25 July 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond discusses the time difference between his present location and New York. He tells her of his desire to share this spot, this experience with her, and writes that once the war is over, if they have sufficient funds, he would like to spend a vacation there with her.

GLC09120.256

26 July 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he is located on a large island in the Southwest Pacific, where the language spoken is French. He tells her that they have been building the base camp, and that there is a large town about 22 miles away.

GLC09120.257

27 July 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond complains about the "interminable rain".

GLC09120.258

10 August 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that "[l]ife continues along the usual pattern of army routine."

GLC09120.259

15 August 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond responds to a letter sent on July 14th in which Estelle admitted that she had not liked Sidney's collar at her prom.

GLC09120.260

22 August 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes an incident of "cowboys and Indians" when he had thought that a cow in the bush had been an enemy.

GLC09120.261

August 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he has been moved "temporarily" from platoon leader to second-in-command of the company. Diamond describes the "mutual friendship" that had arisen between himself and the men that he had trained, saying that his voice "actually quivered" when he said "so-long".

GLC09120.262

September 1. 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he "must get into combat in the near future", or he'll "rot completely down here".

GLC09120.263

4 September 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that he now has a lot to do with naval and marine personnel, commenting on the superior conditions that the navy enjoys.

GLC09120.264

5 September 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that she cannot possibly realize "what fortitude and elation mail from home occasions". Sidney proceeds to give detailed history of all contact with a girl named Harriet in order to quash Estelle's fears about his relationship with her.

GLC09120.265

7 September 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond comments on his new palatial home, although complains about the abundance of mosquitoes.

GLC09120.266

10 September 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond responds to various questions that Estelle had asked, reassuring her that a "date" he had mentioned was a trip to the movies with a French teacher and his wife, and also telling her that he had very much wanted to get engaged. He then asks her not to put him on the defensive all of the time, saying that "it's not fair". He requests that she let him know if she changes her mind in any way.

GLC09120.267

11 September 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that he feels like "worn and shredded and turned out" heel, in need of repair if "the foot is to be comfortable". He writes about the difficulties he will face being "re-habilitated" back at home, and that his ideals and dreams "have all been shattered to a pulp a long time ago". He ends the letter by informing Estelle that he misses her "so terribly and can't do anything about it!!!"

GLC09120.268

12 September 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that he received a mystery letter, and asks Estelle to help him solve who the anonymous sender was.

GLC09120.269

14 September 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond appeals for Estelle's understanding as he tries to quell rumors about another girl.

GLC09120.270

17 September 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he expects to be leaving the "luxury duty" shortly.

GLC09120.271

18 September 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that he seems to have lost his sense of humor somewhere in the South Pacific, but that he has not lost his temper. He then apologizes, explaining that he has had a trying day.

GLC09120.272

22 September 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond wishes Estelle a "swell Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur".

GLC09120.273

22 September 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes a hunting and fishing excursion that he, three officers and four sergeants had gone on over the weekend as a way of avoiding the "ennui". He tells her that they had got trapped in a hurricane, and that he had been forced to swim back to shore to get food and help.

GLC09120.274

23 September 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that the "colored boy" who worked in the florist shop is on the island with him: "Coincidences galore."

GLC09120.275

26 September 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that he has sent his "fancy get-ups" home as he has no need for them in his present location. He writes that he would love to be in the European Campaign as "this jungle fighting" is not for him.

GLC09120.276

1 October 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that he realizes now how fully and totally he loves her: "You are my foundation. The fundamental element of my construction."

GLC09120.277

10 October 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he's just completed a most exhausting few days of training on the northern end of the island.

GLC09120.278

17 October 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that, at the termination of a long period of extremely arduous intensive jungle training, he had thought of her constantly. He tells her that "[F]rankly it's been rough", commenting that this "jungle nonsense" is a little out of his line. He complains of suffering from the jungle soldier's type of athlete's foot, resulting from constant exposure of the feet to wet, damp conditions.

GLC09120.279

19 October 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes to Estelle that time is creeping up on the both of them, commenting that he feels so much older and wiser than before.

GLC09120.280