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Thursday, June 17, 1943
Tunis, Tunisia, North Africa
 June 17, 1943 Diary Page
This has been a dull day and it looks like more to follow. We got up at six and ate breakfast down with another MM company with whom we are attached for rations. I don’t think I will ever get used to dehydrated eggs. They are much to (sic) strong to suit me. I finally ended up eating bread & jelly with some fair coffee. I think I’ll go back to doing with out breakfast any way. It makes me feel better anyway. After breakfast we got a little bit more organized. My shelter half, in fact both of them are burnt so badly that they are of little use. We don’t have much use for shelter anyway so it doesn’t matter much. I’ve gotten so I like this business of roaming around sleeping whenever you want. I hope I get over it when I go home though. About nine thirty this am Enright and I went up to H. Q. to see what’s up. They still don’t know much but it looks like we will stick around a couple weeks as they are taking 20 of my men for driving trucks for a while. That’s a hell of a thing for a maintenance unit to be doing. Well that’s the way the army is. They spend a couple years and a few thousand dollars training a man for a specific job that he probably never will see. At first you get mad, then disgusted, then indifferent. This evening I took a few of the men and went through Tunis to the beach. It was not nearly as nice as that one we stayed overnight on in Tabarka. I would like to be stationed there.
Good night.
To view previous diary entries, click here.
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The Day That Was: June 17, 1943
| • Allies bombed Sicily and the Italian mainland as signs increased of a forthcoming invasion. The British battleships, Valiant and Warspite, were transferred from Scapa Flow to Oran and Alexandria in North Africa in preparation for Operation “Husky,” the Allied invasion of Sicily. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-at-sea/atlantic/battle-of-the-atlantic-index-1943.htm)
• The U.S. Coast Guard cutter, Escanaba, assigned to convoy duty in the North Atlantic, was reported lost. All hands except two enlisted men were lost with the ship. Next of kin were notified. (http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/comms/1943-06.html)
• The U.S submarine chaser, SC-740, was grounded and sunk.
(http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm)
• In the North African area, American LST-6 and LST-326 were damaged in a collision. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm |
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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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