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to Estelle Spero
18 August 1942
Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945
Diamond mentions that he is now sharing a tent with some veterans of the "Pearl Harbor affair", and speaks about the need to prevent "such barbaric gangsterism".
GLC09120.092
19 August 1942
Diamond apologizes for the brevity of the letter, explaining that he has a lot of studying to do. Sidney also mentions that life in the OCS is replete with rules and regulations.
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20 August 1942
Diamond informs Estelle that four men have gone before the Battalion board and have been subsequently put on probation. He expresses worry about a chemical tactics test.
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23 August 1942
Diamond describes an episode of racial discrimination at a show sponsored by the Camel cigarette company. He informs Estelle that he has had three exams in the past week. He also relays a lecture that he has had on the clothing and equipment of an...
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25 August 1942
Diamond informs Estelle that he has gotten down to a "pretty set schedule".
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28 August 1942
Diamond tells Estelle that he has just received his report card for Block A. He describes exhibitions on flamethrowers and incendiary bombs that he has witnessed. He also relates going through a gas chamber and a chlorine gas chamber, for very...
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29 August 1942
Diamond discusses with Estelle the advantages of matrimony. Sidney outlines his day - student presentations in the morning and an inspection in the afternoon. He also describes his accommodation which now constitutes a tent.
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30 August 1942
Diamond describes a visit that he had received from his parents.
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1 September 1942
Diamond discusses with Estelle an upcoming visit to New York. Sidney describes a minor accident that he was involved in.
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2 September 1942
Diamond mentions that he has two major exams looming - one on chemical agents and the other on material. Sidney describes the hectic two days that he has just had - a masked agent identification test, an afternoon spent firing FS smoke shells, a...
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7 September 1942
Diamond informs Estelle that they must remain "above petty jealousies".
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September 1942
Sidney attempts to clear up a disagreement that the couple have had in their correspondence.
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Diamond outlines his day for Estelle - watching a series of films on defense against mechanized war agents, sitting through a lecture on sex hygiene, participating in a dismounted foot drill, two hours of instruction in basic signal communication...
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Diamond gives Estelle a description of an air raid alert.
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22 September 1942
Diamond describes the train ride back from visiting Estelle, during which he sat next to a young NYU graduate who had been forced to move to Virginia to find work during the war
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26 September 1942
Diamond describes a visit by South American dignitaries.
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27 September 1942
Diamond pops into a Catholic church while in town in order to take a break. He writes to Estelle that, "while seated there, alone, in the strange hush that only religion can bring about, the thought of death overcame me." He then describes looking...
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Diamond hints to Estelle that the sweater that she has been knitting him would come in very handy in the cold weather.
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29 September 1942
Diamond informs Estelle that his first choice of position in the military will be in the Air Service. He also warns Estelle that "[t]his is going to be a dull, dreary, bestial, cruel world when this conflict is over."
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Diamond tells Estelle that he has too little time to think out logical replies to her many and varied questions.
GLC09120.112
Letter written while in a program and instruction class. Diamond gives Estelle a definition of the terms lecture, military training, policies, sanitation, scouting and patrolling and field fortifications. He also informs her that he has received...
GLC09120.113
11 October 1942
Diamond describes a visit to Baltimore that he had made the previous Saturday night. Sidney also mentions the "cracking tension" that he has been experiencing.
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13 October 1942
Diamond informs Estelle that eighteen members of his platoon have been selected to go before the board, and of this number five to ten will be asked to resign. He also mentions the 60% casualty rate at the "Dieppe incident".
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Diamond describes a "Make the Boys Happy" show that had been performed for the troops in the Recreation Hall.
Written at Edgewood Arsenal
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14 October 1942
Diamond explains that, at this point, graduating candidates will be selected not only by their grades, but also personality.
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