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LYNDELL IRVING PRICE : 1943 - 1945 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY A TOUGH TALKING, HARD DRINKING, DICE THROWING MEMBER OF THE MILITARY POLICE WHO CAN'T KEEP TO HIS NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION WHILE DOING HIS WAR SERVICE IN ALASKA, ATTU AND THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. On offer is an original manuscript WWII diary handwritten by Lyndell Irving Price of Hillview, Illinois. The five year diary has a total of 375 entries spread out over the years 1943, 1944 and 1945 with the majority of the entries during 1944, his 2nd year in the service. Price who would one day be a Sergeant began his service and moved into a Military Police role soon after. He was stationed on the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Collectors and historians of World War II will appreciate the candor of Mr. Price given the lack of censorship that letters would face. Few MPs would be as open and candid as our author is to his diary. Here are some snippets: "In Anchorage Alaska. Made New Years Res. to quit gambling for money with cards & dice. 3 civilians were killed in snow ? This makes around 8 or 9 men killed and several injured in snow slides. Leaving for Mt. McKinley tomorrow. Went to dance at Bloody Bucks. Snow to deep, wind is terrible sometimes 100 mph. Blow truck off road once. Made it back ok. On guard. Gamble tonight lost $122.50. Also had 3 qts. of whiskey. Harbor full of ships mostly destroyers and cruisers. Northern end of Karile Islands has been catching hell lately. INVASION SOON I'M SURE. Same routine with prisoners. Navy sank two Jap subs last night. Bomber been taking off all day. Co. had a beer party. Three Red Cross women present. Paid $52.00 debt. Saturday night... celebrate Easter which is tomorrow. We drank 8 cases of beer. We had as much fun as possible. I was sort of plastered.President Roosevelt died today. Today is Friday the 13th. Allies within 45 miles of Berlin on Western front. I was half drunk all day. Still did my duties ok. Worked on our rings. I have a piece of Jap zero? propeller to make my ring from. Germany surrenders unconditionally... Speech to made tonight by Truman, Churchill, Stalin. Div. hit Attu today. Also 4th Infantry and other units. Year ago today Japs were attacked by U.S. on Attu. Everyone stopped work and honored the dead in Little Falls Cemetary. Worked for M.P.'s guarding beer on ship. Tearing down Pacific huts. Been 2 planes crashed and burned last day or so. I think couldn't land good because of being shot up so bad. Bombers been plentiful lately. All makes today including big ?. 1st Sgt. says I'm being transfered to Military Police. Vera died tonight from a major operation on the 17th. Worked around area digging fox holes Rest of fellows went to Holtz Bay and Massacre Bay to honor the soldiers that gave their life a year ago. V.E. Day (victory in Europe). France was invaded early this morning by British, U.S. and Canada trouper. Invasion in Normandy of France. Pick up Japanese broadcast on sending & receiving Sat. JOE LOUIS arrived today. Invade Mariana's Island. Japan proper bombed. I left with advance party early this morning to San Francisco. Left Frisco harbor at 9am. Destination unknown for sure. We believe Kiski or Attu. Big rain today as road fell thru and a bridge washed out. Our provast marshall was promoted from 1st Lt. to Captain. He passed out Optimo cigars. Landed on Attu in morning. Went to see legal associate advisor lawyer at 4:00 about ?. Things began to look like something. Smith and I got 2 cases of beer. Beer party... on ship dock... got quart of rum... lost $33.50 in a crap game. Worked on my Jap ring until time to go on patrol. Case of whiskey came in on boat for officers. Some Army - huh? Brought in officer. Urinating in public. Brought in drunk. Also case of whiskey. A lot of beer has been drunk lately, plenty of drunks. Automatic pistol school... pistol range... I made sharpshooter. Had combat alert. Everyone slept outside tonight. I slept inside garage. Paid today $31.40. Whitney and I picked up prisoners at Air Base. Had Capt., Whitney and I to have prisoners work at Saranda Valley. In afternoon, went with Sgt. Whitney to Chicagof to examine some Jap bodies. Crap game last night. Went to chemical warfare school this afternoon. Took prisoners to shower. Worked on ledger book for prisoners. Had prisoner digging ditch for pipe line (water). Japs bombed us around 20:00 - no damage. Today is Friday the 13th but everything went fairly well. Left Attu for Adak. Sea is smooth for this time of year. Still waiting for transportation. I have lost $54.25 at black jack since stopping here.Left today for Anchorage." Along with the diary is his Selective Service card that has a mailing date of November 2, 1942. The book is in good shape. The diary measures 6" x 4.5". Fair.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good+

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