Lt. Lawson Reichard’s WWII Diary – May 20, 1943 by Lt.Reichard (05/20/09).
Thursday, May 20, 1943 Casablanca, North Africa
May 20, 1943 Diary Page
This morning we were informed that we would not dock until noon, so I took my time eating breakfast then went on deck for a smoke. Land _____ into sight about ten and we pulled in about eleven thirty to the dock. The harbor was littered with wrecked ships of all description including some fairly large warships. I don’t think there is a much more desolate sight than a burned out war scarred ship sunk in a harbor. I had to go below and make sure all the men were ready to debark and the area and compartment clean. We had quite a job with that as there were a thousand soldiers tracking back and forth over a newly mopped floor. Well we finaly (sic) came off and loaded all but our field packs on trucks at the foot of the gang plank. The hike out to this area was most enlightening. It showed us what kind of a country we were getting into, the people and the fact that we were pretty soft as we had to march seven miles out with fifty pounds of pack, rifles and masks on. Some of the boys just about didn’t make it. Those were the rookies we got in the last minute. If I had the time to stay and write I think I could write a book about this country. As it is I will have to keep some notes and pray my memory doesn’t fail me. Some of the smells in Casablanca are almost nauseating and you wonder how the inhabitants stand it, but they seem totally unaware of it. From a distance this city looks ultra-modern and is surprisingly so when you get there but the dirt is appalling. We were pestered by native boys, for cigarettes, all the way out and a dirtier bunch of urchins I’ve never seen.
• The U.S. Tenth Fleet, with headquarters in Washington, is established under the Commander in Chief, US Fleet Admiral King to control US anti-submarine operations in the Atlantic. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-at-sea/atlantic/battle-of-the-atlantic-index-1943.htm)
• The Chinese launch a counter offensive on Yangtze River. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/asia-and-the-pacific/asian-mainland/asian-mainland-index-1943.htm)
The U.S. Tenth Fleet, with headquarters in Washington, is established under the Commander in Chief, US Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King to control US anti-submarine operations in the Atlantic 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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