05/27/07 — PBS to air story of LaGrange soldier

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PBS to air story of LaGrange soldier

By staff
Published in News on May 27, 2007 2:00 AM

On Monday at 9 p.m., UNC-TV will air an encore presentation of the award-winning World War II documentary, "Thank You, Eddie Hart."

The film has many connections to Wayne and Lenoir counties.

Pvt. Eddie Hart was a young soldier from Lenoir County who was killed in Germany just before the end of World War II.

His sister, Hattie Hart Holloman, his nephews, Aubrey Hart and Mike Hart, and his nieces, Pamela Hart Rich and Bonnie Hart Dawson, all live in Lenoir County. He also has two nephews, Mercer Hart and Lovitt Hart, who live in Wayne County.

Hart served with the U.S. Army, 83rd Division, 329th Infantry Regiment, Company G. The documentary features interviews with Hattie and her children, Debbie and Ben, and with Fate Smith, who served with Ed and also lives in Lenoir County. Hart, Smith, and Jesse Grant, who was also from Lenoir, were shipped to Europe together in January 1945.

Much of the film was shot in Lenoir County.

For more information about the documentary, visit www.thankyoueddiehart.com.