Welcome to the Crowdsourcing Mornings segment! Every weekday morning, Geek Alabama talks about and features one crowdsourcing project from crowdsourcing sites such as, Indiegogo, and others. The hope with Crowdsourcing Mornings is to feature and help a project be successful and reach its fundraising goal. Please enjoy today’s featured project!
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Honor the 80th Anniversary of World War II and experience a Pearl Harbor Survivor’s story.
December 7, 1941 – “A date which will live in infamy.” These words resonated deeply for countless individuals, including Harvey “Mack” Abbott, a young US Marine who arrived in Pearl Harbor fresh out of training just days before his 19th birthday – and less than two months before the attack that would change the course of history.
Mack survived the devastation of Pearl Harbor and went on to serve in the 1st and 3rd Marines during the next four years of intense island-hopping campaigns in the Pacific. He participated in pivotal battles such as Guadalcanal, Tulagi, Midway, Saipan, and Tinian. Like many veterans, Mack viewed his service as simply fulfilling his patriotic duty. It wasn’t until nearly fifty years later, through his involvement in veterans organizations, that he began to share his remarkable story.
A decisive moment that spurred Mack’s commitment to public education about World War II occurred at the 50th anniversary reunion for Pearl Harbor survivors in Hawaii. There, his commanding officer, General Howard Kirgis, remarked to Mack and a group of veterans, “Abbott, I know you fired the first and last shots of World War II, but it doesn’t mean a damn thing as far as the Marine Corps is concerned.”
The general’s comment alluded to a unique aspect of Mack’s service: he indeed fired what could be considered the first and last shots of World War II for a U.S. Marine. His first shot was in defense of Pearl Harbor, using his 1903 Springfield Rifle to fire upon Japanese airplanes flying so close he could see the pilots’ faces. His last shot was on Tinian, after the atomic bomb had been dropped. While it’s well-understood that the war began before America’s involvement, this distinction – firing the first and last shots as a U.S. Marine – wasn’t a claim to fame for Mack. However, General Kirgis’s words, years later, made Mack realize that this unique perspective could be a powerful way to share the history and significance of a war he feared would fade from memory.
Mack initially self-published his memoir in 2001, and he dedicated the following years to sharing his story until his passing in 2014. His book has been out of print and unavailable since then. Until now.
We are Paul, Nathan, and Russ Abbott. As Mack’s descendants, we are honored to carry on his legacy by bringing his story to a new generation through updated and accessible formats.
By backing this project, you’re not just supporting the publication of a book; you’re becoming a partner in preserving a legacy. You’re helping to ensure that Harvey “Mack” Abbott’s unique perspective – a voice that speaks to resilience, community, and the enduring power of storytelling – continues to inspire and inform readers for years to come. Join us in making this new edition a reality and sharing this extraordinary story with the world.
The Memoir
Mack first self-published his memoir in 2001. He recruited the help of fellow veteran E Wayne McDaniel, who documented Mack’s story and added historical context. The resulting memoir is both a personal journey and an educational history.
While we wanted to update the book, we didn’t want to change the story as Mack told it, so we’ve left the core of the narrative just as he had it. Instead, we’ve focused on including tons of new photos (many are never-before-seen) and fixing some typographical and grammatical errors, while modernizing the look and feel of the interior and exterior. Mack made three revisions himself before his passing, so this is the fourth edition, and features a new foreword by Mack’s son Paul Abbott and an afterword by grandson Nathan Abbott. The new cover was designed by grandson (and professional artist) Russ Abbott.
Mack wanted the story to be appropriate for families so don’t expect any gore or cursing, but the subject matter may still necessitate adult guidance for those below a young adult reading level.
As of May 14th, this project has raised $700 of their $1,941 goal. This project has 15 days left to raise the $1,941 or it will not be funded. For a pledge of $8, you will get one eBook. For a pledge of $25, you will get one paperback. To learn more and to pledge money, go to: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/firstandlastshots/i-fired-the-first-and-last-shots-in-wwii-mack-abbott?
Categories: Crowdsourcing Mornings Stuff
