Lt. Reichard’s WWII Diary – January 14, 1943

Alison Harder — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 06:00:58 +0000

Introduction by Will Seippel, CEO – WorthPoint.com Lt. Reichard began writing a diary on January 1, 1943. In February, he bought a camera and began taking some photos. For the next three years, he wrote almost every day. When I started reading his diary, I thought it should be shared and that perhaps WorthPoint’s community of collectors, people like me who are intrigued by the past, might find the diary as fascinating as I did. (To read Will Seippel’s entire introduction, click here)

January 14, 1943 Diary Page (click to enlarge)

Transcript of diary entry January 14, 1943

Thursday, January 14, 1943

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

Today I was told that Ray would have to stay down at McClellan until this other officer left _____. It seems that the commanding officer of that outfit was sent to school almost as soon as he got there leaving the men with out an officer so Ray has to assume command until Lt. D_____ arrives. It should do him good because he will have to figure it out himself. Ray is a swell guy but won’t assume any responsibility. I’ll throw some at him from now on.

Today was almost normal in its passing. All the equipment is signed for and we are ready to get things in shape for our last moment on these shores I hope. I’d like to see some of the other side. We are running into some difficulty on this field that I hadn’t anticipated. Everywhere we go checking on equipment that has been on requisition we are told that it is at the Port of Embarkation awaiting us. They have no proof of that yet won’t start any action. I’m going to call IV ASAC tomorrow to see what can be done to straighten this out. I must have this equipment. This morning I sent the men on a hike so they went jack rabbit hunting. They formed a large circle out in the hills and closed in. They said that jack rabbits were jumping everywhere. They nearly caught several of them but didn’t. This afternoon we put six spare mattresses on the floor and I taught tumbling and falling. Someday knowing how to fall might come in handy. Also did some wrestling so got in good work out.

“Good Night”

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: January 14, 1943

• U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Free French Gen. Charles DeGaulle met in Casablanca, Morocco, to discuss the direction of the war. The Casablanca Conference lasted 10 days, during which time Roosevelt and Churchill determined that an unconditional surrender would be the only basis of negotiations with the Axis. Roosevelt and Churchill also decided the first priority going forward was the defeat of the U-boats and pledged maximum aid to the Soviet Union and China in the war. (http://www.foxvalleyhistory.org/WWII/timeline/1943.htm)

• Italian occupation authorities refused to deport any Jews living in their French territories. (http://timelines.ws/20thcent/1943.HTML)

• British Royal Air Force raided Nazi German U-boat ports at Lorient and Cherbourg in occupied France. (http://history.howstuffworks.com/world-war-ii/russian-army-repels-hitlers-forces13.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

WorthPoint » January 14 1943

Lt. Reichard’s WWII Diary – January 14, 1943