By: Nance Blair Stultz

Nance Blair Stultz — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:40:26 +0000

I am always interested in reading about WWII. Do you know to which Company this man was attached? My Father was in Company M, 100th Division, 399th Regiment and I am always looking to hear anything about him or his fellow soldiers. His name was Harold (RED) Blair. Thanks for passing on this treasure of this man’s diary. These Men and Women from WWII were the most remarkable AMERICANS and to pass on and read their history is an honor. Thank you.

By: jean esposito

jean esposito — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:49:44 +0000

This is very interesting. I enjoy that it’s someone’s diary & true facts. The men & women of World War II were amazing! My father (Frank Holmgren, Sr.) is actually the last living survivor (of only 10 men) of the USS Juneau tragedy. He still thanks God everyday for his miraculous experience. He, like many others, didn’t talk about it while I was growing up. He & his shipmates were left behind by the other ships after they were hit by a torpedo, on Friday, Nov. 13, 1942. The ship was struck in the center & exploded. My father happened to be topside when they were hit (he was the captain’s orderly & was usually below). He couldn’t swim! Somehow, while sliding down the ship, being sucked into the ocean, his hand grabbed a life jacket & he was able to put it on, although he doesn’t quite remember doing it. He was sucked under the water & must have blacked out. All he remembers, as he went into the ocean, was thinking “I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die”. The next thing he remembers, he could see the top of the water above him & he came back up! There were approximately 75 men already on corknets that had been tied together. We wonder how long he must have been underwater if that many men had time to get the corknets, tie them together & get so many men, most of who were badly wounded, on them! The 5 Sullivan brothers served on that ship & perished. My father wasn’t even wounded! His story, to us, is a miracle. After 7 days left in the ocean, they were finally rescued. There were only 10 men still alive. This happened during the Battle of Guadalcanal. My father is now 86 years old. His mother, my grandmother, is 106 & still remembers everything. I thank God everyday for my wonderful family. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for my Dad’s miracle! Anyway, my father is still very interested in World War II, so I’ll print this story for him. He’ll be very interested in this man’s account of his days serving our country. There was actually a book written about the tragedy of the USS Juneau named “Left to Die”, written by Dan Kurtzman.

By: Alison Harder

Alison Harder — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:27:50 +0000

I’m so glad to hear that you are enjoying this project. I have found it to be very interesting also.

By: Betsy Stewart

Betsy Stewart — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:00:27 +0000

This is very interesting. I plan to keep up with the postings. Thanks for the good work! Betsy

Comments on: Lt. Reichard’s WWII Diary – January 6, 1943

By: Nance Blair Stultz

By: jean esposito

By: Alison Harder

By: Betsy Stewart