January 31, 1943 Diary Page (click to enlarge)

Transcript of diary entry   January 31, 1943

Sunday,  January 31, 1943

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

This morning I had the clock set for eight so I got up. I got over to the office about nine and made arrangements to pay the men off. We had to pay six of them on vouchers so I took them up to the Finance office and cleared that up the same time I picked up the payroll. We came on back to the office and I paid them off. Fifteen minutes later a craps game was going on in one end of the barracks and a blackjack in another. Before night one of the boys had cleaned up nearly $100.00 and that aint hay brother. I can’t see how those men can sit down and lose most of a months pay and than do the same thing next month. Maybe I’m not built right.

About three thirty I had Pvt. Dailey run me in to Marie’s house. Ray and Helen were there as we had all been invited to dinner. They had a fire going so we all sat around the fireplace and talked. Also went outside and took some pictures. We had dinner about six and it was delicious. We had a thick cut steak medium rare plus hot rolls. For dessert we had hot cinnamon rolls. Boy were they good. We sat around the fireplace after dinner until ten thirty talking then Marie ran us down town. I took a bus out to camp and turned in early.

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: January 31, 1943
• To Adolf Hitler’s disgust, German Field Marshall Paulus and 15 other generals, trapped in Stalingrad, surrendered the southern group of his army. Two days later, General Schreck surrendered the northern group. The VI Army was no more. (http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/nazioccupation/opbarb.html)

• Vichy France created the Milice (Militia) under the command of Joseph Darnand, an extreme right-wing World War I veteran, to combat the Resistance. The Milice effectively became an arm of the German occupation forces and reached a strength of more than 20,000 by mid-1944. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-europe/western-europe/western-europe-index-1943.htm)

• Finnish leadership was sure that Germany would lose the war and started to think how to make peace with Allies. (http://www.lysator.liu.se/nordic/mirror/sa-int/hist.html)

• The 8th Army took Zuara, near the Tunisian frontier. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-the-desert/war-in-the-desert-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; Sean McGill – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 30, 1943 Diary Page (click to enlarge)

Transcript of diary entry   January 30, 1943

Saturday,  January 30, 1943

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

This morning Ray and I gave the boys a real inspection. I had warned them so they should have been ready. They thought they were but had no idea we were going to be so rough. When we finished we had the names of 2/3′rd of the company down for something. We had a meeting afterwards and I told the men they were restricted. I think there were only two men allowed on pass. I think they will be more careful in the future. The meal of the morning was dull and the outlook for the afternoon was worse. I decided I was tired of being bored so Sgts. Eggleston, Sanders, W_________, and myself took the jeep up into the mountains. We took old dirt roads and ran them down to their ________ and I mean they were rugged. Even a sensible horse would have balked at some of the places we went. It was a warm day so the ground had thawed out to about ten inches so we had to drive most of he time in front wheel drive. We went along a couple bridges that looked bad and W________ was sitting with his feet hanging over the side ready to jump. We saw quite a few deer and picked up a lot of horns evidently shed. When we got back we told some of the boys that W________ had caught the deer and the horn had come off when he grabbed him. We even had them believing it. This evening I met Marie at her house. She sold her car (1941 Chev Coupe’) for $850.00. Whew! We used her fathers Olds which is pretty nice. I like the hydromatic drive. Got in about one.

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: January 30, 1943

• With the German VI Army in its death throes at Stalingrad, Hitler did the seemingly unthinkable and allowed the 10th anniversary of the Nazi seizure of power to pass without speaking to the nation. It was the first unmistakable evidence of Hitler’s retreat from public appearances as the tide of the war turned. However, a rally held in Berlin was addressed by senior Nazi leaders including Göring and Goebbels. The rally was interrupted several times by six raiding Royal Air Force Mosquito fighter bombers of Squadrons 105 and 139. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-europe/western-europe/western-europe-index-1943.htm)

• In a nighttime attack on Hamburg, aircraft of the RAF Pathfinder Force used the H2S bombing radar for the first time. (http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/rafhistorytimeline1943.cfm)

