Introduction by Will Seippel, CEO – WorthPoint.com Lt. Reichard began writing a diary on January 1, 1943. In February, he bought a camera and began taking some photos. For the next three years, he wrote almost every day. When I started reading his diary, I thought it should be shared and that perhaps WorthPoint’s community of collectors, people like me who are intrigued by the past, might find the diary as fascinating as I did. (To read Will Seippel’s entire introduction,  click here)

Transcript of diary entry January 16, 1943

Saturday, January 16, 1943

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

Today was just an easy one and we took it easy. I received a teletype telling me where my equipment is which does me little good because I have to make up a shortages list and can’t as long as I can’t see the stuff to check it. We are still waiting for Capt. Johnson to get here to see if he can force any action on this damned field. We checked the lumber they tried to give us and I refused it. Its tongue & groove alright but green and full of knots and I’ll be damned if I’ll pack equipment for overseas in any thing like that.

This morning we had some more tumbling and wrestling. I got a beauty of a black eye in the melee. Sgt. W______’s elbow tried to punch its way through my skull. It ought to look pretty nice tomorrow. The afternoon we went over to the gym and worked out. I worked out on the punch bag for over an hour until I could hardly hold my arms up. Im determined that these men as well as myself get in condition physically.

About three in the afternoon it started to snow lightly. When I went in town at six thirty it was snowing so hard the driver nearly went off the road. We went along about fifteen miles an hour. The road was pretty slippery. One of the boys I met out here got me a date. She was pretty nice. Also has a car. I’ve been lucky that way. We went to the Boise Club and danced then went out and got something to eat. She drove me out to the field.

“Good Night”

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: January 16, 1943

• During the first Bomber Command attack on Berlin since November 1941, the RAF used target-indicator marker bombs for the first time. (http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/rafhistorytimeline1943.cfm)

• Norwegian Special Operations Executive (SOE) commandos parachuted into the mountains 40 miles north of the German “heavy water” plant at Telemark. They met up with a reconnaissance party that had arrived the previous October. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-europe/scandinavia/scandinavia-index-1943.htm)

• German naval forces announced a blockade of Sweden’s Gothenburg Harbor to protest the ongoing traffic between Sweden and Great Britain. Five months later, the Germans relented and lifted the blockade. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-at-sea/atlantic/battle-of-the-atlantic-index-1943.htm)

• The 8th Army destroyed Rommel’s rear guard at Buerat in Libya and was just 300 miles from the Tunisian frontier. Iraq entered the war against all three Axis powers. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-at-sea/atlantic/battle-of-the-atlantic-index-1943.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