Mr. Burns' documentary is very good. Weaving real Minnesota people is effective in making local soldiers and homefront sacrifices fit into the worldwide conflict.

It seems rare to see the Pacific, European and African battles told at the same time and in sequence with one another. Other documentaries seem to focus on one front or the other. The War does a nice job telling the story as it happened -- from wherever it happened.

My great uncle battled in the Pacific early on and ended up in the Phillipines. He received two purple hearts. He told me there was a period at the end when the soldiers knew they would win the war. Fighting was still tough at that time, and GIs kept their heads down to avoid getting shot in the last days.

I didn't realize how punishing these battles really were. The documentary doesn't gloss over the violence of war.

I wonder if my great uncle -- who is still alive -- is watching it. Maybe it is too real for him. Or, maybe he feels proud of his service and appreciates the quality of the retelling.