In 2017, Fletcher replaced Bryan Singer as the director of "Bohemian Rhapsody," though Singer retained the sole directorial credit. When I first got the part, that's pretty much when the studying began, not only about Donald, but about this whole generation of men who did this spectacular thing to make sure that we had freedoms for the rest of our lives. TV audiences knew him as a conniving Los Angeles district attorney on "Boomtown," as the unsettling Dave Williams on "Desperate Housewives," and as criminal mastermind Damien Darhk on multiple DC series, including "Arrow" and "Legends of Tomorrow." I think that came down to the fact that he was alive and some of his best friends died in front of him. His strength as a leader by episode eight, having watched his friends pass and see one of them have a nervous breakdown, I just think the juxtaposition between the two episodes shows what kind of a man he was. This soon caused a rift to form between him and his conservative father. Subsequent stints in the director's chair yielded the popular musical comedy "Sunshine on Leith" and "Eddie the Eagle." Both plan to be a part of the museums 20th anniversary program, which is scheduled for January 8, 2022, in New Orleans. He went from a World War II illiterate to an active supporter of veteran causes. Tom Hanks, who co-produced "Band of Brothers" in addition to co-writing one episode (Episode 1, "Curahee") and directing Episode 5 ("Crossroads"), also brought aboard his son, actor Colin Hanks,for a major role in the miniseries' eighth episode, "The Last Patrol." The book Biggest Brother, which detailed Winters actions during his time with the 506th, recorded this attack and recounted that after taking the first two guns, the Easy Company commander and his team had made one concentrated push each time, moving rapidly through the trench with the always-aggressive Guarnere leading the way. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). You can follow her on Twitter @HSW3K, Band Of Brothers: What Happened To Winters & The Rest Of Easy Company, The Real History Behind Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk, Da 5 Bloods True Story: How Much Of Spike Lees Vietnam Movie Was Real. He wasn't upset, but was definitely a little ticked off that I was in that. When the Band of BrothersTV miniseries went into production, Compton had lunch with McDonough and the two of them bonded over their shared background as college athletes. Michael Fassbenderessentially began his screen career in "Band of Brothers" as machine gunner Burton Christenson. There typically weren't many commissioned officers in attendance at these events, but Winters, Nixon, Compton, Moose Heyliger, Harry Welsh, Clarence Hester and Bob Strayer all attended the 1980 reunion. According to his family and friends, prior to the premier of the Band of Brothers, he had never boasted in his remarkable accomplishments in World War II, merely noting that he had fought and lost his leg. Both follow the real-life experiences of Easy Company,. As a person, he was the strongest man I had never met, and I mean that literally. And it was thanks to this show that I even knew a thing about him or Easy Company. Hanson. These were citizen soldiers. His decision to enlist was driven by theSelective Service Act of 1940, which required men between the ages of 21 and 35 to serve on active duty for 12 months if they were drafted. For a second, you feel like you caused that. Its wartime exploits inspired a book and later a miniseries. The Real People They Portrayed Onscreen. He'll next re-team with Colin Hanks for the upcoming miniseries "The Offer. When Nixon passed away in January 1995,Winters delivered the eulogy at his funeral. Guarnere, from South Philadelphia, was one of many in his generation that volunteered for service following Americas entry into the Second World War. They were civilian soldiers who defended their country after it was attacked. During my visit it was, to be honest, just a little frustrating because getting him to tell me about his personal experience was difficult. Today, mostif not allof the original members of Easy Company are deceased. Nixon reached the end of the war in 1945 with the rank of captain, and without ever firing a shot in combat. Perhaps most notably, he lacked the charisma and closeness with his men that was needed to lead them successfully into enemy territory. The message of sacrifice for a cause greater than the individualalong with the realistic portrayal of the average American at warreminds viewers of how the country can coalesce into a formidable force when it needs to. Daniel L. Davis is a retired U.S. Army colonel who served multiple tours in Afghanistan. Why would you want to talk about that? Why does the US have 800 Military Bases around the World? With Grace's support, Nixon was able to overcome his demons. The U.S. has lost another living