Folders 421-430: 21 March 1945-25 March 1945

Containers:

5, 3

Scope and content:

Hears about a friend who was transferred from his department for requesting additional leave after his father died; Tries to get a friend who is going back to Pittsburgh to bring back an apple pie from Esther; is angry that there are conditions that make war necessary; has a friend who sees a newsreel of murdered Poles and Jews, and cannot believe that humans could be “guilty of such deeds.” Hears his friends on how the Japanese could be more expected to murder than the Germans, because they are “heathens.” Is reading the book “Citizen Tom Paine” that takes liberties with history; theorizes that some servicemen are beginning to consider war their profession. Hears that he has the reputation of being the most avid book reader; hears about another incident involving race on the camp; reads about how the meat famine may just be a creation of the meat packers, not an actual shortage. Talks with a POW about the situation in Germany. The Captain makes a separate bus stop for the African-American soldiers, but he makes it close to their separate USO, as they used to have a long walk to get there; mails out more chocolate and cigarettes to people back home; is trying to find information about the African-American actor Ira Alldridge; talks about another racial incident[in a seemingly unconnected letter fragment]. Is curious in hearing about the situation of the Jews in Italy, as compared to Germany. Draws a map of the garden and the area around the hut he lives in; while playing some classical music, one of the POWs sticks his head in the hut to compliment the music, and Recht notices all the POWs sitting around outside are listening to his music; reads a book studying the lives of Orthodox Jews. Spends a day in Williamsburg and eats at the Lodge, as he often does; hopes that the war will be over a little sooner than expected.

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