Silbiger, Richard Jerome, (1922-1999) to Dorothy Silbiger
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09684.05 Author/Creator: Silbiger, Richard Jerome, (1922-1999) Place Written: Red Bank, New Jersey Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 17 February 1943 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 25.6 x 15.7 cm Order a Copy
One letter from Richard Jerome Silbiger to Dorothy Silbiger dated February 17, 1943. Richard has K.P. (kitchen patrol) duty and says he plans to look at her photo as inspiration to keep going. He then recounts what happened in a bivouac yesterday. In the pre-dawn they were woken up and left for an eight mile march with a temperature of -14 degrees Fahrenheit outside. They carried sixty pounds of pack, equipment, clothing and a rifle. They marched barely a half hour when the first case of frost bite appeared. There were 75 men out of a company of 250 men who had to be taken back to base via ambulance to get treated for frostbite. After four miles they stopped and turned back due to the weather conditions. At around one o'clock however it was decided to move to the new camp anyway. Trucks drove the men to the new camp instead of marching. Once they arrived at the new camp site, Richard participated in maneuvers. He was the scout, and he fell into a river up to his knees. Afterwards they had dinner at the camp, and the food froze to the plates. Despite the hardships he is proud that he was able to do everything without many problems.
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