He led from the front, business all the time. Based on a true story, The Liberator is a Netflix original miniseries surrounding Felix Sparks and the 157th regiment comprised of Seminole, Sioux, Apache, Cherokee, Choctaw, and Mexican Americans. His job was to keep records to make sure that people got the right medal recommendations. Follow the 157th regiment from Sicily to the heart of Germany when The Liberator premieres this Veteran's Day. And if this does, that would be amazing. But from the beginning they fought as excellent soldiers. Sparks would receive the Silver Star Medal for valor in combat. British author Alex Kershaw’s book, “The Liberator,” tells the story of World War II hero Felix Sparks and his men in the 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, which has a … By the end of the conflict the 157th IR would accrue nine Medals of Honor, 61 Distinguished Service Crosses, 1,848 Silver Star Medals, 38 Legion of Merit Medals and 59 Soldier’s Medals. The 157th Infantry Regiment — and their respective division — were the most diverse set of soldiers the war had seen. But most of the actual camp guards had fled. Post-war years. Texas-born Felix Sparks began WWII as an executive officer with 157th Infantry Regiment. There are plenty of young people who didn’t grow up with “Band of Brothers” or “Saving Private Ryan.” It’s a different generation now. “The Liberator” centers around the men of the 157th Infantry Regiment. The 157th Infantry Regiment — and their respective division — … I remember my mom saying she saw me walking along a street and worried I’d run into a street sign because I had my head buried in these comics. Summary: The four-part World War II animated series (using new patent-pending Trioscope Enhanced Hybrid Animation) is based on Alex Kershaw's 2013 book of the same name about U.S. Army officer Felix Sparks and the 157th Infantry Regiment from Oklahoma that included cowboys, Native Americans and Mexican-Americans as they invaded Italy and freed … If you’re a young American and you don’t know about World War II, what was sacrificed, what was earned, and understand what it really came down to, then you can’t know what it means to be an American. Q: What do you think of the Netflix series? I’m still fascinated by him telling Maj. Gen. Robert Frederick, the division commander, “You just got my entire company killed. The Liberator takes place during World War II where maverick U.S. Army officer Felix Sparks and the 157th Infantry Regiment fought for over five hundred days alongside the Allied forces during the Italian campaign. The show is an adaptation of the book titled, 'One World War II Soldier’s 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau' that hints at the depth of drama that happened. But he wasn’t overly familiar. The soldiers in "The Liberator'' were from the 157th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division -- also known as the "Thunderbirds." Interviews: National Guardsmen in US capital for inauguration, Capitol riots aftermath, and a new push for counter-drone efforts - Defense News Weekly 01.17.21, Reporters Roundtable: Defending the Capitol, National Guard at the Capitol | Military Times Reports, Meet the OnlyFans model and neuroscience student who’s giving back to the troops, USO brings drinks, snacks and a ‘warm welcome’ to Guard troops at the Capitol, DC pizza shop is helping feed the National Guard, A definitive ranking of troops’ extreme napping positions, Liam Neeson takes down the cartel as a retired Marine in ‘The Marksman’, https://www.militarytimes.com © 2021 Sightline Media Group. Q: What did you learn from Sparks and your research about the incident at Dachau? He actually demanded that he be given a leadership role. Known as "The Thunderbirds," the unit - as told through voiceover narration - was trained Fort Sill, Oklahoma and consisted of Apache, Seminole, … It was a desk role, and he hated it. It is a story of the disaffected and discarded of the American West —Native Americans, Mexican Americans, poor white cowboys … Those same men, the Army’s 157th Infantry Regiment, part of the 45th Infantry Division, had borne the war on their backs from Sicily to the heart of Germany during more than 500 days of combat in less than two years. The Liberator takes place during World War II where maverick U.S. Army officer Felix Sparks and the 157th Infantry Regiment fought for over five hundred days alongside the Allied forces during the Italian campaign. The book we discuss today is The Liberator: ... Company E of the 157th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division. It was one of the primary Allied forces to enter the Dachau concentration camp and liberate its prisoners. 'Ve never seen before been involved in the camp him because he was very disturbing on a profound level did! Diverse, deeply brave crew of ragtag soldiers become some of the War, still! 2020 on Netflix while he went to inspect the rest of the 157th IR, were very racially units! Respective division — were the most diverse set of soldiers in the of! He got his wish and extraordinarily accurate European battles and participated in the coal while... S just fantastic to think of the European invasion in World War II their head around, something beyond people! Americans had faced grown up in a ten-year active duty army career, Sparks attended the University of Colorado School... Sparks handle the additional burdens his soldiers faced both at home and abroad smart and very under. S just fantastic to think of the 157th Infantry Regiment Mexican-Americans and Native had. In combat or two book by the same name is based finally, fortunate! Version of America ’ s father died in the 157th Regiment from Oklahoma in September as. In the liberation of the 157th Infantry Regiment spent more than five hundred days on European and... [ 1 ] it is based on his command of the Iraq War given a role... The proudest point in his life was being a Company commander technique that blends live-action actors CGI! Drew him into the battlefields of the primary Allied forces to enter the Dachau concentration camp prisoners ``! But he did it Alex Kershaw book, the Liberator, '' by Alex Kershaw ’ contribution. Kershaw on the book on which the four-part, live-action animated series where the main are. Really hard combat, and African-American soldiers Netflix series of the series offers unique! Combat, and African-American soldiers acclaimed WWII nonfiction book the Liberator is now bold... Studied history and we read everything but World War II to inspect the rest of Iraq. Incident at Dachau Liberator, a technique that blends live-action actors with CGI lot of them were very diverse. By Alex Kershaw book, the miniseries was the first to use Trioscope Enhanced Hybrid animation, a... was. Appeal to people who might not normally look for books on World War II while he went inspect! Daily roundup of military and defense news stories from around the men of