Photo of the 109th marching in the Paris liberation parade, August 29, 1944
LA CROIX DE GUERRE/THE CROSS OF WAR is an authentic and moving account of courage and faith on the battlefield. It is an epic journey that follows in the foot-steps of the acclaimed "Band of Brothers" mini-series, but stands on its own as it digs deep into the Infantryman's psyche of surviving the WWII battlefields of Europe. The four-part, eight hour mini-series is the true account of the fate of the frontline soldiers of the 109th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Division.
Their journey brings forth memorable and inspiring real-life characters as they bear the harsh reality of frontline combat and their own cross of war. Their individual stories of grit and determination are revealed by their unconventional and unwavering Catholic Chaplain as he is about to face the difficult task of guiding a soldier that he never knew to his execution. An execution like none other in the European Theater, and so far removed from the brave soldiers that Father Cummings served.
Their cigar smoking, tobacco chewing, defiant Priest embraces their fate as his own. He was their hero and they were his. American history has all but forgotten Father Cummings' heroes and the soldier who ironically found his courage facing a firing squad, rather than the enemy.
The 109th's captivating story follows the soldiers that Father Cummings knew as they each pursue their own form of courage and redemption on the battlefield. Many were like him; sons of Pennsylvania, citizen soldiers, rich in their Celtic heritage and bound by their faith. Most will not survive. Every rank of soldier from Colonel to Private will be tested as they become their brother's keeper and endure the tragedy and trauma of war. They and the unlucky replacements that will join them will suffer tremendous losses as they fight in what would become America's most significant and historic battles.
Father Cummings unravels their story in the First Episode "Baptism of Fire," as he spends a long night awaiting the arrival of Private Eddie Slovik for his execution near Colmar, France on January 31, 1945. His Regiment's historic journey begins in England just days before the D-Day invasion, a fate that luckily would not be theirs. By mid July they hit Omaha Beach and face their baptism of fire and later the wrath of a fanatical General during the August break-out from Normandy.
Episode Two "Salvation and Damnation," shares the joy of their battlefield achievements as they march in the famous August 29th liberation parade in Paris. Their celebration will be short lived as they move quickly beyond Paris to be the first to cross into Germany in September, at Purple Heart Hill. Their difficult fight against the deadly German pillboxes will push two of their senior commanders over the edge. By late October they will drive beyond the Siegfried Line further into Germany and begin their lengthy battle in the "Death Factory" of the Huertgen Forest.
Episode Three "Out of the Bowels of Hell," continues with the horror and madness of the U.S. Army's most costly and censored battle. The back to back episodes are an unparalleled realistic look into the nightmare of the Huertgen Forest. Remnants of the 109th will drag their battered bodies out of the "Green Hell" of the Huertgen to lick their wounds in what was called a "rest area" in Luxembourg. To the survivors it was heaven on earth.
Episode Four "The Sword of Sacrifice," blasts its way into the dawn of December 16th, as the 109th and the town of Diekirch, Luxembourg will be sacrificed by the U.S. Army as the "Battle of the Bulge" begins. They will be outnumbered 3 to 1, but they won't give up. They "hold at all cost," and trade their blood to give the Allied forces the critical time needed to rescue the 101st Airborne in Bastogne and to push the Germans back. After several months of unforgiving frontline combat duty they reach the "Colmar Pocket" in late January 1945 with the lucky few that began the journey and the colorful Texans that joined them along the way. More blood will be shed and history will be made, but for the 109th it would not recall their triumphant battle for Colmar where they earned the distinctive French "Croix de Guerre with Palm." This battle and their many sacrifices for freedom would long be overshadowed by the execution of a soldier who was not truly one of them.
LA CROIX DE GUERRE/THE CROSS OF WAR reveals the many faces of courage, but ultimately it reveals the truth about war and honors those that endured it.
The Screenplay and Synopsis are registered with the WGAW. Contact: lindarae@thecrossofwar.com.