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, 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.

Transcript of Diary Entry   February 25, 1943

Thursday,  February 25, 1943

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

I am one tired soldier this evening. We left this morning about nine and headed up toward Idaho city. It was cold as the devil and riding a jeep is not my idea of the most comfortable way of making a trip. The only thing that breaks the wind is the windshield and that is not much good in zero weather. Well we went clear up to Idaho City and the snow is still four foot deep on the level if you can find any level. We got up there about eleven and went in the only restaurant in the town for coffee and doughnuts. They sure tasted good. I asked an old fellow what they did up in that country during the winter. “Wait for spring,” was the answer and that is easy to understand. We came back toward Boise for about five miles, parked the truck and started the climb up. The snow held us most of the time but when you did break through it was work getting out. When we reached the summit we saw a tremendous elk in the valley to the north. He ____ roam out of sight. Corp ______________ tired out. Someone filled his pack with stones and he didn’t find it out till he got to the top. On the way down we had a gas attack. Pvt. B________ thought it was easier to jump down then walk. It took us twenty minutes to get him out of the hole he made. We were worn out coming back as the snow got soft and we broke through every other step. We had a pretty good time though. I’ve got some letters to write.

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: February 25, 1943

• The Allies began a round-the-clock strategic-bombing campaign in Europe. In the next two days, more than 2,000 sorties were flown against enemy targets. (http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/rafhistorytimeline1943.cfm)

• The Americans occupied Kasserine Pass.
(http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/events/1943.html)

• The Polish government declared its expectation that Russia would restore Poland’s prewar eastern frontier. (As a protest against Soviet decisions affecting Polish sovereignty over eastern terri¬tories and the rights of Polish citizens there. Times, Feb. 26, 1943, p. 4.) (http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/events/1943.html)

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