285th Engineers

[Jean Jacobson]

Marion, this site is such a treasure of information!!!

 

What incredible information you have gathered from so many wonderful people! What a great contribution you have made to mankind and for centuries to come you and your dedication to this effort will be known!!!

 

Jean

[Walt's Daughter]

Dear Jean:

 

Once again thank you for your unadulterated praise. I do try my best to keep the ball rolling, though every now and then, I start to run out of steam, but something always gives me a good kick in the ass, and I re-gather my momentum and begin anew.

 

As you can imagine, even though we are well-intentioned and motivated, we are only human and at times get bogged down in the everyday aspects of life and sometimes our passions wane. It certainly isn't intentional on my part, nor that I am losing interest, but it happens...

 

I know I still have so much more to do, and have so many people counting on me, including myself, and I am my worse critic. LOL! I sometimes get exasperated by everything piling up around me, so have to pull back, reassess the situation, and then drive on. Sometimes all it takes is a day or two away, other times it takes something more momentous, such as hearing from a "new" WWII veteran, or losing someone near my heart, to get me back in the groove. I never know where my next bit of inspiration will be derived from; a TV show, a news article, etc., etc.

 

I just designed a new logo for the site, which I shared elsewhere on the forum today. That gave me a good boost and I realize I have to get back to work on the documentary. A lot of that is simply getting my arse back in the production seat, but some of it unfortunately also depends on funding. I always hate to bring money into the equation, but as with any project, will power and desire unfortunately only get you so far.

 

OMG, realize I am babbling away and have to laugh! But I guess I just wanted to say thanks, and let you know (and people like yourself), just how important it is to hear from you. It makes my world go round and keeps my inspired.

 

HUGS and LOVE,

[Jean Jacobson]

Marion,

 

I do not know if you have ever considered going on one of those crowd sourcing sites like Kickstarter or Indiegogo?

 

We just started a Kickstarter campaign and it seems clear that we will not achieve our goal so we have to revisit other avenues.

 

With Indiegogo you can select to keep the funds even if you do not achieve your goal. With Kickstarter you do not keep the funds and thus that gives confidence to folks that make a pledge.

 

I would assume very few projects on either Kickstarter or Indiegogo ever had to do with WW2. It might put you in a very unique position to raise the funds and escalate all parts of all of your activities.

 

I am 100% confident that in time you will produce your next documentary!!!

 

Jean

[Walt's Daughter]

Thanks Jean. I did consider it. Still tossing around the idea. Last time I acquired a few private sponsors - veterans and their families and a few other donations from readers, which helped me out a great deal.

 

I will keep your suggestions in mind.

 

Donald Burgett of the 101st, just had a Kickstarter funding campaign, and was able to raise a few thousand bucks. He is now able to go back to Europe this year, which is great. But I seriously doubt I could get up the kind of money, for he is a famous WWII author and I am not. Just trying to be realistic. I will have to put my thinking cap on. :pdt12:

[Walt's Daughter]

Oh anyway, I got off the subject here and will turn this back over to the 285th. Sorry for the intrusion, my readers. I should keep that for another topic.

[mikel]

Greetings from Luxembourg! I was given a whole packet of information about the 285th today! I need to scan it but I will post it as soon as I can once I return to the US! I also visited the grave of John W. Daspit. He is buried very close to General Patton!

 

Talk soon.

Mikel

[Walt's Daughter]

Can't wait. Great news!

[mikel]

25 pages of glorious 285th information for you! It is hard to believe that I found this in Luxembourg by chance no less!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Walt's Daughter]

Woooohoooo! Isn't this exciting. Just getting ready to go outside, so will look at all the details later today.

[BetsyGotts]

Joe,

You posted a picture of your father with some other men, including my dad, going to church during WWII. My dad is in the center. He was the battalion commander. Thank you for posting the picture. None of us in the family had ever seen it. My sister is printing a copy to show Mom today. This is such a gift to us all.

Betsy Gottschalk