• The last Japanese cleared out of Guadalcanal by an evacuation plan undetected by the Americans. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_II_(1943))

• U.S. land- and carrier-based naval aircraft engaged Japanese aircraft attacking Rear Adm. Robert Giffen’s cruiser and destroyer force. Japanese Val aircraft torpedoed the heavy cruiser USS Chicago (CA-29), which sunk, and the destroyer USS La Vallette, which was damaged. A naval station was established at Akutan Harbor, Fox Island in Alaska. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm)

• Grand Adm. Karl Koenitz became chief of the German Navy. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm)

• A U.S. B-17 crew attacked an unidentified submerged object in Alaskan waters and dropped four depth charges and one bomb. The unidentified object was a whale. (http://www.sfmuseum.net/war/43.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; Sean McGill – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 29, 1943 Diary Page (click to enlarge)

Transcript of diary entry   January 29, 1943

Friday,  January 29, 1943

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

This morning I felt pretty good and a good breakfast set me fine. I had a job to do today I didn’t relish but could see no honest way out of. That is busting a man. Sgt. B________ nearly cost me $200.00 by his carelessness and laziness in his duties as supply sgt. last summer and early this fall. I sent him away to school early in Nov. and put a rookie with a lot of nerve in his place and we finally got the books in order and equipment up to date. It took plenty of work and a lot of broken army regulations but it was done even to the satisfaction of the Post Inspector. Well he came back from school last night and today we sent in a recommendation for his bust. I called him into the office and told him the set up and all details. He had no defense and agreed he had it coming. I’m glad that is over with. I don’t know if that will set him on his feet or not but I hope so because he could be a damn useful man if he got over the careless and lazy streak.

It has tried to snow all day and finally succeeded tonight. I like the feel of this weather. Today we did very little outside of the usual lectures and gym work. Monday I have a Jiu-Jitsu expert lined up to give the men instruction. It is something that will never hurt them to know. A lieutenant came over from headquarters today to check our equipment. I don’t get the point but I guess he knows what he’s doing. I’m going to send out a tracer on that shortage list if I don’t hear from it soon.

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: January 29, 1943

• Dr. Ernst Kaltenbrunner took the post in Adolf Hitler’s inner circle vacated by the assassinated Reinhard Heydrich. Kaltenbrunner would oversee the death camps, Einsatzgruppen, SS and Gestapo. (http://history.howstuffworks.com/world-war-ii/russian-army-repels-hitlers-forces14.htm)

• The Nazis ordered all Gypsies arrested and sent to extermination camps. (http://team8-3.pbwiki.com/1943-timeline)

• In the Battle of Rennell Island, a cruiser and destroyer task force under Rear Adm. Robert Giffen, covering the movement of troop transports to Guadalcanal, was bombed by Japanese aircraft near Rennell Island. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm)

• Advance units of the 8th Army crossed the Tunisian frontier from Libya. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-the-desert/war-in-the-desert-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; Sean McGill – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 28, 1943 Diary Page (click to enlarge)

Transcript of diary entry   January 28, 1943

Thursday,  January 28, 1943

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

Today I won’t forget for a while. I went up in a “B17″ a Flying Fortress as it is commonly called and got sick as a dog. It’s the first time I’ve ever been air sick and I hope the last. I don’t think I have ever been sicker in my life. We took off about one on a bombing mission up on the plateau to the east of camp. There is a railroad track up there and a water tower surrounded by a few houses. This we used as our objective. We went up and down that track about three or four hundred feet up for three solid hours traveling about 250 MPh. I was alright for the first hour and a half. In fact I was enjoying myself thoroughly looking the plane over from one end to the other. Then I got the brilliant idea of going up in the top gunner turret. There I played around for about half an hour training the guns on every thing in sight. It was a hell of a lot of fun and I wasn’t thinking about what the training manual said up there might be doing to my stomach until it was too late. I made a bee line for the rear mens and just made it. I was a sick individual for the next hour. The combination of low flying and the turret is probably what did it. The next time I go up I will make sure it’s a high flying mission. This evening you can bet I stayed home and nursed a sick stomach. I did manage to write some letters. I feel much better now and I did put some supper down.

