Lt. Reichard’s WWII Diary Project and Recap: 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.

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, Ginny, 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.

Transcript of Diary Entry   February 17, 1943

Monday, February 17, 1943

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

Today three men, one a sergeant, reported to me and said they were my new replacements. I hadn’t asked for any and it’s a cinch I didn’t want any rated men if I could help it. I like to make my own men and only after I’ve seen what they are worth. When they told me they had come from this field I called this old C.O. and asked him what the deal was. He told me I had shown some shortages of classes of men on my 127 report. Well we argued around for a while, finally I told him I didn’t want them. He was a little peeved as he thought he had just dumped some of his screwballs on me. He got nowhere and I told him I was sending them back and hung up. Some of the Captains must think they are a god. I hope he enjoys being told to go to hell by a Lt. Today we packed and had lectures. It was dull. Lt. Davis called up to borrow the 2-1/2 ton G.M.C. for an overnight convoy. I let him have it because I’m going to borrow his next week. By the way have I mentioned Jimmie Stewart is on the field. I met him and he seems like an alright guy. I wrote to the draft board last week and they published the letter in the paper. I guess Id better be careful of what I say hereafter. Tonight I went in town and had a date with a new number. We slummed and had a good time. We took in all the dives then ended up at the Boise club for fresh air. I came on out about one.

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: February 17, 1943

• Dutch churches protested persecution of Jews. (http://www.fsmitha.com/time1943.htm)

• The carrier USS Lexington (CV-16) was commissioned at Quincy, Mass. This vessel was named for the carrier USS Lexington (CV-2) that was sunk on May 8, 1942, in the Battle of the Coral Sea. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm)

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; Sean McGill – voice of Lt. Reichard