“Fighting Spirit: A War Chaplain’s Journey” new documentary Tells America’s stories war chaplains. The director told Fox News Digital that the film, released Nov. 8, is the culmination of many years of emotional work.

“It’s been a four-year journey for me,” Rich Hull said in a phone interview from Los Angeles.

The director said he “didn’t know anything about the movie” before he started working on it. military combat chaplains” – but he soon found himself fascinated by their stories of courage and heroism.

FAITH LEADER WANTS CHRISTIANS TO ‘LOVE HIS THIN BOOKS’: SAYS ‘TRUE AND RELIABLE’

“These are people who go to war wearing uniforms but not carrying weapons,” he said. “And I said, ‘Who’s doing this?’ “I thought, ‘Honestly, this is a job you do for much more than just a paycheck.’

The film is narrated by its assistant director. former US Army Pastor Justin Roberts, who had a hard time returning to civilian life after serving in Afghanistan.

The director of the new documentary “Fighting Spirit”, which tells the stories of chaplains, said war chaplains were “people who went to war wearing uniforms but did not carry weapons.” (Paulist Productions)

During the film, Roberts travels to Wichita, Kansas, for the funeral of Army chaplain Emil Kapaun, who died in a prisoner of war camp in North Korea.

Kapaun, one catholic priestHe received the Medal of Honor in 2013.

Originally, Kapaun’s story was not going to be a major part of the film, which highlights the history of the Chaplain Corps and tells the stories of some of the 419 chaplains who died while serving their country. However, in 2021, Kapaun’s remains were finally identified and returned to his hometown of Kansas for a proper burial, marking a twist in the film.

CHILDREN EDUCATION AT HOME, MEDAL OF HONOR FR. EMIL KAPAUN AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

“(Roberts and I) weren’t exactly sure how they would fit into our business, but we thought it might,” Hull said. “So we sent Justin to the funeral with a camera crew, and Justin thought no one would come and he would be the only one.”

Apparently this was not the case.

Emil Kapaun is seen celebrating mass using the hood of his Jeep as an altar while his assistant Patrick J. Schuler kneels in prayer in Korea on October 7, 1950. This was less than a month before Kapaun was taken prisoner. (Courtesy of U.S. Army Col. Raymond A. Skeehan/Diocese of Wichita)

The funeral “literally shut down the entire town of Wichita,” Hull said.

“People came from far and wide to celebrate not only Father Kapaun, but all the war chaplains. And I think it became an important part of Justin’s own life.”

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Hull said that the story of Kapaun’s homecoming and funeral “is where the movie finds its heartbeat because I think audiences respond to that.”

“It allowed us to create a structure for the film that included Justin’s own journey, as well as the journey of the former war chaplains who inspired him.”

Hull noted that the history of the Chaplain Corps dates back to the Revolutionary War.

“One of the most surprising aspects of the Pastoral Union is this: all beliefs is represented.”

In the film, viewers listen to the words of Christian, Buddhist, Muslim and Jewish clergy.

For more Lifestyle articles visit: www.foxnews.com/lifestyle

“What’s interesting to me about this is that this is a truly unique opportunity, especially for people of faith. live your faith on a daily basis,” Hull said.

“Fighting Spirit: A War Chaplain’s Journey” tells the story of the work of war chaplains through the eyes of a recently retired war chaplain. (Paulist Productions)

“And even though a chaplain may be of a particular faith, when you’re on the front lines, you’re faced with soldiers of all faiths and no faith.”

“And you have to figure out how to bridge that gap on some really difficult, powerful, important questions about life and death — and the bullets are whizzing past your head.”

CLICK TO REACH THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION

“Fighting Spirit: A War Chaplain’s Journey” is in theaters nationwide.