Sunday,  April 4, 1943

April 4, 1943 Diary Page

Furlough – En route to Maryland

Well this morning I got up at seven-thirty and went over to the mess hall.  I met a pilot going to S. Dakota and it was a risk.  We took off at ten and headed across the mountains.  It was beautiful.  I sat up in the plastic nose of the B-17 and it was fascinating.  It looked like I was up in a glass ball.  The pilot was a hedge hopper by birth I think so he ducked in and out of gorges and canyons making it all very interesting to say in the least.  About an hour out we had to put on oxygen masks and we were about fourteen-thousand feet up.  I sat up in the glass nose nearly all the way.  We dropped down to almost on the ground when we came over the Rushmore Memorial.  That is the huge carving of Washington Jefferson Teddy Roosevelt and I think Madison.  It is a beautiful sight and we buzzed it three times.  At two we pulled into Pierre,  S. Dakota.  It is a ______ town of the first _____ and is stuck out in the middle of nowhere.  I would hate to judge the rest of the towns in S.D. by this capital or the country by what I have seen flying east.  One train a day pulls out at 2:30 A.M.  Well this pilot and myself,  Name of Bill Smith, killed time the best we could and that wasn’t much.  We took a room at the hotel ate dinner then wandered around.  God! what a country.  The lower end of town was nearly flooded out while the other end was nearly obliterated by a dust storm.  A nice place to get stuck in.  We went to bed about ten.

Good Night

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The Day That Was:  April 4, 1943

•    Newly built gas chamber/crematory V opened at Auschwitz. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/the-holocaust/the-holocaust-index-1943.htm)

1943 Diary Recaps

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

March 1943 Recap: March brings uncertainties in weather and daily life to Gowen Field.  Still no word about overseas orders, the outfit must now share quarters with another unit. There is now time to begin a photo album, collecting pictures from times with the outfit.  Letters from Ginnie are becoming more infrequent but there is no shortage of dates with the local girls in Boise.  March comes to an end with everyone in the outfit anxiously awaiting word of upcoming furloughs.

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard

Wednesday,  March 31, 1943

March 31, 1943 Diary Page

Gowen Fieid,    Boise, Idaho

Well the news gets better and better every day in North Africa. I just hope our army and the British 8th Army cover up as they advance so that Rommell can’t pull another fast one as he did a short while back. He is a crazy old fighter and a veteran of both advance and retreat. He bears watching as a careless move on our part will surely ruin the whole scene. I know this: I sure wish to hell he were on our side. We could all breathe easier. Today the men went out on the range and used up the old ammunition. Also it was payday so the first thing this morning was paying the men off. With these furloughs being given out I think maybe they will hang onto their money a little better although tonight as I sit here in the office I can hear silver being tossed on beds as the dice go rolling across. Also there is a blackjack game going on with some pretty stiff stakes. I can’t understand how a man can throw a whole month’s earnings away in one evening and get nothing for it. Today I checked up on my chances of getting a plane going east. They aren’t very good. If I could get a hop to Ogden I might get all the way. I’m at a bad station. Tonight I came up to the office and wrote.

Good Night

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The Day That Was:  March 31, 1943

•    The Australian 9th Division marched through Melbourne watched by more than half-a-million people. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/asia-and-the-pacific/pacific-islands/pacific-islands-index-1943.htm) •    The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, “Oklahoma!,” opened on Broadway. (http://timelines.ws/20thcent/1943.HTML) •    Newly built gas chamber/crematory II opened at Auschwitz. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/the-holocaust/the-holocaust-index-1943.htm) •    U.S. Army Air Corps errantly bombed Rotterdam killing 326. (http://timelines.ws/20thcent/1943.HTML)

Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “Oklahoma!” opened on Broadway on this day in 1943. Mark Platt and Katharine Sergava dance it up in a scene from the musical. Photo: Public Domain

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard

Thursday,  April 1, 1943

April 1, 1943 Diary Page

Gowen Fieid,    Boise, Idaho

Appropriate with the date came a phone call from Ogden stating that they were very sorry but no “leave” would be forthcoming until certain information could be had. That would take no less than fifteen days yet which just about cancels all my chances for a leave the duration. And I was almost packed. It seems that those orders canceling our movement had not as yet been authoritized through all military channels and until then I was stuck. I really should not have allowed all those men to go but to hell with it. Some of them have been away as long as I have. I went in town this afternoon and deposited my check. Those checks don’t come often or fast enough to suit me. I was $30.00 over my budget this month so instead of getting better I only got worse. I think I should have been born a millionaire instead of a poor Lieutenant. This evening Mary Ellen and I went roller skating. Whew! I wasn’t made for that and Mary Ellen wasn’t much better that I was so we had a “falling” good time. Maybe I should have bruises tomorrow. We went back and looked over all my crazy pictures at her apartment, among other things. She had been asking me to bring that album in for quite a while. It was interesting. (I mean the album)

