Lt. Lawson Reichard’s WWII Diary – May 21, 1943 by Lt.Reichard (05/21/09).
Friday, May 21, 1943 Casablanca, North Africa
May 21, 1943 Diary Page
Even the ground felt good last night after that hike out. We have pyramidal tents with no floor and as bare of everything else. There is plenty of scrap lumber from crates, that we are getting and making floors and bunks. In fact that took up about 90% of the day for the men and I had them fix my tent up. Of course I had to attend a meeting of CO’s in town at nine o’clock at the shell building so I shaved out of my helmet and dressed in kaki’s (sic) and took off. Our transportation was furnished so I didn’t get lost. The meeting was short and of little importance outside of the fact that we met a rugged Colnel (sic) with full sides of a big mustache that made him look like a walrus. He blew off about relations with the natives and the French and our actions as far as military conduct & customs were concerned then turned us loose. I came on back to the camp to get organized. The natives here are really something to talk about. They are either in a big hurry or sitting around doing nothing. I have never seen people who walk as hard and fast in my life. They are as a whole the dirtiest people you can imagine. Their clothes consist of any piece and as many pieces of cloth they can put on and they look like black scavengers as their rags flap in the breeze as some native walks hurriedly by. I have yet to see one that isn’t skinny yet their strength is unbelievable if some of the load they carry is anything to judge it by. This goes particulary (sic) for the women and age doesn’t seem to make much difference. Their means of travel is either walking or by asses. These little beasts of burden are not much bigger than a nine month old colt if that, yet carry loads on a dump cart that I wouldn’t put on a horse of 15 hands and 1200 lbs. It’s almost unbelievable. I’ll get some pictures. Tonight I had a bed of sorts.
• The Luftwaffe carries out a raid by FW-190 fighter bombers against Malta. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-europe/southern-europe/southern-europe-index-1943.htm)
• The Italian submarine Gorgo is sunk by the destroyer USS Nields (DD-616) off of Algeria. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm)
On this day in 1943, the Luftwaffe carries out a raid by FW-190 fighter bombers against Malta.
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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