Lt. Reichard’s WWII Diary – March 19, 1943 by Lt.Reichard (03/19/09).
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.
January 1943 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, Ginnie, 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 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise. Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent. February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.
Friday, March 19, 1943
March 19, 1943 Diary Page
Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho
This morning I really hated to get out of bed it was so warm and the air was so blame cold. When I got over to the office the men had their clothing already laid out for the Inspector who was due around nine-thirty. I checked everything to make sure it was up to par. The Inspector this time was a Warrant Officer and he knew his business. He said that we were one of the best outfits that he has seen in a long time. The other outfit that is to go over with us is in a mess and I think that A.C.S. is getting ready to make a change of officers as their C.O. is not doing the job he should. He said if all the outfits that he inspects were in our condition his job would be a cinch. It makes a man feel pretty good to hear his outfit talked of like that. I feel as though it’s been worth the work and I sure am proud of the boys.
Photos from Lt. Reichard’s First Album
Photograph Album cover
Outside Gowen Field.
The unit from Gowen FIeld.
Snowy jeep rides.
Camp breakfast.
Camping out.
Well I got into something this evening. I bought an album and started putting my pictures of the last six months in it. I put in 196 pictures which is about half of the number I’ve taken. The rest were sent home from time to time. I really ought to have a wonderful collection of pictures when this war is all over. I hope I get through it so I may have the pleasure of looking things over. It was nine o’clock when I finished so I went over to my room and went to sleep.
•Public outcry in the United States and Britain over the news that the Nazi regime was systematically murdering European Jewry provided the impetus for the Bermuda Conference, which opened on this day in 1943. Although ostensibly designed to solve the refugee problem caused by Hitler’s genocidal policies, the conference is regarded as the pinnacle of Allied efforts to stonewall rescue operations. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_II_(1943))
Assistant Secretary of State Breckinridge Long, who exercised his influence within the State Department to prevent the U.S. from becoming a place of refuge for European Jews, suggested Bermuda as the site for the refugee conference because of its inaccessibility. Long’s xenophobia influenced practically every move he made during the war as he led the State Department action to deny visas to political and intellectual refugees. Photo: U.S. National Archives
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; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard
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