Hey Rocky J Squirrel!

Now we are getting into your territory in the documentary. I just completed another part of the script, which lays the basis for the invasion task force for North Africa. Here's a sneak preview:

Operation Torch, began on November 8, 1942, and consisted of U.S. and British forces, commanded by American General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Their mission was divided into three task forces; The Western, Center and Eastern, and would be the largest amphibious operation in history.

The Western Task Force, sailed from America, under the flagship USS Augusta, commanded by Admiral Henry Hewitt. The hundred ships of task force 34 were comprised of 35,000 troops, and commanded by Major General George S. Patton. He was assigned to capture Port Lyautey and Casablanca, with soldiers of the US 2nd Armored, and 3rd and 9th Infantry Divisions.

A British convoy of 300 ships, commanded by Admiral Edmund Burrough, left England, and included the two remaining task forces.

The Center Task Force, was under the command of Major General Lloyd Fredendall, and consisted of 39,000 troops. It was scheduled to overtake Oran, and included the US 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored and 1st Infantry Divisions.

The Eastern Task Force, was led by Major General Charles Ryder. The 33,000 men were to assault the port of Algiers, composed of the US 34th Infantry Division, two brigades of the British 78th, and two commando units.

These territories were controlled by Vichy France, with approximately 60,000 troops in place.

Prior to the operation, an very important role was played by General Mark Clark, who landed behind enemy lines in Algeria, risking his life to meet with Allied sympathizers. This clandestine mission was a vital key to the success of the invasion, which collected useful intelligence regarding ports and coastal defenses, helped to gather various diplomatic codes, and let Clark master his skills of diplomacy.

I plan on including a part of your taped interview for this segment of the documentary. Can't wait to get it done and show it to ya!

I'LL BE AWAITING TO "EXTRA,EXTRA--READ ALL ABOUT IT!!!!" ------- -----ROCKY J

The documentary sounds good! I do have a question due to contradictory information. Carlo D'Este in his book about the Sicily invasion said it was the largest amphibious operation ever mounted up to that time. According to Dragoon, southern France was the second largest U.S. landing operation (and became the largest operation of its kind). Now for the first time I'm hearing that Operation Torch "would be the largest amphibious operation in history." Most sources say Normandy was the largest. Well, I'm confused.---Peanuts

That's HISTORY as of November 1942. When they are talking about an invasion, they are comparing it up to and including that point, not future dates, which didn't exist yet.

When Operation Torch was carried out, the world had NEVER seen anything like it. It was a FIRST!

Now if a book or movie is comparing the entire war from 41-45, then that's a different story. Here we are talking from the viewpoint of someone standing in November of 1942. It's all written in present tense.

Hope that helps you!

Whew! I think I'm lucky if I got a shower in this week! Just kiddin', but have been spending MEGA hours on the documentary, in preparation for the reunion tomorrow. Really wanted to get a lot more done on the North Africa sequence, and I succeeded. Had a few hair-pulling moments, and plenty of frustration, trying to do all that and work in the store and all the other stuff I do...

But as of a few minutes ago, I got 'er done, up to the part I was shooting for, and what a sigh of relief! I now have approximately 22 minutes completed of the N African chapter.

I am creating a Windows Media video right now, which I can watch out in the store on my laptop. This way I get to see it running and I can critique and then do some tweaking tonight before putting it all on DVD. Will let hubby and sister-in-law watch it too.

Leaving tomorrow morning at 7:30 and heading to the airport. Here I come 36th and 540th Engineers Reunion. Are you guys ready for me?

Bon voyage all!

HAVE A NICE TRIP AND A WONDERFULL REUNION. MY PERSONAL OPINION--!!!!!WEAR A C.I.B. ON YOUR CHEST !!!!!! ROCKY----

Thanks Rocky J Squirrel. Ah be sure I will have my dad's CIB proudly displayed on the table for ALL to see.

Much love,

Mare

Ah, now the fun begins; trying to gain permission to use certain songs and photos within the documentary.

Contacted ASCAP this evening regarding White Christmas and Adeste Fidelis as sung by Bing Crosby.

Then went to www.bingcrosby.com to ask them how to obtain permission to use two photos from the film White Christmas.

There's a lot of work in producing a documentary, which incorporates "outside" film, photos, etc. With everyone suing everyone nowadays, one can't be careful enough about these things.

And people wonder why it's not completed yet...

That's OK M-1, Take your time cause IKNOW IT'LL BE DONE RIGHT.

DAMN THE TORPEDOS FULL SPEED AHEAD---

Damn the torpedoes! Ya, I like that!!!! Hell with the depth charges too!

NOW YOU'RE COOKIN'-----COOKIE!!!---

Been learning a lot the past two weeks, for I've contacted several different groups via the internet and phone, regarding use of materials. The majority I've reached, said they merely need me to place their names in the credit section of the documentary. Cool, I CAN do that. However, I finally spoke with Paramount Studios today (they were really nice and helpful), but for a limited PBS license (2-3 years), it would cost me approximately $500.00 to use the two stills from White Christmas. So....I think I shall delete them from the production and use something else in their place. That's okay with me. It would have been nice, but it's really not a big deal. I have a ton of other images I can replace it with.

Here's a really cool thing which also occurred this week. I sent this letter to everyone on my 36th Engineer mailing list:

============================

Yesterday I spent about 25 minutes on the phone with this lady:

Renée Klish

Army Art Curator

U.S. Army Center of Military History

Washington, D.C.

I had written to them to gain permission to use a certain drawing, which is on our website, as well as featured in the intro to the documentary. As many of you are well aware, you have to make sure you can use certain materials within productions, and No Bridge Too Far is no exception. Let's put it this way; we don't wanna mess with lawyers and...

So to cover all my bases, I am contacting various agencies, etc., to make sure I can use certain images, film clips, etc., and that is how I wound up talking to Renee, for she emailed me and said, get in touch with me.

Well I'm sure glad I did, for they have a WEALTH of artwork regarding combat engineers in WWII, and I may use anything I wish. I am in heaven.

But, there's a specific reason I am writing tonight, for when we were chatting she happened to mention she had some artwork donated by a daughter and she mentioned the words, 36th Combat Engineer. I just about fell off my chair. Huh? Then she gave me this name and said the daughter who lives in Massachusetts, donated all the drawings her father created and she happened to email the attached image, while we were speaking. It's awesome. His name was Brovsky Sagatalian. He died in 2000.

I'll keep you posted, for I have to see what they have available online, and then get back in touch with her. She said she would send me high resolution images of anything I wish. Talk about manna from heaven.

Enjoy the image.

=================

Well, just wanted to keep y'all posted on the latest. It's great to be making progress and discovering how to do things, and what I can and cannot do.

Now the next thing...gonna need more young men to assist me with voice-overs, for I've added more veterans to the project. To those who have already volunteered, will be sending more material your way very soon. To all; thanks in advance.

You're doing great work, Marion.

The image is really nice.

I'm glad to see that you get lots of co-operation too.

Erwin

Thanks Erwin. Appreciate your vote of confidence. I'm always eager to hear what people think.

CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP

I am currently looking for corporate sponsors to help fund our production. In return for a donation of $200.00 or more, your business will appear on the list of contributors within the documentary. Thank you in advance, for your support!