Genesee Valley Chapter presents a check to VBOB

Book Committee
Former Genesee Valley Chapter
Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge
835 Houston Rd
Webster, NY 14580

December 16, 2014

Colonel Douglas Dillard
President
Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge

Dear Colonel Dillard;

As you are aware, members of the former Genesee Valley Chapter had formed a committee for the purpose of publishing a collection of veteran’s memoirs. As the local chapter had disbanded it was necessary that an existing entity be found to fill the role of publisher. The committee negotiated an agreement with your organization to serve in that capacity.

The collection of memoirs, which mostly centered on the Battle of the Bulge, was the brainchild of Jerry Beaudin, an associate member, who worked closely with David Bush, an officer of the local chapter. Together, with help from members Tom Hope, Max

Boudakian, Frank Colgan, Marcel Blackman (now deceased), and Dave Brookins, along with Rochester Institute of Technology professor Michael Riordan, they produced the hard-copy book “The Battle in Common”. The sales of the hard-copy book are now complete. As was our agreement all net proceeds of the sale of the book are to be transferred to the publisher. That amount totals: $7,391.90 and is reflected in the attached check. An indirect contribution to The Monroe County, NY Veteran’s Outreach Center, was made by allowing that organization to act as a local distributor whereby it received a standard commission on sales.

We thought it fortunate and appropriate, on the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, that we are able to make this contribution. Going forward, with the additional help of Michael Riordan from RIT, e-book formats of The Battle in Common will be available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple iBooks.

Net proceeds from these sales will also accrue to the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, Inc. by way of electronic transfer to a special account, under the control of your treasurer, established for that purpose.

Attached you will also find a photograph of our Book Committee. We were pleased to see an article in the Bulge Bugle this past February recognizing our efforts.  We hope that this photo also finds its way into an upcoming edition of the Bulge Bugle.

 (l-r) Tom Hope, Hq. 19th Corps, VBOB Member; David Brookins, USMC / Hq. III Marine Amphibious Force-Vietnam, Associate VBOB Member; Jerry Beaudin, 45th Inf. Div./Korea, Associate VBOB Member; Frank Colgan, 87th Inf. Div., VBOB Member; Max Boudakian, 29th Inf. Div., Associate VBOB Member; Michael Riordan, Rochester Institute of Technology
(l-r) Tom Hope, Hq. 19th Corps, VBOB Member; David Brookins, USMC / Hq. III Marine Amphibious Force-Vietnam, Associate VBOB Member; Jerry Beaudin, 45th Inf. Div./Korea, Associate VBOB Member; Frank Colgan, 87th Inf. Div., VBOB Member; Max Boudakian, 29th Inf. Div., Associate VBOB Member; Michael Riordan, Rochester Institute of Technology

We expect that our contribution to your wonderful organization will ensure its continued success in service to our veterans and their families.

Sincerely,

Jerry Beaudin, USA Korea
Max Boudakian, 29th Inf Div
Dave Brookins, USMC Vietnam
Frank Colgan, 87th Inf Div
Tom Hope, Hqs 19th Corps
Michael Riordan, Rochester Institute of Technology