26 February 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 decision to enlist in the army, despite "his community way of thinking". Sidney then describes one of his men, a North Carolinian, who had chosen to fulfill his "duty to his neighbors, to his people, to his home," which leads to a discussion about his experience of living with the "common folk", and the ways in which it has made me understand…

GLC09120.193

27 February 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

28 February 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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

GLC09120.195

1 March 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

2 March 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

March 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

4 March 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

11 March 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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

GLC09120.200

15 March 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond promises Estelle that he is not having sex with his "women". Instead, he just practices old jokes, eats and dances with them. Sidney continues to describe his journey down South and the types of homes and scenes that he has passed.

GLC09120.201

16 March 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that he is "desperately in love".

GLC09120.202

17 March 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the East Texan scenery that he is surrounded by.

GLC09120.203

18 March 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the company mascot, Mabel the dog, digging a slit trench for herself to sleep in.

GLC09120.204

28 March 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the "torture" of the ten days of simulated warfare that he and his men had just been on.

GLC09120.205

29 March 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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

GLC09120.206

31 March 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

31 March 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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

GLC09120.208

1 April 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

April 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

April 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

6 April 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 embarrassed when adhering to the rules that govern the strict separation between officers and regular soldiers that must be maintained.

GLC09120.212

8 April 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

April 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

10 April 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 slovenly". He tells Estelle that he has "grown up". He also discusses the "halavah" that his mother had sent him, expressing surprise that people had never heard of this "new delicacy from Russia manufactured in 'New York, N.Y., U.S.A'

GLC09120.215

11 April 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 man being put under guard, a faint, and the man crying like a three-year old. He informs Estelle that he has been made train quartermaster for the company's next move.

GLC09120.216

22 April 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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