28 April 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

States that has taken a mental and mechanical aptitude test, and describes a speech regarding the "Articles of War" given to the troops by a captain. Also describes first night in the barracks. Enclosed is a newspaper clipping of a chimp that Diamond refers to as a picture of himself.

GLC09120.002

29 April 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

30 April 1942.

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Describes the punishment of walking for eight hours a day with a pack filled with bricks for a period of four days given to a boy who had gone missing for three days. Discusses impatience as to when he will be moved on from the training camp.

GLC09120.004

circa April 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Mentions that he has calmed down after losing his temper the night before. Discusses the new job of landscape gardening that he has been assigned. States that he is optimistic that he will be placed in the chemical warfare unit.

GLC09120.006

2 May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

4 May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

circa 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

circa 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

circa 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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, enthusiastic, courageous, and, above all, eager!" Accommodation is described as being far superior to that at Fort Dix. Outlines the time frame for training - five weeks of initial training, then nine weeks of school and further training, and how frequently he will be able to receive a pass to visit home.Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.011

circa 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

circa 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

10 May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Telegram

Title: 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

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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

GLC09120.017

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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

GLC09120.018

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 the rapid pace of life in the army.Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.022

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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

GLC09120.023

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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

GLC09120.024

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

June 4, 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

June 4, 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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