In April 1945, the last year of World War II, the Allies were advancing into the heart of Nazi Germany. Among the forward participants was the American military’s 2nd Armored Division, known as "Hell on Wheels.” The film described below features a crew of five men in the division, who fight in an M4 Sherman tank nicknamed “Fury.” As they push forward deeper into Germany, they are sent out on a mission to take control of a crossroads, which is essential to defending the rest of the division.

Family Bond

The film illustrates the strong bonds between the members of Fury’s crew. They come from different backgrounds and have contrasting personalities, but their relationship is based on deep trust and they do everything they can to support and protect each other. Four members had fought together since the beginning of the war in Africa: Don “Wardaddy” Collier is the tank commander, and he is the “father” figure of the crew; Boyd “Bible” Swan is the tank gunner; Grady “Coon-Ass” Travis is the tank loader; Trini “Gordo” Garcia is the driver. They lose one crew member in Germany, and Norman Ellison, a clerk-typist who has no war experience and has never even been inside a tank, is brought in to replace him.

We witness the strengthening of their bonds as the crew members fight and live together in the tank, experience the brutality of war, and face death all around them.

We also witness the journey of Norman, the newcomer, as he is gradually accepted as part of the family, and matures as a man and soldier. The crew tries to get Norman to learn and face the realities of war. Wardaddy, despite experiencing violent battles and being seen as a tough leader, retains a “human” side. He shows love for horses, cares for the health and wellbeing of his crew, and looks out for Norman, who is still young and inexperienced. He even takes Norman aside for a moment away from the violent battle, perhaps in hopes to help Norman preserve his human side.

Brutality of War

The film also portrays the brutality and violence of war through terrifying scenes of battle, with bright tracers from tankers and ammunition (orangish red for the U.S. and green for Germans), twisted metal, blood, and flames. Death is all around; it’s an “everyday” experience.

The brutality of war is also expressed in Wardaddy’s words:

Some of the scenes are violent, which might make some people wince, but I believe they are important. We only get a glimpse of what war was probably like, but it helps us learn about it, understand history, and to pass on the experiences and stories to the next generation.

Finding Grandpa

I knew that my grandfather had fought in Germany in WWII. Soon after watching the film, I found myself researching the background, trying to locate him in that part of history. By some miracle, I had just received a folder filled with scanned images of letters that my grandfather sent to his mother during the war, from 1942, through the end of the war in 1945.

I tried to put the pieces together, and gasped in realization—the 2nd Armored Division patch on my grandfather’s uniform was the same as the one Wardaddy has on his tanker jacket.

The movie quickly took on a personal meaning. I watched it again, trying to see what my grandfather might have seen and experienced. “Maybe grandpa was fighting in one of those tanks.” “Was he able to sleep at night surrounded by death and constant danger?”

I always remember my grandfather’s sense of humor, love for his family, and warm smile. Now, I think about all the experiences behind his smile, and the horror that must have haunted him decades after the war.

According to my father, my grandfather never brought up his wartime efforts. After watching this film, I wondered if all the violence, brutality, and traumatic experiences made him not want to talk about it. He did answer questions from my father, and from me when I was writing a school report on the impact of war on my family. This inspired me to dig out the old folder with this report. It included handwritten responses from my grandfather on fax paper. They enabled me to fill in more gaps, and learn more about my grandfather.

This year marks the 77th anniversary of the end of WWII. As years go by, fewer people will be alive to tell stories of the war. It’s important to share these stories so more people will understand the brutality of war, learn from the past, and remember our families and their bravery in the war.

I look forward to learning more about my grandfather, his experiences, and that period of history. I will continue sharing stories about my grandfather whenever I have the opportunity. I feel him near me, and he will always be with us.

(948 words) Written by Maya