16 leaves of address + 11 pages of diary entries. 13x8 cm (5¼x3"), thin boards.
Handwritten diary, in pencil, recording action in one of the deadliest and lengthiest battles of World War Two, actually a series of fierce battles that were fought from September 19, 1944, to February 10, 1945, between American and German forces on the Western Front. It was the longest battle on German ground during WWII, and went down in history as the longest single battle the U.S. Army has ever fought. The vivid entries include: "..Finally have entered Germany Boy! What a reception those Jerry's gave us. Dog fights and what not. .Whee!... Well here we are in Hurtgen Germany. Believe me it's plenty hot over here, we happen to be The Front Line Artillery and the Jerry's are sure throwing plenty of artillery at us... Saw one of our P47's shot down today. The pilot bailed out in enemy territory." Anthony Pasternak has written his name and address on the first page "Tony Pasternak, 2313 Medill Ave., Chicago, Illinois," and the first 16 leaves are names and addresses of friends from the war, friends at home, those he met in England, and in Paris. His "Special Girl" who also lived on Medill Ave. in Chicago, and whom he seems to have married, since there is a note "Anthony Pasternak and Stephanie Dobzynski - married in Chicago January 8, 1946." There is the address of Joe Pasternak, c/o M-G-M Studio's, Culver City, California, who was a big producer of movies in Hollywood at that time and who quite possibly may have been a relative of Tony.
"Left U.S.A., Feb. 9, 1944. Arrived in England on February the 25th, 1944; Left England July 23rd, 1944; Arrived in France July 25, 1944; Went into action,August the 1st, 1944; Lost two M-7s. August the 10th, 1944; Left France Sept. 9, 1944; Arrived in Belgium, September the 9th, 1944; Time, 9:30A.M. Went Through Gay Paree! August 30th, 1944. Better known as Paris! Ha! Whee! What a time we boys had, Cognac! - Wine and Beautiful Women! Ha!
"Went through Luxemburg (Luxembourg) September the 10th, 1944. Luxemburg is right on the border line of Germany. Fired our first round into Germany, Sept. 13, 1944 - Time 5:15 P.M. We are exactly 3 miles away from German soil. Went to church Sept. 15, 1944; First time since we entered combat. Also went to Communion. Went to Church today, Oct. 1st, 1944. Also went to Confession and Communion. Went to a little village church. Here in Luxemburg. It was the most beautiful church I've ever seen since we have been oversea's. in fact it's the first time I've ever been to a Real Church since we left the good old U.S.A. The mass was in Luxemburg language."
"Oct. the 4th, 1944. Well! Here we are again back in Belgium. Ha! Left Belgium Oct. the 12th, 1944; Arrived in Holland October the 13th, Friday! 1944; Sure is a very beautiful country, and also ia a very clean country. The people here sure do dress nice. November the 2nd, 1944, Finally have entered Germany Boy! What a reception those Jerry's gave us. Dog fights and what not..Whee! Rotgen, (Roetgen) Germany, Time - 1:30P.M. November the 18th, 1944, went to Eupen, Belgium on a 48 hour pass. Sure had a swell time. Nov. 30, 1944. Well here we are in Hurtgen Germany. Believe me it's plenty hot over here, we happen to be The Front Line Artillery and the Jerry's are sure throwing plenty of artillery at us. Boy's out here, and in fact it's too close for comfort. Ha! December 2nd, 1944, Well! here we are still in the Hurtgen Forest. Saw one of our P47's shot down today. The pilot bailed out in enemy territory."
"Dec. 3, 1944, I and two other fellows helped bury a dead Jerry. About 20 Jerry planes came over today and really strafed our positions. Our Ack Ack boy's got 7 of the Jerry planes. These Jerry planes have been strafing us for at least 30 minutes if not more. There sure are plenty of dead Jerry's here in this Hurtgen Forest, also a few dead Americans. Dec. 4, 1944, Still here in the Hurtgen Forest. Today we shot down two British Spitfires - shot down by mistake. Dec. 8, 1944. Jerry's tried a counter attack today BUT FAILED! Sure threw a lot of artillery at them bastard's. Dec. 10, 1944. Jerry planes attacked us today! Time 4:45 P.M. No body got hurt. About 7 Jerry planes attacked us. Dec. 15, 1944, Still here in the Hurtgen Forest. The fighting here has ceased a little now."
"Dec. 18, 1944, Boy! Talk about planes flying around here today, Whee! All kinds American P47's, P51's, P38's - British, Spitfires, Hurricanes and Typhoons. Sure have seen some good dog fights out here today! Seen two 109's go down, a P47 got two of them, the pilots went down with the planes. 7 P38's also got 4 of the 109's today. During the later part of the day, one of these Jerry planes went down in flames. Dec. 19, 1944. Went on patrol today! Looking for Jerry paratroopers, but no such luck, instead I saw a lot of dead American Dough-Boys. Dec. 23, 1944, Have finally left the Hurtgen Forest, after 23 days of some good fighting. Dec. 25, 1944, Christmas Day back in Belgium once again! Went to church today, the Mass was in French, also had plenty of turkey for Christmas. Also have seen a lot of good dog fights out here." This part of his diary covers 11 pages, and he has a few additional pages with handwritten entries of money owed him from card games, etc. This diary is somewhat delicate, a few pages are loose but present.