Collection Search

to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs that he will be moved at some time the following week, but that he is still unaware as to where he is being sent. Sidney then describes the day's activities - a session on "night operations" in the morning, and the afternoon spent in...

GLC09120.083

to Estelle Spero

Diamond discusses the possibility of his receiving a pass for that weekend. He also expresses frustration at the fact that the board has not met yet.

GLC09120.084

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

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes his interview with the board.

received August 10, 1942

GLC09120.086

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

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...

GLC09120.088

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes his day, which has included a film on military discipline, another on "identification of aircraft", a two-hour drill, and a baseball game. Sidney addresses Estelle as his fiancée, and mentions that he has now become accustomed to...

GLC09120.089

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...

GLC09120.090

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...

GLC09120.091

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

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

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

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...

GLC09120.095

to Estelle Spero

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

GLC09120.096

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...

GLC09120.097

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

to Estelle Spero

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

GLC09120.099

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

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...

GLC09120.101

to Estelle Spero

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

GLC09120.102

to Estelle Spero

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

GLC09120.103

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...

GLC09120.104

to Estelle Spero

Diamond gives Estelle a description of an air raid alert.

GLC09120.105

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

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes a visit by South American dignitaries.

GLC09120.108

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...

GLC09120.109

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

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

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

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...

GLC09120.113

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

to Estelle Spero

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".

GLC09120.115

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes a "Make the Boys Happy" show that had been performed for the troops in the Recreation Hall.

Written at Edgewood Arsenal

GLC09120.116

to Estelle Spero

Diamond explains that, at this point, graduating candidates will be selected not only by their grades, but also personality.

GLC09120.117

to Estelle Spero

Diamond discusses Congress' contemplation to prohibit the sale of liquor near army posts.

GLC09120.118

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the experience of going up for Board Review.

GLC09120.119

Newspaper Clipping, name of the newspaper not cited.

Article that must have been included in one of Diamond's letters to Estelle, entitled, "War-Model Love." With notes and much underlining.

GLC09120.120

to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that they had "lost" two more men that week due to the high expectations of the program. He then describes his morning - a two-hour long film on motor transportation followed by a one-hour test on the material contained in...

GLC09120.121

to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he has just received a demerit for having had dirty finger nails. He then describes to Estelle the experience of showering in the Army. Sidney tells Estelle that he has spent the morning listening to the Yiddish Shtunda...

GLC09120.122

to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that he has already received two demerits so far that week - one for having left his footlocker unlocked, and one for having worn a field jacket to dinner. He then proceeds to complain about the cold weather, mentioning that...

GLC09120.123

to Estelle Spero

Diamond praises his parents, and speaks of his gratitude for all that they have done to help him. He also describes the night problem that is scheduled for Sunday.

GLC09120.124

to Estelle Spero

Diamond relays a debate that had taken place during the student presentations on the pros and cons of a soldier choosing to get married. He informs Estelle that he received his first mark below 80 (a 79 in chemical tactics), but that the rest of his...

GLC09120.125

to Estelle Spero

Letter written just after having visited Estelle, and Diamond writes of "the odor of [her] hair still playing with [his] senses". Diamond also talks about the "confusion of inefficiency" that reigns at home, as soon as the "men are gone".

GLC09120.126

to Estelle Spero

Diamond counts down until his graduation that is to take place on Saturday. He writes that of the 500 that started OCS training three months ago, only 350 will be graduating.

GLC09120.127

to Estelle Spero

Letter written during a study period, in which Diamond writes that they have just completed reviewing an entire year of chemistry in the space of four hours. Sidney has somewhat of a political disagreement with Estelle.

GLC09120.128

to Estelle Spero

Letter written while Diamond is in class, so it is interspersed with "items" from his class notes. He discusses smoke generators and the fact that classes are to grow progressively smaller due to the fact that many candidates do not manage to...

GLC09120.129

to Estelle Spero

(second page constitutes notes taken in a class, which are struck out). Diamond tells Estelle that things are moving too rapidly to think straight, with classes in law, tactics, communication and chemical tactics consuming all of his time.

GLC09120.130

notes from a class on chemical warfare

Handwritten notes on material learned in a class about chemical warfare. The end of the notes does seem to be addressed to Estelle, where he complains of having had a "bad case of the 'runs'".

GLC09120.131

to Estelle Spero

Letter written during a moot trial, which Diamond then proceeds to describe to Estelle. Sidney also gives Estelle samples of the questions that he was asked in his chemical tactics final.

GLC09120.132

to Estelle Spero

Letter written while the rest of Diamond's group is being subjected to mustard sensitivity tests. Sidney discusses with Estelle the possibility of obtaining a pass. He also explains to her the system of punishment in officer candidate school.

GLC09120.133