A NEW World War II Documentary recently reviewed in the New York Times. The Times Herald calls it "a superb, well-researched 90-minute tribute to the veterans." The 5-Part independent project, filmed in a style similar to Ken Burns, follows the real-life story of a Philadelphia teenager who left his large Irish family to join the famous 101st Airborne Division during WWII. In their own voices, these aging troopers describe their personal war, one place and one incident at a time, in the largest conflict in human history. In humble narrtives they recount jump training at Fort Benning; brief romances in England and a dangerous night jump into Normandy. The lone survivor of C-47 Plane #5, tells how his "lucky $20 bill" was signed by everyone before taking off to an unknown fate. Their second combat jump into Holland preceded 72 days along Hell's Highway behind German lines. These troopers returned home with Purple Hearts and traumatic memories that still resonate as if they happened yesterday. Sisters and brothers describe one trooper's teenage years before their world was turned upside down after December 7th 1941. The story ends in the small town of Bastogne, Belgium, soon to become a household word after the Christmas of 1944. Lives of a young Belgian boy and a young paratrooper not much older, are forever changed and reunited with a Prayer Card from a bombed church. A year in the making, this independent documentary uses interviews, vintage wartime Philadelphia home movies, personal photo collections, captured German film and archives war film. The band of brothers were not the only ones with an epic struggle. These veterans of America's famous Parachute Infantry Regiments share their most vivid memories for the first and probably last time. Directed and edited by independent filmmaker and Vietnam Veteran Guy Anhorn, the project features original music, A Paratroopers Theme by Zak Rosa and My Brothers & Me by Chris Winward. See Part 2 on YOUTUBE.
