So what’s in a title? History presents ‘Warfighters’
In honor of Veterans Day, the History Channel debuts “The Warfighters” (8 p.m., TV-14). The series offers four consecutive hours of first-person accounts of recent U.S. special operations forces missions, including those of Army Rangers, Green Berets, Marines and Navy SEALs in action in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The series not only recounts stories of veterans, but is largely a veteran-made production, with more than 90 vets participating in the series.
The series’ peculiar hybridword title is worth noting. Rather than call the series “Soldiers at War” or “Special Forces,” the title “Warfighters” sounds like something out of a comic book or a video game. It reminds us of how the names of soldiers have evolved over time.
In World War I, America sent “doughboys” to the front to join British soldiers called “Tommies.” Both names accentuated the youth of the fighting forces and reminded civilians that a nation’s most precious resource was at risk when it waged war. America’s massive mobilization for World War II put more than 12 million in uniform and inspired the name “GI” for “Government Issue.” During Vietnam, the word “grunt” was used by infantrymen to describe themselves.
The end of the draft and the advent of an all-volunteer Army coincided with a cult of bodybuilding, fitness and hyper-masculinity. Audie Murphy, the most decorated combat soldier of World War II, stood only 5 feet 5 inches tall, but by the mid-1980s, the popular image of a fighting man was that of a “ripped” Sylvester Stallone in “Rambo.” While soldiers still came in all shapes and sizes, our popular imagination seemed to be on steroids.
The terminology for fighting soldiers also changed. Gone were affectionate terms like “the boys.” Soldiers had to be venerated as “heroes,” or even “warriors.” And now we have “The Warfighters.”
This shift in nomenclature says a lot more about civilians than soldiers. The vast majority of people have little or no contact with those serving in the military. Do these Wagnerian titles honor our fighting forces? Or relegate them to a separate caste?
TONIGHT’S HIGHLIGHTS
Shaquille O’Neal appears on “Caught on Camera With Nick Cannon” (8 p.m., NBC). Contestants put a spin on Southern staples on “Hell’s Kitchen” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14). The Rance family spins out of control on “The Exorcist” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14). Lemonade stands on “Shark Tank” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG). Rebecca tries to rebrand herself on “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” (9 p.m., CW, TV-14).
After reporting an abusive boyfriend, a woman is accused of his murder on “Blue Bloods” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
An assassin targets “MacGyver” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-14), but is no match for man with a corkscrew and paper towels.
Mandy’s behavior changes on “Last Man Standing” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
Damon’s assignment leads to a Texas showdown on “The Vampire Diaries” (8 p.m., CW, TV-14).
Dave prepares for his “Shark Tank” appearance on “Dr. Ken” (8:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
Terrorists target a formal
ball on “Hawaii Five-0” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14). Two hours of “Dateline” (9 p.m., NBC). “20/20” (10 p.m., ABC).