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 26, 1943

Friday,  February 26, 1943

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

Today? Well it was normal: lectures and a work out in the gym. That sums it up perfectly. The sky is clear and it’s warm out. Sounds dull, is dull and I’m bored. Also ready to move on. My feet get more of an itch every day. Ah yes the war is playing in our favor again. Rommel was driven back ten miles. Of course it was only a few days ago when we were driven back seventy but that doesn’t count. Some day we might lick that fellow and when we do we can say we’ve accomplished something because he’s not one to take anything sitting down. I take my hat off to a great General but I’ll be damned glad when he is finished and I’d like to help do the job. This sitting by watching the other fellow fight isn’t my line. Of course Russia is still pushing the Nazis back and is getting damn tired of waiting for us to start the highly publicized second front. I don’t blame her. I’m tired of waiting myself. Tonight the outfit went in town to a party at the Nurse’s home. It was a dinner and we had a lot of fun. I sure met a gorgeous number but that 10 o’clock curfew is too much. I can’t see taking a girl home at that hour.

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: February 26, 1943

Feb. 26, 1943
• United States ambassador to Spain, Carlton J. H. Hayes, reported that America had been exporting oil, cotton, food and other supplies to Spain. (Times, Feb. 27, 1943, p. 1.)
(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