Author, historian and public speaker Lou Baczewski and videographer Kyle Gisburne were filming the Williams Memorial Day services for a movie project based upon Lou’s grandfather, Lou “Louch” Baczewski and his World War II experiences as a Sherman tank driver in World War II.

The connection between Louch Baczewski, a native of Pocahontas, Illinois, and Williams, Iowa, was that Louch and Williams’ native Staff Sgt. Joe L. Cady, Jr. served together in the 33rd Armored Regiment, 33rd Armored Division, First Army during World War II in northwestern Europe.

Sgt. Baczewski landed on Omaha Beach two weeks after the June 6, 1944 D-Day invasion and maneuvered a Sherman tank through at least five of northwestern Europe’s major battles as part of the Allies Spearhead Division.

The 33rd Armored Division was involved in some of the fiercest battles of World War II in northern Europe. The Allies mission was to drive across France and Belgium to the Siegfried Line in an effort to cut the German defenses in two.

Videographer Kyle Gisburne films the Williams War Memorial at Monday's Memorial Day service. Behind him is Lou Baczewski who is making a film about his grandfather's armored division in World War II.

The Ardenne Offensive, or as it is better known, the Battle of the Bulge, was one of the deadliest combat missions ever fought by the US Army.

While the Allies were responsible for capturing more Axis prisoners, destroying more German tanks and inflicting more enemy losses than any other Army combat command, the cost was high. The United States suffered over 100,000 casualties in the campaign.

One of those killed was Cady who was reported missing in action on Dec. 21, 1944 near Erezz, Belgium. His parents Joe and Sarah Cady in Williams were notified of his death in January 1945.

Cady was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously. He also received the French Croix de Guerre with a Bronze Star.

Cady was originally buried in Europe, explained his niece Kim Cavanagh. But her father, Donald Cady (1921-1996), reenlisted in the US Army in order to have his brother’s remains brought back home where he was buried in the Williams Cemetery.

“Joe and my grandfather were best friends,” said Baczewski. “He used to talk about Joe because he was the toughest guy. Those men were a breed apart.”

The younger Baczewski credits Cady with his own life.

“It is no small statement to say that without Joe, none of my family would be here today,” said Baczewski, who carries his grandfather’s WWII dog tags with him.

In the Ardenne Offensive, Cady had earned military distinction.

In October 1944, he was recognized as an outstanding tank commander during the American drive through France. A military dispatch from the region credited him for leading a column of tanks to join up with the British forces south of Falaise, France.

In that drive, his column succeeded in knocking out two German tanks, a self-propelled gun and several Axis vehicles including a staff car and a motorcycle.

In addition, Cady fired several rounds at a concentrated German infantry column, inflicting heavy enemy losses.

Growing up, the younger Baczewski was very close to his grandfather, who spoke openly about his own Band of Brothers and his experiences in World War II. He saw action in Europe all the way through to V-E Day on May 8, 1945.

Of his original company of 153 men, Louch was one of the 18 to survive the war, said his grandson. In the course of filming, Baczewski has also visited with his grandfather’s other company survivors.

Before Louch died in 2013 at the age of 90, he had shared with his grandson the heroism and courage of his fellow soldiers. Those stories are documented in the 2002 book “Louch, A Simple Man’s True Story of War, Survival, Life and Legacy”, penned by his grandson.

In 2014, Louch’s grandson began filming a documentary. The rough cut will be completed in July and will be shown at film festivals, said Baczewski.

Part of the film’s mission is to meet up with survivors of Louch’s company and to seek out families of the fallen, said Baczewski.

“I wanted to do something that my grandfather would have liked to do,” said Baczewski. “I promised to find Joe’s family.”