Good Night

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The Day That Was:  April 1, 1943

• The Allies continued to squeeze the Germans into a corner of Tunisia. The seaport of Sfax was bombed. It would be taken on the 10th. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_II_(1943)) • Attempting to stem inflation in the United States, President Roosevelt froze wages, salaries and prices. Meat, fats, canned goods and cheese were now rationed in the U.S. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/the-americas/the-americas-index-1943.htm)

A Seep Stretcher Ambulance in Tunisia 1943. The Allies continued to push the German in Tunisia on this day in 1943.

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

March 1943 Recap: March brings uncertainties in weather and daily life to Gowen Field.  Still no word about overseas orders, the outfit must now share quarters with another unit. There is now time to begin a photo album, collecting pictures from times with the outfit.  Letters from Ginnie are becoming more infrequent but there is no shortage of dates with the local girls in Boise.  March comes to an end with everyone in the outfit anxiously awaiting word of upcoming furloughs.

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard

Tuesday, March 30, 1943

March 30, 1943 Diary Page

Gowen Fieid,    Boise, Idaho

Tomorrow is payday for which I am more than thankful. Somehow I manage to spend about twenty or thirty dollars over my income every month now that I am sending that $75.00 allotment home. It’s good I had a fair cash reserve on hand to work with. That business of relieving me of my quarters allowance really hurt and this month’s food bill at the officer’s mess amounting to $38.75 didn’t help any. Man, I wish they would charge us by the meal. I don’t like three meals a day but it’s a cinch that if I have to pay for them I’m going to eat them. That reminds me. I’m hungry. Well natually I’m getting a little edgy waiting for that damn furlough. I wish it would hurry up and come through or be canceled so I’d know one way or the other. It seems like I have to wait for everything and it sure wears me down. Today we did very little at least of our own work. It seems we have suddenly been made headquarters for A.S.C. for this post. That makes about double the usual amount of paper work. Today was the beginning and if it gets any worse we are going to have to set up a separate headquarters. We didn’t have a chance to do any work for ourselves today. I had a date tonight to go rollerskating but went to a show instead as the rink was closed.

Good Night

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The Day That Was: March 30, 1943

•    Elements of the 8th Army broke through at the Gabes Pass, more than 100 miles into Tunisia and headed north. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-the-desert/war-in-the-desert-index-1943.htm)

Two soldiers from the Sacred Band surveyed a valley near the Tunisian town of Gabes on this day in 1943. Photo: Public Domain

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

Monday, March 29, 1943

March 29, 1943 Diary Page

Gowen Fieid,    Boise, Idaho

This morning I got a letter from Ginnie. It makes me feel like a new man. Her mother came down to school and they had a long talk. I’ll never be able to thank Mrs. G__________ because she fixed things up pretty nice. It’s useless for me to try to tell you how it is because I’m not a writer. I’ll keep the letter for you to read whenever you want. I was just reading the first entry to this diary. It states that this the beginning of a new diary, an overseas one. That was three months ago and I’m still here. Sometimes I wonder. We were expected to leave then and were all ready. Since then we have come 1100 miles, changed companies, been under new overseas orders and had them cancelled. This place sure is quiet now. There is little or no paper work to get out and all the men are in school leaving practically nothing for me to do. The more efficient this organization gets the less I do and I like work. Ye gads I’ll get so damn lazy I won’t be worth anything. Maybe the furlough will come through so I can get away from the army awhile and come back for a fresh start. I feel stale and probably am pretty much that way. We have been doing the same things too long. The weather had the ground dried off pretty good so we will start some field tactics again. The men are getting soft and need that kind of work.

