Andrew Candler Leech World War II Diary

Folder one contains Leech's hand-written diary of his World War II career in the 83rd Chemical Battalion, Company B, from his embarkation from Staten Island in April 1943, to his discharge at Camp Shelby in November 1945. Leech begins his diary by stating that this is his second attempt to write a journal since the first one was destroyed on his transport ship, a Navy LST, when the vessel struck a mine and sunk off the coast of Anzio, Italy, in January of 1944. The journal details Leech's service in five operations: The Sicilian Campaign (1943), The Italian Campaign (1943), The Italian Campaign (1944), The Invasion of Southern France (1945), and the Campaign into Germany and Austria (1945). It should be noted that Leech presents the campaigns from two different perspectives: (1) from the standpoint of an observer, describing the performances of other units during the invasions, and (2) from a participant's view, relating personal experiences in battles. The two perspectives are intertwined throughout the journal. Since entries in the journal are not dated, it is impossible to determine whether it was written during or after the war. Attached to the diary is a German medallion with the inscription, "Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Fuhrer" dated March 3, 1938. However, there is no reference to the medal in the journal.

Folder two contains the typescript copy of Leech's diary, prepared for publication, with the title "The World War II Experiences of Andrew Candler Leech." It includes notations for the publisher's point and font sizes, as well as corrections of copy mistakes. Folder three includes a mimeographed copy of the diary entitled The Extraordinary War Diary of PFC Andy Leech, which is a replica of the original journal, but the title is different.

Folder four consists of notes on chapter one, "The Man and the War", which is the editor's introduction to the book. The chapter gives a brief biographical sketch of Andrew Leech and an overview of his military career, including a detailed account of the landing at Anzio; Operation Shingle; and the campaign to seize Rome.

The final item, located in Folder five, is the published version of Leech's War Diary entitled The World War II Experiences of Andrew Candler Leech". The book was edited by Dr. William D. McCain, former president of the University of Southern Mississippi, and Mr. Dewey C. Leech, brother of Andrew Leech. It was published in 1985, and with the exception of the first chapter, it is an exact replica of the diary.