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Reserve Marines Produce Chosin Documentary
(February 28, 2010) |
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| | NEW YORK (2/23/2010) -- — Reserve Marines have produced “Chosin,” a documentary chronicling
an epic battle of the Korean War, often called the Forgotten War. |
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| 2/6/2008 - Marine crew members of "Chosin," a documentary about the epic battle of the Chosin Reservoir in the words of those whose participated. From left, Sgt. David Childers, Capt. Brian Iglesias, director and co-producer and former Capt. Anton Sattler, co-producer. |
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Marine Captains Brian P. Iglesias and Anton Sattler traveled to 27 cities across
the United States in 2009 interviewing 185 survivors of the Chosin Reservoir
Campaign. From November 27 to December 14, 1950, 15,000 U.N. troops, primarily
U.S. Marines, fought 78 miles from the Chosin Reservoir to the port of Hungman
against Chinese forces estimated at 120,000. The combat was brutal. The
numerically inferior American forces battled over mountainous terrain in
sub-arctic conditions often surrounded by the Chinese while at the same time
escorting approximately 91,000 Korean refugees to safety. For their actions,
participants received 14 Medals of Honor and 70 Navy Crosses, the nation's
highest and second-highest combat decorations, more than were awarded for the
Iwo Jima campaign.
Iglesias, commanding officer, Headquarters and Service Company, 6th Motor
Transport Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, directed and co-produced the
film with Sattler. Iglesias and Sattler are infantry officers who each served
two combat tours in Iraq.
While serving as junior officers, both were inspired by "This Kind of War by" T.
R. Fehrenbach. “It was not until after reading this book and experiencing war
firsthand, that I fully understood the magnitude of the events in Korea,” said
Iglesias. |
2/6/2008 - Former Cpl. Daniel Sharkey displays photos taken of himself as a young Marine. Sharkey participated in the Chosin Reservoir campaign as an Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Company representative attached to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, and was among the first to be interviewed for the documentary, "Chosin". |
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He looked for films about the Korean War. The only ones he could find were all
made in the 1950's. A filmmaker in his civilian job, he met Sattler while
interviewing. The two decorated combat veterans decided to pool resources to
produce a documentary on one of the most decorated battles in U.S. history, but
acknowledged by few outside of the Marine Corps. Those who fought at the Chosin
Reservoir set the standard for future generations of Marines said Sattler.
“It was clear to me that before these men pass away, I needed to exhaust every
effort to capture their story and share it with the world,” said Iglesias. “Only
those men who were isolated in the frozen mountains of North Korea, relentlessly
attacked by hordes of enemy soldiers can tell this story.”
Time was against Iglesias and Sattler; the youngest Chosin veteran they spoke
with was 77 years old. One of those interviewed, Glenn Beckum, who served with
1st Motor Transport Battalion during the Chosin campaign, died in November 2009.
Normally reluctant to discuss their wartime experiences, Chosin veterans and
their interviewers bonded by the ties shared having undergone the crucible of
combat said Sattler.
One hour and twenty minutes in length, “Chosin” combines interview footage with
photos and archival video. Many of those interviewed provided personal photos
and video, most of which have been unseen for almost 60 years, Iglesias said.
The documentary is currently in the postproduction phase. Iglesias and Sattler
are planning to show “Chosin” at independent film festivals, with a release date
in time for the 60th Anniversary of the battle. |
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Article and photos by USMC GSgt. Christopher J. Randazzo
New York City Public Affairs
Copyright 2010
Reprinted from
Marine Corps News
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