Good Night

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The Day That Was: March 29, 1943

•    Meat was rationed in the United States. The U.S. government required Americans to ration fat, meat and cheese. The military used fat in the manufacture of explosives. Meat and cheese were rationed to guarantee a supply for both civilians and soldiers. Meat rations were set at 28 ounces per person a week. (http://www.myhistorymuseum.org/WWII/timeline/1943.htm) •    The submarine USS Gato (SS-212) evacuated military and civilian personnel from Teop Island in the Solomons. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm) •    British and Indian troops began to withdraw from Arakan in western Burma under heavy Japanese pressure. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/asia-and-the-pacific/asian-mainland/asian-mainland-index-1943.htm)

Meat rationing went into effect on this day in 1943. Original caption: “Harold Rowe, Office of Price Administration food rationing chief, sells meat to girl reporter at shopping preview of new program at the A&P in Washington D.C. Meat, fat and cheese.” Photo: Office of War Information

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

Sunday, March 28, 1943

March 28, 1943 Diary Page

Gowen Fieid,    Boise, Idaho

Today is even lovelier then yesterday. It’s one of those days that makes a kid want to play hooky from school and take a swim although I dare say the water would be a trifle uncomfortable. It’s the kind of day that makes you want to sleep but it’s too pretty to sleep. If I were home I would be bobbing up and down in a skiff in the bay with a line over board and the smell of fish and crab meat and the salty tang lifting from the bay in the warm rays of the bay. When I sit back now and close my eyes I can feel the tug of the line held taut by the ebb tide just before the change. _____ the water will lye still and quiet and the fish, hungry from bucking the swift tides will start feeding. This is the time of the year for “Rock” and the big “____ _____ . ” I sure would like to get ahold of a couple now. This war can’t be over too soon to suit me. For all the beauty of the mountains and forests of the West, I’ll still take my Eastern shore. It’s a place you learn to love with time and one that once is loved is never forgotten.
This afternoon our team played the colored boys at baseball. It sure was a tight game. Final score was 10-8 and of course we won. It was good to be out today. This evening there was a ________ dance at the club. We have an excellent orchestra here on the field which is the only reason I go to the dance.

Good Night

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The Day That Was: March 28, 1943

• The British First Army went on the offensive in northern Tunisia. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-the-desert/war-in-the-desert-index-1943.htm)

British First Army commander, Gen. Kenneth A. N. Anderson, and U.S. Army Gen. Omar Bradley. Anderson’s troops went on the offensive in northern Tunisia on this day in 1943 Photo: Department of Defense Archives

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

Saturday, March 27, 1943

March 27, 1943 Diary Page

Gowen Fieid,    Boise, Idaho

Just another Saturday. It was truly a lovely day though. There was a warm south wind blowing all day and it sure made me develop an acute case of spring fever. I wanted to get out on a tractor and watch the dark moist earth turn and break behind the plows and see the seagulls dip and mine for the big white grubs and smell the air and fumes from the old John-Deere. I really miss those things this time of year. The snow is just about gone from the mountains now. It’s a _____ looking country right now but should turn green quickly if the weather holds out. From now on of course I’ll be sweating out this furlough. I wish I didn’t want it so badly, then it wouldn’t make so much difference if it didn’t come through. That has always been my trouble. I either want it a hell of a lot or just don’t give a damn about it. I think I’ll either make a big success out of life or just as big a flop. I don’t have the guts to be just an ordinary human being. I want too many things out of life and I’m willing to pay for them in work or anything else to get them. I find myself weighting the material value of things so much that I lose the value of simpler things that _____ add up to a good and comfortable life. I don’t know if that is good.

Good Night

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The Day That Was: March 27, 1943

•    Coast Guard cutter No. 85006, the Catamount, a 67-ton patrol boat, exploded in the vicinity Ambrose Light, Long Island. All hands were lost. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm) •    The United States began an assault on Fondouk-pass, Tunisia. (http://timelines.ws/20thcent/1943.HTML)

A formation of American B-25 bombers en route to attack the Mareth Line on this day in 1943. Photo: U.S. National Archives

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

Friday, March 26, 1943

Gowen Fieid,    Boise, Idaho

I checked on furlough rates this morning. Coach round trip amounts to $64.00. Tourist with berth round trip amounts to $164.00 and first class or pullman is $197.50. It looks like I go coach. I dread that trip but it may be the last time I ever see home and also may straighten Ginnie and myself out. It would be worth it if the latter was accomplished. I’m going to try to get a flight back if I can. That would be alright. The letter of request went in this evening and I’m trying to get twenty day but that is almost out of the question. Fifteen days will pass but anything less than that just wouldn’t be practical. I’m going to keep my fingers crossed. I’m giving ten men furloughs starting Monday. All living east of the Miss. River will get 15 days. This side get 7 days and travel time. If we are let alone for a while I might be able to get all the men through. Of course what probably will happen is I’ll be called back as soon as I get home. That would be just my luck. Today was normal. It rained a little and was warm. The afternoon was taken up with physical training. This evening the Officers Club gave a stag party with boxing exhibition and a talk on Judo fighting. Judo sounds so dirty that no one takes it serious enough. It sounds fantastic almost. I’ve been practicing for quite a while and found it real enough. I got to bed about eleven.

