Post Description

"On Common Ground" encapsulates the the journey of reconciliation embarked upon 
by veterans of the 28th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division during their 
visit to Europe in 1999. The film culminates in a meeting of American and German 
veterans who opposed one another in the deadly Huertgen Forest Campaign during 
the fall of 1944. "On Common Ground" lends a real-life look at the best of 
"Saving Private Ryan," and "Band of Brothers" combined. The emotions expressed 
by the American and German veterans, and the memories they share about their war 
time experiences are priceless. The film combines veteran interviews with 
historical themes throughout. The instrumental character is Michael Eliasof, 
president of the 28th Regiment Association, and a gifted story-teller. Of the 
thirty-man platoon who landed with Eliasof at Utah Beach on July 4, 1944, only 
six survived the war. The producers chose to focus on the veterans and allow 
them to tell their own stories. We see a true to life heart retching experience, 
reminiscent of "Saving Private Ryan" in an American military cemetery. Here, 
Stephen J. Butko of Pittsburgh, Pa. visits the grave of a fallen comrade. In 
1944, Butko was offered a promotion from private to sergeant. He refused, but 
recommended his friend Elmer M. Miller get the job instead. Miller was killed 
two days later, and Butko has blamed himself ever since. Butko was eventually 
evacuated with combat exhaustion, and his segments are some of the most honest 
and moving in the film. Allowing the veterans to tell the whole story, presents 
problems, however. A more careful campaign structure on the 8th Division, would 
have provided a more solid framework from which to support the veteran's 




Original Format......: NTSC

Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Language: English, German
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Run Time: 88 minutes
Cover : Ja

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