Diary

One Year Diary, 1942 to 1943

Daily diary covering 1942 kept by Chester J. Sypniewski detailing life as a soldier at Fort Wayne, his relationship with his girlfriend and eventual fiance Frances Wille, and his time spent in officer training school at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. Sypniewski candidly recounts working in Fort Wayne's motor pool, gambling with his fellow soldiers, going on dates with Frances (and occasionally Olga, Jackie, or Ruth), and records news primarily concerning the war. An inscription inside the front cover explains that the diary was a gift from Frances, and brief notes from her are written throughout the book. An envelope containing a quarter-folded letter of encouragement on monogrammed stationery slipped secretly into the diary by Frances as Chester prepared to leave for Oklahoma is also included within. A farewell note from Chester to Frances, dated November 24, is also included, explaining that he is about to be shipped off to Europe. Sypniewski ends the diary on November 27th. The backing from a piece of sterling silver jewelry, presumably a pendant, is pressed between the pages for December 30st and 31st. "God Bless You" is handwritten on the card gold ink, and the shape of an angel is embossed into it. The diary is bound in a brown leather cover with gold embossed trim. It has a brass lock attached to a broken strap.