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: January 28, 1943

• The War Relocation Authority (WRA) began processing loyalty questionnaires. U.S. Army officially activated the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, composed of the 100th Battalion from Hawaii and Japanese-American volunteers from the mainland internment camps. Nearly 10,000 Hawaiian Nisei (second generation Japanese-Americans) volunteered for military service, but only 1,100 of the mainland prisoners volunteered.

• Nine Norwegian commandos successfully climbed down the steep gorge on one side of the German “heavy water” plant at Telemark and worked their way up a 500-foot, almost sheer rock face to reach the plant on the other side of the gorge. Undetected, they gained entrance and successfully set and detonated their explosives, ruining the plant. All the commandos escaped safely without taking or inflicting any casualties. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-europe/scandinavia/scandinavia-index-1943.htm)

• A new conscription law in Germany was enacted. Men between 16 and 35 and women between 17 and 45 were open to mobilization. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_II_(1943))

• Japan’s Prime Minister Tojo told parliament of his government’s intention to recognize the independence of Burma and the Philippines and to aid India in its liberation from British rule. (http://www.fsmitha.com/time1943.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 27, 1943 Diary Page (click to enlarge)

Transcript of diary entry   January 27, 1943

Wednesday,  January 27, 1943

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

This morning was spent getting ready for this afternoon. We must have worked out a little too long on those dives yesterday because we were all pretty sore. We tried a new system today. Instead of diving over sticks we dove over men. You can judge where to take off much better that way. In the morning practice we were diving well over eight feet using five men on their backs and knees as hurdles. We worked out our schedule then took off for the rest of the morning. We went in town about three. We went on at three forty five and I gave an introductory speech trying to put across the importance of physical training then we went into our diving act. They have a swell gym with plenty of room. This diving act went over with a bang. We finally cleared ten feet. The ten foot try mostly stumped me. I got off on the wrong foot and didn’t realize it until I was ready to take off. I went all over the place taking the men I was to go over with me. The next time I made it. Then we had a interesting match between ________ and myself. We made it look rough. After that came the “free for all.” It was a pretty good show and made the papers. This evening I met our four new men at the station. I sent them out to camp then met Marie. We picked up Ray & Helen and saw a show then stopped into the Boise Club for a while. We left early. It was raining most of the evening.

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: January 27, 1943

• For the first time, the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) staged a heavy bomber attack on Germany. Fifty Boeing B17 Flying Fortresses of the 1st Bombardment Wing, 8th USAAF, attacked Emden and the large naval base at Wilhelmhaven, causing extensive damage. (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; Sean McGill – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 26, 1943 Diary Page (click to enlarge)

Transcript of diary entry   January 26, 1943

Tuesday,  January 26, 1943

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

Well this morning I called the men together and I really worked them over. They have had it coming because they have let down in their military more than just a little. Our set up here has made it quite difficult to carry on as a military unit and the sooner we get to where we belong and get on our regular job the better I’m going to like it. When I finished Sgt. Enright took it up. One thing I’ve put a stop to is this business of everyone coming to me with their troubles. They are supposed to see the field Sgt. then if he sees fit they come to me. They are doing entirely too much complaining. There are a few gold bricks that want to mess the whole thing up. I’ve given orders that those men will be taken care of. I think they will be.

This afternoon we did some tumbling. The running dive type. We had it as process of elimination and the final dive was 7′ 6″. That is quite a dive in any man’s language. This morning they had more lectures. I called Engineers about the packing lumber they were supposed to get us. They don’t have it yet. This is a hell of a field to get anything done. I got a letter from Sacramento today from ________. She says she is going to get a job and work for a month or so. I wonder if all is right. This evening I went in town, saw a bum show and came out early.

