Seward native Steve Saunders heard the legend of Robert Hymel and knew he could use his talents as a filmmaker to bring his unbelievable story to life.
Hymel was a U.S. Air Force pilot who was rescued from a battle damaged B-52 bomber in 1972 in Vietnam. Nearly 30 years later, he was killed in the Pentagon when it was struck by American Airlines Flight 77 in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
“The irony of Bob's life, being saved from the fiery crash of his B-52 and then dying when an airplane, used as a terrorist weapon, crashed into the Pentagon years later is just compelling,” Saunders said.
Saunders learned of Hymel's story on a chance meeting with his widow, Pat Hymel Lipinski. Once she provided details of Hymel's life, he knew he had to tell the story.
“When Pat told me that Bob was rescued from the burning wreckage of his battle-damaged B-52 in 1972 and that he lost his life in the terror attack on the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, I was hooked,” Saunders said in a written statement to the Seward Independent. “
She told me that nothing had come of an attempt to create a movie about his life. I knew that none of those involved were getting any younger, and I told Pat that we should at least get both her and the other’s stories recorded.”
Saunders turned Hymel's heroics into “29 Years – A Second Chance at Life,” a documentary that details his career, crash, extensive recovery and eventual death. The documentary includes interviews from those who witnessed his actions and knew him personally, as well as interviews from first responders on the scene of the Pentagon on 9-11.
The documentary will be one of 80 films at the Flatwater Film Festival, held at Seward's Rivoli Theatre Oct. 15-17. The annual event encourages veteran and novice filmmakers across Nebraska to gather together in a celebration of their art.
Films include a variety of genres - horror, documentary, music video and everything in between. The main criteria all must follow is each one has a Nebraska tie either through the subject, director or actor.
Saunders checks that box as a native of Seward and long-time resident of Omaha. He owns Great Plains Visual Productions, LLC, which specializes in documentaries, human interest pieces, educational content and special event coverage.
Saunders said Hymel's story resonated with him because Saunders is a veteran as well. He is a retired U.S. Army Major General and federal senior executive who served in Kosovo, where he produced a video meant to help reduce ethnic tensions in the province.
“I am a retired U.S. Army Major General, Bob was a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel. I met Pat through mutual friends from my last military assignment in Washington, D.C., Bob’s bomber group was part of the Strategic Air Command headquartered just south of Omaha,” he said in the statement. “I am originally from the Omaha area and live in that city now. By researching Bob’s story and conducting the interviews, what started as a simple attempt to capture Bob’s story for Pat ended up with my being compelled to create this documentary.”
Saunders said the documentary appeals to people of all ages because it tells the story of an American hero whose life played a role in many major United States events.
“29 Years is not a Hollywood production. It comes from the heart,” he said. “I hope that it does justice to the Hymel family and to all of those who were part of this remarkable story.”
The Rivoli will host a
For more information regarding the Flatwater Film Festival, visit https://flatwaterfilmfestival.com.
