Project Blackie - a Fragment of History
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This area contains items relating to the story of Project Blacky as edited by Gerry Kurth


Sergeant Frank "Blacky" Blackston, 21, was a tank driver in the 8th Armored Division during the cold January of 1945 when he moved east across France, seven months after the Normandy invasion. The 8th was attached to Patton's 3rd Army to fight in the Allied counterattack following the Battle of the Bulge.
    After some light fighting, Frank's Battalion encountered very heavy resistance just before crossing the Rhein. The Battle of Rheinberg was only one of the many battles he fought during his 68 days of official "combat," but it was the bloodiest. Of the 18 tanks in Company B of the 36th Tank Battalion, 11 were lost in that battle. The other companies did not fare any better. One historical narrative described the entire Battalion simply as having been "lost."
    Franks experiences were recorded on 2 DVD videos and a 40 page booklet (electronic version attached). The DVD videos were separated into a number of YouTube segments described below


Description Length Location
Project Blacky -

The Booklet of Frank Blackston's experiences
40 Pages
Booklet
A Fragment of History -

This is the main, edited video and describes the battle of Rheinberg, as well as Frank's life and other war experiences.
1 hr, 15 min
DVD #1
Rheinberg Clip #1 -

Intro to the battle of Rheinberg.
1 min, 32 sec
Intro
Rheinberg Clip #2 -

Description of tank #1 getting hit by a German anti-tank weapon.
1 min, 23 sec
Tank #1
Rheinberg Clip #3 -

Inspection of destroyed tanks after the Rheinberg battle.

2 min, 4 sec
Inspection
Summary of 40 Page Booklet -

For those in a hurry, a short flip through the entire 40 page booklet.
3 min, 47 sec
Summary
Additional Fragments -

This DVD is a collection of 6 additional video clips from Frank's life.

6 clips
DVD #2
Tank - Unedited Interview -

An in depth, unedited interview about Frank's life as a "tanker" during the six month campaign across Europe.


51 min, 39 sec
Tank
Rheinberg -

A detailed, unedited description of the Battle of Rheinberg, in which most of the tanks in a Battalion were destroyed.


59 min
Rheinberg
Farm and Family -

Frank's memories of his early years and the family farm. 


9 min, 44 sec
Farm
Red Carpet and Dune Walk Premier -

A private red carpet showing of the video (with fanfare), followed by the premier showing to the Dune Walk condominium community.


7 min, 3 sec
Red Carpet
Honor, Respect and Random Acts of Kindness -

Acts of kindness encountered amidst the atrocities of war, including an encounter with a German soldier by Frank's commanding officer.


5 min, 32 sec
Honor
Outtakes -

Outtakes of the TV tapes.


1 min, 12 sec
Outtakes
Interview -

Interview by a news station about the WWII experiences of Ken Hummel - he was the driver of tank #17 in Frank's Company B.


1 hr, 43 min
Interview

The original interviews are preserved in the Library of Congress as part of their "Veteran's History Project." In addition to the videos, the story of Frank's life and war experiences are documented in a 40 page booklet called "Project Blacky - A Fragment of History."