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1 October 1943
Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945
to Estelle Spero
Diamond tells Estelle that he realizes now how fully and totally he loves her: "You are my foundation. The fundamental element of my construction."
GLC09120.277
19 October 1943
Diamond writes that from her recent correspondence, he can sense that something is brewing, and asks of her to "bring it to a boil" as he cannot "take much more of these inuendos."
GLC09120.281
21 October 1943
Diamond complains that "[N]othing has occurred to disrupt the sameness of…existence here." Sidney instructs Estelle to have enough fun for the both of them, telling her that she should know that he would never condemn her for anything except wasting...
GLC09120.283
28 October 1943
Diamond writes about the humidity, and informs Estelle that Mary, "the cocoa addict of El Paso", had sent him a package.
GLC09120.290
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...
GLC09120.295
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...
GLC09120.296
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".
GLC09120.298
Letter is typed in order to practice typing. He writes that he imagines her sitting before him.
GLC09120.299
30 November 1943
Diamond discusses what he has been reading, and describes what he imagines Estelle to now look like.
GLC09120.301
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.
GLC09120.303
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.
GLC09120.304
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.
GLC09120.305
15 December 1943
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.
GLC09120.312
21 December 1943
Diamond describes his day, stating that "at last - nothing to say". He ends the letter by commenting that he should have married Estelle.
GLC09120.317
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.
GLC09120.318
Christmas Greetings card to Estelle.
GLC09120.319
30 December 1943
Diamond describes a conversation with one of the "natives" about love and marriage.
GLC09120.321
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…"
GLC09120.322
3 May 1944
Diamond discusses his opinions regarding pre-embarkation marriage.
GLC09120.406
11 May 1944
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
23 May 1944
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...
GLC09120.416
24 May 1944
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 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 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...
GLC09120.420
May 1944
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
4 June 1944
Diamond informs Estelle that he does not want a large family, but that he plans on "consulting" Estelle first.
GLC09120.426
8 June 1944
Diamond tries to understand why Estelle is angry with him.
GLC09120.429
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
9 June 1944
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...
GLC09120.432
19 June 1944
Diamond writes that he has been released "after exactly 33 days in the hospital." He attempts to quell Estelle's jealousy about his having relationships with other women.
first two pages typed, rest handwritten
GLC09120.439
23 June 1944
Diamond writes that they are "doing little else besides train and train some more." He describes a party that a Lieutenant Rubin had given in honor of his fiancée's marriage to another man: "killed a bottle of scotch - laughed - joked…" He also...
GLC09120.440
1 July 1944
Diamond writes that the night before he had seen "Best Foot Forward", a film starring Lucille Ball, which he describes as a "stinker". He states that he loves Estelle for her "scolding".
GLC09120.445
July 1944
contains love poem
photocopy
GLC09120.449
6 July 1944
Diamond informs Estelle that he had given a lecture to an infantry outfit that morning. Sidney writes a short "scene" between a man and his wife.
GLC09120.451
1 January 1945
Diamond writes to Estelle: "It is unnecessary for me to describe my eternal devotion to you - " Written en route to the Philippines
GLC09120.557
21 July 1944
to Estellle Spero
Diamond writes that he is "disgustingly jealous" of Estelle's roommate as she can be with Estelle, and talk to her.
GLC09120.461
22 July 1944
Diamond describes his "home" in the jungle to Estelle, writing that although it "isn't large", he could squeeze her in
GLC09120.462
27 July 1944
Diamond writes that the day should be named "D" day as it has been thoroughly discouraging. He describes a visit from the Inspector General's Department and a lecture that he gave on mortar to an infantry outfit. He closes the letter by stating...
GLC09120.465
28 July 1944
Diamond apologizes for the letter that he had sent the day before: "The letter written last evening was putrid, rotten, cruel…The blame is mine -" He tries to describe to Estelle how helpless he feels.
GLC09120.466
3 August 1944
Diamond writes that there are some U.S.O. entertainers on the island, allegedly containing a female.
GLC09120.470
Diamond describes the U.S.O show, starring "the first white woman" that Sidney has seen in eight months.
GLC09120.471
5 August 1944
Diamond thanks Estelle for the "stuff" that she had sent him.
GLC09120.472
13 August 1944
Diamond informs Estelle that, even though he was jealous of "Stan", he is unable to "stay sore" at her. He mentions the fact that they seldom have political discussions in his company, continuing to discuss the one Southerner's attitudes towards...
GLC09120.477
14 August 1944
Diamond informs Estelle that she has been very good to him, and requests that she allows him to spend the rest of his life repaying her. He apologizes for having gone "off the deep end" at her.
GLC09120.478
15 August 1944
Diamond mentions that the sixth anniversary of the couple's meeting has passed, and proceeds to discuss their relationship. He writes about army policy regarding different races.
GLC09120.479
17 August 1944
Diamond writes the letter as a fake memo on the subject of "Miss Estelle Spero", addressed to "The world
GLC09120.480
18 August 1944
Diamond informs Estelle that he has been snowed under with work. He then proceeds to discuss how much he misses her.
GLC09120.481
22 August 1944
Diamond writes a letter to "Miss Taylor", Estelle's roommate at Northwestern University, about her having addressed him as Sidney.
GLC09120.485
25 August 1944
to George and Jeanette Spero
Letter written to Estelle's parents, thanking them for their package of caramelized nuts.
GLC09120.486
27 August 1944
Diamond apologizes for having upset Estelle. He also informs her that the portrait of the two of them together has been completed, but complains that he bears no resemblance to the picture. He discusses the books that he has read recently.
GLC09120.488
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