Chaplain-turned-filmmaker's documentary captures the essence of friendships under fire
Military chaplains (and friends) come in all shapes and sizes.
For Justin David Roberts, his shape took the form of a journalist (think Clark Kent or Peter Parker): pencil, pen, paper and camera. And his size, only one (think Tom Hanks): big screen.
But for his comrades in Kentucky's 101 Airborne Division’s 2nd 327th Infantry Battalion stationed in Afghanistan, none of this mattered. Shape? Size? Who cares? What the young battle-wounded "No Slack" soldiers needed most was the grace of God to survive bullets and bombs raining down from the Taliban on the tops of mountains.
They also need a mortal, nonjudgmental friend.
"I knew that I wanted to film and take photos, capture the moments, because I also knew that, you know, for some of our guys, this would be their last moments," Roberts said. "So ("No Greater Love") is a way to maintain their legacy, make sure that people remembered their sacrifice."
Roberts said as a kid he was always in love with media, making movies, writing. By the time he was 15, he also felt the call to go into ministry.
"But I also knew I wanted to go into the military," the filmmaker said. "And because my grandfather served in three wars, it was just kind of that family tradition. So when I found out that I could put the two together (media and ministry), then that became the target to become a chaplain."
Roberts' documentary not only touches upon the idea that love heals, but also journeys to the tough realities of post traumatic stress disorders, suicides, unemployment and housing problems for war veterans.
The film showing was hosted by Florida State University-Panama City on Sept. 14, sponsored by Teatro de las Artes' Director Series.
For more information about Justin David Roberts' "No Greater Love," go to https://nogreaterlovemovie.com. And for more information about Teatro de las Artes' next event, email Alfie Martin at [email protected], or visit facebook.com/teatrodelasartes.
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Former Army chaplain documents the perils of war, joys of friendships
