Comments on: Lt. Reichard’s WWII Diary – January 7, 1943

By: Mary Brenneman

Mary Brenneman — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:54:44 +0000

I’d like to suggest that you share your comments on this general page– http://www.worthpoint.com/wwii-diary/lt-reichards-wwii-diary-will-seippels-introduction. That way anyone reading this diary can find them. Please share this with members of the greatest generation and any of the veterans you know. I have an Uncle Tony in Hawaii and I’ve adored him all of my life. I knew he was in the war but never really understood what he did. But last year my husband talked to him and for the first time I realized he was a pilot and the captain of a B24 (bomber) crew and flew fifty missions from Italy over Germany and occupied Europe. He considers himself very lucky to have survived.
But back to the point… please post your comments here… http://www.worthpoint.com/wwii-diary/lt-reichards-wwii-diary-will-seippels-introduction.

By: Abbie

Abbie — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:06:11 +0000

Please continue sharing. I love this first-hand glimpse of history. My dad was a WWII vet who served in England.

By: Judy Rowe

Judy Rowe — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:59:53 +0000

Please continue sharing! This is a treasure to our history. Oh, that we could find more of these diaries to get a glimpse of the past. Perhaps this will inspire others to bring forth and share the historic ephemera of their own family. My 94 year old dad is still at the(Old Soldier’s Home), AFRH, in D.C. where the veterans are revered and interviewed for their stories. But these histories are being lost at the rate of 1500 a day.

By: Annette

Annette — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 06:42:53 +0000

My grandfather was a bombadir (I’m not sure exactly how it is pronounced or spelled) in WWII and a pow
in Japan. When he was released and returned to the
states in 1945. He and my grandmother devorced and
last I heard he remarried and moved to Hawii. I wish I had gotten to know him or more about him. I
do have a couple of letters he sent my grandmother and a skeetch he did, also the letter
sent to my grandmother when his plane was shot down and he was presumed dead. Also many other articals grandma saved in her scape book relating
to it all. Would these small clips and letters have any historical value or just sentimental value?

By: Sally Wall

Sally Wall — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:33:46 +0000

What a priceless piece! Gratefully it fell into the right hands. As an avid collector, I still feel as if my heart is torn out when I find a treasure. I know the scenario, some precious soul dies and relatives just want to get rid of everything. Having been through it, I know that they don’t want to take the time to go through everything and they just pile it up and dump it, or turn it over to someone else! So many precious and priceless things never make it to light. Thank you for sharing your treasure.

By: Gregory Watkins

Gregory Watkins — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:15:25 +0000

My grandfather built Liberty ships at the Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond, Calif., during the war. But I never got to talk with him about it, as he died when I was in high school.

I have, however, been able to read about the work in the shipyards, and have been on the restored Liberty ship S.S. Jeramiah O’Brie, which is berthed in San Francisco, so I have a sense of what he did. I just wish I could have heard his stories about working there.

But he left no dairy, my grandmother has died, as have my father and uncle, so there is no one left to tell ask about it. We need to take advantage of those of this generation who are still with us to learn what they did during this time.

By: Samuel Addis

Samuel Addis — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:01:04 +0000

I kept a diary of my time in the Navy. In the course of the many moves I made when my employer transferred me from one location to another, it was lost. How I regret it. We need move the tales of WWII vets to be made available to this and future generations.

By: DanBorsey

DanBorsey — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 06:14:49 +0000

Too bad we cant use tools like these for education in our schools. It may give people a little more respect towards veteran’s and what they go through for our freedom’s. I am younger, but can relate having my baby brother in the persian gulf for 2 years. He came home safe, but still has a headful of experiences you cant begin to fathom.

By: Mary Brenneman

Mary Brenneman — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:55:53 +0000

I would too. If you like what you are seeing and have a diary that you want to share with us, please send them to us at news@worthpoint.com.
Mary Brenneman

By: Will Seippel

Will Seippel — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:39:01 +0000

Glenda, Thank you. I like you got a much heigthened interest as I got older. That is one reason I wanted to get the dairy up here as Mr Reichard’s day to day perspective is very enlightening. I am now in my 50′s and it is kind of embaressing that I never really talked to my Dad to understand what he did in WWII and Viet Nam. I always assumed that if he wanted to talk about it he would, now he is not here.

I would encourage your friends to follow this and read as you can follow one very intelligent and expressive soldier’s opinion one day at a time from the US to Northern Africa to the end of the European campaign. For me it helps me understand my Dad better. Thus I try to share with others.

If others has diaries to share we will make room to post in a special web section ans will look into making an area where others can post their items from WWII or I, in specialized tabs.

By: Margaret Simpson

Margaret Simpson — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:42:11 +0000

I can just imagine the excitement when reading the diary.At the same time I feel a great deal of frustration, when I remember that my niece is in possession of my older brother’s diary from WW11 He was a pilot in the RAF and was killed August 1943 I have never seen the diary, but she has told me that she has it and when I ask for it she can never find it.I have done research on his squadron and have read official daily records of their missions on-line.I would give anything to see my brother’s diary or just a copy.

Ps. My niece was not even born when my brother was alive, so never met him.

By: T.Baines

T.Baines — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:41:44 +0000

I would like to see other war diaries,My Grandfather who was a pow in 1919 WW1 kept a diary which I was told was given to the national war museum.Is there any way I could access it on line?

By: Peggy Harrington

Peggy Harrington — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:30:45 +0000

My father was a WWII Veteran. I am interested in this project. I love to read about the greatest generation. Thanks

By: James Johnson

James Johnson — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:53:33 +0000

What an American treasure. As an Marine Corps Vet I applaud your efforts in preserving these words from the heart of a man plunged into hell, but still filled with hope.

By: Glenda C Jackson

Glenda C Jackson — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:50:00 +0000

Your article hit a nerve within me. My father fought in the Korean War, so my interest in wars itself has been growing. I listened to David Halberstam’s ‘The Coldest Winter’, which put me in the perspective of the journeys of soldiers. I feel compelled to understand man and his decisoins toward war and to understand the men who fight for the U.S.’s and other’s freedom. If there is anything that I can do to help, let me knw.

By: lillie

lillie — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:30:54 +0000

I think you should keep posting these. They are great!

By: Mike Hall

Mike Hall — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:09:17 +0000

I was born in 1942 in Birmingham U.K. if it wasn’t for thousands of men and women from all countries and backgrounds I most probably wouldn’t be writing this comment right now. I have nothing but respect for these men and women. Mike Hall Canada

By: julie-ann carver

julie-ann carver — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:03:10 +0000

I think this is wonderful i would like to know about US sailors who were in brisbane or ships in late 1944 to earley 1945 if possible
thankyou
J Carver