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to Estelle Spero

Describes an incident earlier in the day when had been called into the classification office, where he had been grilled about his Russian roots. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.020

to Estelle Spero

Describes an argument that he has had with Carter, a soldier from Tennessee, on the "negro question".

photocopy

GLC09120.052

to Estelle Spero

Diamond discusses the possibility of his receiving a pass for that weekend. He also expresses frustration at the fact that the board has not met yet.

GLC09120.084

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes a "Make the Boys Happy" show that had been performed for the troops in the Recreation Hall.

Written at Edgewood Arsenal

GLC09120.116

to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he has just been made motor officer of the company, and explains what this position entails

GLC09120.148

to Estelle Spero

States that they are waiting for the company to fill up before training can begin. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.023

to Estelle Spero

Letter written while on guard duty. Diamond describes a formal dance to mark the opening of the camp's new recreation hall that he had attended the night before. He also runs through the couple's financial situation, having been paid that morning....

GLC09120.055

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes what his day has consisted of - a film on bayonet use, a film on how to disarm armed men, and another one on sex hygiene.

GLC09120.087

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the experience of going up for Board Review.

GLC09120.119

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes carrying out a "shake-down" inspection - a process that results from a man claiming that some of his personal belongings have been stolen. Sidney responds to Estelle's claim that her uncle had encountered anti-Semitism in the army...

GLC09120.151

to Estelle Spero

Discusses Estelle's faithfulness to Sid. Describes a ten-mile hike that the company had gone on, and also a lecture on means of protection against chemical warfare. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.026

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the surprising friendship that has blossomed with Carter (the Southern soldier whom had previously expressed extremely racist remarks). Discusses Estelle's forthcoming visit to Edgewood.

GLC09120.058

to Estelle Spero

Diamond clarifies some points from earlier letters, defining what he means be a furlough and also explaining that the training that he had mentioned was referring to training in order to become a sergeant. Sidney describes the process that he has...

GLC09120.090

to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he has just received a demerit for having had dirty finger nails. He then describes to Estelle the experience of showering in the Army. Sidney tells Estelle that he has spent the morning listening to the Yiddish Shtunda...

GLC09120.122

to Estelle Spero

Diamond complains that "work has been dragging on" and provides Estelle with his daily schedule.

GLC09120.154

to Estelle Spero

Discusses the chore of guarding the guardhouse, and the lack of US military success in the war so far. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.029

to Estelle Spero

Diamond explains to Estelle about the "housing problem" in the camp, making it difficult to arrange for Estelle to come for a weekend visit. He has been received the suggestion, however, to contact the U.S.O. at Edgewood which could potentially...

GLC09120.061

to Estelle Spero

Diamond apologizes for the brevity of the letter, explaining that he has a lot of studying to do. Sidney also mentions that life in the OCS is replete with rules and regulations.

GLC09120.093

to Estelle Spero

Diamond relays a debate that had taken place during the student presentations on the pros and cons of a soldier choosing to get married. He informs Estelle that he received his first mark below 80 (a 79 in chemical tactics), but that the rest of his...

GLC09120.125

to Estelle Spero

Diamond expresses his distress at having been asked to chaperone the soldiers' Christmas Eve party. He again describes his attempts at learning how to drive a jeep.

GLC09120.157

to Estelle Spero

Describes the different gases that he's been working with.. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.032

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes to Estelle the day that he has spent on the firing range. He also expresses frustration about the rumors circulating concerning when they are to get married.

GLC09120.064

to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he has gotten down to a "pretty set schedule".

GLC09120.096

to Estelle Spero

Letter written during a study period, in which Diamond writes that they have just completed reviewing an entire year of chemistry in the space of four hours. Sidney has somewhat of a political disagreement with Estelle.

GLC09120.128

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes to Estelle the ways in which he celebrated Christmas.

GLC09120.160

to Estelle Spero

Discusses two of the men that Diamond has met on the military base, one of whom is a Divinity student. Diamond subsequently ponders over the moral implications of war.

GLC09120.003

to Estelle Spero

Describes a seven mile hike that his platoon had completed before supper. Discusses the process of "blood typing" that the army carries out, stamping each soldier's blood type onto his identification tag, enabling hasty blood transfusions should the...

GLC09120.035

to Estelle Spero

Diamond discusses the logistical difficulties attached to finding a room for Estelle should she come to visit. Also speaks of the "disturbing signs of nearing shipments."

GLC09120.067

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes a visit that he had received from his parents.

GLC09120.099

notes from a class on chemical warfare

Handwritten notes on material learned in a class about chemical warfare. The end of the notes does seem to be addressed to Estelle, where he complains of having had a "bad case of the 'runs'".

GLC09120.131

to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that it is New Years Eve yet he has "no place to go".

GLC09120.163

to Estelle Spero

Allays Estelle's fears regarding the use of mustard and lewisite gases in the war effort. Letter written while Sidney is on guard duty, and he mentions that an important feature of this job is keeping the white soldiers out of the "Negro" section....

GLC09120.038

to Estelle Spero

Diamond outlines the day's course of events, which included watching two films - one on "Booby traps" and one on signal communication, instructing a group on map-reading and map-making,

GLC09120.070

to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that they must remain "above petty jealousies".

GLC09120.102

to Estelle Spero

Diamond apologizes for not having written for the past few days, explaining that he has been acting as cadet platoon leader. Sidney describes the night Reconnaissance Problem that he had been on the night before.

GLC09120.134

to Estelle Spero

Discusses the gardening task that he had carried out the day before. Also mentions a divinity student's frustration with the language employed in the army.

GLC09120.009

to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that the training camp that he is in is the only Chemical Warfare training center in the country Written at Edgewood Arsenal

GLC09120.041

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes to Estelle an overnight training trip which had been interrupted by an air raid alert back at Arsenal.

GLC09120.073

to Estelle Spero

Diamond gives Estelle a description of an air raid alert.

GLC09120.105

to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle about a recent visit to the "Casanova", a Mexican restaurant, where one of the dancers danced with him. Sidney also describes the process of crossing the Mexican border across the Santa Fe bridge..

GLC09120.137

to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he is working in the kitchen peeling potatoes while he waits for the company to fill up. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.012

to Estelle Spero

Writes of the implications of having been charged to a chemical weapons company; instead of being shipped as a unit, they will all be assigned to different parts of the service - infantry, field artillery etc. Mentions some of the rules that he has...

GLC09120.044

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes his day to Estelle, which has consisted of a lecture concerned with military discipline and courtesy, a session on first aid, a sessopn relating to the identification of American and German aircrafts and a session on drilling.

GLC09120.076

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes a visit by South American dignitaries.

GLC09120.108

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the trip down to Texas, in particular a stop-over in St. Louis.

GLC09120.140

to Estelle Spero

Offers Estelle the option of leaving him as he feels that he is unable to offer her a stable future Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.015

to Estelle Spero

Expresses concern that Estelle is losing weight, and reassures her that he has attempted to stay away from anything dangerous and that he has every intention of returning. Registers surprise at the fact that his Southern compatriots had never tasted...

GLC09120.047

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the process of becoming an officer, and also the restrictions he would have if commissioned. He also answers Estelle's questions regarding a meningitis epidemic.

GLC09120.079

to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that his first choice of position in the military will be in the Air Service. He also warns Estelle that "[t]his is going to be a dull, dreary, bestial, cruel world when this conflict is over."

GLC09120.111

to Estelle Spero

Diamond speaks of his belief in maintaining "the status-quo of the Americans." He also describes life as an officer - sentry visits etc

GLC09120.143