1942 - 1949 PAIR OF TWO [2] DIARIES BELONGING TO A MARINE CAPTAIN [LATER MAJOR] SERVING IN GUADALCANAL AND THE HOMEFRONT WHO EVENTUALLY LEAVES THE MILITARY TO BECOME A STEELWORKER, UNION MAN AND LABOR ADVOCATE

On offer are a pair of two [2] daires that belonged to U.S. Marine Corps Captain [late Major] J. H. Storer. The first diary covers the years 1942 to 1944 and the second is a five-year diary covering the years 1945 to 1949. The first diary is technically supposed to be used for only one year, however Storar uses single dates for entries of any or all of the years 1942, 1943 and 1944. He differentiates this through the use of different color pens. The code to this is located on the front cover page: “Sept. 1942 to Sept. 1943” (pencil); “Sept. 1943 to Sept. 1944” (red ink); Sept. 1944 to” (black ink). It is fairly common in the months past September for all three years to appear on a single date entry. For the most part his entries in the first year of dairying are simple, dealing with his day-to-day activities and news about the soldiers in his company. He also is a member of the National Sojourners, an American patriotic organization of Freemasons, and there are occasional entries about meetings of this group. The diary entries begin on September 7th, 1942. “Monday - Physical (final) exam for Marine Corp. Passed OK. To Statler Hotel Buffalo for Final dinner.”; “September 9, 1942. Arrived Quantico 8:30 AM. Reported for duty assigned “E” Company the Training center. Vaccination: 1st Shot - Paratyphoid. 1st Shot - Tetanus.”; “October 19, 1942. Appointed to Post Coding Board under Major H.W. Whitney. Moved to new quarters in Red cross Bldg. Capt. Storar 3 officers. 159 men. Officer of Day to-day...Appointed Senior officer on board to recommend enlisted men for promotion.” For much of the year he is stationed between the Quantico Marine Base and Guadalcanal. This makes me believe he is part of the 1st Marine Division, as they were the primary Marine division to take part in the Guadalcanal Campaign. “January 16, 1943. Inspected Company in AM and worked in Code Room in PD.”; “To Capt. McKee in P.M. Played 3 sets of Tennis in PM with Rus. Lt. John Ross + Lt. Curt Norton transfer. Ross to New River, Norton to Dallas Texas.”; “February 23, 1943. Arrived at New River 0830. Reported to adjutant 1100. P.F. Thompson. Had noon chow with Gen. Smith. Bus fr. Jacksonville 1800 to Wilson. Sleeper fr. Wilson 0100 to Quantico.”; “June 10, 1943. Non coms interviewed for Hazardous duty. Two summary courts. U.S.O. show in evening. Fred Astaire.” The year between Sept. 1943 and 1944 are similar, going between short entries of day-to-day routine activities and more detailed entries of his work. He recommends men for promotion, serves on guard duty often, participates on a General Court Martial (referred to often just as “G.C.M.”), conducts a number of internal investigations and participates in a number of court martials, and does a number of other jobs as a captain (then major) of the “E” company. He does not participate in the invasion of Europe on June 6, 1944, but he does write “INVASION” on the date. On June 8th, he is promoted to Major.: “March 23, 1944. Thrus. Dot to Wash. D.C. to see Bud Hoffman’s wife. Very Rainy. Guard company loses bowling to P.S. Bn.”; “April 22, 1944. Staff Duty. Investigation of death of Pvt. Snyder USMCWR.” the final entries (done in black ink) are from September 1944 to the end of the year: “October 15, 1944. Sunday. Picnic at 10.30 with Col. Henry and wife. Golf in A.M. to Skyline drive - Blue Ridge Mountains of Va. with Col. Henry 1030 to 1915.”: “October 17, 1944. Inspected Guadalcanal with Maj. Hamblet, Capt. Daley in P.M; A.M. General Court.” The second diary is a more traditional 5-year diary, with dedicated spaces for each year’s entries. It begins where the last one ends, January 1st, 1945. The front cover states: “Major J.H. Storar U.S.M.C. Quantico, Va. Classification. Post Intelligence (2162); Port Operations (9307).” The entries are very similar to the previous book. Mostly day-to-day activities and occasional remarks about his troops or fellow officers. “March 12, 1945. Appointed to Board of Investigation with Lt. Shissen, Dr. Phillips. Inspection trip to Guadalcanal area.”; “April 12, 1945. President of U.S. Franklin Delano Roosevelt dies. Golf in P.M. 45 score. Kilmartin Daly + myself.”; “May 7, 1945. GERMAN UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.”; “May 8, 1945. Tuesday, Dot to D.C. Routine. In Gen. Torrey’s office to listen to President Truman’s proclamation.”; “August 5, 1945. Sunday. Golf in A.M. to MacArthur’s for water ____ in evening. Atomic Blast in Hiroshima.”; “August 14, 1945. JAPAN SURRENDERS. General Court all day.” In 1946, Storar is honorably discharged from the Marine Corps and begins working for Bethlehem Steel in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He is assigned to the Car Shop, making train cars. In the years he works there, there are may strikes and worker disputes at the plant. It seems as if Storar strongly supports and participates in them. He often notes the days that the shop is closed because of the strike. It seems he participates strongly in the union meetings between the workers and management. Excerpts: “September 6, 1946. Warned management about Strike threats...”; May 16, 1947. Pay check 299.50 for 2 weeks. Need raise 53.00 per month. Told new agreement to Supervisor.”; December 7, 1947. Hemorrhage in A.M. To bed all day and Hospital in evening.”; “September 28, 1948. Present flag to Gold Star mothers from supervision club. Had pictures taken. Governance meetings.”; “November 3, 1948. Landslide for Democrats. Men went home to celebrate.”; “November 1, 1949. STRIKE OVER. Beth Steel and union.” Both diaries are in very good condition. The first diary has a blue hard leather cover in very good condition, and the pages show very little wear or age. The second diary has a brown, soft leather cover in very good condition as well. The pages inside show little wear or age. Storar’s handwriting throughout both book is very legible. In both books, almost every single page has writing in it, often the writing of many different years. Both books are roughly 370 pages in length.; Manuscript; 24mo - over 5" - 5¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, J. H. STORAR, U.S. MARINE CORPS CAPTAIN, MARINE CORPS MAJOR, WORLD WAR 2 ERA, WW2 MILITARY HOMEFRONT, GUADALCANAL CAMPAIGN, SOLOMAN ISLANDS, HENDERSON FIELD, NATIONAL SOJOURNERS, MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, U.S.O. 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