link to World War II history with the death of the last . "I had seen enough of war," Winters wrote in his autobiography, Beyond Band of Brothers. | Art by Noel Ransome. Settle began his screen career with roles in the features "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" and "U-571." If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Just after learning of the attack, the then35-year-old soldier wrote a portent passage in his Palm Pilot: My generation just had its Pearl Harbor. Since then, the son of Tom Hanks has had . You know, Donald wasn't like that. In 1951 he had purchased a farm in Pennsylvania, in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, and by 1960 he was able to move himself and his family out there permanently. Related: The Real History Behind Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk. For the last 17 years of his life, Sobel lived in a dilapidated, poorly maintained Veterans Affairs nursing home in Waukegan, Illinois. Tensions finally boiled over when the Easy Companys non-commissioned officers (NCOs) surrendered their stripes and refused to serve under their commanding officer. Herbert Maxwell Sobel was the first leader of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiments Easy Company. Edward Shames, last of the surviving WWII officers who inspired HBO's 'Band of Brothers,' dies at 99. Shooting blanks, he took aim at a soldier dressed in a Wehrmacht uniform and squeezed the trigger, watching the enemy fall to the ground. As seen in "Brothers," Nixon saw considerable combat during the European Theater, and displayed a talent for operations; however, he also suffered from a dependency on alcohol, which at one point led to his demotion as Easy's intelligence officer. Here are some of the stories that didn't make it into Band of Brothers. Navy, Copyright 2023 Center for the National Interest All Rights Reserved. Artillery assaults, trench foot, and shrapnel all failed to bring down Easy's indestructible man. Created by Tom Hanks and StevenSpielberg and based on the 1992 non-fiction book by author and historian Stephen Ambrose, "Brothers" followed the members of E Company known as "Easy Company" in the U.S.Army's 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, of the 101st Airborne Division, from the landing at Normandy on D-Day to the surrender of Germany and the end of the war in Europe. One of his soldiers even described him as the devil in jump boots., As 506th member Richard Winters put it, under Sobel, Easy Company would be the first and the best in everything it did. But I tried my best, it was my job to be ready as an actor to fake what these heroes really did. ', Malarkey added, In a strange way, it kind of filled you with pride. His areas of interest include the Soviet Union, China, and the far-reaching effects of colonialism. Are there any particular scenes or moments that best personify what Donald was all about? (34,705) 9.4 2001 X-Ray TV-MA. Wikimedia CommonsRichard Winters was one of several officers to succeed Sobel as commander of the Easy Company. The title of the book and series comes from the St Crispin's Day Speech in William Shakespeare's play Henry V, delivered by King Henry before the Battle of Agincourt. Acts of incredible bravery, including one by Lipton, prove decisive in turning the tide for Easy Company. He opted for the latter, going to work at his friend Lewis Nixon's family company, Nixon Nitration Works. With blaring lights and cameras rolling in the background, he fired furiously at the actors playing German soldiers. Band of Brothers is a 2001 American war drama miniseries based on historian Stephen E. Ambrose's 1992 non-fiction book of the same name. Their mission had been to disrupt the German defenders and prevent them from effectively attacking the Allied troops landing on the beaches. I could imagine. Real-life accounts varied over Sobel's true nature: "Brothers" author Stephen Ambrose noted numerous stories about his petty behavior, but Sobel's son noted in an interview that many Easy veterans also credited his father's toughness for saving their lives in combat. During a pause in the shelling, Guarnere ignored protocolwhich called for troopers to stay undercover until they were sure the barrage was completebecause he couldnt leave his friend to die. That's the man he was. You gotta tell the right thing. Definitely the laundry room scene in episode three, where he has to collect and pay for the laundry of the man that didn't make it. There are of course things added to Band of Brothers, like me singing, I'm sure as hell he didn't do that, but it was added for the entertainment value of it. Most music is crap. In the meantime, Sobel continued to serve in the United States Army Reserve, eventually reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. The 10-part limited series featured and incredibly large ensemble cast that