r/TheWayWeWere • u/Heartfeltzero • 1d ago
1940s WW2 Era Pacific War Diary Written By American Officer. Lots of Interesting Content. Induction, Voyage Overseas, D-Day Landing, and more. Details in comments.
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u/domesticatedprimate 1d ago
Interesting how his penmanship changed over time, transitioning from cursive to block letters. That could have been subtle pressure from the military requirement to write legible reports I guess?
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u/Heartfeltzero 1d ago
This diary belonged to Leighton John Mangels. He was born on December 21st 1917 in Cary, Illinois. During the war he would serve in the Army with the 167th infantry Regiment, 31st Infantry Division, in the Pacific. Thankfully, Leighton decided to document his experiences in this diary. It provides many awesome historical entries, beginning at home, his induction, voyage overseas, arriving in the war zone, landing on D-Day during the battle of Morotai and much more. I have enjoyed transcribing this diary and hope you find enjoyment in its writing as well. The text is too long to fit into one comment so I will post it into two separate comments.
The diary reads:
“ This book is dedicated to my lovely and faithful wife, Louise, who accompanied me under all conditions to be with me as long as possible.
4/25/43
I’ve been wanting to get at this book for some time, but for reasons too numerous to mention, we’ll get under way. At times this epistle may seem to go back and fourth at times as I remember certain events.
To go way back in March of 1942, I received an order from the War Dept to take my final type physical examination preparatory to entering the service as a “Shavetail”. Second Lt. to me at that time. For this I had to go to Ft Sheridan, ill. A few days later I received a copy of this exam and a letter saying I had passed it.
Not long afterwards I received another “confidential” letter saying I would report to Ft Benning Infantry School - Later I learned it was more commonly known as “The Benning School for Boys” or the “Benning Idiots”. Louise and I decided to leave a week or so earlier and take a trip to Florida. On March 19th 1942, we bid our folks good bye and visited a few minutes with Rev Heubner. Soon we were on our way on a venture which brought many very enjoyable times intermingled with hardships to make life more interesting.
Oh yeah, as I look back - if it hadn’t been for Louise and our future to work for, I believe I would have given up many times. We coupled our Florida trip with a visit at Les and Elis Fraye in Albany, GA - Les was a civilian instructor for primary training of British cadets here. Later they moved to Ponca City, Okla.
Twas April 4th, I made my first appearance at the Infantry school. Signing in, getting oriented, ordered here, ordered there and trying to get all the equipment outlined for me. Which I later learned was twice what I needed. The course started off with map and aerial photo reading. This was always my format and I ate the stuff up.
Before I get too far ahead I want to relate our experiences in finding a room in Columbia. Another purpose for our going down early was to try to find a place to live, because we had heard how hard places were to get—if at all. Upon arrival which was fairly early in the day, and I believe happened to be Sunday, we bought a paper and started down the columns and looking at places in conjunction with about a dozen phone calls.
Most places were already rented and those that weren't were usually places of one room—community style—share the bath, share the kitchen, share this, that. All for only $40.00 per month. After looking thoroughly disappointed, we drove out to try to look up an old college friend of mine—Chris B. After exchanging greetings and shooting the bull, I mentioned that we were still looking for a place to live. Of course, Chris was always a politician and knew everything about everybody, and he told us that he thought he knew of a place next door to Bob Shearer. Bob was also in school with me and was a Senior when I was a Soph.
All Chris knew was that it was vacant earlier in the day. That was good enough for us so after getting Bobs address and phone number we started to rush right over. 2812 Beacon Ave—just where in the devil was it. Incidentally, earlier we did find a hotel room vacant and already had our bags checked there. Before going up to Bobs I decided to call him to make sure it was still vacant. He, of course, wasn't sure either but did know it had just been painted but he invited us out to inquire anyway.
The neighborhood proved to be one of the best in the city. In the meantime Bob inquired about the place and was ready to introduce us to the people. It was then about 9 PM when we stepped into the E. C. Simpson residence and was told it was not rented but they had promised it to someone else but they didn't come back. I was skeptical of that statement at first but later decided that people in army towns don't have to make statements like that to rent their places. This apartment was made from one-half of the house. The living room shag served as the bedroom.
There was a small breakfast nook, large kitchen and bath—all of which being well equipped with cock-roaches of several generations. Even the finest homes in the south could not be without them. The place had just been cleaned up and the paint was still wet it spots evidenced by its odor. We thought it was very nice, but were afraid to ask the rent. After finding out it was a mere $52.50 I swallowed, I knew Louise must have too. She looked at me—I looked at her and in a meek sort of way she said "Wellll".
I caught on she was trying to get them to come down so I managed to grunt out a “umm”. And I continued to look around with a critical eye. However this got us no place fast because the Simpsons held their ground — said nothing — but I knew they must be thinking "take it or leave it." Well - we took it. From that moment on the E.C. Simpsons were the most genial, good hearted, sympathetic and host likeable people I believe we've ever met. Now the question was — shall we sleep at the hotel or move right in?
The rent had been paid and a receipt given therefore but it was E. C.'s suggestion that we go down to the hotel, tell them I’ve been shipped out and bring our bags up to the house. He handled it beautifully with clerk, and we spent our first night in our new place.