Emmanuel Juarez as PFC Joseph Sandoval & Eric Juarez as his brother PFC Frank Sandoval in
"An Infantryman from Hero Street".
“An Infantryman from Hero Street”, a new documentary by Emmy Award-winning filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Moline-based Fourth Wall Films, will air on WQPT-PBS Sunday, March 26 at 7 p.m. and again on Tuesday, March 28 at 5 p.m.
“An Infantryman from Hero Street,” the fourth episode in the "Hero Street" documentary series, tells the true story of PFC Joseph Sandoval who was born in a boxcar to Mexican immigrants in the Silvis, Illinois rail yard. In 1944 Joe, married with two young sons, was drafted and shipped to Britain with the 41st Armored Infantry Regiment. His unit helped fight the second stage of the Normandy Invasion in France. In April 1945, the Allied forces reached an agreement regarding post-war Germany, and Joe and his fellow soldiers were told the war was essentially over. Joe was killed just days later during a German counter attack near the Elbe River in Schönebeck, Germany. In the two weeks that followed, U.S. and Russian troops shook hands across the Elbe, and Adolph Hitler committed suicide.
Only a block and a half long, Second Street in Silvis, Illinois lost six young men in World War II and two in the Korean War, more than any other street in America. Hero Street, as it is now known, has provided over 150 service members since Mexican-American immigrants settled there in 1929.
"An Infantryman from Hero Street" stars Emmanuel Juarez as PFC Joseph Sandoval, Eric Juarez reprising his role as Joe’s brother PFC Frank Sandoval, and actor Matt Walsh as 1st Lt Frank Houcek. The film features commentary by First Army Support Command Historian 1st Lt Kevin Braafladt, Rock Island Arsenal; authors Marc Wilson “Hero Street, USA”, Carlos Harrison "The Ghosts of Hero Street" and John C. McManus “September Hope”; and members of Joe Sandoval’s family, including Tanilo Sandoval, Henry Sandoval, Georgia Herrera and Irene Mawson.
Award-winning composer William Campbell produced the "Hero Street" series opening music theme.
The “Hero Street” film’s opening theme was scored by award-winning and Emmy® nominated composer William Campbell of Davenport.
WQPT-PBS provided its broadcast studio for filming portions of the documentary. WQPT’s Lora Adams assisted with production, and Chris Ryder created special visual and sound effects. WQPT-PBS previously partnered with Fourth Wall Films in 2015 to co-produce the Mid-America Emmy nominated "Letters Home to Hero Street” which tells the story of Frank Sandoval who died while serving in Burma, India during WWII. “Letters Home” will air following each of the “Infantryman from Hero Street” broadcasts in March.
Matt Walsh as 1st Lt Houcek
“Hero Street,” a multi-part documentary series by Fourth Wall Films, explores the compelling true story of eight Mexican-American heroes from Hero Street, USA in Silvis, Illinois: Tony Pompa, Frank Sandoval, William Sandoval, Claro Solis, Peter Masias, Joseph Sandoval, Joseph Gomez and John S. Muños.
“[The Rundles’] beautiful Hero Street series will be a monumental, lasting legacy to ensure that current and future generations will be sure to recognize and salute the selfless patriotism of these families, showing an inspiring example to us all.” Jonathan Turner, Digital News/Entertainment - WHBF
“An Infantryman from Hero Street” was funded in part by a grant from the Illinois Humanities, with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Illinois General Assembly; a grant from the Moline Foundation; and, through its fiscal sponsor the Black Box Theatre, a Quad City Arts Dollars grant provided by Illinois Arts Council Agency, Hubbell-Waterman Foundation and John Deere.
Fourth Wall Films is an award-winning and Emmy® winning independent film and video production company formerly located in Los Angeles, and now based in Moline, Illinois. For more information visit HeroStreetMovie.com.
Order the Hero Street documentary film series DVDs at https://herostreetmovie.com/