Dear Father Bob,

Thank you for your time, kindness and willingness to share your story with me in Virginia.   I came away from our interview session deeply impressed by the grace you are able to convey toward your former captors.   The ADBC and its members are well served by your faith.   I also saw in you this remarkable spirit that all of you who survived the POW ordeal share; a personal quality of self reliance and an example for those of us who follow ... a life-affirming trait that is hard to find the words for.

You may recall that Rene Blatte sent you an email over a year ago, concerning his desire to pursue a documentary project with me.   Rene and I met many years ago in the Philippines and first learned of the POW story there.   Happily, it appears that Rene's promise in that email, and those which I've made in person through a number of trips to ADBC meetings will come to pass.   We are together moving ahead with a documentary project that will be completed in time for the 60th anniversary of the Death March.   I will soon write with more details, following a series of important production meetings that Rene and I will have in late June.

Please pass my sincere thanks and deep appreciation to all ADBC members, and their families who took the time to sit and complete video interviews with me at Fontana, San Antonio, Reno, Bradenton, Lancaster, Ventura, Hampton and numerous individual meetings.   I'd also like to thank everyone who sat and talked and shared their personal recollections, and collections of memorabilia.   I cherish the often intimate accounts and the stories that accompanied the photographs and books.   Finally, I'd like to specifically thank the POW's, who chose to talk on camera and off, and those who made it a point to verify the accuracy of my work.

Now the project enters another phase, where the majority of the travel will be to the Philippines, Japan and sites around the US where the POW story is commemorated.   In this phase we'll gather video footage important to supporting the series.   We'll also do interviews where appropriate.

I feel that I've made many friends within the ADBC community.   I owe tapes to many,  (including you) and will follow through with copies in the coming months leading to April 2002.   I also plan to attend additional ADBC functions as time and resources permit.

Please post this note on the web site and pass along my greetings and regards to Warren and Ruth Jorgenson.   Their hospitality at the emailer's luncheon, and Warren's interview were wonderful.

With All Best Wishes,
David Beauvais
Email:   maniladave@aol.com