COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – Gregory “Pappy” Boyington’s last battle was tough, but he prevailed because fellow Marines had his back.

A two-year fight to rename the airport in Boyington’s hometown in honor of the troubled World War II ace ended in success last fall, but only after overcoming reservations about the Medal of Honor winner who has been dead for 20 years.

Now Kevin Gonzalez, one of the leaders of the effort, has produced a documentary about the conflict that ended with Pappy Boyington Field being added to the Coeur d’Alene Airport name.

He interviewed everyone from Boyington’s son to Robert Conrad, the actor who portrayed the pilot in the 1970s television series “Baa Baa Black Sheep.” He particularly showcased the military veterans who stood firm when some local leaders opposed the change.

“I thought it was important to document the efforts in the community to honor Pappy Boyington, because I couldn’t understand why there was a controversy,” said Gonzalez, who served in the Marines from 1984-1988.

“I was inspired by the many veterans involved with the campaign because their resolve grew stronger,” he said. “This was truly a grass-roots effort.”

The 90-minute documentary, which Gonzalez will enter in film festivals, had its premiere a week ago on the 20th anniversary of Boyington’s death.

Boyington, a Coeur d’Alene native, became a celebrity during World War II when he tied the Marine record for enemy planes shot down. After the war, he had problems with booze, women and money, but remained in the public eye because of his memoirs and the television series.

Boosters initially assumed there would be little opposition to renaming the airport, but the effort stalled in 2006 when the Kootenai County Commission refused to vote on the proposal. While no formal reason was given, there were vague concerns that the name change could confuse pilots and lead to crashes.