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)

January 24, 1943 Diary Page (click to enlarge)

Transcript of diary entry   January 24, 1943

Sunday,  January 24, 1943

Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho

This morning I woke up a little earlier than is usual for me on Sundays. I rolled out of bed at nine and wrote some letters. This is one thing I’m sure behind on so it was time well spent. I went over to dinner at noon then came back and read for a couple hours. I listened to Andre’ Kostelanetz. That is a program I surely hope we can get on the other side.

About three I got dressed and had Daily drive me in to Marie’s. Her father came home about four and for two solid hours we sat and argued theory and politics, war and peace and just stopped barely short of religion. We both enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun because it is the first time Ive had a chance to talk like that in a year. He is a very interesting man. I also looked over their pictures of their camping trips made through Oregon, Idaho, and California. They have a beautiful collection. It was a pretty wonderful afternoon. Around seven we went over and picked up Ray & Helen and went to the Boise Club for a steak dinner. It was delicious. After dinner we danced, had a few drinks then left for home. It was a pretty nice day. Sunny and brisk and the ground covered with snow. It went down to four below last night.

Good Night

To view previous diary entries, click here.

The Day That Was: January 24, 1943

• Hitler ordered troops at Stalingrad to fight to the death. (http://www.fsmitha.com/time1943.htm)

• The Russians took Starobelskiy, near the Donets River in eastern Ukraine, more than 250 miles to the west of Stalingrad. The offensive by the Soviet Trans-Caucasian Front toward the Kuban bridgehead was stopped at Novorossiysk and Krasnodar. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-europe/eastern-europe/eastern-europe-index-1943.htm)

• A bombardment group of cruisers and destroyers under Rear Adm. Walden Ainsworth and a carrier group under Rear Adm. Bertram Ramsey bombarded and bombed the Vila-Stanmore area of Kolombangara in the Solomons. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm

Production Credits:

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