11 April 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes on his birthday that he feels "one hundred years older." He recommends that she reads "The Robe" by Lloyd C. Douglas.

GLC09120.389

12 April 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he has gone from platoon leader to Company Executive Officer. He also mentions that they are now allowed to divulge that they are somewhere in the Solomon Islands

GLC09120.390

13 April 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond complains about being encouraged by the Army to read the periodical "In Fact", as it offends his liberal sensibilities.

GLC09120.391

16 April 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that he worries about the administrative side of his job.

GLC09120.392

16 April 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that the "days are completely devoid of any activity." He mentions that a rotation policy is being started, whereby men who have spent between eighteen months and two years in overseas service will get an opportunity to go home. Diamond comments: "It's good to know that eventually one may get another short glimpse of the bright lights and apartment houses." He also states that the "Solomons are definitely places lend-leased from Hell."

GLC09120.393

17 April 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the contents of a package that his parents have sent him. He recalls the day that he proposed to Estelle, and comments that nearly a year has passed since that date, May 18th. He then discusses how important Estelle is to him in his present position: "When I returned from the front with the nauseating stench of the dead lingering on my cloths it was the memory of the past, which is you, that made me throw off the melancholy."

GLC09120.394

19 April 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that he is bored and "craves movement."

GLC09120.395

20 April 1944

Beightler, Robert S., 1892-1978

Typed document

Title: to 82nd Chemical Battallion

Note commending the 82nd Chemical Battalion for the assistance that they provided the 37th Division with.

GLC09120.396

21 April 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that he spent Passover participating in a push. He discusses the horrifying effect of encountering great masses of dead bodies.

GLC09120.397

21 April 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he is writing the letter having just completed the previous one, so as "to prevent the continuity, the nearness from being disturbed."

GLC09120.398

22 April 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that he has just returned from a musical entitled "Reveille with Beverly". He reports that sometimes, to break the monotony of his current existence, he goes to visit the units on the front.

GLC09120.399

24 April 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond reports that the rainy season has begun once more. He writes that he has finished reading Voltaire's "Candide".

GLC09120.400

25 April 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that the day had served as a holiday for those not engaged in combat, as it marked the two-year anniversary of the existence of the 82nd Chemical Battalion. Sidney states that he craves movement.

GLC09120.401

25 April 1944

Shimoneck, W.H., fl. 1944

Typed letter signed

Title: to the 82nd Chemical Battalion

Farewell letter from the departing Lieutenant Colonel. He writes of the battalion's reputation as "a crack outfit."

GLC09120.402

26 April 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond discusses the trials of being so far from one's sweetheart. He recounts the story of his former sergeant, who had been engaged, but whose ex-fiancee is now using the bedroom set that he had purchased with her new husband. He mentions that he is reading "The Making of the Mind", commenting that all of the world's ills can be cured by "intelligence."

GLC09120.403

28 April 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that his living standards have improved immeasurably since the "days of fox-holes and C rations." Diamond comments on the frequency that Shuster appears in "Time" magazine.

GLC09120.404

30 April 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond reports that his battalion has received several commendations for their work "during the recent show with the enemy."

GLC09120.405

3 May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond discusses his opinions regarding pre-embarkation marriage.

GLC09120.406

5 May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that some day he hopes to visit New Zealand or Australia. He comments that he has read part 2 of "France et La Vieux".

GLC09120.407

8 May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that, as a result of his position as executive officer, he now gives instructions on Japanese weapons. He also comments that, having "fought and worked…side by side with the negro soldiers", he is "nauseated" by the reports of growing trouble in the "negro-white situation" that he has read about in "Time". He states that men from the South, as well as the North, have come to respect and admire the "negro troops": "It is indeed shameful that upon the return of these men, this community of thought and consideration will be shattered by the narrow minded idiots whose revolting…

GLC09120.408

10 May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he broke the clasp of the bracelet that she gave him when disassembling a Japanese machine gun.

GLC09120.409

11 May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that he has enclosed a questionnaire that "concerns two misguided morons who for no other reason than lust, financial gain, and imbecility consider the problem of spending the rest of their natural lives making each other miserable."

GLC09120.410

13 May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond passes comment on the previous night's entertainment. He also discusses an army film on England, which he writes gave "a direct, frank, and uncolored recognition of white prejudice towards the negro and an appeal…for understanding and destruction of color barriers."

GLC09120.411

17 May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes the letter while "comfortably loafing on hospital bed", waiting for surgery on a cyst. He tells Estelle that if her cousin joins the infantry and goes into active combat, he will have tremendous respect for him: "Truly the infantry is the 'Queen of Battle!'" He discusses the experience of those overseas, explaining that they all "burn with the injustice, inhumanity of the entire mess..."

GLC09120.412

18 May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes "hot & bothered", with "bandages sticking". Diamond expresses frustration about the fact that all press about the "work" that has been done in the South Pacific accredits all success to the "God damned marines."

GLC09120.413