Lt. Lawson Reichard’s WWII Diary – April 6, 1943 by Lt.Reichard (04/06/09).
Lt. Reichard’s WWII Diary Project : On January 1, 2009, WorthPoint began a three year project following the life of a WWII soldier through the daily pages of his diary.To read about the inception of this project, or to add your own comments, click here.
Tuesday, April 6, 1943
April 6, 1943 Diary Page
Furlough – En Route to Maryland
When I pulled into Pittsburgh this morning we had a ten minute lay-over so I called Aunt Marie. If I had known that we were going to stay for three quarters of an hour I would have told her to come down. Well it was nice talking to her anyway. We arrived in Washington about five. I called Ginnie and she met me at six-thirty. Getting cleaned up was a job. I finally, in desperation, went upstairs in the station to the Railroad “Y” and took a shower and got dressed. I had a time of it and I don’t mean maybe. I don’t know when I have ever felt so dirty in my life. Well I met Ginnie and we had dinner at the Roosevelt Hotel and stayed to hear “Tony Pastor.” We had a long talk but I’m afraid of what is happening. There is nothing I can do, which makes it all the harder. It’s hard to try to make clear on paper. She can’t say she loves me and is afraid to say she doesn’t. I think if I could be with her for a while it would turn out all right but that’s impossible. We had both a wonderful and miserable time. I still love her and I’m afraid I always will. About the only two things I pray for is that I’ll come back whole, after this war and that Ginnie will still love me. Two and a half years is a long time for a man of my age to stay in love with a girl then lose her. I don’t want it to happen. I stayed tonight in College Park as it is impossible to get a room in Washington.
• Hitler spent the better part of four days at Klessheim Castle near Salzburg (which had recently been refurbished as a Nazi Party conference center and spa), alternately browbeating and cajoling Mussolini to keep Italy in the war. Concerned by Mussolini’s evaporating morale, Hitler spent the rest of April summoning to Klessheim the leaders Vichy France, Norway, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Croatia for a series of pep talks. With the war’s tide clearly turning against the Axis, the Fuhrer had limited success. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-europe/western-europe/western-europe-index-1943.htm)
• British and American forces in Tunisia launched an attack against the 5th Panzerarmee. Axis forces in Tunisia began to withdraw toward Enfidaville. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm)
At Klessheim Castle near Salzburg on this day in 1943, Hitler alternately browbeat and cajoled Mussolini to keep Italy in the war.
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
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