Lt. Lawson Reichard’s WWII Diary – May 15, 1943 by Lt.Reichard (05/15/09).
Saturday, May 15, 1943 At sea – headed for Casablanca, Morocco
May 15, 1943 Diary Page
[Handwritten note above the date:] *North Africa is finally cleaned up.
Today it happened. We were running peacefully along in a beautiful sea when a small wake was observed off the starbord (sic) bow. In less than a minute the ship was keeled over and made a 180° turn and the torpedo went harmlessly by. No sub was sighted although the Catalina flying boat dropped some depth chargers way off to the right. I dare say there isn’t over twenty people that know why the boat turned so suddenly. They sure kept it quiet. Outside of that little incident it has been a wonderful day. The sky has been slightly hazy but clear enough so the sun was warm. The sea, this evening, is a beautiful deep royal blue which is quite a contrast to the torquoise (sic) blue of early this morning. There is a stiff wind but the sea is relatively smooth. It is barren of everything except its own peculiar atmosphere of immensity yet never becomes tiresome to watch. Each wave and wavelet has its characteristics that separates it from its brother. It is both beautiful and awesome. It seems almost impossible that sudden death can rear its ugly head from beneath the surface of such a peaceful scene and wreak havoc about this majestic ship. This evening I was looking over the mural of the map of the world, charting the currents and courses of the seas. It’s a beautiful piece of work. The officer’s mess makes me feel as though I’m in a large New York hotel with the best orchestra. It’s no dream though. I am a thousand miles at sea.
• For the first time in the war, the British claimed more German prisoners than the Germans had British. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-europe/war-in-britain/war-in-britain-index-1943.htm)
• Stalin, to appease his Western allies, announced the dissolution of the Komintern, the Communist International working for world revolution. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-europe/eastern-europe/eastern-europe-index-1943.htm)
• German, Italian and Croatian forces began an offensive against Tito’s partisan army in Montenegro, Yugoslavia. (http://www.feldgrau.com/may.html)
• A naval advanced base and naval air facility in the Russell Islands in the Solomons and a naval air station at Adak in the Aleutians were established. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm)
• The German submarine, U-176, was sunk by naval land-based aircraft (VS-62) and Cuban submarine chaser No. 13, off Cuba.
(http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm)
Yugoslavian revolutionary leader Josip Broz Tito and Major-General Konstantin “Koča” Popović. German, Italian and Croatian forces begin an offensive against Tito’s partisan army in Montenegro 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.
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.
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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