1943 & 1945 ORIGINAL PAIR [2] OF MANUSCRIPT DIARIES HANDWRITTEN BY AN AMERICAN SERVICEMAN SERVING WITH THE DISTINGUISHED 45TH TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON LOVINGLY ADDRESSED TO HIS WIFE BUTCH

On offer is a fascinating, detailed set of two World War II manuscript diaries handwritten by P.F.C. Gordon L. Kenney (1922-2019) of Beacon, New York.

Kenney kept these diaries while he was serving in the distinguished 45th Troop Carrier Squadron. To learn more about Kenney, see BIO NOTES at the end of the listing. 

Kenney wrote these diaries for his  future wife, Esther. He refers to her as "Dear Butch" (and sometimes as "sweetheart"). His love for Esther knows no bounds:

"...tonight looking up skies I saw my ever present 'shining star', superstitious? Idol worshiper? No - just a symbol - remember? Esther - Shining Star - I wrote this all the way over on the boat and ever since, nearly every night there is a star brighter than the rest and when I seem to feel the closest to you I look up and bless you if I don't see a misty cloudy halo around my star...." [May 14, 1943].

It is delightful to know that only six months after his final 1945 diary entry, Gordon and Esther would marry in Beacon, New York, and live long lives together.

Kenney's entries are generally long and newsy, describing his daily life in the 45th Troop Carrier Squadron. Depending on the day, Kenney would write news from the front lines including providing gut-wrenching insight into the reality on the ground. One other days, Kenney would detail his interactions with his peers and superiors, his daily work tasks on the base, his thoughts on how the war effort is progressing, thoughts about people and events back home, and so much more.

According to records as to the dates and locations of the 45th Squadron's service, Kenney was stationed in the following places while keeping his two diaries: Egypt, Algeria, French Morocco, Tunisia, Sicily, and England. He ends the second diary while at sea headed to the USA from England in May, 1945.

Some excerpts give the flavour of Kenney's diaries:

"This month was a very eventful and tragic affair. Cpl Miller got too curious on the 8th and blew a detonator cap up. He is still in the hospital having lost two fingers. Ike attempted suicide with 30 cal rifle; I went through my first bombing of Tripoli; I don't know exactly where we are or how many there are of us...we are at some water hole in the middle of the desert." [Notes page following his April 30, 1943 entry].

"Our first real Loss in Combat...Our superb Grande Navy - our brave heroes of the deep - Some Shit! 35 planes went on a mission to Sicily last night flying time 4 hrs 15 minutes, 15 minutes of God For Saken hell! The real [sob?] is our "own" Navy was the aggressors. 12 of 14 planes are missing from our own group...As the airplanes started dumping their loads the sky was suddenly illuminated...The 36th suffered the most...We have some paratroopers in our own dispensery who were wounded, some bad. A good many ships did not drop their load. I'm praying that our boys bellied down and had a chance to use their Maya Wests [life preservers]. There was a Para Troop General who might have jumped. It is very doubtful whether any of those who jumped lived. Those below refused to acknowledge our signals and flares and radio, perhaps because they were busy with landing operations and had just been bombed..." [July 12, 1943].

"Took all the outgoing mail to Group this morning. Rerouted some mail and went down to the club and cleaned up a bit...Looks like everyone one enjoyed the one year anniversary overseas party....The gasoline stove has been set up so we now have warm water...Made 50 cents in 30 minutes by rubbing St Hill's head and back...Sending home some X-Mas presents if I can get them by B.C...Bill Etchells and I went to the movie up at Group...Tail Gunner - real good show. Sgt Vang is going to to give me piano lessons - wonder when I'll get a chance to get up...Stores selling clothes and all restaurants are closed in Trapani [Italy]. Food shortage in one city in Sicily caused a riot and raid by civilians...No wonder many city girls have joined the red light dwellers. people have to eat..." [November 18, 1943].

"Tension is every where there always is when we hear something is going to pop even if we don't know what. While I was on a pass the boys had to put static lines on all the ships. There has been heavy air traffic all afternoon and on into tonight. Upstairs. We have a number of Bomber bases around us" [March 23, 1945].

"It has been announced that General Patton has crossed the Rhine and is into Germany...I hope out boys make it out OK...12:15 our planes sstarted to come in, all of them were pretty bad shot up. Col Lewis our 24 year old CO was seen to go up in flames. A buzz bomb nearly broke up the formation as they took off from a field near Coldchester...Bob Milling's ship had a flat tire but made a beautiful one wheel landing...Two of our ships landed safely in Belgium and in territory near the Rhine... #83 hydratic line was shot away and she taxiedd right off the runway and cracked a wing into a radio pole crew chief Shaffer really got hit bad and he was landed at an emergency field...Box and Laine and myself had to fold all teh American static lines from the planes other outfits have suffered greater than ours. I understand Bert walker is missing too" [March 24, 1945].

"Information used for for correspondence to my good friend Gurbox Singh. In writtng to my Indian acquaintances I wish to recall the following: SAHIB this from an arabic word meaning "friend" is a term of respectful address..." [date crossed out by Kenney, but he made these notes on the Jan 29, 1945 diary page].

"STOP PRESS. It has been announced tomorrow is to be officially VE Day Churchill will speak at 3 PM" [May 7, 1945].

He ends the momentous day with these words: "Visited the chapel a short time ago. It was very quiet - no one was around. I got to thinking. As long as I remember I have been in a house a beautiful house uncompared anywhere, so peaceful & restful--then I went outside for a walk-the door got locked from the Inside & for a time a long time I wandered around helplessly-at last I found the door beginning to open. THANKS LORD" [May 7, 1945].

Kenney kept his 1943 diary for six full days in February (including his 21st birthday!) and then wrote in it consistently from mid-March through December. In 1945, Kenney kept his diary consistently from January 1 through May 19. Kenney is a thoughtful and detailed author. Most days he writes he absolutely fills the pages to the brim. 

The 1943 diary measures 9 x 6 inches and the 1945 diary measures 8 x 5 inches. Both diaries are hadcovered and the spine, pages and covers are intact. There is some age toning present on the pages but otherwise the diaries are in very good condition. The writing is mostly in pen with some pencil and Kenney's hand is extremely legible. Overall VG.

BIO NOTES: Gordon Lamont Kenney (1922-2019) was born in Beacon, New York. He trained as a paratrooper and served in WWII in the Army Air Transportation Corps in North Africa, Jerusalem and Sicily. He married Esther MacPherson (1923-2012) on September 9, 1945. Gordon and Esther were the first couple to be married at the newly constructed Presbyterian Church in Beacon. They had three children, Bruce, Katharine and Richard. A musical man, Gordon played clarinet and sang in the Southern Dutchess Singers community choir. He worked in trucking and then as a laboratory technician. He was a Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America Troop 1 in Beacon, NY and was a well-known amateur gemologist.