time, it was more realistic than other shows. RIP Pierre...

[TransitJohn]

4. I've never heard of this show, I thought this post was gonna be about a programmer

[Laxman]

5. Man, There's A Blast From The Past

When I was in 4th grade may friends and I would watch this every week then discuss the previous night's episode on the bus ride to school. I hadn't thought about this show in years.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. I never remember it in color

I guess season five never reached Mexico. I watched a lot of this dubbed.

[dchill]

18. Or maybe, like me, you had a black & white TV...

I never knew those episodes were in color until years later.

[Omaha Steve]

19. The first four seasons are B&W only

Only the fifth season is in color.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. Nah, we had a color TV, Trinitron, I even remember that

Season Five is the only one in color, so I guess it never reached it. I must say, it was one of my favorite programs growing up

[Omaha Steve]

22. Words to the Combat! Theme Song

http://www.jodavidsmeyer.com/combat/episodes/combat_theme_song.htm

Words by Leonard Adelson
Music by Leonard Rosenman
copyright 1965 by Ampco Music

VERSE

Proudly we bear the name of the Infantry,
Knowing we share the fame of the Army Infantry,
Where-ever liberty's battle must be won,
The Infantry has gone and so it shall go on.
Where there's a job to be done is where we'll be,
For we are the fighting men of the Infantry.

CHORUS

Follow me, left, right,
Follow me, left, right,
We'll go marching to hell and back if it has to be.
Follow me, left, right,
Follow me, left, right,
We're the ever ready men of the Infantry.

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. i remember that series

[Kaleva]

8. Cool!

[Octafish]

10. Cage!

Hasta siempre, Hermano.

[PCIntern]

11. My Mom let me watch the show along with The Gallant Men

but she felt that it glorified war in a time when Vietnam was taking a toll on America. She had no problem of course with WWII as a patriotic duty, but distinctly instructed me as an 11 year old that Vietnam was not the same by any means.

Combat! was a sensitive and very well-conceived show for its day.

[PCIntern]

12. Couple things...

I rmember that we found out that Rick Jason was Jewish which was funny when we were kids for some reason - my Jewish Dad was in the Pacific Theater for 4 years - and later, that he killed himself right after a Combat! reunion...with a gun.

Also, that he had top billing for the first and last seasons but Vic Morrow, who would be decapitated by a helicopter in the Twilight Zone Movie had top billing for the middle three seasons of the five total. They both died violent deaths in the manner of military men: gunshot and rotor blades (Yech).

[Omaha Steve]

14. About Rick

Rick Jason's ashes in his niche at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.



Omaha Steve and Rick at RECON 2000, just before his death

My letter to the COMBAT! group on Rick's passing:

I think a lot of us need to remember that the Lt. was just a character.
Rick was the real man. I'd like to talk about the Rick I knew. That is
all I can comment on. Others knew him so much better than I, and his
other sides.

Up until say 20 months ago or so, I never had any contact with any of
the COMBAT! cast members. In the old COMBAT! chat room one night,
Othello mentioned she had an extra copy of Jo's book autographed by
Rick. It was from one of his signings. She got it for a friend who never
picked it up from her. It was made out to someone else, but I didn't
care. She shipped it on to Jo, for her autograph as well. My first true
COMBAT! prize. At that time you could not buy Jo's book anywhere. Thank
you so much Dorthy.

A few weeks later, in that same chat room Rick showed up to surprise us
all. It was Zeus coming down from the heavens to share a few moments. We
were a very quiet bunch for a change that night while he was there.
Nobody seemed to be able to talk with Rick. What a time to be shy.
Sometime after that I found Rick's home address. I sent a short letter
asking for a autographed 8 x 10. About a week later it came in the mail.
A few days later I got an e mail checking to see if it got here all
right. WOW. Rick was actually writing to me in long hand, and over the
net. Several exchanged notes and letters followed. Some came from him
without any prompting. We seemed to connect. I lost several of these e
mails to the lightning strike I had in August of 99, and subsequent
crashes later on.

I sent him a Christmas card. I was so embarrassed when later I
remembered he was Jewish. I sent a quick I'm sorry. He replied don't
worry, it is the thought that counts. Soon after I got my own Christmas
card from both he, and Cindy. Then for Christmas my wife Marta got me me
an original COMBAT! promo photo. Right after Christmas Dick passed away.
I waited maybe 10 days to write to ask him if I sent it, could he send
it back signed. I also apologized for the bad timing, as I was sure Dick
was a very close friend. He mentioned having to write Dick's obit for 1 of
the papers. Then he said don't worry, send anything anytime, and he
would expedite its return.

I didn't want to bug him, so I didn't write often. But we did exchange
thoughts on lots of different subjects outside COMBAT!
My first real conversation was during his radio interview last month. I
thanked him and everyone who had anything to do with my favorite show
from my childhood. I mentioned it was my most fondest memory of my dad
watching the show with me. Not playing catch or anything else. It was
about the only times my dad would ever talk about the war.
Then came the night of the USO mixer at RECON. I said that after seeing
him next to Lil John for so long, I had no idea he was my size. I was
also glad to see he looked so good. He was happy to hear it. I should
explain that several at RECON said I was the largest of the attendees.

The photos from that night don't do him justice. I got a hug I had
waited all my life for. It brought tears to my eyes. He then read my
name tag, and knew I was the fellow he had been writing to.

The next morning listening to the entire group talk about COMBAT! was
such a joy. Then came the autograph session. Rick had to leave before I
got to him in line. He said he would sign everything the next day on the
cruise. I took only a few items, figuring I would send the rest in the
mail for him to sign at his leisure. He did sign my cover to HERITAGE,
my favorite episode. I then watched other people who didn't know who he
was asking for autographs. He approached a small group of severely
mentally challenged adults. He made sure each got a signed photo, and
said hi, etc. to all.

When we got back to the motel, Marta asked for a signature on her copy
of THE SARACEN BLADE. She explained it was one of her favorite books.
He seemed pleased anyone remembered he was even in the film. He then
said he would help her get a video copy of it. What wouldn't he do for
his fans.

My last contact came in the bar area. It was a hug I thought was
good-bye till the next RECON. I'm sorry I didn't realize he might be
reaching out to all of us for help.

I don't usually post such deep subjects on the list, as I'm no writer.
I also have a small disability expressing my emotions, etc. Then add I
am not the brightest of people. Thank you for helping me to work through
a time of great pain by reading this.

At the end of the episode THE LONG WAY HOME, Hanley replies to Saunders
"LETS DRINK TO OLD FRIENDS". Lets all drink to old friends for awhile. I
think Hanley, Saunders, and Lil John are all out together on patrol
again.

I love you Rick. I will miss you always.

TOMMYGUN-OUT




More on this photo later.

[PCIntern]

16. Wow...that is really something, Steve.

Shows such as Combat!, The Outer Limits (original), Naked City, Route 66, and the like were remarkable in their character development, story telling, and depth. As much as we revere Breaking Bad, Homeland, The Sopranos, and others, they somehow lack the verite of those well-scripted predecessors. In my opinion, of course.

[11 Bravo]

13. I loved that show! I even still remember Sgt. Saunders' service number ...

2270622 (He was captured in one episode and the only words he would speak to his captors was were "Saunders, Sergeant, 2270622.) It's funny the things you remember.

[MrMickeysMom]

15. I remember Combat!

Thanks for sharing with us Omaha Steve.