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28 October 1943
Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945
to Estelle Spero
Diamond writes about the humidity, and informs Estelle that Mary, "the cocoa addict of El Paso", had sent him a package.
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November 1943
Diamond writes that he has been working on an invention of no practical value.
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7 November 1943
Diamond describes one of the "natives", mentioning that they "appear a great deal more savage" than those on the other island.
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8 November 1943
Diamond complains about the difficulties of laundering clothes in the jungle.
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16 November 1943
Diamond describes an evening of "revelry and ribald entertainment" that he had enjoyed the night before. Sidney tells Estelle that they are fairly well set up now on the island, having even put together their own shower, providing Estelle with an...
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18 November 1943
Diamond informs Estelle that he has just received five of her letters in one go, commenting on her seductive pose in a picture that she had sent him. He then responds to various pieces of information included in her epistles. Sidney ends the letter...
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25 November 1943
Diamond reassures Estelle that his communicating with other girls does not mean that he is "deceiving" her. He tells her that her happiness means more to him, now, "than life itself." He describes the ten days and nights that he has spent training...
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28 November 1943
Diamond provides Estelle with a vivid description of the jungle.
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29 November 1943
Diamond tells Estelle that he enjoys thinking of her "more than contemplation of any thing or person." He then describes his company commander, who is "a stickler for having things done his way".
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Letter is typed in order to practice typing. He writes that he imagines her sitting before him.
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30 November 1943
The letter is typed due to lack of light, and Diamond complains about the difficulties of typing in the dark, making a vow that within a month he will be able to work the typewriter with his eyes closed.
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Diamond discusses what he has been reading, and describes what he imagines Estelle to now look like.
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1 December 1943
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3 December 1943
Diamond discusses a book that he had recently read entitled "The Story of Damon and Pythias," relating it to his and Estelle's relationship.
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4 December 1943
Diamond responds to various questions that Estelle had asked in a series of her letters that he had just received through airmail. He promises her that they will get married as soon as he returns, if not sooner.
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7 December 1943
Diamond talks about making an "ark" in which to escape the rain, and then rowing to fetch Estelle. He writes that someone has taken out a subscription of "In Fact" for him, complaining about its biased nature.
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8 December 1943
Diamond informs Estelle that they have experienced a short respite from the "interminable rain". He also writes that he believes that his suffering from diarrhea has been caused by lack of consistency in his diet.
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December 1943
Diamond encloses $20.00 with the letter, prescribing a "date" that she should go on with a friend, to be financed by the money. He then describes some of the "native boys" that he has been working alongside.
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11 December 1943
Diamond mentions his recent habit of breaking watches.
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12 December 1943
Diamond instructs Estelle to go out and enjoy herself, despite his being away at war.
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13 December 1943
Diamond chastises Estelle for placing him on a pedestal and belittling herself. He expresses concern that his postal vote for the election had been disregarded.
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15 December 1943
Sidney admonishes Estelle for accusing him of wearing "roseate glasses", asking her permission to describe how he feels after he talks of casualties, when he reads of cheating, strikes, race riots.
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Diamond reassures Estelle that there are no women around, as the "natives" had fled to the hills when the fighting took place. He asks Estelle to send him clippings of articles about chemical troops in action.
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18 December 1943
Diamond writes that he returned the night before from spending the past two days in the jungle, commenting on how accustomed he has become to its discomforts. Sidney asks Estelle again for a lamp so that he can read and write at night.
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Diamond describes the "natives" on the island. He then discusses the banian tree, drawing diagrams to illustrate.
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21 December 1943
Note alerting Estelle to the fact that enclosed with the letter is one print and two negatives, and a short explanation to accompany the picture.
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Note stating that enclosed with the letter is an article from November 15 1943.
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Diamond describes his day, stating that "at last - nothing to say". He ends the letter by commenting that he should have married Estelle.
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25 December 1943
Diamond informs Estelle that at last he has paid back the loan that he took out in order to purchase her engagement ring.
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Christmas Greetings card to Estelle.
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27 December 1943
Diamond informs Estelle that he is in the midst of carrying out an inventory and audit. He tells her that he has once again been working with "native boys", describing them as "cute".
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30 December 1943
Diamond describes a conversation with one of the "natives" about love and marriage.
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Diamond tells Estelle that they will get married immediately upon his return. He states that if anything happens to him she should know one thing: "I've led a full pleasant life - I missed out on but one thing - marriage…"
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2 January 1944
Diamond informs Estelle that he had gone into the jungle to inspect the impact area of yesterday's firing. He describes a discussion with the other officers based upon the question: "What will the people back home say to us when we return?""
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