WWII vets attend special showing of Emmy Award winning war documentary

  • Published
  • By Capt. Matthew Chism
  • USAF Expeditionary Center Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST N.J. --  World War II veterans Lt. Col. (Ret.) Bob Hansen and John Schaffner, visited the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center for a preview of "Searching for Augusta, The Forgotten Angel of Bastogne" on Oct. 20 here.

The Emmy Award winning documentary, directed by Michael Edwards, follows author and historian Martin King on his journey to find Augusta Chiwy, a Belgian Nurse who volunteered to work for Allied Forces during the Battle of the Bulge in the city of Bastogne. King located Chiwy after years of perseverance and was instrumental in helping her receive the U.S. Army's Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service as well as other recognition.

Both Edwards and King attended the showing and expressed their passion for showcasing the service and sacrifice of veterans. Edwards said he has been approached to direct many films, but couldn't turn this one down "because you just can't walk away from a story as compelling as this."

King said his motivation to search for Augusta Chiwy and thereafter to get her recognized was due to his passion for history and veterans. "My primal focus is veteran awareness," said King. "For me they're national treasures."

(Video courtesy U.S. Embassy in Brussels, Belgium)

Hansen, a pilot in the Army Air Core during WWII, and Schaffner, an infantryman with the 106th Infantry Division during the same conflict, discussed their experiences in the military before the documentary was played for the audience of servicemembers and civilians from around the base. Both humbly characterized their service as "normal" and "not heroic," but the circumstances of their situation and the implications we recognize today support them as living heroes.

Greg Hannon, chief of the US Air Force Expeditionary Operations School Registrar Division and organizer of the event, said symposiums like this are valuable to current military and civilian members because it showcases the good we are capable of accomplishing in even the worst of situations.

"War can bring out the worst of humanity, but it can also bring out the best - valor, bravery, sacrifice, selflessness, and courage," said Hannon. "We don't honor the carnage, we honor the human spirit that endures through such hellish times and events as these."

The Battle of the Bulge is regarded as one of the greatest battles in history and this December marks its 71st Anniversary. This WWII battle spanned 75 miles, involved more than 800,000 soldiers and lasted 41 days in Northwestern Europe during the peak of winter with near arctic conditions.

Hannon said that hearing from veterans holds a special place in his heart because "serving one's country comes at a price, and I am convinced that every veteran has a story to tell."

Edwards and King will be traveling to Ft. Campbell, Ky. to provide another screening to the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division. The unit played a major role in WWII including the Battle of the Bulge, which took place in Bastogne, Belgium, the same city where Augusta Chiwy volunteered and risked her own safety to save the lives of others.