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to Estelle Spero

Diamond warns Estelle that she will receive no mail for the next week as he is taking the men on a grueling four-day trip.

GLC09120.191

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the "torture" of the past few days, a trip which consisted of simulated battle situations.

GLC09120.192

to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle about another petty robbery that occurred within the ranks. He also informs her that the Eighty Second Chemical Battalion is to go to Louisiana next, but that he has no information as to when they might leave. He discusses his...

GLC09120.193

to Estelle Spero

Diamond has enclosed a photograph of the officers of Company D with the letter, and proceeds to name all of the officers featured in the photo. He also informs Estelle that they have found further evidence against the company thief.

GLC09120.194

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the experience of making a telephone call to Estelle.

GLC09120.195

to Estelle Spero

Diamond declares his love, stating that he is "afraid that this affection will remain for a very long time, a very long time."

GLC09120.196

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the preparations being made "for the move". He then discusses his platoon sergeant, a man who has been "[r]aised in the back-woods of Mississippi".

GLC09120.197

to Estelle Spero

Diamond states that "the day of movement rapidly approaches". He also mentions that his company have been getting rid of many of the "over-age men", or men over thirty-eight years of age.

GLC09120.198

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the poverty, hunger and crime found in the border town. He also asks Estelle to send him an identification tag.

GLC09120.199

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes Louisiana and the journey down there. He comments on the expansive nature of the country.

GLC09120.200

to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that he just spent an entire day cleaning equipment.

GLC09120.206

to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that they are devoting the next period of time to providing additional training to the men, teaching them about camouflage, discipline, depression etc.

GLC09120.207

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes having fought a forest fire during training that day.

GLC09120.208

to Estelle Spero

Diamond reminisces over his first date with Estelle. He also tells her during the day, he had been forced to crawl within 500 yards of his target in order to get some decent observation

GLC09120.209

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes having taken his troops on a trip to practice compass. He tells Estelle about the surrounding Louisiana scenery.

GLC09120.210

to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that April 24th will mark a year of army service for him, an experience that has transformed him into a "frowning, quiet, determined man who refuses to listen to excuses".

GLC09120.211

to Estelle Spero

Diamond expresses surprise to Estelle that in a few days time he will turn twenty-one years of age. He also tells Estelle that he is bored by the extended rest period that he is currently in. Sidney informs her that he feels ridiculous and...

GLC09120.212

to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that it is raining hard, but that his tent does not appear to have been greatly affected so he will still be able to sleep in it that night.

GLC09120.213

to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he has half an hour free, and expresses apprehension about the next four days, promising to write when he returns.

GLC09120.214

to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that the following day he shall turn twenty-one, and that to mark the occasion he has been inflicted by a bad case of diarrhea. Sidney compares democracy to a map cause, in that when things are easy, people are "prone to get...

GLC09120.215

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes his birthday, which was celebrated with a quiet luncheon. However, Sidney reports back that festivities were disturbed by an act of insubordination (a staff sergeant talking back to the company commander), a tremendous quarrel, a...

GLC09120.216

to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that the company has just received orders for the next move which will most probably be to East Texas. He also informs her that on Monday evening he had attended a seder.

GLC09120.217

to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes this letter after the troops have been traveling for thirty-seven hours. He describes the journey thus far.

GLC09120.218

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the Dales, a family that lives nearby to the camp. He writes that the "woman of the family epitomizes the motto of these backwood Southerners - 'Keep 'em pregnant and barefoot and you'll never have trouble with 'em!'

GLC09120.219

to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that he has just returned from a lesson teaching him how to drive a two and a half ton truck. He proceeds to describe Leesville as the typical small army town, with the number of soldiers exceeding that of local civilians tremendously...

GLC09120.220