Good Night

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The Day That Was: March 26, 1943

March 26, 1943 Diary Page

• The British broke through the Mareth Line in southern Tunisia, threatening the whole German army. The Germans moved north. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_II_(1943))

• The Battle of the Komandorski Islands was won. A task force of two cruisers and four destroyers under Rear Adm. Charles Horatio McMorris engaged a Japanese force of four cruisers and four destroyers escorting reinforcements to Attu in the Aleutians. One Japanese cruiser was damaged. Japanese reinforcements failed to reach Attu. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm)

• Elsie S. Ott, U.S. army nurse, became the first woman to receive an air medal. (http://timelines.ws/20thcent/1943.HTML)

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

Thursday, March 25, 1943

March 25, 1943 Diary Page

Gowen Fieid,    Boise, Idaho

I know I’m being foolish as hell but I think I might work out a furlough. I’ve crossed my fingers and knocked on wood but sure as hell something will come up to mess things up so that I don’t get home. I really need it too because Im getting edgy as hell. This furlough business is due to the fact we have been taken off orders. I wonder if we ever will get across. We have cut out most of the lectures now as there is an opening in the new class for mechanics and a new class is Chemical Warfare so that half the men go to each. This takes up most of the morning so leaves me positively nothing to do in the mornings except look over reports coming in and going out. This afternoon I went over to the gym and worked out. I can’t get below 168 lbs to save my neck regardless of how much I sweat. That’s not a bad weight but my face still has its double chin and I wish to hell I could get rid of that. I had less double chin when I weighed 185. I’ve cut my waist down to nearly 30 inches but can’t get rid of that thin layer of fat. Damn! Well tonight I had a date with ___________ ____________. She’s cute as hell and a spitfire if there ever was one. We got along pretty good because we are pretty much alike. I got in around two.

Good Night

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The Day That Was: March 25, 1943

• U.S. naval and army aircraft bombed Nauru Island in the South Pacific. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm)

• Royal Air Force Transport Command was formed from the former Ferry Command. (http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/rafhistorytimeline1943.cfm)

• A P-38 captured and flown by an Axis pilot shot down 1st Fighter Group Lt. J. C. Harrison “Harold” Lentz of the 94th. Lentz crash-landed in a desert canyon in North Africa. After struggling to get out of the cockpit, forgetting what had been attached between him and his aircraft, parachute, throat mic, etc., friendly Arabs rescued him. (http://www.1stfighter.org/history/1943.html)

Photo: Public Domain

• Greek partisans temporarily took over Samos Island from the Italian garrison. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-europe/southern-europe/southern-europe-index-1943.htm)

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

Wednesday, March 24, 1943

March 24, 1943 Diary Page

Gowen Fieid,    Boise, Idaho

This morning Lt. Debora came up to see me from the [ink blotch] th and told me that my men had deliberatly wrecked their washing machine. I don’t believe in that kind of stuff and called the men together and told them that another incident like that would cause the whole outfit to be restricted indefinitely. The damned machine has been a thorn in our side ever since we came over here. It has a gasoline motor that makes enough noise for a battalion of guns and they run it at all hours. In a way I’m glad it was done. The two outfits are about at each other’s throats and I’ll be glad when we separate. Tonight we played them at softball and beat the devil out of them when they thought they had a cinch. They got to arguing about every play and began fighting amongst themselves and of course our gang started _______ them so they got madder every minute. I am expecting any time to hear that one of our boys has been ganged up on downtown. If that happens I really pity that outfit because above all things this outfit has a loyalty that doesn’t ______ trifling with. They stick together right or wrong and I’ve never yet seen them backed down by anyone. I’m damn proud of them and wouldn’t trade them for any outfit I’ve seen yet. This evening I came back up to the office to write some letters. It’s warm as summer out and looks like we might have rain tonight.

