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Lt. Lawson Reichard’s WWII Diary – June 2, 1943

Wednesday, June 2, 1943
Casablanca, North Africa

June 2, 1943 Diary Page

This afternoon I walked into headquarters and Capt. Bley said I was just the man he was looking for. When I asked why he said he had a little convoy he wanted me to take and of course I said swell. Of course, then I didn’t know he meant a 2800 mile convoy. There is a tremendous amount of equipment that is to be shipped to Algiers at once. That still didn’t hurt my feelings any so he told me to pick my men and be ready to pull out Friday. There was (sic) nine semi-trailers and seven 1-1/2 ton jobs going and we were to draw rations for 14 days. Well I came back out and went over a list of drivers with Sanders and was just getting started when the Capt. appeared in the door and said I had to go up to Port Lyobty (sic) [Port Lyautey] to pick up 4 semi’s and three tractors. This was at five thirty. At six we were over at Fedala and ready to pull out. We took an Autocar, cab over, and a Jeep and started over a very lovely trip. It is only 90 miles up and most of it through beautiful farmlands. Quite a few vineyards scattered the landscape and it looked very much like California. We pulled in about eight fifteen and began a hunt for the outfit that had the trailers, that lasted for an hour and a half, driving through deep sand and dogging (sic) high cork trees. When we did find the place we had a hell of a job hitching up as these trailers were far too small for the tractors. We had some coffee at the camp then headed home. We got here about three am and I sure was tired.

Good night.

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The Day That Was: June 2, 1943

•    The Red Air Force bombed Kiev and Roslavl, while the Luftwaffe bombed Kursk. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-europe/eastern-europe/eastern-europe-index-1943.htm)    
•    Japanese forces were reported to be in full retreat on the Yangtze. (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/asia-and-the-pacific/asian-mainland/asian-mainland-index-1943.htm)

•    The German submarine, U-521, was sunk by the submarine chaser, PC-565, off Virginia. (http://www.blountweb.com/blountcountymilitary/wars/ww2/timelines/1943_ww2.htm)

•    The 99th Pursuit Squadron flew its first combat mission over Italy. (http://timelines.ws/20thcent/1943.HTML)

u-521pc-565 Submarine chaser PC-565

1943 Diary Recaps

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.

March 1943 Recap: March brings uncertainties in weather and daily life to Gowen Field. Still no word about overseas orders, the outfit must now share quarters with another unit. There is now time to begin a photo album, collecting pictures from times with the outfit. Letters from Ginnie are becoming more infrequent but there is no shortage of dates with the local girls in Boise. March comes to an end with everyone in the outfit anxiously awaiting word of upcoming furloughs.

April 1943 Recap: Last minute furloughs come through, and Lt. Reichard returns home to Maryland for some time with his family on the farm. He and Ginnie have a chance to talk things over and hopefully save the relationship. Just before leaving Boise, the unit gets orders that a move will come at the end of April. April comes to an end with the men spending a week in Stockton, California getting ready to ship out. But where they are going remains a mystery.

May 1943 Recap: The long journey begins by train as the outfit travels cross country to Camp Shanks, New York, where they will prepare to head overseas.  Lt. Reichard now knows the destination:  Casablanca, Morocco in North Africa.  After ensuring that all the supplies are in order, the outfit boards the “West Point”, the newest in troop carriers and heads to sea.  Lt. Reichard spends many peaceful evenings enjoying the time at sea before landing in Morocco.  May ends with the outfit setting up camp and adjusting to the customs of Morocco.

Lt. Reichard’s WWII Diary Project : On January 1, 2009, WorthPoint began a three year project following the life of a WWII soldier through the daily pages of his diary.

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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