Diaries and Journals

While memoirs are normally published by soldiers after the conclusion of the war, the diaries and journals of soldiers were typically kept throughout the war and contain a raw account of the men and their time on the frontlines. Most units in the U.S. military during World War II had official restrictions on soldiers keeping diaries while on the frontlines, but these men oftentimes disregarded this order. Even when men did not actively maintain a formal system of journaling or diaries, they sometimes kept informal notes or shorthand that they translated into a diary of their wartime experiences shortly after the end of the war.

The diaries and journals kept by the men of the 103rd are often unedited accounts of the thoughts and fears of these young men. The perspective of an individual soldier in the mud, rain, snow, or dirt helps to humanize the experiences of men on the frontlines, thousands of miles from home. This collection also includes diaries or journals that were recorded from notes or memory within a year of the war ending, since this is another way that soldiers recorded their wartime narratives despite the official prohibitions. Please see below for individual diaries and journals that have been preserved in the 103rd Unit Association Documents.

Note: These diaries and journals are unedited and may contain graphic descriptions of wartime experiences.