Good Night

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USS Salt Lake City, a 9100-ton, Pensacola-class heavy cruiser, was the largest U.S. ship present during the Battle of the Komandorski Islands and was again damaged by Japanese shells. She continued her support of the Aleutian campaign until September when she returned to Hawaii to prepare for central Pacific operations. Photo: U.S. Naval Historical Center

The Day That Was: March 24, 1943

• The U.S. Navy engaged Japanese naval forces off the Komandorski Islands in the western Aleutians, which eventually paved the way for the American recapture of the Aleutians. (http://www.indiana.edu/~league/1943.htm)

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

Tuesday, March 23, 1943

March 23, 1943 Diary Page

Gowen Fieid,    Boise, Idaho

This afternoon the carbines came and a more welcome sight I have never seen. They are the sweetest little gun made and lighter than a twenty-two yet as deadly within 600 yards as a springfield. They have all the handling features of a pistol and killing features of a high powered rifle. We passed them out to the men and let them have the afternoon off to clean them up and get them in firing condition. They sure were a mess the way they came and I guess oil will be coming out of them for a month to come. Somehow if I come back from this war I sure am going to have one of those little babies. Today we sent out a teletype to Ogden to find out whether we can give the furloughs and how long. Man I could use one right now. I also sent out a teletype inquiring about that classification of men. I figured Capt L_____ would send it back and say he wouldn’t forward it because I was going over his head. I called him up and told him if he didn’t send it I would phone it in and explain why I could not send the teletype. He sent it. I don’t know how dumb these Captains think I am. Tonight I went in town and bowled three strings. My first game was 104, second & third 118 and 124 respectively. Someday I might learn how. It is a lot of fun so I think I will do more of it. I came out about eleven.

Good Night

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The Day That Was: March 23, 1943

• American tanks defeated the Germans at El Guettar, Tunisia. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_II_(1943))

• A U.S. naval station and naval air facility were established at Arseu, Algeria. Advanced amphibious training bases were established at Port Lyautey, Morocco, and Nemours, Tenes, Beni Saf and Mostagenem in Algeria. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm)

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

March 22, 1943 Diary Page

Monday, March 22, 1943

Gowen Fieid,    Boise, Idaho

So help me we are going to get those carbines instead of springfields. That is almost too much to ask for. Never-the-less that is what the teletype we just got in said. Man! but that is a sweet little weapon. Now all we have to do is get some ammunition for them to practice with. None of us have ever fired the gun. Well here’s hoping. The Post Adjutant called me up this morning and called me down for reclassifying my men. He said that that was the job of the Base Classification officer and not my job at all. He really dressed me up and down. I claimed I had done it for nine months and didn’t see why I should stop now. Also I told him that I would like to know a man more qualified than a man’s C.O. as he would certainly know the man’s qualifications better than anyone else. He wouldn’t argue but told me that any further discrepancies of that order would place me in a position to receive disciplinary action. That made me mad. I came back and looked up Army Regulation and it said definitely that the C.O. of a unit could classify his men. I called Cpt L____ and read the regulation but got nowhere. He was hot because I proved him wrong so I guess I’d better keep my eyes open for trouble. He has no jurisdiction over this outfit anyway as we are in A.S.C. and the 2nd A.F. has nothing to do with us. I’ll call Ogden tomorrow and get ____ concrete evidence to protect myself.

Good Night

The submarine USS Amberjack at Dutch Harbor, Alaska, on July 16, 1942. The Amberjack was reported as presumed lost on this day in 1943. Amberjack was last heard from more than a month earlier, and all transmissions to the submarine were unanswered. Photo: U.S. National Archives

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The Day That Was: March 22, 1943

• The submarines USS Grampus (SS-207) and USS Amberjack (SS-219) were reported as presumed lost. The loss of a submarine was an inexact science. The last transmission from Amberjack was received on Feb. 14. She reported having been forced down the day before by two destroyers and that she had recovered an enemy aviator from the water and taken him prisoner. All further messages to the vessel were unanswered.
(http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.coneofsilence.info/img/subs/USS%2520Amberjack%2520(SS%2520219).jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.coneofsilence.info/index.php%3Fs%3Drabaul&usg=__gBIKpVnFFxeEGZMkaevklEZOZ2U=&h=422&w=520&sz=48&hl=en&start=2&sig2=zu5WyPbKYfMQ4GhP0yDp8A&tbnid=EglgTlxlSBBnMM:&tbnh=106&tbnw=131&ei=onSSdWRJ9vFmQeW-u2eDg&prev=/images%3Fq%3DUSS%2BAmberjack%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den)

• The German submarine U-524 was sunk by army aircraft north of the Canary Islands. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm)

• Newly built gas chamber/crematory IV opened at Auschwitz. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/the-holocaust/the-holocaust-index-1943.htm)

