Wednesday, June 16, 1943
Tunis, Tunisia, North Africa

June 16, 1943 Diary Page

This morning we woke up about 6:30 and watched a gorgeous day break forth. It had sprinkled a few drops last night so the town looked fresh & clean. The air was fairly brisk so we all hated to climb out from between the warm blankets but it sure gave us a healthy appetite for breakfast. The sea was breaking over the docks in towers of white spray that glistened in the early morning sun. It was quite a change from the calm sea of last evening. We ate a good hot breakfast then took off. The roads for the final thirty miles were as bad as any I’ve ever seen. We stopped about nine for gas at one of the dumps and had a wait of three hours. The men started wandering around and found we were on a spot that had seen quite a bit of action. We found some high explosives in their powder form and had a bit of fun setting it off. It sure made a hot fire. We had to be careful of booby traps as this area had not been completely cleaned up as yet. From now on we ran across places in the road where mines had been dug up. Later on we ran across the scene of a huge tank battle and the wrecks lay all around. I counted about fifteen in one small area. About half were ours. We passed quite a few German and Allied (sic) graves, a small wooden cross with a helmet hung. It makes you realize a little more clearly what we are getting into. We pulled into Depot #5 at five and we’ve set up our [camp] in an olive orchard up on a hill. I’m tired tonight.

Good night.

To view previous diary entries, click here.

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The Day That Was: June 16, 1943

•    All but one of 94 Japanese planes were destroyed during a massive attack on Allied shipping around Guadalcanal. The cargo ship, USS Celeno (AK-76), and LST-340 were damaged by dive bombers in the attack. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/asia-and-the-pacific/pacific-naval-war/pacific-naval-war-index-1943.htm) •    Comedian Charlie Chaplin married his fourth wife, 18-year-old Oona O’Neill, daughter of playwright Eugene O’Neill, in Carpenteria, Calif. (http://timelines.ws/20thcent/1943.HTML)		Charlie Chaplin with wife Oona O’Neill at their first public appearance at the Mocamba – Image courtesy mptvimages.com

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.

April 1943 Recap: Last minute furloughs come through, and Lt. Reichard returns home to Maryland for some time with his family on the farm. He and Ginnie have a chance to talk things over and hopefully save the relationship. Just before leaving Boise, the unit gets orders that a move will come at the end of April. April comes to an end with the men spending a week in Stockton, California getting ready to ship out. But where they are going remains a mystery.

May 1943 Recap: The long journey begins by train as the outfit travels cross country to Camp Shanks, New York, where they will prepare to head overseas.  Lt. Reichard now knows the destination:  Casablanca, Morocco in North Africa.  After ensuring that all the supplies are in order, the outfit boards the “West Point”, the newest in troop carriers and heads to sea.  Lt. Reichard spends many peaceful evenings enjoying the time at sea before landing in Morocco.  May ends with the outfit setting up camp and adjusting to the customs of Morocco.

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.

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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