included around 200 speaking roles and over 10,000 extras. Guarnere was assigned to the most dangerous task. Thank you for worshiping with us! I wanted to get it right. Although Sobel himself wasnt particularly athletic, his men credited him for his persistence. "It's because of Bill that we've all stayed so close." Character turns in features like "Adaptation," "The Cooler" and "The Time Traveler's Wife" soon followed. Band of Brothers is a 2001 American war drama miniseries based on historian Stephen E. Ambrose's 1992 non-fiction book of the same name. In March 1941, months ahead of the United States entry into World War II, Sobel joined the Military Police Corps and was stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas. Hardy, who made his television debut in "Brothers" (his feature debut in Ridley Scott's "Black Hawk Down" came that same year), cuts a decidedly slimmer figure than the musclebound physique he displayed in later films like "The Dark Knight Rises" (as Bane) and "Venom." But for Winters and the other members of E Company who survived the war, their stories didn't end there. Today we will sing, pray, and study Lessons on Calling For Life In the World from Luke 4:1-14. (laughs). Sobel often admonished his soldiers for infractions like getting lint on their chevrons, carrying a rusty bayonet, or even having a name that he didnt like. To Major Richard Winters, who . To his dying days he remained focused on helping others, shunning personal acclaim and being a good family man. After the war Compton attended law school, joined the LAPD in 1946, and married a woman called Donna Newman in 1947. Peter Crean, a retired Army colonel who served in both the 101st Airborne and 82nd Airborne, remembers 9/11 well. Both men lost their right leg in the shelling and had to be evacuated from the front lines. It was amazing.. "And then when I have that taken care of, then go get a job. Dozens Of Easy Company Recruits Dropped Out During Training (As a segregated unit, all of Easy Companys paratroopersand the actors who later portrayed themwere white, withIrish, Italian, Jewish or German American heritage, among other European backgrounds.) Guarnere and Heffron also collaborated with writer Robyn Post on a book, Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends, which laid out their version of the Band of Brothers story and what happened in their lives after the war. And he also subjected his men to humiliating punishments, like forcing them to dig a six-foot-by-six-foot hole in the ground and then fill it back in. By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content. I was a wild man in action in Normandy, he said in a 2006 interview. In the very first episode of the series, then 1st Lt. Richard "Dick" Winters (played by Damian Lewis) is given the option to accept his punishment for a minor infraction or to request a trial . Then in their 70s and 80s, the men discussed their experiences and offered insights on how the horror of being in battle affected them. As a young boy, he attended Culver Military Academy in Indiana. A breakout turn in "The Dark Knight Rises" led to "Mad Max: Fury Road," for which he took over the titular hero role from Mel Gibson. But for Winters and the other members of E Company who survived the war, their stories didn't end there. Zac, Isaac, and Taylor have stayed together since 1992 and are . and visibility among teen audiences as Alex Whitman on "Roswell." "Until Lewis met and married Grace, he had never found or experienced true love," wrote Winters. Though "Friends" remains Schwimmer's most popular showcase and earned him an Emmy nomination, he's branched out into an array of projects, including features, stage, and animation. Easy is saddled with a shell-shocked officer, Lieutenant Dike (Peter O'Meara), a potential wild card in the controversial Lt. Spiers (Matthew Settle), and mounting waves of artillery fire that claim many lives. Neal McDonough was an experienced film and television actor by the time he was cast as Compton; the Syracuse University grad enjoyed character turns in "Star Trek: First Contact" and on "China Beach" and "Quantum Leap," among many other screen projects in the 1990s. Spiers was a controversial figure in Easy Company both during and after the invasion of Normandy he reportedly shot a number of German POWs on D-Day, and allegedly shot one of his own sergeants in self-defense after he reportedly risked soldiers' lives for refusing to hold a position against Axis troops. And let's remember, I did fake it, it was hard enough to fake, So I can't even imagine what that was really like. However, he also said the scenes were largely fictionalized, and that "although I was affected by the horrors of Bastogne, I do not believe I was clinically shell-shocked." The Real 'Band of Brothers' Why you should care Because Americans who learned about D-Day through Band of Brothers don't know the soldiers' entire story. Stephen E. Ambroses classic bestseller and the inspiration for the acclaimed HBO series about Easy Company, the ordinary men who became the World War IIs most extraordinary soldiers at the frontlines of the war's most critical moments. Tom Hardy gets a show-stopping entrance in Episode 9 ("Why We Fight"); his John Janovec is first seen in a compromising position with a German woman before falling in with Easy Company as a replacement recruit. