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SIDNEY BERNSTEIN [of the 602 AAA GUN BATTALION] : 1945 UNIQUE AND ORIGINAL TYPED SOLDIER’S NEWSLETTER “COME-BACK DIARY”, DETAILING THE FINAL MONTHS OF THE WAR, COMPOSED BY SID BERNSTEIN, THE FAMOUS MUSIC PROMOTER WHO WOULD INTRODUCE THE BEATLES TO AMERICA

Folio - over 12" - 15" tall. On offer is the 1945 “Come-Back Diary” of the 602 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion detailing the few months of the battalion’s involvement in World War II. The document is an incredibly unique and interesting piece of World War II memorabilia. As well, each and every newsletter in the collection was written (or compiled) by Sidney Bernstein, one of the most famous music promoters of the 1960s and the man who booked the Beatles (among many other) in their first tour of America and helped jump start the “British Invasion” in the mid-1960s. The “Come-Back Diary” contains within it all the volumes of the 602nd AAA Gun Battalion daily newsletter, published between April 1945 and October 1945. Bernstein and the 602 AAA Gun Battalion are stationed in Dijon, France for the entirety of the newsletter’s production The first issue of the first volume (April 11, 1945) has the headline, “Your 3 Minutes Gazette Goes To Press!!” and feature short paragraphs under the titles, “Feature Story,” “Music Dept.,” “Your Daily Comic Strip,” “Gossip Column,” “Editorial,” “War News,” and “Tonite’s Movie.” Other sections featured throughout the seven month run include “Afterthoughts,” “Religious Services,” “Notes from a G.I.’s notebook,” “Letter of the Day,” “Sports,” “Personalities,” “Predictions,” “Sinatra” (“what is the strange phenomena called Frank Sinatra), and many, many more. As the issues progress, the newsletter takes on a more conversational tone, dealing less with the events coming up than with the general feelings and daily life in Dijon in the waning months of the War, as well as including more personal thoughts from Bernstein himself. For example: “Vol. 2, No. 13, June 26, 1945. ‘Brother is hot’...He cusses and cusses and cusses - The Sun-baked tents - the dirty sons of the Rising Sun - the Sun itself...but then he remembers - an intensely cold winter night on guard in Germany - reports on the hot loop ‘Nazi paratroopers dropping all around’ - his fingers almost froze to his M1 that long, long night, and how he prayed that he’d see the sun once more...The guys stops cursing...peels off his OD shirt and strips to the waist, leaves his tent for a slug of water...smiles at the sun...and goes to work on the Tuesday edition...” In total, the newspaper is filled with items and tidbits from back home in the U.S., entertainment and lifestyle information for the serviceman of the “Six-Oh-Second.” Bernstein is a very competent and very enjoyable writer throughout, and does an exceptional job of conveying emotion, wit, and the experience of daily life as a soldier in the Dijon. Days of heightened emotion, such as FDR’s death, Hitler’s death, VE day, VJ day, the opening of Bernstein’s GI Nite Club, and many others in the last year of the war, are especially interesting. Bernstein is an incredibly adept and interesting writer and these days show off his talent especially well. The newsletters continue until September 24, 1945. There is one later newsletter included in the collection, from October 13th. This is on the first page of the compilation and does an excellent job of setting the scene of the post WW2 landscape, as well as Bernstein’s feelings of writing the newsletter during the war. It is one of the most interesting newsletters in the collection account for roughly 85 pages. Each page seemed to be set and printed by Sidney Bernstein himself. The pages are in good shape, showing occasional rips and tears but very little other than that. Some pages have smudging of the ink but nothing to affect the legibility of the content. The cover is a simple brown paper. It seems the front cover used to say “602 AAA COMEBACK DIARY” with a drawing of what looks to be the Statue of Liberty, however, the drawing and letters have faded almost completely and are very difficult to make out. There is no spine, and the book is bound by thread. This would make an absolutely amazing document of World War II history, as it presents a nuanced and comprehensive picture of the life of servicemen in Dijon as the War came to end. As well, this would be great for anyone interested in the incredible life of Sid Bernstein before he helped change the world of music forever. Sample Text: “April 12 - EDITORIAL - The President of the United States of America our Commander in Chief passed away last night. The strange thing about death is that life still goes on, men are painting, others guarding prisoners, rations, billets, motor pool, the Colonel on his daily inspection to, the Major continues with his daily conferences, more men liberated from the hell that is Germany, the whole works, the whole world, continues with their jobs, for that is the way he wanted it. He is a casualty of war, just like Otto Kiefer’s brother, and Leo Olszowa’s brother, who died while serving their country.”; “THE GI NITE CLUB - It opens tonite at 7 PM...Will be open every nite from to-nite on, until 11:30 PM...The place was planned as a club for every enlisted man who’s got some time and very little money to spend...It belongs to every man with six chevrons or less...The GI Club is being opened in a hurry because of the urgent need for one...The fellows of the 214th AAA and those of the 602 AAA who make up the small operating staff of your GI Nite-Club have had a rugged time...You can’t appreciate success unless you have a hard time achieving it...It’s better this way...The returns on a few nights sales of beer will allow us to buy wine...sparkling Burgundy - Cognac - and Champagne...”; “August 6 - The latest news on the closing of GI Joes is that there is none. In this case, No news is Good news - the popular and much needed eatery is still functioning as of old. The news of its closing upset more people and stomachs than any local news item in weeks...DIJON has a growing reputation as the ‘all GI town’ - perhaps the powers that be have recognized this fact - and are trying to keep Dijon as the town - that is first, last and always - of - for - and by YOU - Mr. JOE G. I.....your garcon, Sidney.”; “August 15 - Yes, it’s all over - All over the world - Lady peach has resumed her reign. We, her subjects, bow humbly at her throne...The world has again become God’s kingdom - And we his children lift our hearts and voices in prayer - for this is not just a day of rejoicing...it is a day - that puts an end to all that is bad - a day whose prayers, hopes and accomplishments will mark the beginning of a bigger better world...Wood-blocks and printer’s ink...bold black type and huge head-lines...blaring trumpets and empty cognac bottles... lip-sticked cheeks and eager lips...horns and boat whistles...an extra hour in bed...being called by your first name and calling the Lieutenant by his...a smile from the frozen face Madame and a happy Bonjour from the unknown jolie Madamoselle...Peace It’s Wonderful - La Guerre est Finie.” (Background: Sidney Bernstein (August 12, 1918 – August 21, 2013) was an American music producer and promoter. Bernstein changed the American music scene in the 1960s by bringing The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Herman's Hermits, The Moody Blues, and The Kinks to America. He was the first impresario to organize rock concerts at sports stadiums. Bernstein was born in New York City in 1918 and was adopted by a Russian Jewish family. He studied journalism at Columbia University before working in a ballroom and joining the US Army in 1943. During World War II, he was stationed in Britain and also served in France with the 602nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion of the United States Army. besides his military duties as part of the 602nd Triple A Gun Battalion, he published a newspaper filled with items from back home, entertainment and lifestyle information for the serviceman called “The Comeback Diary”. Bernstein helped jumpstart the British Invasion as the first concert promoter to bring The Beatles over to the United States from Britain.) OVERALL: VG. Manuscript. Book Condition: Very Good

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