Synopsis:
The documentary was primarily filmed during the annual reunion for the 109th Infantry Regiment Veterans, of the 28th Division, of WWII. The reunion was held in Portland, Oregon, September 10-14th, 2003. The filmmaker who also lives in Oregon was the hostess of their reunion.

She recorded over 17 hours of footage at this event. For some, this may be their last reunion, as most of the men and their wives are well into their 80’s. It may also be the last chance to record their wisdom and re-live their stories. Spending time with the Veterans and their wives at their Reunion will allow us to learn what it was like to have a husband, fiancée, boyfriend or classmate fighting overseas? What was life like back at home and how did it change when their soldier returned? To give more depth to their stories the documentary includes European footage that was filmed in 2003 and 2004 at the actually places where the men fought.

The European footage includes actual battlefields sites in the Huertgen Forest in Germany, as well as the village of Diekirch, Luxembourg, where the Regiment was stationed during the “Battle of the Bulge”, December 1944. During the filmmaker’s visit three ladies were interviewed that were young women when their village was occupied by the Germans and then later saved by the Veterans of the 109th. The final piece of European footage includes the actual site of the execution of Private Eddie Slovik of the 109th. Many have forgotten about this tragic event during the war. The filmmaker obtained records from the Eisenhower and Carter Libraries to uncover the facts of his trial and execution.

The film is filled with personal photos from the Veterans, as well as very rare color footage shot by one of the Veterans with a camera he snuck into combat. This 8mm footage depicts their lives from Normandy, France to the Huertgen Forest and very exciting footage shot during their famous parade in Paris, August 29th, 1944. This private collection has never been seen on television or in the theatres. In addition to their personal collections, their stories are told with archival films and photos from the National Archives, Library of Congress and from the Military Archives at the War College of Pennsylvania. The filmmaker, with her very tight budget, strived to find as many photos and film that were available of the 109th or their Division. Her most amazing finds are featured extensively in the interview segments that cover the battles of Normandy and the Huertgen Forest. Most Americans don’t know that the Huertgen Forest battle was the worst defeat in U.S. Military history. It was a battle that the U.S. Army wanted to forget, but the film is a chance for the Veterans that survived this, to finally be heard and to be recognized for their sacrifices made, in what became known as the “Death Factory in the Green Hell”.

The film is wonderful opportunity for audiences to experience WWII at a much more personal level. It is a chance to see WWII in a new dimension, one that isn’t written in the history books, but in the hearts of these American Heroes.

Crew:
Oregon DP and Asst. Editor - Ralph Davis
European DP, Archival Photos and Film DP, Editor, Producer, Writer, Director, Interviewer, and Narrator - Linda Rae
Interviewer and Narrator - Jordan Stockton
Voice Over Narrator - Beate Orgas
Music - Performed by the 28th Division Infantry Band
1944 Color 8mm footage - Dick Leach