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant after completing the ROTC program at UCLA, and underwent parachute training at Fort Benning before joining Easy Company. ", What The Band Of Brothers Cast Looks Like Today. He also formed a close friendship with Frank John Hughes' William "Wild Bill" Guarnere, and led the patrol to capture German soldiers in Episode 8 ("The Last Patrol"). Cookies help us deliver our Services. Every episode began with emotional interviews featuring the real soldiers being played in the 2001 HBO miniseries, their croaking voices and aging bodies in sharp contrast to the young Hollywood actors playing them. No funeral services were held for him. Frank John Hughes Vs. William 'Wild Bill' Guarnere. Janovec's time in "Brothers" is short: he dies in a vehicular accident in Episode 10 ("Points"). By Jack Doyle The Daily Dose June 6,. Ron Livingston was already an audience favorite by the time he earned a Golden Globe nomination as Lewis Nixon in "Brothers." HBO's acclaimed historical miniseries Band of Brothers follows the paratroopers of Easy Company, 506th Infantry Regiment and their leader, Richard D. Winters, from their early training days at Camp Toccoa through to the end of World War II. Then, check out 66 iconic photos of World War II. HBOs beloved World War II drama premiered 20 years ago this month. Later, in Episode 4 "Replacements," Randleman was wounded during a tank attack and took cover in a barn, where he again was forced to fight for his life against a fierce German combatant. It was hard to imagine him as the vicious, fearless killing machine depicted in the Band of Brothers. Luz is credited with keeping Easy Company morale up with his humor in dire times. Guarnere lived in obscurity in the years after the war, doing the best he could with a missing leg to work and raise a family. Spiers later took command of Easy Company during the Battle of the Bulge, and was credited with numerous acts of bravery, including two solo runs across the German-occupied Belgian town of Foy depicted in Episode 7 ("The Breaking Point"). He was then given the monumental task of transforming civilian volunteers into an elite, battle-ready unit of airborne soldiers. David Kindy is a former daily correspondent forSmithsonian. However, Settle has remained off-screen since the 2017 Indonesian action film "Valentine. His team, led by Winters, had to physically assault into the trenches and come face-to-face with the more numerous German defenders. Schwimmer branched into directing while on "Friends" and made his feature directorial debut with the Simon Pegg comedy "Run Fatboy Run" in 2007. One of the most durable soldiers in "Band of Brothers" was unquestionably Staff Sergeant Joseph Toye, played by Kirk Acevedo. If you purchase an item through these links, we receive a commission. Sobel and his wife divorced, and he eventually lost touch with his sons. Charles Bronson, who was labeled "England's most violent criminal," in 2008's "Bronson." More television work on both sides of the Atlantic soon followed, including a starring role on "Law & Order: UK" and recurring stints on "Rizzoli & Isles," "Strike Back, and "NCIS." After this look at Ronald Speirs, read about Easy Company leader Richard Winters, and then learn about heroic paratrooper Lewis Nixon. Band of brothers then and now. And I also looked nothing like him by the way, he's blonde and blue eyed and gorgeous. He knew multiple languages in real life, and this is shown when he tells Webster that the German baker didn't know about the camps in episode 9. ", As depicted in Band of Brothers, Winters' accomplishments and his rise through the ranks meant that he was faced with a choice as World War II came to an end: stay in the military, or return to his original plan of a career in business. "Wild Bill" played a very active role in organizing and documenting Easy Company's annual reunions over the years. You think about WWII, and obviously, there's a mass amount of stories about heroic platoons and heroic companies. He struck me as a kind and gentle soul. Related: THEM True Story: World War II Mustard Gas Experiments Explained. 