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

Sunday, March 21, 1943

March 21, 1943 Diary Page

Gowen Fieid,    Boise, Idaho

Last night or shall we say this morning, I didn’t get in until two-thirty so it is just short of a miracle that I was able to get up at nine-thirty. I went to church. Of course I had a date. It’s a cinch nothing else would have gotten me up at that un-godly hour. I called the office and told them to have a recon ready to take me in town and they told me the Major wanted to see me. I told M____ that I just couldn’t be found. I picked Claire up at 10:45 and we went to the Episcopal Church. It was an excellent service. We went back to the house around one and killed time until the shows opened. We saw Monty Wooley in “Life Begins at 8:30″ and it was good. I always did like him. After the show we met Ray & Helen and went up to the Boise Club for a steak dinner. Boy did that taste good. After dinner we went over to the house so Claire could pack. Carl and Mary Ellen came in so we sat around and talked. The bus left at 10:30 so we left around nine-thirty for the station and I sure hated to see her go. This is the first girl since Virginia that I have let myself get serious over and inside of five or six days too. Maybe I’m slipping. I generally walk out when things get that way but this time I didn’t want to. Maybe it’s a good thing she did.
Good Night

After four months of silence, Adolf Hitler gave a speech on Hero’s Day in Germany. Photo: Public Domain

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The Day That Was: March 21, 1943

• Hitler broke his four-month silence with a Hero’s Day speech. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-europe/western-europe/western-europe-index-1943.htm)

• Another assassination attempt on Hitler failed. (http://timelines.ws/20thcent/1943.HTML)

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

Saturday, March 20, 1943

March 20, 1943 Diary Page

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

No inspection this morning. There is entirely too much work to be done. The heat as far as we are concerned is so hot that the crating must be completed and sealed immediately. We had left the boxes open in case any last minute stuff came in that we could put away but now there is no time to lose. Sgt. Sanders has a bunch of them checking equipment and Sgt. P___________ has another group over in the shops checking over the trucks we had out on the bivoac. All the wheels must be pulled and checked as sand will have gotten all through the system. That Warrant Officer came back today with a Major from the IG’s office and we had quite a session. They don’t like the situation in this other outfit at all as the two officers just don’t get along together. It’s a mess. The Non-Coms are for the C.O. and the rest are for the Junior Officer so that there is no organization at all and there is a constant friction. That’s bad! Tonight I had a date with Claire and I’m getting a little mixed up and so is she. She is a lovely girl and would make someone a wonderful wife but Virginia still sticks in my mind too strongly. One thing certain and that is I have more than my share of trouble with women. I talked her into staying another day. Her girlfriend told me I could talk her into staying for good.

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

1st Armored Division men taking a break at the Maknassy railroad station after discovering that Maknassy was free of the enemy. Photo: U.S. National Archives

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The Day That Was: March 20, 1943

•    Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery’s forces began a breakthrough in Tunisia, striking at the Mareth Line, a defensive line that was originally built by the French to hold off Italian tanks and infantry. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_II_(1943))

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

Friday, March 19, 1943

March 19, 1943 Diary Page

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

This morning I really hated to get out of bed it was so warm and the air was so blame cold. When I got over to the office the men had their clothing already laid out for the Inspector who was due around nine-thirty. I checked everything to make sure it was up to par. The Inspector this time was a Warrant Officer and he knew his business. He said that we were one of the best outfits that he has seen in a long time. The other outfit that is to go over with us is in a mess and I think that A.C.S. is getting ready to make a change of officers as their C.O. is not doing the job he should. He said if all the outfits that he inspects were in our condition his job would be a cinch. It makes a man feel pretty good to hear his outfit talked of like that. I feel as though it’s been worth the work and I sure am proud of the boys.

Photos from Lt. Reichard’s First Album

Photograph Album cover	Outside Gowen Field.	The unit from Gowen FIeld.
Snowy jeep rides.	Camp breakfast.	Camping out.

Well I got into something this evening. I bought an album and started putting my pictures of the last six months in it. I put in 196 pictures which is about half of the number I’ve taken. The rest were sent home from time to time. I really ought to have a wonderful collection of pictures when this war is all over. I hope I get through it so I may have the pleasure of looking things over. It was nine o’clock when I finished so I went over to my room and went to sleep.

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

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The Day That Was: March 19, 1943

•Public outcry in the United States and Britain over the news that the Nazi regime was systematically murdering European Jewry provided the impetus for the Bermuda Conference, which opened on this day in 1943. Although ostensibly designed to solve the refugee problem caused by Hitler’s genocidal policies, the conference is regarded as the pinnacle of Allied efforts to stonewall rescue operations. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_II_(1943)) • The British 8th Army began its offensive against German and Italian defenders of the Mareth Line in Tunisia. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-the-desert/war-in-the-desert-index-1943.htm)

