1945

Print

Title: Lt. Gen. Kawabe, leads Japanese peace party

Front of print: "Lt. Gen. KAWABE (at right), Vice-Chief of Staff of Imperial General Staff, leads Japanese peace party of 16 officials."

GLC09546.05

9 June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Discusses the chore of guarding the guardhouse, and the lack of US military success in the war so far. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.029

9 June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Informs Estelle that has spent the day on the firing range. Criticizes a friend, Zebe, for expressing approval of the war while in practice failing to enlist. In turn, Sidney expresses his respect for another friend, Lew Agnes, for his willingness to sacrifice life, career and friends for his firmness of thought. Speaks of how much his body yearns for Estelle. Writes of how he has had seven days straight of training with no rest, and is due to have thirteen more without an interval. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.030

Circa June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Asks for Estelle's forgiveness, although unaware as to why she is upset. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.031

June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Describes the different gases that he's been working with.. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.032

13 June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Informs Estelle that he has become qualified in the use of pistols, the test for which only 33% of candidates pass. Wishes Estelle a happy 18th birthday, stating that he regrets nothing from the four years which they have spent together. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.033

12 June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Explains that Estelle's birthday present may be somewhat modest due to lack of funds and a shortage of gifts that can be purchased on the army base. Describes a training film and lecture that he had received regarding the ways in which international law dictates how a soldier should behave when captured. States that had undergone an inspection on Saturday. Then describes a film that the company had watched related to reconnaissance, patrol and scouting at night. Written at Edgewood Arsenal

GLC09120.034

12 June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Describes a seven mile hike that his platoon had completed before supper. Discusses the process of "blood typing" that the army carries out, stamping each soldier's blood type onto his identification tag, enabling hasty blood transfusions should the need arise. Describes the effects of the chemical phosgene. Mentions a discussion that had arisen that morning regarding gas-proof chambers, and that he is being considered as possible officer training material Written at Edgewood Arsenal Received June 12 1942

GLC09120.035

circa. early summer 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Writes that he has enclosed ten very hard-earned dollars with the letter. Describes the ways in which he intends to save money. Outlines the day's schedule - a session on how to administer First Aid to gas attack victims, a lecture and film on map-reading and map-making, a drill in the afternoon and then another session with the rifle. Mentions that he refused to participate in a discussion on the "negro situation" as he believes that some people are simply born prejudiced.Written at Edgewood Arsenal

GLC09120.036

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

circa. early summer 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Letter written while Diamond is on guard duty. Discusses differences between the treatment of black and white soldiers. Diamond mentions that he is being trained as a communications and staff man, and what this role will entail. He also outlines what he believes the war is about, and states that some important questions will need to be answered upon its conclusion. Written at Edgewood Arsenal.

GLC09120.040

circa. early summer 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that the training camp that he is in is the only Chemical Warfare training center in the country Written at Edgewood Arsenal

GLC09120.041

circa. early summer 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Responds to a series of comments that Estelle had raised in a previous letter. Speaks about a "friend" of Sidney's who has attempted to date Estelle. Also discusses another friend who did not enlist and managed to acquire $2000 somehow. Instructs Estelle to respond to any of her mother's questions regarding the war vaguely. Discusses his hopes of being made an officer, and how advantageous it would be for them financially. Describes loneliness of life of a soldier. Outlines the day's events, which included a lecture on military discipline, one on different gases, two sessions on…

GLC09120.042

circa. early summer 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Apologizes for brevity of letter, explaining that he has spent the evening with Joe, Percy Hamburger and Julie Zimmerman reminiscing old times.

GLC09120.043

circa. early summer 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Writes of the implications of having been charged to a chemical weapons company; instead of being shipped as a unit, they will all be assigned to different parts of the service - infantry, field artillery etc. Mentions some of the rules that he has received concerning guard duty, and a session that he participated in regarding the handling of rifles. Informs Stella that he spends most of his free time studying gases.

GLC09120.044

circa. early summer 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Writes that he is suffering from the "empty week-end blues". Sidney puts this down to a visit from his parents, which was accompanied by constant references to home and Estelle.

GLC09120.045

circa. early summer 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Describes the experience of being subjected to a dose of chloracetophenone (tear gas) in order to demonstrate to the soldiers the value of the gas mask. Outlines the rest of the day's schedule - a class in military customs and the History of chemical warfare, a class on the identification of airplanes, a session during which the company were forced to lay out field wire and telephones and sessions with both the rifle and revolver. Explains the etymological root of the expression, a "gig", meaning a special detail assigned after hours as a mode of punishment

GLC09120.046

circa. early summer 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Expresses concern that Estelle is losing weight, and reassures her that he has attempted to stay away from anything dangerous and that he has every intention of returning. Registers surprise at the fact that his Southern compatriots had never tasted Chinese chow mein before, and instructs them on how to eat it when presented with this food at dinner. Describes a lecture that the company had received on dealing with chemical agents, protection against them, use of gas etc.

GLC09120.047

circa. early summer 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Runs through the day's rather hectic schedule, apologizing for the brevity of the letter.

GLC09120.048

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

26 June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Apologizes for irregularity with which he has been writing letters recently, explaining that he has had very little sleep lately. Sid then describes an overnight excursion that his company had been taken on

GLC09120.051

27 June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Describes an argument that he has had with Carter, a soldier from Tennessee, on the "negro question". photocopy

GLC09120.052