19 May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the experience of receiving surgery in the army hospital the day before.

GLC09120.414

22 May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond expresses frustration about being "shackled" to his hospital bed while recuperating. He describes a conversation that he had with his "cell mate" from New Zealand, who had been amazed "at American soldiers not getting the fullest consideration in voting in the presidential election."

GLC09120.415

23 May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he was menat to go to the general hospital to have his surgery, but instead he had managed to persuade the doctor to operate on him in the line hospital. Had he been moved, he "would have left on a certain morning on a particular plane…everyone back at camp…thought [he] was finished…" He proceeds to promise Estelle that he will be "coming home in one piece". He then discusses what he plans to do upon seeing Estelle when he returns.

GLC09120.416

23 May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond jokingly complains about his doctor and the ward boy, and their treatment of him.

GLC09120.417

24 May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that wherever she happens to be on her birthday, she should know that he will be thinking of her. He also writes that there is "nothing new to report from 'sick bay'".

GLC09120.418

25 May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that there are rumors that some nurses may be sent to the army hospital. If this transpires to be true, he states that they will be the first white women that he has seen in seven months.

GLC09120.419

27 May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond responds to a number of Estelle's letters. Regarding "that hotel deal," he writes that he regrets not having had "those few moments free from fears of curious eyes, of parental scrutiny, - just to be alone -." He informs Estelle that once they are married, he plans on forgetting "every bit" about the islands and his war experiences. Diamond describes his former company commander, a "Jew baiter", writing that he feels a little more comfortable now that he has left. He then discusses how reform can be brought about, with reference to Robinson's "The Making of the Mind".

GLC09120.420

30 May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that he is still "sojourning at the 52nd Field Hospital." He then responds to a series of letters that he has just received. He relates an argument that he has had with "Bud", about the concerns of the soldiers overseas. He expresses outrage at Bud's opinion that all of the soldiers "have completely lost track of the situation at home."

GLC09120.421

May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph note signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes a short note informing Estelle that work has piled up, but that he is so happy that she is "the gal."

GLC09120.422

30 May 1944

Shelvelson, Harris, fl. 1944

Typed letter signed

Title: to Sidney Diamond

Letter thanking Diamond for his informing the magazine that the poem that they published in their April issue appears on a tombstone in the Bronx, and not Indiana as they claimed. Diamond then appends the letter with a short handwritten explanation to Estelle.

GLC09120.423

May 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes his daily routine in the hospital.

GLC09120.424

2 June 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the other patients in the officers' ward of the hospital.

GLC09120.425

4 June 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he does not want a large family, but that he plans on "consulting" Estelle first.

GLC09120.426

5 June 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that the night before, the radio broadcast Fiji music, and he expresses surprise that "somehow the music - melody - intonation - of those not marred by civilization can be so completely expressive." He then goes into a lengthy description as to why he disagrees with the word "aficionado" being perverted by contemporary magazines, explaining its meaning in the context of bull fights.

GLC09120.427

7 June 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond discusses the "news of the continental invasion."

GLC09120.428

8 June 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond tries to understand why Estelle is angry with him.

GLC09120.429

8 June 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the Texan ward boy. He also explains that, although he had already written Estelle a letter that day, he "felt like being with [her]."

GLC09120.430

8 June 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that Mario Colin, presumably a friend, had written that "the average soldier doesn't know what he's fighting for" in a letter addressed to Sidney. Diamond then refutes this: "…I believe wholeheartedly in the way of government we have…"

GLC09120.431

9 June 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that he intends to break up the monotony of the day by getting a haircut, and going to an "artist" to have a picture of Estelle copied together with a portrait of himself, "just so we can see what we look like together…" Sidney requests a copy of Elbert Hubbard's "Scrap Book".

GLC09120.432

11 June 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond responds to a series of points raised in Estelle's recent letters. He instructs Stella to "get the most out of [her] stay at Northwestern." He explains the "rotation deal" which could allow him some leave after two years spent overseas.

GLC09120.433

13 June 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that he has now spent almost a month in hospital, and proceeds to describe to Estelle his schedule there.

GLC09120.434

June 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond complains about his "tyrant ward boy" in the hospital.

GLC09120.435

15 June 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that he has been in the "purgatory" of hospital for twenty nine days. He includes a short poem to Estelle, and then playfully describes his fictitious history as a poet.

GLC09120.436

16 June 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that, although he was meant to have been discharged that day, his physician changed his mind upon removing the bandages. He complains that the period of time for wounds to heal is extended due to the tropical climate. He expresses fear that he will miss valuable training if he is not released soon.

GLC09120.437

18 June 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond responds to the series of letters that he has received recently from Estelle. He mentions that he now has a punctured ear drum as a result of being exposed to constant and intense firing. He also writes that he cannot understand Natalie's embarrassment at being Jewish, explaining that his experience has shown him that "the individual of average intelligence won't give a damn and if he does have any ingrained views he'll stifle them once he knows who you are." He continues by stating that although he is "a mixture of paranoia, schizophrenia and various other mental disorders…

GLC09120.438