Lt. Lawson Reichard’s WWII Diary – April 27, 1943 by Lt.Reichard (04/27/09).
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.
April 27, 1943 Diary page
Tuesday, April 27, 1943
Stockton, California
This morning things went quite smoothly for us although Ray is having a pretty serious time of it and my sympathy is all with him. This afternoon Sgt. Frazer and I took off for Sacramento to pick up our gas masks also our new officer. Going up, of course we had to run into a convoy because we were in a decided hurry. The convoy was three sections of 22 trucks each and strung over a fifteen mile area. It took up nearly the whole way up to get around them. It was raining cats and dogs as might be expected in sunny California. Unusual weather, they call it. I saw Capt. Johnson and met the new officer. He seems to be a pretty decent sort. He was a year as an enlisted man and also has put in a year as a second Lt. which I am told is no fault of his. His records show him to be very cabable with both civilian and military experience quite extensive along our lines. He will never take Ray Seitz’s place but I’m thankful for what I do have. I saw quite a few of the old gang at McClellan and had a nice chat. It seemed like coming back home. Tonight Dottie came down. It was a little rough because she is a lot more serious then she should let herself be. I still hate to say good bye for good though as she is a lot of fun. Of course it was still pouring.
• The German submarine, U-174, was sunk by naval land-based aircraft (VB-125) in the North Atlantic. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm)
The German U-boat 174 was sunk by naval land-based aircraft on this day in 1943.
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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