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

13 October 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

13 October 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

14 October 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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

GLC09120.117

19 October 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

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

GLC09120.118

22 October 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the experience of going up for Board Review.

GLC09120.119

23 October 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 the film.

GLC09120.121

24 October 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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, attempting to interpret the songs to his peers. He expresses frustration at how little these "fellows" from the Mid-West know about Jews

GLC09120.122

28 October 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 his barracks has no source of heat.

GLC09120.123

1 November 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

6 November 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 grades are fine. Sidney also writes that he hopes that Estelle will be able to come to his graduation due to take place the following Saturday.

GLC09120.125

8 November 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

9 November 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

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

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