thedrifter
09-02-06, 07:22 AM
MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII(Sept. 1, 2006) -- “I’ve never seen a film that tells this kind of story,” said Lee Hirsch, producer and director, as he prepared to shoot another segment of footage for a History Channel documentary. “His act of selflessness, the ultimate sacrifice… This is truly a Marines’ story.”
As soon-to-be “Devil Dogs” make their way through boot camp, they are told countless stories of Marines of times past who have made the greatest sacrifice and dedicated themselves to their fellow Americans. They are read accounts of individuals who gave the ultimate sacrifice in order to save lives and preserve the freedoms of others.
But, according to Hirsch, Sgt. Rafael Peralta’s tale of heroism and courage began much earlier than the day he saved his fellow Marines by sacrificing his own life.
“The ultimate act of selflessness he performed, after joining the Marine Corps as soon as he received his green card, is incredible,” began Hirsch, a New York City native. “From the moment he gained his citizenship, he was so patriotic – so committed as an immigrant. It is truly a story that needs to be told.”
More that two years ago, Peralta and his unit, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, left Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay to serve their call to duty as one of first Marine units involved in the Battle of Fallujah, Iraq.
While clearing houses, a routine course of action for Marines deployed to Iraq, something unexpected occurred that involved Peralta and several other Marines of Alpha Company, 1/3. Insurgents ambushed the Marines and a firefight ensued shortly after the Marines entered one of the houses. Amidst the chaos, Peralta was wounded and lay near the center of the room. As fellow Marines tried to regain their position, a grenade rolled into the room. Peralta grabbed it and tucked it underneath his body in order to absorb the blast and give the rest of his Marines a chance to escape the house alive.
Peralta lost his life that day, but the rest of the Marines involved in the ambush walked away with minimal injuries.
Although the account tells a dynamic tale of ultimate sacrifice and loyalty, according to Hirsch, Peralta’s story begins much earlier than that.
And in order to tell the entire story, Hirsch and his crew filmed in multiple areas and filmed numerous individuals to ensure Peralta’s sacrifice and dedication was remembered the way his family and friends would have wanted it to be.
“It was interesting,” said Hirsch, “we were actually filming for a documentary on the impact of Latinos in American history when we came across the story of Rafael. We knew right away it was a story that had a far greater impact than we had yet come across.”
Hirsch and his crew first met Peralta’s family at Peralta’s gravesite in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, on the one-year anniversary of his death, Nov. 15, 2005.
“As soon as we met the family, we knew there was something about his story and the people it impacted that would be worth telling,” said Hirsch.
Once they collected details about his life and death, the crew began filming in places like Tijuana where Peralta spent much of his childhood. They also spent time in California and Hawaii, in order to get a better perspective of the life he led when Peralta came to the United States.
They also interviewed a plethora of individuals who knew Peralta.
“We interviewed all of his family,” said Sarah Foudy, associate producer, “as well as a lot of his friends and many of the Marines we could find who were there or directly involved in the incident when he died.”
“This is a documentary, a story of truth, honor and love,” said Hirsch. “I believe in order to connect to his death you must first connect to his life, and that is what we are trying to accomplish with this production.”
The completed film will be an hour-long program that not only highlights a Marine’s individual courage and devotion from other Marines perspectives, explained Hirsch, but also the life he led outside of the Corps, as told by those who loved him and knew him best.
It isn’t just a sad story about something tragic that happened to someone, said Hirsch. It is a true account about life and death, friends and family, coping and rejoicing and moving on while remembering the ways one man shaped the lives of so many others.
According to Hirsch, the projected timeframe for the production to air on the History Channel is between the months of March and June 2007.
“This is an amazing story of honor, courage and love,” said Hirsch. “We feel it is important that we tell this story in a way that portrays the true individual behind such a selfless, heroic and patriotic man.
Ellie
As soon-to-be “Devil Dogs” make their way through boot camp, they are told countless stories of Marines of times past who have made the greatest sacrifice and dedicated themselves to their fellow Americans. They are read accounts of individuals who gave the ultimate sacrifice in order to save lives and preserve the freedoms of others.
But, according to Hirsch, Sgt. Rafael Peralta’s tale of heroism and courage began much earlier than the day he saved his fellow Marines by sacrificing his own life.
“The ultimate act of selflessness he performed, after joining the Marine Corps as soon as he received his green card, is incredible,” began Hirsch, a New York City native. “From the moment he gained his citizenship, he was so patriotic – so committed as an immigrant. It is truly a story that needs to be told.”
More that two years ago, Peralta and his unit, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, left Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay to serve their call to duty as one of first Marine units involved in the Battle of Fallujah, Iraq.
While clearing houses, a routine course of action for Marines deployed to Iraq, something unexpected occurred that involved Peralta and several other Marines of Alpha Company, 1/3. Insurgents ambushed the Marines and a firefight ensued shortly after the Marines entered one of the houses. Amidst the chaos, Peralta was wounded and lay near the center of the room. As fellow Marines tried to regain their position, a grenade rolled into the room. Peralta grabbed it and tucked it underneath his body in order to absorb the blast and give the rest of his Marines a chance to escape the house alive.
Peralta lost his life that day, but the rest of the Marines involved in the ambush walked away with minimal injuries.
Although the account tells a dynamic tale of ultimate sacrifice and loyalty, according to Hirsch, Peralta’s story begins much earlier than that.
And in order to tell the entire story, Hirsch and his crew filmed in multiple areas and filmed numerous individuals to ensure Peralta’s sacrifice and dedication was remembered the way his family and friends would have wanted it to be.
“It was interesting,” said Hirsch, “we were actually filming for a documentary on the impact of Latinos in American history when we came across the story of Rafael. We knew right away it was a story that had a far greater impact than we had yet come across.”
Hirsch and his crew first met Peralta’s family at Peralta’s gravesite in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, on the one-year anniversary of his death, Nov. 15, 2005.
“As soon as we met the family, we knew there was something about his story and the people it impacted that would be worth telling,” said Hirsch.
Once they collected details about his life and death, the crew began filming in places like Tijuana where Peralta spent much of his childhood. They also spent time in California and Hawaii, in order to get a better perspective of the life he led when Peralta came to the United States.
They also interviewed a plethora of individuals who knew Peralta.
“We interviewed all of his family,” said Sarah Foudy, associate producer, “as well as a lot of his friends and many of the Marines we could find who were there or directly involved in the incident when he died.”
“This is a documentary, a story of truth, honor and love,” said Hirsch. “I believe in order to connect to his death you must first connect to his life, and that is what we are trying to accomplish with this production.”
The completed film will be an hour-long program that not only highlights a Marine’s individual courage and devotion from other Marines perspectives, explained Hirsch, but also the life he led outside of the Corps, as told by those who loved him and knew him best.
It isn’t just a sad story about something tragic that happened to someone, said Hirsch. It is a true account about life and death, friends and family, coping and rejoicing and moving on while remembering the ways one man shaped the lives of so many others.
According to Hirsch, the projected timeframe for the production to air on the History Channel is between the months of March and June 2007.
“This is an amazing story of honor, courage and love,” said Hirsch. “We feel it is important that we tell this story in a way that portrays the true individual behind such a selfless, heroic and patriotic man.
Ellie