Posted on Tue, Jan. 03, 2006Film series about veterans captures 'living textbooks'
BY BOB CURTRIGHT
The Wichita Eagle
Three years ago, Colorado filmmaker Larry Cappetto chatted with some World War II veterans for a short tribute about the "greatest generation."
But what started as a simple "thank you" has burgeoned into what Cappetto now calls his life's work.
"Talking with them is like touching history," says Cappetto, who has already produced three one-hour documentaries under the umbrella title "Lest They Be Forgotten."
Cappetto screened those films in Wichita last fall and discovered a keen interest to include Wichita veterans in future films.
That's why Cappetto will be back Monday.
He's asking local veterans or family members to contact him by phone or e-mail to set up preliminary interviews.
Finalists will be filmed in 45-minute interviews and edited into upcoming chapters, which he says could eventually stretch to 12 films.
"I want to give the veterans the respect they are due. I want them to tell their stories in their own words. They are living textbooks that kids can learn from," Cappetto said.
Of the estimated 16 million soldiers who came back from World War II, about 3 million are still alive, most in their 80s.
"My race is against time," Cappetto said. About 1,500 of those veterans die every day, he said. That means he has about six years left.
In Wichita, World War II veterans probably number between 325 and 350, says Allan "Sully" Sullivan of Air Capital Post 401 of the American Legion.
"We have about 250 World War II veterans in our post, which is the largest in Wichita," Sullivan said. "Until a few years ago, they were always the largest group. But we're losing about 30 a year."
Randy Myers, who is with Downing Lahey Mortuary, has begun a list of local veterans from his own contacts for the film project.
Downing Lahey, which sponsored Cappetto's films at the Orpheum Theatre for Veteran's Day in November, is also underwriting the filmmaker's upcoming visit.
Myers said Downing Lahey became involved because Cappetto's films have become a pet project of Selected Independent Funeral Homes, a national group his company is affiliated with.
Cappetto, who completes about one film a year, raises most of his funds by selling DVDs of his films online.
"It was never meant to be a commercial venture," he said. "I'm not making a film for myself. I feel like I'm a delivery boy. It's their movie. I'm just giving them a national platform."
Cappetto, 48, is not a veteran.
"But after interviewing more than 200 veterans, I feel a camaraderie with them. It's ironic. I've never been in the military, and yet this seems to be my duty."
Cappetto's father was in the Korean War. He died at 37, when the filmmaker was only 10 years old. Cappetto regrets that he never had a chance to ask his father about his experiences.
One of Cappetto's uncles served with Gen. George Patton in World War II.
"My uncle was typical of veterans of that period. He never wanted to talk about it with family. He never thought of himself as a hero, just as somebody doing his duty."
That's one reason this project feels so personal to Cappetto.
"I provide a sort of therapeutic environment for them to open up. Fully 75 percent of the things they tell me they've never told anyone before -- not even their wives. They finally want to get it off their chests."
For 20 years, Cappetto was a video producer who churned out TV commercials, music videos, industrial films and safety films.
"Since I've started this project, I feel I've finally found my niche. I need to do this thing."
So far, he's completed "Omaha Beach: D-Day," released on Veteran's Day 2003; "Other Stories from D-Day and Omaha Beach," released in 2004; and "The Battle of Iwo Jima," released this past May.
The fourth volume, which completes stories of Iwo Jima, will be out for Memorial Day.
"The philosophy of these films is that 'freedom is not free,' " Cappetto said. "When I ask a veteran what freedom means to him, that's when the tears come."
Cappetto has been to France four times to film at Omaha Beach. He plans to be on Iwo Jima this summer.
Cappetto said that when one of "his" veterans dies, he feels the loss.
"I've come into their lives during the last chapter of their lives, but we've become friends. We're like a big family," he said.
"I've lost probably 12 who are in my films. It hurts, but their stories will live on."
HOW TO
BE PART OF SERIES
Colorado filmmaker Larry Cappetto will be in Wichita later this month to film local veterans for his documentary series.
• Cappetto is looking for veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam and will be taking names of Gulf War veterans for future films.
• The filmmaker is looking for veterans of Iwo Jima (WWII); Pork Chop Hill and Chosin Reservoir (Korea); and la Drang (Vietnam) but wants to hear from all older veterans.
• After preliminary interviews, finalists will be taped for 45 minutes each at Downing Lahey Mortuary, which is helping Cappetto with his project.
• Contact Cappetto before Monday at (970) 254-9262 or larry@veteranshistory.org.
• For further information, check www.veteranshistory.org.
Reach Bob Curtright at 268-6394 or bcurtright@wichitaeagle.com.
