CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Retired U.S. Army Chaplain Justin Roberts, who served with the “No Slack” 1-327th Infantry battalion of the 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell, is the first active-duty soldier to create a theatrical documentary.
No Greater Love is a film based on Chaplain Roberts’ experiences during his deployment to Afghanistan and the stories of his fellow soldiers and their families. While serving in Afghanistan, the “No Slack” battalion suffered multiple fatalities and came home with nearly 200 Purple Hearts.
The film will premiere Nov. 10 (Veterans Day weekend) in select theaters nationwide, including Clarksville Stadium 16 at 1810 Tiny Town Rd. Chaplain Roberts, fellow soldiers from his battalion, and Gold Star families will attend the Clarksville premiere.
No Greater Love has already been racking up awards at multiple film festivals and was recently submitted for Oscar consideration, as reported by Variety.
Roberts is using the film as a fundraising initiative for veterans and he is donating all of his proceeds from the film to veterans’ charities. You can learn more about the registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or submit an application for your organization here.
For Roberts, the film is not about war, but instead reveals the battles fought internally by soldiers and families. It digs deep into the courage and strength displayed by soldiers not just during deployment, but on the long journey home following a tour of duty and the new battles they face with depression, PTSD, and other illnesses and injuries.
When Chaplain Roberts began his duty as a chaplain, he was confronted with what he described as one of the most suicidal battalions in the military. After multiple suicides were reported within the battalion once Roberts took on the position, he knew he had a serious issue he needed to tackle.
“What we did to turn it around is we focused on connecting, actually developing relationships, and having conversations,” Roberts said. “That way we could reduce the number of suicides. It was mission critical to saving lives.”
Before deploying to Afghanistan, Roberts asked his mentor and First Sergeant how to approach his job while on deployment. His mentor suggested he go out with each patrol unit to witness what his fellow soldiers were experiencing, so he just did that – armed with a camera, since U.S. military chaplains carry no weapon, even in battle.
Roberts’ goal was to document the experiences of the soldiers, but what he ended up with was a film about their sacrifices and intense brotherhood.
“I kept coming across amazing stories that transformed my own heart,” Roberts said. “These weren’t just strangers; these were my friends. I watched them go from being regular guys to being heroes, and I didn’t want those actions to be forgotten in time.”
Courtesy: Atlas Distribution / NoGreaterLoveMovie.com
The film goes beyond the battlefield and includes interviews with the soldiers who returned home, as well as interviews with the families of those who didn’t.
Roberts believes the message behind No Greater Love should be a resounding one for both service members and civilians alike.
“I think we don’t empathize with people until we understand their story. There is a civilian and veterans divide, because only one percent are serving, so there is a lack of understanding. They haven’t been told the stories,” Robert said. “The focus of the film is to let the soldiers and their families share their stories and for us to be able to come together around that.”
Roberts himself, multiple members of the “No Slack” battalion that served with Roberts in Afghanistan, and a number of Gold Star families will be present at the Clarksville premiere of No Greater Love at Clarksville Stadium 16 on Nov. 10. You can find more information about the film, as well as the charities it supports, on the official website.