Holy crap!
I cannot believe the year is coming to an end. Things are going well here, but as usual, I’m behind. I was hoping to finish all six issues of Sgt. Rock by the end of the year, but looks like I’ll only get five done. I’m working my way through “ ay Four” now, but could use two extra pages. I could probably get a seventh issue, but really would rather do it in six. Oh well, I’m working on commissions and sent a bunch out and will do another one today. These are old — and people are getting pissed off at me. Not as old as Scott and Delvie’s but Scott’s too nice to demand it and I, like everyone else think Delvie is some Government Agency computer, so if I get arrested for not paying some tax it’s because of that. No seriously, I have some of Delvie’s done, but none of Scott’s. So, here I sit, bored and overwhelmed with the work I’m not doing.

I’ve been in touch with the son of Captain (then 1st Lieutenant) Martin Higgins. Michael has been a tremendous help — as have been the folks at the 36th infantry (of which the Lost Battalion was a part of) message boards. Hopefully, I’ll speak with the last known survivor of the Lost Battalion, some rescuers of the 442nd RCT and the pilots of the 405th squadron who — if it weren’t for their bravery in dropping supplies, there wouldn’t have been a battalion to rescue.

In issue four, the conditions have turned miserable for the starving and parched men of the battalion and it’s tough to write as I’m really feeling for them. I know that issue Five will go quicker as there’s something like 17 pages of battle — lots of fun. But I might chop that down a bit as I don’t want to lose the human element of the men on the mount and their rescuers. It’s just that there’s so much fighting going on and I must keep to that. All day, and all night, both Germans and Americans continuously slugged it out under horrible conditions. Ah — I’m just thinking aloud, but it’s helped me, so I think I’ll do more of it!!

Any way, let me get back to work — talk to you soon!!!
B