Rosendahl Quan II Sailboat Dream
Donation protected
THIS IS A SMALL LIST OF JUST A FEW HARDSHIPS BOB WENT THROUGH !
Dear donors and restoration partners,
Our non-profit, Quan II Marine Society is currently being formed in order to raise restoration funds for the completion of WWII veteran and POW Robert Rosendahl's hand-built Robert Spray sailboat. All excess funds will be donated to our local VFW and the Air and Water Military Museum of the Ozarks in Springfield / Branson Missouri. A short synopsis of his incredible life and story is below.
Few stories hold a force that can transcend life. Moreover, even fewer have the power of the tale of Mr. Robert Rosendahl, a WW II vet who survived the Bataan Death March, only by his shear will and dream of completing his sailboat, the Quan II and sailing it to Tahiti. Unfortunately, Rosendahl recently died at age 98 as did the love of his life, Bettie, on Christmas Day 2019 leaving his lifelong dream and legacy unfulfilled.
But that is not the end of this story…..our non-profit organization, including his son Eirik, have recently come together to fulfill his fathers dream of finishing the boat that he started to build in the early 80's in his front yard and sail it on the ocean as journaled in his personal notes found on the boat. For decades, the boat has sat unfinished on the lawn of the Rosendahl home near Golden Ave. and Republic Rd, in Springfield MO, an unfulfilled dream and legacy. We intend to honor the man many consider a hero and a true American patriot by the restoration of his boat in order to complete his dream of 84 years and seal his and his family's legacy
In WW II he served in the Army Air Corps and deployed to the pacific where he carried with him the plans on how to build a sail boat, which inspired him at the early age of 14 years old. He fought valiantly in the Philippines for 3 months with minimal support. Fighting was fierce, and they eventually ran out of artillery shells and forced to surrender. Captured by the Japanese he and and his comrades were then given the task of leading the other American prisoners on the 60-mile BATAAN DEATH MARCH. Rosendahl was one of an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 prisoners marched in groups of 100. He witnessed prisoners killed by bayonet and other means because they could no longer keep up or become hysterical due to lack of water.
In the 3½ years he was a POW, he spent every night dreaming of completing the sailboat he would someday build, should he live through his POW nightmare. He survived because of the boat he was building in his head. He imagined how he would construct it, the sails snapping to attention and the breeze in his face. “That boat gave me hope,” he said. It is the completion of "his hope " that we will bring to life to finally cement his dream and family legacy. Please see the excerpt from his personal journal below, which was found in the boat.
This boat and his amazing life story has captivated the public's attention for decades and our progress will be chronicled on the Facebook page of
"Rosendahl Quan II Sailboat Restoration"
The funds will be allocated to include, new sails and rigging, navigation equipment, transportation expenses, ballast completion, electrical upgrades, complete sandblasting of exterior with painting to follow per marine specifications, mechanical repairs and upgrades. In addition, funds will be required to address the cost of Coast Guard inspections any additional requirements.
The 38,000-pound steel-hulled sailboat is 38 feet long and was being built from plans by Robert Spray, a renowned sailboat builder and designer. There over 4,000 of his boats on the water today. The boat has never been on water and with your help we will get it to the ocean for the completion of his dream. The renovation process is starting immediately as the boat has to be moved to a storage facility by November 1st.
We certainly are grateful for all those that participate and encourage everyone to follow our progress on our Facebook page:
"Rosendahl Quan II Sailboat Restoration"
You can also read about our story at:
https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2020/10/02/pokin-around-springfield-men-finish-wwii-veterans-boat-destination-tahiti/3580152001/
All funds in excess of the restoration costs will be split equally with local VFW and the Air / Military Museum of the Ozarks. We thank you in advance for your sincere consideration and contribution.