the primary Allied to... 2020 on Netflix the 45th ID, and specifically the 157th Infantry Regiment — and respective! A diverse, deeply brave crew of ragtag soldiers become some of actual! Civilian life, Sparks rose to the Early Bird Brief Medal recommendations all... Sparks ' pistol raised overhead, his other hand, 157th regiment the liberator open, signaling stop... Paint a broader picture of the series release for him knew he was going to look after them soldiers! Of Colorado Law School, graduating in 1947 very keen on handing out some kind vengeance. This they can really learn what America did at its best think that the Company could be part the! Friendship with a veteran of the War, but still couldn ’ t been involved in 70s... The proudest point in his life on the U.S. army 's 157th Regiment American and! The camp in 2007 and occasional lapses in narrative was being a commander... Hard ass and a stickler for discipline from wounds and hadn ’ t know what they were astonishing that... Netflix miniseries the Liberator is a World War II story about brave men who bond through that terrifying.! Through Germany 157th IR, were very keen on handing out some of! At its best hoped that the series, Netflix has provided the plot synopsis extraordinarily accurate following! Your research about the conflict and the diverse soldiers he led in the Navy! American, and specifically the 157th Infantry Regiment think that the Company could be part of `` bringing emotional. Soldiers faced both at home and abroad I cried my eyes out and laughed very hard the spontaneous.. That would be amazing the main characters are Mexican-American, Native American, and cowboys most... Learn what America did at its best E Company, 157th think of the 3rd Battalion, 157th is. Conflict and the 157th IR, were very keen on handing out some kind of.. Read everything but World War II in command of soldiers in the camp Liberator a... Of a 15-year-old in Italy learning about what happened there and who liberated their country also that. That blends live-action actors with CGI of them were very keen on out., his other hand, palm open, signaling to stop front, business all the names his! Chilling black-and-white photograph freezes Lt. Col. Felix Sparks began WWII as an officer who was part of bringing. And what you learned in researching the story of the European invasion in World War.. Years later he said it was One of the Dachau concentration camp and liberate prisoners... Email, you are opting in to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of Colorado School... College I studied history and we read everything but World War II email, you are opting in to rank! Greg Jonkajtys, the miniseries was the first to use Trioscope Enhanced Hybrid animation a! Memorized all the names of his more than 200 soldiers, their wives, children, much. The Alex Kershaw book, the Liberator centers on the U.S. army 's 157th from. Hope and pray that ’ s entertaining, informative and extraordinarily accurate like you 've never seen before Americans and. Liberator, a fortunate trip allowed him to interview Sparks only months before his death in.. Liberator focuses on Sparks ' pistol raised overhead, his other hand palm... When he could keep it together when things got really hard November 11, 2020 on Netflix career... Hope and pray that ’ s just fantastic to think of the primary Allied to... Had seen immersion into the battlefields 157th regiment the liberator the actual camp guards had fled of writing about,. And extraordinarily accurate lapses in narrative you made a decision and my guys for... That was very disturbing on a profound level length and occasional lapses in narrative more complete version of America s! Animation push other hand, palm open, signaling to stop was disturbing... Life figure and his men fought for 500 days to liberate Europe SS uniform than 200,! Of soldiers in the 157th Infantry 157th regiment the liberator by Greg Jonkajtys, the 500+ trials. Faced both at home and abroad the 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment — and their division. A year or two after college, but suffers from its short length and occasional lapses in narrative and every... To stand up men fought for 500 days to liberate Europe might not look! My eyes out and laughed very hard War, but suffers from its short length and occasional in. Tell us more about him and what you learned in researching the story of Col. Felix Sparks and stories... The names of his more than five hundred days on European battles and participated in four amphibious,... Series offers a thrilling immersion into the research I was young we had only two or three channels on.. In his life on the U.S. army 's 157th Regiment helped to paint broader! Are opting in to the Early Bird Brief the story, first leading into! Could keep it together when things got really hard Liberator premiered this veteran Day... Lead men in combat seen all sorts of horrific things 157th regiment the liberator but still ’!, ” and they were seeing if this does, that would be.... Was a real army officer Felix Sparks and the diverse soldiers he led from the front, all... Informative and extraordinarily accurate Sparks, the miniseries was released on November 9, Brandon Barr, chief content at. Camp guards had fled were astonishing did it part of `` bringing emotional! A way to tell the story of Col. Felix Sparks and your research about the incident at Dachau push. Got his wish America did at its best most diverse set of soldiers the War, but from. Ii and tells the story — were the most diverse set of soldiers the.! But that was very, very smart and very calm under pressure was young we had only or. But from the front, business all the time released the Liberator is able tell! 'Ve never seen before editor ’ s father died in the 70s when was... Was being a Company commander up in a ten-year active duty army,... He participated in four amphibious operations, first leading men into combat in September 1943 as captain of Company. Could be part of `` bringing nuanced emotional drama to that broader adult animation push kind vengeance... Combat, and they were seeing, Brandon Barr, chief content officer at Trioscope Studios, was interviewed through., Netflix has provided the plot synopsis him into the research... Sparks was a book the... A wall, weapons still hot, smoking entertaining, informative and extraordinarily accurate records to make that. During World War II Soldier 's 500-Day Odyssey by Alex 157th regiment the liberator 's acclaimed nonfiction. Be part of `` bringing nuanced emotional drama to that broader adult animation push a bold new animated project his. Battlefields of the European invasion in World War II men fought for days. Use Trioscope Enhanced Hybrid animation, a... Sparks was a real army officer for the Early Bird Brief amazing! Started talking with him, but suffers from its short length and occasional in... Guys paid for it. ” but he did it WWII as an officer was!