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: January 26, 1943

• The submarine USS Wahoo (SS-238) sank an entire group of Japanese ships north of New Guinea—two freighters, one transport and one tanker. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm)

• The Stalingrad pocket was split in two and Voronezh captured. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-europe/eastern-europe/eastern-europe-index-1943.htm)

• The 8th Army took Zaula in Libya, less than 100 miles from Tunisian frontier. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-the-desert/war-in-the-desert-index-1943.htm)

• Japanese aircraft strafed Costantine Harbor on Amchitka Island in the Aleutians. (http://www.sfmuseum.net/war/43.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; Sean McGill – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 25, 1943 Diary Page (click to enlarge)

Transcript of diary entry   January 25, 1943

Monday,  January 25, 1943

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

Today we had the roughest rough and tumble I’ve ever seen and it lasted for one hour and thirty five minutes without a break. The men are really getting in condition so they can take it. The morning was spent in lectures and demonstrations which are a review of the things we have been going over for the last six months. It is about the only thing we can do here until we find out about our equipment. I think we will all be far happier when we get the news to go. This lying around doesn’t do anyone any good and the boys are getting restless. So am I for that matter. I went in town and at last found a good camera shop. I think I have a light meter lined up but it will be two weeks before I can get it. I hope I’m still here then.

It is much warmer today and it is still clear although it looks as though tomorrow will be cloudy. I wish it would stay cold.
Tonight I stayed in and wrote some letters. I went over to the office about eight and Enright, Sanders, Eggleston and myself had a long talk. Tomorrow I’m going to give the outfit a working over. They are getting lax in their Military.

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: January 25, 1943

• The Red Army succeeded in splitting the remnants of the German VI Army into a northern and a southern pocket. German forces evacuated Armavir and Voronezh. Stalin’s order of the day said that the Red Army had routed 102 German divisions in the last two months. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-europe/eastern-europe/eastern-europe-index-1943.htm
stopped at Novorossiysk and Krasnodar. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-europe/eastern-europe/eastern-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; Sean McGill – voice of Lt. Reichard

January 24, 1943 Diary Page (click to enlarge)

Transcript of diary entry   January 24, 1943

Sunday,  January 24, 1943

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

This morning I woke up a little earlier than is usual for me on Sundays. I rolled out of bed at nine and wrote some letters. This is one thing I’m sure behind on so it was time well spent. I went over to dinner at noon then came back and read for a couple hours. I listened to Andre’ Kostelanetz. That is a program I surely hope we can get on the other side.

About three I got dressed and had Daily drive me in to Marie’s. Her father came home about four and for two solid hours we sat and argued theory and politics, war and peace and just stopped barely short of religion. We both enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun because it is the first time Ive had a chance to talk like that in a year. He is a very interesting man. I also looked over their pictures of their camping trips made through Oregon, Idaho, and California. They have a beautiful collection. It was a pretty wonderful afternoon. Around seven we went over and picked up Ray & Helen and went to the Boise Club for a steak dinner. It was delicious. After dinner we danced, had a few drinks then left for home. It was a pretty nice day. Sunny and brisk and the ground covered with snow. It went down to four below last night.

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: January 24, 1943

• Hitler ordered troops at Stalingrad to fight to the death. (http://www.fsmitha.com/time1943.htm)

• The Russians took Starobelskiy, near the Donets River in eastern Ukraine, more than 250 miles to the west of Stalingrad. The offensive by the Soviet Trans-Caucasian Front toward the Kuban bridgehead was stopped at Novorossiysk and Krasnodar. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-europe/eastern-europe/eastern-europe-index-1943.htm)

• A bombardment group of cruisers and destroyers under Rear Adm. Walden Ainsworth and a carrier group under Rear Adm. Bertram Ramsey bombarded and bombed the Vila-Stanmore area of Kolombangara in the Solomons. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm

Production Credits:

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 23, 1943 Diary page (click to enlarge)

Transcript of diary entry   January 23, 1943

Saturday,  January 23, 1943

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

Five-Star Saturday.
I got promoted.

