Lt. Reichard’s WWII Diary – February 8, 1943 by Alison Harder (02/08/09).
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 8, 1943 Diary Page
Transcript of diary entry February 8, 1943
Monday, February 8, 1943
Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho
Headquarters called up about eleven o’clock this morning and said an inspector general was on his way to inspect us. Well we made a hurried check over to make sure our records were alright then waited. At four thirty he called and said he had just gotten in so he wouldn’t be over until nine tomorrow. That’s the way it goes and we just grow grey hair. This morning we had lectures and the boys are beginning to do a pretty good job of it now. It took them a little time to get confidence as talking before an audience is something new. This afternoon after the regular lecture we went over to the gym for regular work out and I got it. I’m trying to learn how to box and I sure take a beating. I nearly was lifted off the ground by an uppercup and my jaw is still sore. Tonight I stayed in with the purpose in mind of writing letters but for some reason or other I was too restless. I almost decided to go in town but didn’t. I read until about eleven then finally went to bed but couldn’t sleep. Something sure is wrong because I generally go to sleep as soon as I hit the bed. It was about one o’clock before I dozed off.
Good Night
In Operation Longcloth, 3,000 Chindits (a "long range penetration group"), under British Gen. Orde Wingate, began their march into Burma on this day in 1943. (Public Domain)
• Operation Longcloth, 3,000 Chindits (a “long range penetration group”) under British Gen. Orde Wingate, began their march into Burma on this day in 1943. The original intent had been to use the Chindits as a part of a larger offensive, but it was cancelled. Wingate persuaded Gen. Archibald Wavell to send the Chindits into Burma in spite of the cancellation of the larger offensive. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_II_(1943))
• U. S. ground forces on Guadalcanal Island advanced to positions one-half mile west of the Segilau River in the vicinity of Doma Cove. On the northwest coast of the island, U.S. troops advanced to the northeast as far as Visale. No opposition was encountered. A large amount of enemy equipment was captured. (http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/comms/1943-02.html)
• Indian nationalist leaders Subhas Chandra Bose and Abid Hasan left Kiel, Germany, aboard the German submarine U-180. (http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/1943)
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
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