documentary feature
Our Story
Women Runners Who Changed West Point
History in the Making
Angels in Combat Boots tells the extraordinary true story of the women who ran straight through barriers, silenced skeptics, and forced a centuries-old institution to reckon with its own assumptions. Through archival footage, personal testimonies, and Hunsaker’s own reflections—drawn from his book Angels in Combat Boots—the film brings
Angels in Combat Boots tells the extraordinary true story of the women who ran straight through barriers, silenced skeptics, and forced a centuries-old institution to reckon with its own assumptions. Through archival footage, personal testimonies, and Hunsaker’s own reflections—drawn from his book Angels in Combat Boots—the film brings audiences inside the Academy’s first years of gender integration. We witness how, mile after mile, race after race, these cadet-athletes earned respect not because it was handed to them, but because they outperformed expectations, consistently setting and achieving high standards within the rigorous physical demands of the Academy.
History in the Making
Women Runners Who Changed West Point
History in the Making
Title IX, enacted in 1972, expanded athletic opportunities for young women, producing a generation with the fitness and readiness to meet the Army’s physical demands. When the draft ended in 1973, the creation of the all-volunteer force opened the door to a larger pool of potential recruits to include women. With this talented population,
Title IX, enacted in 1972, expanded athletic opportunities for young women, producing a generation with the fitness and readiness to meet the Army’s physical demands. When the draft ended in 1973, the creation of the all-volunteer force opened the door to a larger pool of potential recruits to include women. With this talented population, the Army raised standards for all, strengthening the talent, cohesion, and lethality of the force. Today, the Army is strongest when it can select the best of its citizens—and women have become indispensable to that mission.
Women Runners Who Changed West Point
Women Runners Who Changed West Point
Women Runners Who Changed West Point
In the fall of 1978, a small group of women laced up their running shoes and stepped onto the fields of the United States Army Academy—knowing full well that many expected them to fail. West Point had only recently began to integrate women, and doubts about their place in the Corps echoed across the campus. Under the steady uncompromising
In the fall of 1978, a small group of women laced up their running shoes and stepped onto the fields of the United States Army Academy—knowing full well that many expected them to fail. West Point had only recently began to integrate women, and doubts about their place in the Corps echoed across the campus. Under the steady uncompromising leadership of Coach Charles Hunsaker, the newly formed women’s cross country team set out to prove something bigger than their individual talents: that grit, discipline, and performance—not gender—define a soldier.
Women of Excellence
Women Runners Who Changed West Point
Women Runners Who Changed West Point
These first women didn’t just make history—they reshaped it. Their footsteps carved out new possibilities. Their victories created space for others. And their legacy continues to strengthen the fabric of today’s Army, proving that excellence knows no gender.
Army Excellence
Award-Winning Achievements
Preserve History
This is not just a sports story.
It is a story about leadership under pressure, courage in the face of skepticism, and the transformative power of excellence. It chronicles how a handful of young women helped shift the culture of West Point—how their success rippled through the Corps of Cadets, influenced generations of officers, and ultimately contributed to opening doors across the entire Army.
Preserve History
Award-Winning Achievements
Preserve History
This documentary preserves an essential chapter of American history and inspires today’s youth who want to challenge themselves and selflessly serve the nation.
Award-Winning Achievements
Award-Winning Achievements
Award-Winning Achievements
Cross country runners from the original Army team prepare to award the Athena Cup to the current Army team. The Athena Cup, donated by the original Army coach and team, is presented annually to the winner of the Army-Navy women’s cross country race. These alumni lead the fundraising effort for the current West Point cross country and track & field program.
Bright Future
Award-Winning Achievements
Award-Winning Achievements
Angels in Combat Boots will speak powerfully to young women and men across America—especially high school students who may never have imagined themselves at West Point or in uniform. By spotlighting one of the earliest examples of women breaking barriers within the U.S. military, the film showcases the extraordinary opportunities the Army
Angels in Combat Boots will speak powerfully to young women and men across America—especially high school students who may never have imagined themselves at West Point or in uniform. By spotlighting one of the earliest examples of women breaking barriers within the U.S. military, the film showcases the extraordinary opportunities the Army Academy offers: world-class education, world-class athletics, and the chance to lead with purpose.
Award-winning team
World renowned script doctor and award-winning director are behind this historic documentary. Highly decorated and respected Army veterans from the original West Point women’s team give unique and impressive historical insight.
About the author
LTC (Ret.) Charles R. Hunsaker
Charles R. (Chuck) Hunsaker graduated from Capital University with a Bachelors degree in Biology and Physical Education and received a Masters degree (Phi Kappa Phi) in Athletic Administration from the University of Cincinnati.
He taught science and coached track in Lima, Ohio for two years and then became a physical education instructor
Charles R. (Chuck) Hunsaker graduated from Capital University with a Bachelors degree in Biology and Physical Education and received a Masters degree (Phi Kappa Phi) in Athletic Administration from the University of Cincinnati.