This is one happy day today. Why? You’d feel the same way if you had just been promoted from second to first lieutenant. I walked into the office this morning and there it was. A long white envelope from Washington, War Dept. spread over the upper left and my name in the other with “First” spelled out in front of it. I could hardly get it open and when I did it sure looked mighty good for such a little slip of paper. I went up and had my pay voucher changed and above all that new set of silver thread bars put on my blouse. Boy does that look good. It was effective Jan 15, 1943.

This afternoon I went down town and did some shopping and bought a box of cigars for the men. That is an iron clad rule in this outfit. All promotions from corporal up rate cigars to all who want them. Now it’s my turn to pay up.

This evening I met Marie and we went over to get Ray & Helens. They found a place to live at last. It’s in a wealthy woman’s home in the best end of town. This woman has fixed up her basement and rest of the house into small apartments and rooms. It’s right _____ and Ray & Helen love it. They get meals & room for $90.00 a month and the meals are wonderful. Those two are just like a couple of kids just fallen in love.

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: January 23, 1943

• The Casablanca Conference ended. Roosevelt, Churchill and the Combined Chiefs of Staff agreed on the invasion of Sicily and a cross-channel amphibious assault on Western Europe. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm)

• The Japanese destroyer Hakaze was sunk by the submarine USS Guardfish (SS-217). (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm)

• The 8th Army under Montgomery triumphantly entered Tripoli, the capital of the Italian colony of Libya. The vice governor of Libya and prefect of Tripolitania offered a formal surrender. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-the-desert/war-in-the-desert-index-1943.htm)

• The United States seized control of Kokumbona and Mount Austen, Japan’s last two strongholds on Guadalcanal. (http://history.howstuffworks.com/world-war-ii/russian-army-repels-hitlers-forces14.htm)

• The last German airfield in the Stalingrad pocket fell. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-europe/eastern-europe/eastern-europe-index-1943.htm)

• The U. S. Coast Guard cutter Natsek was overdue in the North Atlantic for several weeks and presumed lost. The next of kin of Natsek personnel were notified. The Natsek was built by the Snow Shipbuilding Corp., Rockland, Maine, in 1941 and was placed in commission in June 1942. The cutter, which bore the Eskimo name for fjord seal, was 116.9 feet in length with a beam of 23.16 feet and a draft of 11.8 feet. Her gross tonnage was 225 tons, and her net tonnage was 134. (http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/comms/1943-01.html

Production Credits:

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 22, 1943 Diary Page (click to enlarge)

Transcript of diary entry   January 22, 1943

Friday,  January 22, 1943

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

Today was a fairly busy one for the men. I have worked out a schedule by which they will have lectures in the morning and physical education in the afternoons. I am making the non-coms do the lecturing and I supervise. This puts some responsibility on their shoulders and also makes them realize that they don’t have those stripes just for ornaments. This afternoon we put on a rough and tumble show for the public relations officer here at Gowen. They took pictures for half an hour in a lot of poses. One was of myself running across the chests of the men as they lay on their backs. The visitors seemed very favorably impressed. The pictures will appear in the papers next week. This outfit manages to make the papers at each stop. The last time it was with Sgt. _____ the duck. Well it’s a lot of fun anyway.

This evening I decided to stay home. Today was a little rough and I’m plenty tired. Also I need to get off some letters. This letter writing business is getting more difficult all the time. I used to enjoy writing long letters but now I hate it. Well it must be done. By the way it is still thawing and the ground is a sea of mud.

“Good Night”

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: January 22, 1943

• The War Shipping Administration announced that the men who sailed the ships of the American merchant marine would be supplied with free cigarettes for use during long voyages. Through an arrangement with a leading cigarette manufacturer, seamen aboard all vessels of the Victory Fleet would get cigarettes. (http://www.usmm.org/wsa/cigarette.html)

• Adolf Hitler refused to consider the surrender of his forces at Stalingrad despite a desperate message from Gen. Friedrich Paulus reporting dire conditions on the ground. (http://history.howstuffworks.com/world-war-ii/russian-army-repels-hitlers-forces14.htm)

Production Credits:

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