Lt. Lawson Reichard’s WWII Diary – June 8, 1943 by Lt.Reichard (06/08/09).
Tuesday, June 8, 1943 Guercif, Morocco, North Africa
June 8, 1943 Diary Page
Today was one of the most miserable days that I have ever spent in my life. I must have gotten a touch of Ptomaine poison last night in the “C” rations because I was terribly sick this morning when I woke. I didn’t eat any breakfast, in fact I lost what I had eaten last night. I think I spent half of the day leaning out the side of the Jeep. The other half I tried to sleep in the back of the Weapons Carrier. This section around “Fez” (sic) [Fes] has everything beat I’ve yet seen in N. Africa. It is truely (sic) a garden spot and puts many fine places in the States to shame. Beautiful big houses dot the countryside almost hidden in lovely groves of cool shade trees. Red tile roofs contrast the white of the stucco homes adding a warm bit of color. The horizon was broken by the even round peaks of mountains many millions of years old and worn by the rain and erosion of those centuries. Then came the contrast at the other extreme standing out like a sore thumb on the broad palette of mother nature (sic). The desert was as unbearably hot as was the coast briskly cool. We nearly smothered and the sun showed no mercy. Halfway across we had a trailer break loose and tear down an electric pole. We reported it at our stop tonight. It was a miserable drive for me as I was very sick the whole way. I met a boy from Salisbury at the stop. His name is S/Sgt. Warren E________. It is a small world. I took a hot shower tonight at his place in town.
• Senior military officials brought the rioting in Los Angeles under control by declaring the city off limits to all sailors, soldiers and marines. The Shore Patrol was under orders to arrest any disorderly personnel. The Los Angeles City Council passed a resolution banning the wearing of zoot suits in public, punishable by a 50-day jail term. (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/zoot/eng_timeline/timeline2.html)
• Japanese forces abandoned Kiska Island in the Aleutians, their last foothold in the Western hemisphere. The event was almost to the year of their landing. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_II_(1943))
• U. S. Army patrols on Attu Island killed 66 Japanese and captured one in the area between Sarana Bay and Cape Khlebnikof. There was no enemy activity on other parts of the island. The U.S Naval Air Facility at Attu was established. (http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/comms/1943-06.html)
• Jewish Dr. Albert Menasche arrived at Auschwitz from Greece. He joined the camp orchestra, which would play as new arrivals entered the camp. He was the only one of a family of more than 30 to survive. (http://www.neveragain.org/1943A.htm)
• Civil Defense officials began V-Home Campaign because of the continued possibility of enemy attack. The objective was to award “V-Home, We Are Prepared” stickers to qualified households. These stickers were made available by the United States Office of Civilian Defense as part of a national campaign which was already underway. (http://www.sfmuseum.net/war/43.html)
• Civil Defense officials began V-Home Campaign because of the continued possibility of enemy attack. The objective was to award “V-Home, We Are Prepared” stickers to qualified households. These stickers were made available by the United States Office of Civilian Defense as part of a national campaign which was already underway. (http://www.sfmuseum.net/war/43.html)
“V”-Home Campaign sticker.
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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