2021 marks two decades since Band of Brothers first premiered on HBO. Soundtrack. . Military movies. The unit managed to successfully link up with American soldiers advancing from the Omaha beachhead. He doted on his wife, making her breakfast every day and a cocktail at night and warming her car for her every winter morning. Band of brothers then and now. He also impressed with dual performances as the British sibling gangsters The Krays in 2015's "Legend," and an Oscar nomination for "The Revenant. Drafted in July of 1942 after finishing his training, he landed with his fellow paratroopers in Normandy the morning of D-Day and fought his way through numerous tribulations. He also had shrapnel embedded in his back until the day he died, and suffered nerve damage that left him with limited use of his right hand. He currently stars opposite Anna Friel in the detective series "Marcella," which airs internationally on Netflix. Band of Brothers is important because it shows ordinary people doing extraordinary things, Crean says. So I would call Donald when I got each script just to make sure that everything was accurate. Scott Grimes and Donald Malarkey at the Band of Brothers Premiere. Just under six hundred officers and men had jumped into Normandy. "I still regard Lewis Nixon as the best combat officer who I had the opportunity to work with under fire," Winters wrote in Beyond Band of Brothers. The miniseries was created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, and was based on the book of the same name by Stephen A. Ambrose, who interviewed the real veterans of Easy Company extensively to learn about their experiences in the war. You got the idea he was hardening us for tougher times to come.. it is simply hell, he explained: I cant explain it. . But, because many of the soldiers aren't as well-known visually, it's interesting to see what the band of brothers look like in real life. How much did you personally know before landing the role? Band of Brothers is based on a true story, though much of that story has changed. Simpson: American Crime Story" in 2016. James Madio, who costarred in the ten-part miniseries as T-4 Frank Perconte, says that Band of Brothers changed him and all those who watched it. He is survived by his twodaughters and four grandchildren. And he quickly gained a reputation as one of the strictest officers in the entire U.S. Army. Starting in 1946, Sergeant Mike Ranney, Sergeant Bob Rader, and Corporal Walter Gordon began the tradition of annual Easy Company reunions. Arguably one of the toughest characters on "Band of Brothers," Sergeant Denver "Bull" Randleman single-handedly took on German soldiers on two occasions and won both times. Hanks and Spielberg, who had filmed the equally realistic, albeit fictionalized, Saving Private Ryan three years prior, spared no expense in making the miniseries as accurate as possible. Not being satisfied merely with serving, however, he chose to join what was then a never-before cutting edge concept: airborne infantry, i.e., jumping out of a perfectly good airplane, behind enemy lines. He was very private, and I really loved him for that. I can imagine some of the feelings you may have felt, but tell me as an actor, what did that mean to you? Between these projects, Fassbender gave memorable turns in films like "12 Years a Slave" and "Steve Jobs," which both netted him Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, and worked with such acclaimed filmmakers as David Cronenberg ("A Dangerous Method"), Steven Soderbergh ("Haywire"), and Terrence Malick ("Song to Song"). I felt bad over it, because he had the flu at the time and didn't want to take any credit for something other men did. We are at war and we dont even know who with yet., Just like the real Band of Brothers, we were in a war we didnt ask for, says Crean, who lost two friends at the Pentagon on 9/11 and now serves as vice president of education and access at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. I mean think about it. Acevedo reunited with "Brothers" alum Donnie Wahlberg in a recurring role on "Blue Bloods," and enjoyed regular turns on "12 Monkeys" and "Arrow" (as Ricardo Diaz/The Dragon). Hanks was still relatively new to acting when he played Lt. Jones in "Brothers." Episode 9 of "Band of Brothers" ("Why We Fight") depicts Perconte's discovery (with Michael Cudlitz's "Bull" Randleman) of the Kaufering concentration camp in Landsberg, Germany, which he assisted in liberating with Easy Company. The series reaped numerous accolades, including six Emmys (out of 20 nominations), a Golden Globe, and a Peabody Award, and generated a follow-up miniseries, "ThePacific," about the Allied war effort against Japan, in 2010. His men concluded their trek on May 5, with Nazi Germany capitulating two days later. Between these projects, he appeared in numerous high-profile features, including Steven Spielberg's "Minority Report," "Walking Tall," Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers," and "Captain America: The First Avenger" as Dum Dum Dugan, a role he reprised on "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," "Agent