21 March 2007

Sixty years after the war I assumed many of the veterans would be frail with fading memories.

But the men we interviewed in 2005 for the documentary Black Soldier Blues were in great shape. They were pretty fit, mentally sharp, full of humour and life. I had to remind myself these men were in thier eighties and nineties.

James E. Baker (91st Engineers) who resided in Deland, Florida, died on Thursday, 8 March, 2007.

Jay Crosby (93rd Infantry Division) passed away on Monday, 19 March, 2007 in Dayton, Ohio.

James and Jay forght for thier county in WWII and for a time they were posted in Australia. Jay was awarded the Purple Heart. In Black Soldier Blues they shared thier stories from those exciting and terrifying days openly and honestly without predudice or regret.

It was a privilage to hear thier stories. It was an honour to shake thier hand.

Our sincere condonlences to James' and Jay's families and our best wishes and thanks to all the participants in Black Soldier Blues.

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