1942 Diary and Extensive Ephemera Collection of a Pennsylvania Man Who Worked as a Weaver and Served in the US Army During WWII

On offer is a delightful collection that includes the diary of a WWII soldier from Pennsylvania, and an extensive amount of accompanying ephemera that tells the story of the man behind the uniform. 

The diary belongs to Max Joseph Astuck (1915-2001). Astuck was born to parents John and Mary in Easton, Pennsylvania. He had two sisters and lived his entire life in Easton. He worked as a weaver for the Victor Bilota Belting Company. Astuck served in the US Army during World War II from July, 1941 through April, 1945. There is no available evidence that Max ever married or had children.  

The centrepiece of this collection is Astuck’s diary, in which he records his service in the army from January to July of 1942. From the accompanying ephemera, we know that Max was attached to the Army Air Corps, 14th  Transport Squadron, based at the time in Augusta, Georgia. 

In his diary, Max records his daily life on duty, the mail that he receives from home and letters he has sent. He notes his duty shifts as well as other duty-related items. These include fairly rapid promotions He was drafted on July 23, 1941. On Feb 9, 1942 he was promoted to Corporal and not quite a month later, to Sergeant. He finished the war as a Sergeant. He notes his changes in pay as well. In 1942, much of Max’s work consisted of driving duties and he also notes flights he was able to take. He recounts many trips he took driving a truck. Some excerpts follow: 

"Got letter from home and one letter from Louis Gumiko and got some envelopes from home and a negative. Wrote one home. Made corporal" [Feb 9].

“Wrote a letter home and worked all day. Went to Ilana's house and met a girl named Bumble Bee and kissed her. Received a letter from home" [April 7].

“Big Convoy. Left Augusta at 9: A.M. Arrived at Fort Bragg 10: P.M. Drove all the way” [May 24]. 

“Packed all my clothes and turned in my locker to supply room. Received a letter from Joe Edmonds from Baltimore Maryland” [May 22]. 

“Drove truck all day hauling army equipment to railroad cars and worked all night. Received a letter from home. Packed all my clothes. Ten months I’m in the army” [May 23].

“Drove truck on Pope Field Hangar line. Got payed today, got $74.54. Made out a money order for $75 for father back home. Received letter from Frank Young. Send Victor and Sylvia home and a a pillowcase” [July 9]. 

The accompanying ephemera adds significant depth and richness to this simple diary.  Included in the ephemera are many photographs. Lots of the pictures are of young women he obviously knew as inscriptions include “Love Ginny”, Love, Edith” and “Love Eileen” and others. There are also photos of older people, apparently family members. Two other images show aircraft that obviously flew in and out of airfields where he worked. One picture is almost an archetypal picture of a military truck mechanic, cap brim turned up, bent over the engine compartment of a Willys MB – the famed ‘jeep’ of the U.S. Army. Many of the photos are inscribed on the back. 

There are receipts from the Air Corps Tailor Shop at Pope Field as well as a Quartermaster Laundry list. There are newspaper clippings and some artwork. Of particular interest is a furlough pass dated April 10, 1942 granting him a two pass to visit Augusta, Georgia (where he knew a young woman) and two military driver licences. One is dated March 23, 1944 and was issued in England. This confirms that Astuck was in England during the preparations for Operation Overlord – the Normandy Invasion.

This is not an exhaustive list of the ephemera. The three pages of names and addresses and a short list of birthdays Astuck has included in the back of his diary can be cross-referenced with names attached to the ephemera for a deeper insight into Astuck’s world. 

For a historian, it is an excellent example of the minutia of daily life for troops in support roles For a social historian, it illustrates through words and pictures what one aspect of life was like in those early war years.

The diary is a 5-year diary and it approximately measures 5.25 x 4.0 inches. The cover is a pebbled leather and is in good condition. The binding is intact but it is loose. There are 365 pages and all are intact and in good condition. There is a closure strap and buckle. The handwriting is legible. Although it is a 5 year diary (1942-1947) there are only entries for January to mid-July, 1942.