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.

February 6, 1943 Diary Page

Transcript of diary entry   February 6, 1943

Saturday, February 6, 1943

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

This is what most people would call a dull day. When you get right down to it most of the days seem pretty dull now. This business of sitting here on this post doing practicaly nothing is enough to get on one’s nerves. I found out that army life during peace time would never suit me. I have to have a goal to aim for. The one now is to get my outfit ready for overseas. It has been ready for nearly two months and Im restless. In peace time what would the aim be. It only takes so long to train an outfit then what can you do? You can be promoted, but that is too much just a matter of course. I have to have something more interesting. Sitting still, looking handsome in a uniform is not my idea of life. This morning we held a clothing inspection and found the men short very little. This is the only way I can be assured we are ready all the time for an immediate call. We could pull out on a twelve hour notice with little trouble. This afternoon I went over to the gym and worked out for nearly two hours. One thing I’m going to do if I ever get home is set up a small gym. This evening I met Marie about nine and we killed time until twelve. It was a dull evening. I’m going to quit seeing her so much. These girls get ideas to fast to suit me.

Good Night

A lobby poster for the RKO Radio Pictures Disney animated feature, “Saludos Amigos,” which was released on this day

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: February 6, 1943

• RKO Radio Pictures released Disney’s animated feature film “Saludos Amigos” to theaters in the U.S. It cost $300,000 to make and included the animated short films, “Lake Titicaca” (with Donald Duck), “Pedro, El Gaucho Goofy” (with Goofy) and “Aquarela do Brasil” (with Donald Duck). It would take in $1.2 million worldwide in gross theater receipts. (http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/disnehis/disn1943.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