The author said this week that she finds she will not be able to complete the next phase of the project, which involves proofreading, design, typesetting, and printing, without some financial help. Based on the costs involved with printing her first book, ``Southport: The War Years,'' she estimated that she will need between $25,000 and $30,000 to finish the project.

In 1996, when she self-published her book on Southport veterans, it cost $17,000 for 750 hard cover copies. They sold for $33 apiece, and in turn sold out in three months, which left her with a profit of $7,750. She then turned the profit back into a second printing of a soft cover edition which is currently available at Sherman's Book Store, Maine Coast Book Shop, Bookland of Maine, Mr. Paperback, the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, and the gift shop at the Smithsonian in Washington, D. C. The book was also featured on the Maine Public Television show ``True North.'' She did all of the promotion of the first book herself and feels confident that her latest project will be equally as successful, covering Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor during the war years.

Sarah Sherman Brewer is asking the people of the Boothbay Region for help in making her community history a possibility by backing a portion of the book. Those interested can contact her at Sarah Sherman Brewer at P.O. Box 385, West Southport, Maine 04576 or they can call her at (207)633-7161. She will provide a written agreement insuring that they are paid back in full before she takes any profits for herself. The book is expected to be printed no later than Memorial Day 2000 if she is able to raise the money to cover production costs.

Here are a few excerpts from her upcoming book on Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor veterans:

Alfred Barry Sherman, Gunnery Sergeant, U. S. Marine Corps - On February 23, 1945, Al saw the American flag go up on Mt. Suribachi on the Pacific island of Iwo Jima, while he and his men were trying to hold Hill 482. Al recalls just happening to look up as the flag was being raised. He said you could hear a cheer echo throughout the island, which gave the men the incentive to keep on fighting because at that point, they weren't making much headway. The terrain was made up of volcanic rock and was very steep. Al said they would gain a little ground, then be pushed back by the Japanese, and would have to take it all over again.

Leon Elverton Murray, Jr., Chief Mate, Merchant Marine - The 440-foot Marcus Witman started to go down stern first as a result of the first torpedo. Leon's captain gave six short blasts or more on the ship's whistle, which was the signal to proceed to boat stations. The men were called to their stations and started to lower the lifeboats as the captain indicated using the whistle. One blast meant lower away, and all but the captain's boat were lowered into the water. Leon was standing by his lifeboat when the Captain approached him and said, ``Murray, go down below and check if we're missing anyone. I will wait for you.'' This was about the last thing Leon wanted to do, but orders were orders, and he knew the Captain would wait, so he left his post at the lifeboat. Keep in mind, that at this time, the stern was going down, the bow was coming up, and the ship was starting to go over backwards.

Lawrence Earle Paine, Staff Sergeant, U. S. Army - As the Allies pushed toward Belgium, ``Chisel'' and his outfit got caught up in the Battle of the Bulge. It was the worst winter on record in Europe. The temperatures were sub-zero and the snow was deep. Chisel recalls all the men got to eat on Christmas Day 1944 was one Spam sandwich as they hunkered down in makeshift shelters built out of logs and tree limbs in a futile effort to ward off the cold.

Fred Robie Reed, Seaman First Class, U. S. Navy - Robie encountered several typhoons while in the Pacific, but one in particular stands out in his mind, because the force of the storm wrapped the flight deck down around the bow of the Randolf. He said the winds were in excess of 130 mph and he actually saw destroyers that had been built at Bath Iron Works, broken in two pieces. Robie recalls having to tie himself in his bunk in order to sleep, and said it was the only time he ever saw his ship literally jump over waves.

Wendell Edward Matthews, Seaman First Class, U. S. Coast Guard - The Cavalier loaded troops at Leyte, and on January 26, 1945, joined a convoy of about 14 ships headed for the northern Luzon landings which were scheduled for January 29. On January 30, while off Manila Bay, the ship was suddenly shaken by a violent underwater explosion, presumably caused by a torpedo fired by the Japanese submarine RO-115. Wendell had just come off the 8 to 12 watch and was headed to his bunk. He grabbed his life jacket and ran to man his general quarters station.