Assistant Secretary of State Breckinridge Long, who exercised his influence within the State Department to prevent the U.S. from becoming a place of refuge for European Jews, suggested Bermuda as the site for the refugee conference because of its inaccessibility. Long’s xenophobia influenced practically every move he made during the war as he led the State Department action to deny visas to political and intellectual refugees. Photo: U.S. National Archives

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

Thursday, March 18, 1943

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

Brrrrr! Boy did I hate to climb out of those blankets this morning. The top blanket was frosted and so was my nose which was about the only thing showing. The old thermometer had really gone down last night and every thing was frozen solid. The big fire was roaring as the guards had been given instructions to keep wood piled high on it. It sure felt good. For breakfast we had hot cakes and the tasted like angelfood. Why does food taste so god-awful good when you are camping out? This outfit has a couple darn good cooks for which I’m darn thankful. One of the trucks had to go into the field and came back saying an inspector was in from Ogden to look us over so Sgt. Enright and I brought the “Recon” back to check our records so as to have every thing ready in case he is pretty stiff. This evening I had a date with Claire. She is the number that is engaged but forgot it for a while. Well she still forgets it. She was supposed to go east to marry the guy last Wednesday but I’ve convinced her to wait a while. Boy am I a heel. She’s worth it though and I don’t mean maybe. We went to a show then to the Boise Club then back to her place. Is she warm?   You guess.

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

U.S. GIs examined a German tank destroyed by artillery at El Guettar on the highway from Gafsa to Gabes. El Guettar was the first time the Big Red One, fighting as a unit, had faced a battle-tested German division. Photo: U.S. National Archives

The Day That Was: March 18, 1943

• Gen. George Patton led his tanks of II Corps into Gafsa, Tunisia. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_II_(1943))

• In the crucible of Operation Torch, the men of Sub-Task Force Goalpost received their baptism of fire capturing the Moroccan town of Port Lyautey. (http://timelines.ws/20thcent/1943.HTML)

• Chindit forces crossed the Irrawaddy in Burma. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/asia-and-the-pacific/asian-mainland/asian-mainland-index-1943.htm)

• The ships James Oglethorpe (U.S.) and Terkolei (Netherlands) were torpedoed and sank. (http://timelines.ws/20thcent/1943.HTML)

• Germany called off its offensive in Caucasus. (http://timelines.ws/20thcent/1943.HTML

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

Wednesday, March 17, 1943

March 17, 1943 Diary Page

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

This morning when I woke up it was snowing a blizzard and it was cold as hell. The snow soon let up as did the cold but when I got to the office it still looked bad. A break in the Southwest made up my mind for me so we took off for our camp site. The men were marching except for the cooks and a few necessary to making camp. We set up the bivoac on an island in the Boise River. The river has a hard sand bottom so the trucks ______ it easily. We had camp nearly complete and a hot meal filling the air with a delicious aroma when the outfit marched into the area. They looked hungry and were. They ate then set up their tents and bedded down. The afternoon was taken up with demonstrations of what a truck could do also found out what it wouldn’t do. We put ________ shields on the front and pushed her up and down the stream with the water almost coming in the cab. She hit a soft spot and stuck until the body was under water in one corner. It took us three hours to get her out and don’t think I wasn’t a little worried. The men got a world of experience out of it though. This evening we posted guards then sat around a huge fire of railroad ties and had a bull session over the days events. It was a gorgeous night with a full moon and a million stars. Of course I had some fun sneaking up on the guards and scaring the hell out of them.

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: March 17, 1943

· The German occupation authority closed Lithuanian schools of higher education and the Academy of Education. (http://timelines.ws/20thcent/1943.HTML)

Munda Airfield

· During the night of March 16‑17, Liberator heavy bombers carried out minor attacks on Japanese positions at Munda and Vila in the central Solomons and at Kahili and Ballale in the Shortland Island area. Results were not observed. (http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/comms/1943-03.html)

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

Tuesday, March 16, 1943

March 16, 1943 Diary Page

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

Tomorrow we are going out on an overnight “Bivoac” so most of today was taken up in preparation of that. We had several short lectures on sanitation and the processes of making camping to prepare the men for it. Their equipment had to be checked, the arrangements made for rations, trucks, and kitchen equipment ___ ____ is all packed. Every thing was ship shape by two o’clock so we all went over to the gym for our “Judo” class. The men are getting to be quite proficient at it and just pray that they don’t take it into their head to use those tactics in case they get tight and get in a fight some night in town because I’ll have a man or so with a murder charge against him. This stuff is plain deadly and every movement is capable of breaking an arm or leg or killing a man instantly. Some times I wonder what this world is going to be like after the war when seven million trained killers will be turned loose in the United States alone. It may not be quite as bad as it sounds but when a man has been trained to kill in a fight and has done it what will change him back to a human being?

