1943-1944 Diaries of a Bold, Free-Spirited Jewish American Soldier Who Spends More Time Loving the Ladies than Fighting in WWII

On offer are three diaries describing the experiences of a sharp-tongued, handsome and free-spirited US Army soldier named Harry Silverman (1919-2001). Harry was the son of Jewish Romanian immigrants and served the United States during World War II [See BIO NOTES on Silverman at the end of this listing]. 

Harry begins his diary on January 13, 1943, when he is inducted to the army. He details his training and work, mostly in driving and communications. His main focus is his thriving social life. Put quite plainly, Harry talks a lot about his active sex life (and sex drive!). He has a lady at home (Kass Mogul, nicknamed Stinky) and a tumultuous relationship with a young woman from a town near his barracks named Mary Ann. He also enjoys his time with a multidue of other women in his travels. His entries are long and exceptionally detailed. They are a portrait of a young man who knows his place as a soldier, but simply will not be tamed by the army. He is often getting in trouble with his superiors for his attitude and for breaking rank, but he is never afraid to advocate for himself and make choices that suit him. Seems Harry wasn’t the most compliant soldier - but he sure did have a good time! He drank, partied, and found love (lust?) at every turn. Harry’s entries end on April 24, 1944 as he is about to ship out overseas and he was not allowed to take this one with him.

Some excerpts that give the flavour of Harry’s depth of writing: 

“...went on sick call. Had argument with Major. Wanted to know why I was back. Told him my feet hurt and as long as they hurt I’d keep coming back…Went to dance at Jewish USO. Met two nice WAC. One was Jewish the other not. From Georga that’s what I call her. Got back to camp at 11:30PM” [Aug 24, 1943].

 “...Shined shoes and went to motor pool. Cleaned car and captain inspected. Had to clean motor. Got order to take St. Col Truly to Nashville at 4:30PM. Got date with Mary Ann tonite…Cleaned rifle and took off for Nashville…Picked up a minister’s wife. Took a ride and parked. She layed like a rabbit and loved it. Wanted more. Took her home at 9:2 0PM and took off for Tullahoma…Went to see Mary Ann…slept until 4:45AM…” [Feb 18, 1944]

 “...Got sized for shoes and carbon on rifle. Having inspection in motor pool. Car is very dirty and I’m not cleaning it cause someone else  was using it and flattened a tire. Still got to be fixed…Called before BC. Had hot argument and said I had a snicker on my face and was making fool of him. Told him it was my natural look. Got him hot when I told him to read 104 article of war. He also read 61, breaking restriction. I got three days out of the deal…” [March 4, 1944]. 

“...I went wild at all the pretty girls at hospital. Flirted with a lot of them. Dates came along…Met quite a few good looking girls. Wanted to go into dorm…Girls said I was evil minded but loved it. Sure was a raw party. I was loving Ruth up laying on her breast looking up Ethel’s and Dean’s dress and looking down Gladys dress at her breast. Went to town to eat. Wise cracks were still flying. Said I have an answer for everything they said.I was loving Dean and Ruth was getting jealous…told Ruth we were low on funds and couldn’t go to club…” [March 26, 1944]. 

 Harry’s diary entries and notes are recorded in My Life in the Service diaries. They were printed to encourage American soldiers to document their experience at war. They include sections titled “Service Record”, “My Buddies in the Service”, “Officers I Have Met”, “Civilians I Have Met”, a long “Diary” section, and much more. Harry fills the diary sections and uses the other sections sporadically.

For a historian, these diaries are a truly fascinating look at the social experience of American soldiers stationed in the US during World War Two. It also provides a glimpse into the lived experience of the first generation American Jew experiencing the war so differently than Jews across the pond. 

 BIO NOTES: Harry Silverman was the youngest child of Romanian Jewish immigrants Abe Silverman and Rebecca (sometimes Rebeka) Kaiserman Silverman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1903 and 1905, respectively. Abe and Rebecca spoke Yiddish and Abe supported his family working as an auto mechanic. On January 20, 1943, Harry was officially inducted into the United States army and served until October 23, 1945. He was in the foreign service from May 3, 1944 to July 2, 1945. Silverman started out assigned to the 317th Coast Artillery Barrage Balloon Battalion based at Camp Tyson, Tennessee. In time, he was promoted to Private First Class and transferred to 23 HQ, HQ DET. 2nd ARMY. The US 2nd Army earned distinction as a training army during World War II, preparing nearly one million men to fight. It was based in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1947 Silverman married Sandy “Betty” Audrey Nelson and worked as a pet salesman. Harry and Betty had three daughters, Ailene, Cheryl and Fern. Harry was a member of Shekinah Masonic Lodge. 

Each diary comes in its original cardboard box. Also included in the diaries are 2 black and white photographs and a pass for leave. All diaries measure 6” x 4.5” and contain 156 pages in the “diary” section. The first diary covers January through July, 1943, and is 100% complete [diary section]. The second diary covers July 1943-February 1944 and is 100% complete [diary section]. The final diary covers February to April 1944 and is 30% complete [diary section]. Overall G. 

Trigger warning: Harry writes in graphic detail, including describing some instances of animal cruelty. For example, he attended bullfights in Mexico in August of 1943 and describes in horrific detail the murders of the bulls. He also describes the accidental killing of a dog. He also describes his sexual conquests in a fair bit of detail.