Scout News In San Diego California - Film on legendary Marine to be screened at local film festival

The public has not heard the story of Col. Gregory “Pappy” Boyington since the television series “Baa Baa Black Sheep,” based on the story of Boyington and the Marine Corps Squadron he commanded during World War II, was on air in the 1970s.
Boyington’s story has then since faded into the pages of Marine Corps history books. Documentary filmmaker and former Marine Kevin Gonzalez decided to change that.
His film, Pappy Boyington Field, takes on the legendary Marine’s story from a different angle. Instead of repeating the story of Boyington’s heroics as an ACE fighter pilot in the Second World War, which earned him a Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor for his actions, Gonzalez sought to tell the story of a different kind of battle involving Boyington's name that raged on a domestic front.
The documentary is set in the small town of Coeur d'Alene, Ind . where Boyington and Gonzalez

were both born. Gonzalez meticulously documented the grassroots campaign led by Marine Corps veterans and community leaders as they battled against bureaucracy to add Boyington’s name to the small town's local airport.
Gonzalez claims the reason he started to make this film was because he didn't see the harm in renaming the airport after a local icon.
“I couldn’t understand why there was a controversy about adding a commemorative name of a local born hero to our airport,” said Gonzalez. “How many communities can say that a Medal of Honor recipient was born in their town?”
The controversy over adding Boyington’s name to the airport was mainly due to the belief by some that Boyington had some personal flaws involving alcohol and women.
“The reason that it was hard to rename the airport was because there are so many people in this world that are so bigoted and narrow minded,” believes Zeke Ortiz, a former Marine and member of the Black Sheep Squadron. “These people forget that the man was a hero in time of a great war.”
Gonzalez believes that Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton would enjoy seeing this film.
“The Marine Corps has a rich history and we are very proud of it. I hope this story of the recent campaign to honor a legendary Marine will resonate with Marines serving today.”
The film is scheduled to screen tomorrow at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 11:30 a.m. at the Tower Plaza in Temecula as part of the Temecula Valley International Film Festival. For more information on the festival or to purchase tickets visit www.tviff.com.
To learn more about the film and to view the trailer, visit www. pappyboyingtonfield.com.