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: March 16, 1943

· U-Boat Wolfpack “Raubgraf” and attacks convoys HX-229 (37 ships) in the North Atlantic and over the next four days sinks 12 ships for 86,326 gross tons, damaging another four. Another wolfpack, named “Stürmer,” attacks SC122 and over a period of four days and nights, sinking 11 ships (54,740 tons) with the loss of just one U-boat; U-384 (Oblt. von Rosenberg-Gruszinski). (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-at-sea/atlantic/battle-of-the-atlantic-index-1943.htm)

· The first reports of the Katyn massacre in Poland seep to the West; reports say that more than 180,000 prisoners of war were killed by the Soviet NKVD, who eventually blame the massacre on the Germans. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_II_(1943))

· Josef Stalin, for the nth time, demands a “Second Front,” accusing his allies of treachery. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_II_(1943))

· On Eastern Front, the first operational trails of an anti tank version of the Junkers Ju87G take place. The aircraft is fitted with two 37mm Flak guns. (http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/aviation%20timeline/1943.htm)

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

Monday, March 15, 1943

March 15, 1943 Diary Page

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

You never know what to expect in this war. Russia has been pushing the Germans back steadily for a long time and it looked like they were going to keep it up. All of a sudden the Germans turned and now are retaking some of the country they have just lost and things are looking pretty darn serious. Now, while Germany has so many of her reserves concentrated in the East, is the time to start our second front. If we don’t relieve that pressure it may turn out a lot more serious than we reckon on. The forces seem to be so evenly matched that it may enter into a stalemate which means a war lasting for five or maybe ten years.
Today we went out on the rifle range. Snow flurries really messed up the day but most of the men fired over their usual and got a much better score. I didn’t do so hot. I can’t understand why some days I can make a wonderful score and others I can’t do a damn thing. I was disgusted. We came in about five. Carl and I were supposed to have dates and he didn’t turn up so I went over to his place and found his outfit in a meeting. That sergeant of his can talk the leg off a bull. He kept it up steady from 7:15 to 9:30 so we got in town about quarter of ten. I had called the girls so they weren’t too sore. We came out about one.

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: March 15, 1943

• On the Eastern Front, German forces completed the recapture of Kharkov after the last Soviet defenders of the tractor factory withdrew. Meanwhile, to the north, Soviet forces captured Kholm and Zharkovskiy, to the north and east of Velikiye Luki, as the German Army Group Center continued its withdrawal. (http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1943/mar1943/f15mar43.htm)

• In the Pacific, the U.S. 7th Fleet (Adm. Arthur Carpender) was formed to control naval operations around the island of New Guinea. (http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1943/mar1943/f15mar43.htm)

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Sean McGill – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise.  Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent.  February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

Sunday, March 14, 1943

March 14, 1943 Diary Page

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

This morning for the first time in a hell of a long time I slept until noon. Of course I was out pretty late but it is unusual that we didn’t have an inspector or someone in to look things over. We weren’t bothered the whole day which is really hard to understand. That mother of mine is a bird. After I had already made out my income tax return and sent in a check for a quarterly payment she sends me a letter showing where I had lost so much in my business interest at home that I didn’t have to pay any income. I got that letter this morning so it helped out a lot. Now what in the hell am I supposed to do? I can use that money I sent very nicely but how am I supposed to get it back? This afternoon Lt. H ______ and I saw “Air Force” which is by far the most powerful show of this war I have ever seen. I think every one should see it. This evening we went in town and dropped around to see some friends of his and enjoyed a bull session until about ten thirty when we decided to come on out and go to bed. Tomorrow I have to go out on the rifle range so would like to get a good night’s sleep. I don’t sleep very sound any more and I can feel it.

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: March 14, 1943

• In a series of convoy battles over the next week (March 14-20), 21 ships of 140,800 tons from convoys SC-122 and HX-229 were sunk in the Atlantic. About 20 of 40 U-boats would attack, and the convoy escorts would fail to sink a single German U-boat. The German intelligence service, B Dienst, had provided solid information on the routes of these the convoys. (http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1943/mar1943/f14mar43.htm)

• The Royal Navy submarine, Thetis, renamed Thunderbolt, was sunk by the Italian corvette, Cicogna, off Sicily. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-at-sea/mediterranean/mediterranean-index-1943.htm)

• Fleet Operational Training Command, Atlantic Fleet under Rear Adm. D. B. Beary, was established. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm)

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Sean McGill – voice of Lt. Reichard

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