D-Day Drama "Barrage" Gains Recognition Across Major Festivals

"Barrage" (previously titled "Destination Unknown") has achieved notable success at three prestigious film festivals – The Big Apple Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, and the Los Angeles Film Festival. The screenplay has positioned itself among the top 17 percent of all screenplays on Coverfly, despite limited submissions.

Written by producer/director and 727 Squared founder Michael Gordon Bennett, "Barrage" brings to light the untold story of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, the only all-African American combat unit to storm the beaches of Normandy on D-Day.

The historical drama follows the journey of the unit's youngest member, a 17-year-old high school dropout whose determination to escape Jim Crow America leads him to volunteer for the Army. His mission becomes complicated when he discovers that the same racial prejudices he sought to escape are deeply entrenched in military culture, threatening the success of his crucial D-Day assignment.

"When I wrote Barrage, I thought the backstory to be as compelling as the actual battlefield heroics," says Bennett. "I really want the audience to feel the emotional struggle and sacrifice to simply serve. For these soldiers, patriotism is not the sole guiding force, rather it includes a willingness to die in exchange for a more hopeful future."

The 320th's remarkable story, despite resulting in zero casualties, remained largely unknown for decades. Unit members, nominated for numerous medals, saw their commendations either downgraded or denied entirely. The silence surrounding their achievements was so profound that even family members doubted their D-Day participation, leading many veterans to keep their service history private.

Recognition finally came 65 years later when the film's protagonist received the French Legion of Merit, meeting Tom Hanks during the ceremony. The following day, he was honored by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

The screenplay's timeliness is underscored by recent media coverage, including a Politico article titled "The Forgotten Hero of D-Day," featuring Corporal Waverly Woodson, a key character in Barrage.

Additionally, Congressman Marc Veasey of Texas, serving on the House Armed Services Committee, is actively pursuing a Congressional Medal of Honor for Woodson, highlighting the ongoing effort to recognize these overlooked heroes. Here’s his comments on MSNBC’s Politics Nation starting around the 3:20 mark: Watch on YouTube.

The film, described as "Men of Honor (2000) meets Red Tails (2012)," promises to bring this crucial piece of American history to mainstream audiences.