Carter," and "What If? It may be impossible to say. It illustrated their demons, their personalities, and I only felt the loss of each character that much more because of it. Under the command of legendary Army officer Richard Winters, Easy Company went on to participate in the liberation of France, the attempted liberation of Holland in the botched Operation Market Garden, the defense of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, the liberation of concentration camps, and the capture of the Eagles NestHitlers hideaway in the Bavarian Alps. Fassbender reprised Magneto in four films, including "X-Men: Dark Phoenix," while also creating another well-received science fictional character: the scheming android David in Ridley Scott's "Prometheus" and "Alien: Covenant." Easy Company saw action at the forefront of the Allied move across Europe, including Operation Overlord, Operation Market Garden and perhaps the most well-known, the Battle of the Bulge. HBODavid Schwimmer (left) memorably portrayed Herbert Sobel in the 2001 Emmy-winning miniseries Band of Brothers. When Steven Spielberg's epic HBO miniseries Band of Brothers first hit our screens 20 years ago, apart from a supporting role filled by David ' Ross Geller ' Schwimmer, the WWII series' cast was comprised almost entirely of unknowns and promising young actors just starting out their careers. I believe, he said, that the men understand what my fathers function was and how he operated., Indeed, many of the soldiers who had once hated serving under Herbert Sobel later paid tribute to him. THEM True Story: World War II Mustard Gas Experiments Explained, 1923 Season 2 Will Bring Spencer Home Quickly, Says Helen Mirren, Abby's Mother Reveal In Night Court Resolves The Harry/Christine Romance, It's True, Matt Smith's Post-Doctor Who Success Breaks A 60-Year Trend. A quick reconnaissance revealed that there were four 105mm howitzers firing on the beach from concealed positions near a large French estate called Brecourt Manor. But it's not something that you can prepare mentally for, because when we got there, did our boot camp, and it was the dreariest and rainiest year in England's history, and that helped us to get into the depression of it all. "He never showed fear, and during the toughest times he could always think clearly and quickly." Subsequent acting roles included turns in "Kick-Ass," "Jersey Boys," and guest roles on "Bones," "Castle," and the upcoming "The Offer" miniseries with Colin Hanks and KirkAcevedo. Early roles included turns in the cult musical "Bugsy Malone" and in David Lynch's "The Elephant Man"; Fletcher played the lead in the romance "The Rachel Papers" and later appeared in "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels," "Layer Cake" (with Tom Hardy), and "Kick-Ass.". Based on my visit in 2006, I believe it. Episode eight, when he's become weathered, and is seen a lot more, shows the differences in him. A powerful performance as an Irish Republican Army member who underwent a hunger strike in "Hunger" led to work in high-profile projects on both sides of the Atlantic, including Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" and "X-Men: First Class," as Erik Lensher/Magneto. But as the years went on, Herbert Sobel began to have a difficult relationship with his second son, Michael Sobel. Beginning in 1990, Ambrose compiled stories from the surviving veterans of Easy Company about their experiences in the war and put together a cohesive version of events based on these different accounts. Critical praise for his performance as a police officer on "Southland" put Cudlitz in the spotlight, and his run as Abraham Ford on "The Walking Dead" made him a fan favorite. Those veterans of Easy Company who survived the war went on to record their experiences in a number of memoirs and historical accounts, especially after theBand of Brothers book and miniseries spurred mass public interest in the 101st Airborne and E Company. Words simply escaped me as I traversed the area from every conceivable direction. Facebook/Marcus Brotherton AuthorIn private, Herbert Sobel was a devoted family man and a tireless worker. Welcome to Church of the Cross Worship. He died of malnutrition at the age of 75 in 1987. Guarnere married his sweetheart, Frances, after returning from Europe, and together they had two sons. Please select the Tab Content in the Widget Settings. Before the Jonas Brothers, these three mop-headed siblings stole the hearts of every '90s preteen girl in the country. The couple travelled extensively around the world, but Nixon and Winters always kept in touch. Of this large cast, many were unknown actors at the time, but . While "Band of Brothers" is indeed based on the exploits of the real life "Easy" Company, much of . Sobel wanted Easy Company to train harder than other companies.
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