January 27, 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the experience of scoring on the firing range for another company. He tells Estelle that the following day, his company will start to go on the range. drawing on upper left corner.

GLC09120.182

January 29, 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that he is embarrassed about how poorly he performed on the firing range at Castner. drawing on upper left corner.

GLC09120.184

January 30, 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he is to leave for Don Anna Range on the coming Monday, and remain there until 6th February.

GLC09120.185

January 31, 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that after they return from the firing range on 6th February, they are to go back on the 8th for combat firing.

GLC09120.186

February 3, 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that he has enclosed some notes scribbled in class while at Edgewood that he found in the pad on which he is writing. He explains that it mentions one of his nicknames, G. T., and also informs Estelle that his new nickname is Cowboy after being forced to herd four heads of cattle out of the firing range that morning before commencing practice.

GLC09120.187

February 6, 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that he has successfully qualified as an expert rifleman.

GLC09120.188

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

23 June 1942.

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Describes a simulated "moving up" maneuver that the company had carried out early in the morning. Sid then goes on to detail the rest of the day's events which included a lecture on meteorology, a session on map-reading and map-making and a session on the impact of different weather conditions on chemical operations.

GLC09120.049

circa 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Brief letter written while waiting for the company to be inspected by the captain. Mentions that he is now a qualified rifleman and pistolman.

GLC09120.050

2 July 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes a trip to the hospital to visit injured members of the company. Outlines what he has done during the day. He also discusses whether or not gas will be necessary in the war effort, stating that in his opinion it will be resorted to in the near future. Mentions that ten of his own platoon had already been shipped, and how much he wants her to come down to visit him.

GLC09120.059

6 July 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond discusses whether he thinks that there will be a need for chemical warfare in the war effort soon. States that he believes in the ideals of the country. Informs Estelle that he is now responsible for a squad of eight men, and describes what an attack would be like.

GLC09120.063

13 July 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond expresses concern about obtaining a pass. Sidney then describes his day, which has consisted of a review of chemical agents and first aid for casualties, being paid, a review of the 50 and 30 caliber machine gun, completing the obstacle course, a film on the identification of German aircrafts and a film on the weapons of the infantry

GLC09120.069

14 July 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond outlines the day's course of events, which included watching two films - one on "Booby traps" and one on signal communication, instructing a group on map-reading and map-making,

GLC09120.070

15 July 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Sidney tells Estelle that he is almost certain that he will be granted a pass for the weekend. He proceeds to outline his day's activities, which included a lecture on the handling, storing and shipping of chemical warfare equipment and ammunition and an eight-mile hike while carrying full field-packs

GLC09120.071

25 July 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes a visit to the Toxic Gas Yard where all of the gas tanks are stored prior to shipment. He tells Estelle about "the most exacting inspection" his platoon has ever experienced, and also his firing of the 4.2 mortar.

GLC09120.074

30 July 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the guard duty that he has just come off. He then outlines to Estelle the rest of the day's schedule - a film on the movements of the rifle squad and platoon in battle, a drill, and an interview with the captain for the officers' candidate school. Diamond informs Estelle that he must still be successful in a more intensive interview with a screening board and then pass a physical examination in order to be accepted to the elite program.

GLC09120.078

August 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes a six-mile hike that he had gone on that day, two miles of which was done wearing a gas mask.

GLC09120.082

10 August 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond mentions that he has seen a film on the use of the bayonet. He also informs Estelle that it would be impossible for anyone to comprehend the sensations that he now experiences in terms of fatigue and weariness.

GLC09120.085

12 August 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes what his day has consisted of - a film on bayonet use, a film on how to disarm armed men, and another one on sex hygiene.

GLC09120.087

12 August 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he won't be granted a furlough in his company. He also states that out of the six men accepted by the board, only three will actually get to O.C.S; the rest will be shipped overseas. Sidney then outlines his day - an extended order drill in the morning, and then a four-hour long bayonet drill. Diamond tells Estelle that he probably will not be shipped until the end of the week.

GLC09120.088

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

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

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

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

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