He taught science and coached track in Lima, Ohio for two years and then became a physical education instructor and the assistant track and cross country coach at the University of Cincinnati. After two years he became the head track and cross country coach (youngest in the nation), coached the university’s first All Americans in both sports, coached the first individual national champion, and had the highest team finish ever in the NCAA championship for Cincinnati. After two years he moved to Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University) where he served as an assistant professor in the physical education department and head coach of track and cross country.
He won five conference cross country team titles (first ever for the school); coached one NCAA championship team (they had never placed higher than 27th before his arrival); coached two NCAA runner-up teams; coached 22 All Americans, two individual national champions and four qualifiers for the Olympic trials. In 1976 he was nominated for the distance coach of the US Olympic team. He has served as Athletics advisor to the island of Barbados through Partners of the Americas, helped them develop the first ever college level physical education program in the West Indies, worked with their national junior team, and assisted their Olympic team during its preparation for the 1984 Olympic Games. He has also coached the Peace Games road racing team against Canada, was twice selected as the NCAA National Cross country Coach of the Year, was a five time NCAA Cross country district coach of the year, one time NCAA District Track coach of the year, was a five time Missouri College coach of the year, was selected as the Eastern Women’s Indoor Track Coach of the Year and Eastern Women’s Cross country Coach of the Year, was selected an Outstanding Young Man in America, served as President of the National Cross country Coaches Association, is a member of the Shawnee High School Athletic Hall of Fame, the Shawnee High School Outstanding Graduate Hall of Fame, the Capital University Athletic Hall of Fame, the Southwest Missouri State University Athletic Hall of Fame, both the States of Ohio and Missouri Track Halls of Fame.
In 1977 he was called to active duty as a physical education instructor at the United States Military Academy where he started the women’s track and cross country programs and served as their first coach. Three years later his teams were Eastern Champions in indoor track and cross country, finished in the top 10 nationally two times, had produced three All Americans, two individual national champions, and he was the first women’s coach to beat Navy.
He arrived at West Point during the early years of women at the academy. Since he was one of the few officers with contact with a large number of women…he saw 30 every day at practice…he served on several committees involving the integration of women into the academy. Members of his team call him the unsung hero for women in those early years.
His book Angels in Combat Boots covers his time at West Point building the women’s track and cross-country programs and how they were instrumental in the integration of women into the Corps of Cadets that had been all male for the past 174 years. He is currently working with IMPACT Entertainment Foundation to produce a documentary based on the book.
In 2024, he and his first team from West Point were selected to be Military Ambassadors for the Hula Bowl as they showcased the result of Title IX allowing women to attend the military academies.
Following his departure from West Point he served at Ft Harrison, Ft Knox, Ft Benning, and three tours in Panama serving in both USARSO and USSOUTHCOM. He has commanded three companies, a community, a battalion, and has a total of eighty-four months in command; served as a battalion and brigade XO; G1/AG of a separate brigade, G1/AG of an installation, AG of a unified command, and was the Department of Defense Representative to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Following his retirement from the Army, he served as one of the 12 members of the Army Chief of Staff’s Retiree Advisory Council.
His military schooling includes the AG Basic and Advanced (Honor Grad) courses, ACS course, Morale Support Officers course, G1/DPCA course, Army Installation Management course, Army Command and General Staff College, and the Air War College.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Volunteer Service Award, the Horatio Gates Medal from the Adjutant General Regiment and the Order of St. Maurice from the National Infantry Association.
Following his retirement from the Army he served as the Regional Director and Military Aide to United States Congressman Mac Collins (R-GA-3). After Congressman Collins’ failed senate campaign, he became a Project Manager, and later a division chief/deputy business manager for the Omega Training Group, Inc. During his four years with Omega, his division won contracts that increased the size of the business by 400%. After four years at Omega, he was selected to serve as Senior Project Manager for Defense and Space Issues in the Global Commerce Division of the Georgia State Department of Economic Development
and Executive Director of the Georgia Defense Initiative. He also served as a board member for Aerospace Defense Systems, Inc. He spent nearly seven years at Economic Development and is now retired.
He is active in the local community where he has served as President of the Chattahoochee Valley-Ft Benning chapter of the Association of the United States Army, member the national Board of Directors of the House of Heroes, member of the board of the Columbus State University Athletic Foundation, board member of Thunder in the Valley Air Show, Inc., member of the Columbus/Ft Benning Civilian-Military Council, State President of the Association of the United States Army, Chairman of the Georgia National Defense Industrial Association, Chairman of the Harris County Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee, Chairman of the Harris County Republican party, Vice Chair of the 3rd District Republican Committee, member of the Republican State Committee.
He is currently a member of the Ft Benning Retired Soldier Council, District Coordinator for the United States Military Academy Admissions Office, Board member for the Columbus State University Department of Education and Health Professions, Council President of Reformation Lutheran Church, National Chairman of Lutheran Men, and Board Chair for St Paul Lutheran Seminary.
He is married to the former Pat Fisher of Lyndhurst, Ohio. They have two daughters, Tracy and Jody and three grandsons, Sebastian, Xander, and Alex.