Kind regards and sincere gratitude,
Quan II Marine Society
SEE PROGRESS OF SAILBOAT ON FACEBOOK PAGE UNDER
ROSENDAHL QUAN II SAILBOAT RESTORATION
Dear donors and restoration partners,
Our non-profit, Quan II Marine Society is currently being formed in order to raise restoration funds for the completion of WWII veteran and POW Robert Rosendahl's hand-built Robert Spray sailboat. All excess funds will be donated to our local VFW and the Air and Water Military Museum of the Ozarks in Springfield / Branson Missouri. A short synopsis of his incredible life and story is below.
Few stories hold a force that can transcend life. Moreover, even fewer have the power of the tale of Mr. Robert Rosendahl, a WW II vet who survived the Bataan Death March, only by his shear will and dream of completing his sailboat, the Quan II and sailing it to Tahiti. Unfortunately, Rosendahl recently died at age 98 as did the love of his life, Bettie, on Christmas Day 2019 leaving his lifelong dream and legacy unfulfilled.
But that is not the end of this story…..our non-profit organization, including his son Eirik, have recently come together to fulfill his fathers dream of finishing the boat that he started to build in the early 80's in his front yard and sail it on the ocean as journaled in his personal notes found on the boat. For decades, the boat has sat unfinished on the lawn of the Rosendahl home near Golden Ave. and Republic Rd, in Springfield MO, an unfulfilled dream and legacy. We intend to honor the man many consider a hero and a true American patriot by the restoration of his boat in order to complete his dream of 84 years and seal his and his family's legacy
In WW II he served in the Army Air Corps and deployed to the pacific where he carried with him the plans on how to build a sail boat, which inspired him at the early age of 14 years old. He fought valiantly in the Philippines for 3 months with minimal support. Fighting was fierce, and they eventually ran out of artillery shells and forced to surrender. Captured by the Japanese he and and his comrades were then given the task of leading the other American prisoners on the 60-mile BATAAN DEATH MARCH. Rosendahl was one of an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 prisoners marched in groups of 100. He witnessed prisoners killed by bayonet and other means because they could no longer keep up or become hysterical due to lack of water.
In the 3½ years he was a POW, he spent every night dreaming of completing the sailboat he would someday build, should he live through his POW nightmare. He survived because of the boat he was building in his head. He imagined how he would construct it, the sails snapping to attention and the breeze in his face. “That boat gave me hope,” he said. It is the completion of "his hope " that we will bring to life to finally cement his dream and family legacy. Please see the excerpt from his personal journal below, which was found in the boat.
This boat and his amazing life story has captivated the public's attention for decades and our progress will be chronicled on the Facebook page of
"Rosendahl Quan II Sailboat Restoration"
The funds will be allocated to include, new sails and rigging, navigation equipment, transportation expenses, ballast completion, electrical upgrades, complete sandblasting of exterior with painting to follow per marine specifications, mechanical repairs and upgrades. In addition, funds will be required to address the cost of Coast Guard inspections any additional requirements.
The 38,000-pound steel-hulled sailboat is 38 feet long and was being built from plans by Robert Spray, a renowned sailboat builder and designer. There over 4,000 of his boats on the water today. The boat has never been on water and with your help we will get it to the ocean for the completion of his dream. The renovation process is starting immediately as the boat has to be moved to a storage facility by November 1st.
We certainly are grateful for all those that participate and encourage everyone to follow our progress on our Facebook page:
"Rosendahl Quan II Sailboat Restoration"
You can also read about our story at:
https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2020/10/02/pokin-around-springfield-men-finish-wwii-veterans-boat-destination-tahiti/3580152001/
All funds in excess of the restoration costs will be split equally with local VFW and the Air / Military Museum of the Ozarks. We thank you in advance for your sincere consideration and contribution.
Kind regards and sincere gratitude,
Quan II Marine Society
SEE PROGRESS OF SAILBOAT ON FACEBOOK PAGE UNDER
ROSENDAHL QUAN II SAILBOAT RESTORATION
Organizer and beneficiary
Kevin Doolittle
Organizer
Springfield, MO
Kirk Murrell
Beneficiary
