17 June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Informs Estelle that he is about to go on guard duty which lasts for a full 24 hours. Also discusses a class that he has just had on the use of portable chemical cylinders.Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.037

17 June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Allays Estelle's fears regarding the use of mustard and lewisite gases in the war effort. Letter written while Sidney is on guard duty, and he mentions that an important feature of this job is keeping the white soldiers out of the "Negro" section. Recalls an incident that occurred at Fort Dix when armed black malcontents were shot at by white M.P.s. Discusses the racial tension that exists in the segregated army. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.038

17 June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Discusses the use of mustard and lewisite gas in the war. Promises Estelle that he will return, and upon his return will take her as his wife. Written at Edgewood Arsenal

GLC09120.039

28 April 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes his first impressions of the army base, discussing some of the personalities that he has encountered and life on the base.

GLC09120.001

28 April 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

States that has taken a mental and mechanical aptitude test, and describes a speech regarding the "Articles of War" given to the troops by a captain. Also describes first night in the barracks. Enclosed is a newspaper clipping of a chimp that Diamond refers to as a picture of himself.

GLC09120.002

29 April 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Discusses two of the men that Diamond has met on the military base, one of whom is a Divinity student. Diamond subsequently ponders over the moral implications of war.

GLC09120.003

30 April 1942.

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Describes the punishment of walking for eight hours a day with a pack filled with bricks for a period of four days given to a boy who had gone missing for three days. Discusses impatience as to when he will be moved on from the training camp.

GLC09120.004

circa April 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Mentions that he has calmed down after losing his temper the night before. Discusses the new job of landscape gardening that he has been assigned. States that he is optimistic that he will be placed in the chemical warfare unit.

GLC09120.006

2 May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Describes his dismay at the fact that as soon as he gets to know his peers, they are moved on. Gives a brief description of the camp town.

GLC09120.007

4 May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Discusses the wedding of a "negro" soldier, and muses over the range of social classes that he has encountered in the army.

GLC09120.008

circa 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Discusses the gardening task that he had carried out the day before. Also mentions a divinity student's frustration with the language employed in the army.

GLC09120.009

circa 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Describes the process of being given an army uniform, and how it creates a sense of equality in the company. Warns Estelle not to trust soldiers.

GLC09120.010

circa 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Describes his elation with his new post in Edgewood Arsenal, where everyone behaves "like a gentleman and a soldier". States that the Chemical Warfare Service is merely a year and a half old, and consequently "acts its age - young, militant, enthusiastic, courageous, and, above all, eager!" Accommodation is described as being far superior to that at Fort Dix. Outlines the time frame for training - five weeks of initial training, then nine weeks of school and further training, and how frequently he will be able to receive a pass to visit home.Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.011

circa 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he is working in the kitchen peeling potatoes while he waits for the company to fill up. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.012

circa 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Outlines what his day has consisted of - primarily an array of lectures on decontamination techniques and different incendiaries. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.013

10 May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Telegram

Title: to Estelle Spero

States that he is in the chemical warfare service training. He is swell, but has no phone. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.014

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Offers Estelle the option of leaving him as he feels that he is unable to offer her a stable future Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.015

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Reprimands Estelle somewhat for telling him that he should not have enlisted in the army, and asks her to avoid doing so in the future. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.016

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Describes the attitudes of the Southern soldiers towards "negroes". Also outlines his General Orders.Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.017

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Discusses chemical warfare and outlines the day's program of events.Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.018

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Discusses the fact that his company is segregated, and details some of his Southern compatriots' attitudes towards the African-American soldiers.Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.019

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Describes an incident earlier in the day when had been called into the classification office, where he had been grilled about his Russian roots. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.020

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Speaks about his awareness that he will encounter "a few unpleasant moments" when he gets sent overseas. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.021

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Apologizes for brevity of letter, explaining that he has a lecture on the Blitzkrieg tactics of the Germans that evening. Outlines the day's events which consisted of a motion picture on personal health and a lecture on chemical warfare. Describes the rapid pace of life in the army.Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.022

Circa. May 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

States that they are waiting for the company to fill up before training can begin. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.023