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to Estelle Spero

Describes his dismay at the fact that as soon as he gets to know his peers, they are moved on. Gives a brief description of the camp town.

GLC09120.007

to Estelle Spero

Discusses the wedding of a "negro" soldier, and muses over the range of social classes that he has encountered in the army.

GLC09120.008

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

Describes the process of being given an army uniform, and how it creates a sense of equality in the company. Warns Estelle not to trust soldiers.

GLC09120.010

to Estelle Spero

Describes his elation with his new post in Edgewood Arsenal, where everyone behaves "like a gentleman and a soldier". States that the Chemical Warfare Service is merely a year and a half old, and consequently "acts its age - young, militant...

GLC09120.011

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

Outlines what his day has consisted of - primarily an array of lectures on decontamination techniques and different incendiaries. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.013

to Estelle Spero

States that he is in the chemical warfare service training. He is swell, but has no phone. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.014

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

Reprimands Estelle somewhat for telling him that he should not have enlisted in the army, and asks her to avoid doing so in the future. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.016

to Estelle Spero

Describes the attitudes of the Southern soldiers towards "negroes". Also outlines his General Orders.Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.017

to Estelle Spero

Discusses chemical warfare and outlines the day's program of events.Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.018

to Estelle Spero

Discusses the fact that his company is segregated, and details some of his Southern compatriots' attitudes towards the African-American soldiers.Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.019

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

Speaks about his awareness that he will encounter "a few unpleasant moments" when he gets sent overseas. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.021

to Estelle Spero

Apologizes for brevity of letter, explaining that he has a lecture on the Blitzkrieg tactics of the Germans that evening. Outlines the day's events which consisted of a motion picture on personal health and a lecture on chemical warfare. Describes...

GLC09120.022

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

Describes a graphologist's assessment of his personality. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.024

to Estelle Spero

Describes how difficult Sundays are for him since he has no distractions to prevent him thinking of home and people on the outside world.

GLC09120.025

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

Incomplete letter. Explains that multiple use of punctuation marks is due to his "engaged to be engaged" status. Wishes Estelle luck in her upcoming exams. Starts to describe his dream date. Written at Edgewood Arsenal

GLC09120.027

to Estelle Spero

Informs Estelle that it will be impossible to know whether he will receive officer training until the three months of initial training have been completed, but warns her that it will be very competitive due to the high caliber of men assigned to the...

GLC09120.028

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

Informs Estelle that has spent the day on the firing range. Criticizes a friend, Zebe, for expressing approval of the war while in practice failing to enlist. In turn, Sidney expresses his respect for another friend, Lew Agnes, for his willingness...

GLC09120.030

to Estelle Spero

Asks for Estelle's forgiveness, although unaware as to why she is upset. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.031

to Estelle Spero

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

GLC09120.032

to Estelle Spero

Informs Estelle that he has become qualified in the use of pistols, the test for which only 33% of candidates pass. Wishes Estelle a happy 18th birthday, stating that he regrets nothing from the four years which they have spent together. Written at...

GLC09120.033

to Estelle Spero

Explains that Estelle's birthday present may be somewhat modest due to lack of funds and a shortage of gifts that can be purchased on the army base. Describes a training film and lecture that he had received regarding the ways in which international...

GLC09120.034

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

Informs Estelle that he is about to go on guard duty which lasts for a full 24 hours. Also discusses a class that he has just had on the use of portable chemical cylinders.Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.037

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

Discusses the use of mustard and lewisite gas in the war. Promises Estelle that he will return, and upon his return will take her as his wife. Written at Edgewood Arsenal

GLC09120.039

to Estelle Spero

Describes a simulated "moving up" maneuver that the company had carried out early in the morning. Sid then goes on to detail the rest of the day's events which included a lecture on meteorology, a session on map-reading and map-making and a session...

GLC09120.049

to Estelle Spero

Brief letter written while waiting for the company to be inspected by the captain. Mentions that he is now a qualified rifleman and pistolman.

GLC09120.050

to Estelle Spero

Apologizes for irregularity with which he has been writing letters recently, explaining that he has had very little sleep lately. Sid then describes an overnight excursion that his company had been taken on

GLC09120.051

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

Letter written while on guard duty. Discusses the possibility of obtaining a night pass. Attempts to convince Stella that she is "political" with regard to the "negro question".

GLC09120.053

to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that his is the only group left at the barracks, other than a group of African-American troops left to clear up vacated barracks. Mentions that he has become known as "nigger lover Diamond" by the Southern soldiers, and...

GLC09120.054

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

Brief letter mentioning that Sid has been through the obstacle course twice during that day, and that he is waiting to find out whether he is to receive a leave pass or not.

GLC09120.056

to Estelle Spero

Describes an air raid alert and black out that occurred shortly after he came off guard duty

GLC09120.057

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 describes a trip to the hospital to visit injured members of the company. Outlines what he has done during the day. He also discusses whether or not gas will be necessary in the war effort, stating that in his opinion it will be resorted to...

GLC09120.059

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...

GLC09120.060

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

Describes a visit to the U.S.O, during which he confirmed with the head of the U.S.O. that there would be a room for Estelle to stay in for the evening of July 18th. Sid warns Estelle, however, that soldiers are being shipped daily so he cannot be...

GLC09120.062

to Estelle Spero

Diamond discusses whether he thinks that there will be a need for chemical warfare in the war effort soon. States that he believes in the ideals of the country. Informs Estelle that he is now responsible for a squad of eight men, and describes what...

GLC09120.063

to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes to Estelle about a two-day training trip.

GLC09120.065

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the three-hour long guard duty that he was on the previous night. He tells Estelle about the inspection that his company underwent that morning. He also writes that he has struck up a pleasant friendship with Carter (the Southern...

GLC09120.066

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