Lt. Lawson Reichard’s WWII Diary – May 4, 1943 by Lt.Reichard (05/04/09).
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.
Tuesday, May 4, 1943 Aboard the Train Heading East
May 4, 1943 DIary Page
When I woke up this morning we were going through some mighty pretty country. Maybe it was just the contrast from some of the god-forsaken area we had been going through the two days before, that made it look so good. Anyway it was quite a relief to see neat barns and green fields and I guess the trees breaking out their new found foliage was just about the prettiest sight. The trip last night had carried us clear through the northern tip of Texas and across Oklahoma into Kansas. This sure is a round about way of coming across country. We pulled into Topeka Kansas about eight thirty where a diner was hooked on so the boys got some breakfast. One thing about this trip, if there was a meal to be had we got it. Sometimes they were pretty far apart though. We pulled into Kansas City about noon for an hour stop over. This is the place we picked up Sgt. Urban, the duck, last year as we were headed west. It sure brought back memories. I spent the day as I did yesterday back in the last car where I talked most of the time with Patsy. Everyone was doing their best to keep her spirit up and it’s a good thing we are nearly in Chicago. She has only eighty more miles to go. She is a brave kid and it’s easy to see she is going through a bit of concentrated hell. I wish I could do something. I did give his military escort five dollars for some flowers.
• Hitler decided to postpone Operation Citadel—an attack on the city of Kursk—so more Tiger and Panther tanks could be deployed in the offensive. This was against the advice of a number of leading generals, who feared that the Russian defenses would become too strong if the offensive was delayed any further. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-europe/eastern-europe/eastern-europe-index-1943.htm)
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.
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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