15 August 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond clarifies some points from earlier letters, defining what he means be a furlough and also explaining that the training that he had mentioned was referring to training in order to become a sergeant. Sidney describes the process that he has undergone of "changing from an independently thinking individualist of mediocre physical strength to a well disciplined, hardened, automaton willing to throw himself into the enemy without thought of death." Discusses his opinions regarding the use of the bayonet.

GLC09120.090

16 August 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond mentions that his company is now living in tents, and that he is to have classes every day in the officer candidate school (OCS). Sidney explains that from now on, he will have little time to write to Estelle, but that this does not reflect on his feelings for her.

GLC09120.091

18 August 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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.

GLC09120.093

20 August 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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.

GLC09120.094

23 August 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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 officer.

GLC09120.095

25 August 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he has gotten down to a "pretty set schedule".

GLC09120.096

28 August 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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 brief periods of time.

GLC09120.097

29 August 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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.

GLC09120.098

30 August 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes a visit that he had received from his parents.

GLC09120.099

1 September 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond discusses with Estelle an upcoming visit to New York. Sidney describes a minor accident that he was involved in.

GLC09120.100

2 September 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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 parade, a long session on chemical weapons and another on foreign chemical agents and enemy activities.

GLC09120.101

7 September 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that they must remain "above petty jealousies".

GLC09120.102

September 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Sidney attempts to clear up a disagreement that the couple have had in their correspondence.

GLC09120.103

September 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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, further instruction in gas mask construction and care and a lecture on the Norwegian and Denmark campaigns.

GLC09120.104

September 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond gives Estelle a description of an air raid alert.

GLC09120.105

circa summer 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond explains that the weekend pass that he had been granted for the coming weekend may be retracted as the corporal has threatened to "knife" him, meaning being given a gig or some other punishment. Sidney describes his day which has consisted of a three-hour drill in the morning and a ten mile hike in the afternoon. He also goes through what he can expect the interview with the board to constitute.]

GLC09120.106

22 September 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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

GLC09120.107

26 September 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes a visit by South American dignitaries.

GLC09120.108

27 September 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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 into the Bible for some sort of inspiration, and tries to interpret the Biblical verse, "Deliver me from mine enemies, Protect me from them that persecute me."

GLC09120.109

27 September 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond hints to Estelle that the sweater that she has been knitting him would come in very handy in the cold weather.

GLC09120.110

29 September 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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."

GLC09120.111

29 September 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that he has too little time to think out logical replies to her many and varied questions.

GLC09120.112

September 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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 one demerit for failing to remove an extra hanger hanging on his clothes rack.

GLC09120.113

11 October 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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.

GLC09120.114