The inside cover of US Marine Leo McDermott’s diary from 1942 shows his sense of humor, where he wrote “A doctor” under who to notify in case of an accident. The diary was recently returned to his daughter after it went missing 81 years after the last entry while Leo served in WWII. Photo by Beth David.
By Beth David, Editor
At first, Patti Dorschied was skeptical. A man she never met was at her door telling her that someone had found her father’s diary from World War II.
But she had his diary from WWII.
Yet, the man seemed professional, and had a business card identifying himself as Brad Fish, the Fairhaven Veterans Agent. He explained that Jane (Ryle) Bettencourt, who works in the Veterans Services Office, remembered the McDermott family and directed him to Patti.
So, Patti let him tell her the story.
A little confused, Patti took the phone number of the man in Georgia who said he had the diary of US Marine Leo McDermott of Fairhaven, Mass. Mr. Fish left.
“I didn’t do anything for awhile,” said Ms. Dorschied. “I sat there looking at it.”
She tried to get in touch with her sister, Michelle Amaral, but was unable to reach her.
So, she called one Charlie Kitts in Georgia.
He explained that he found the diary in the effects of his uncle Vincent Kitts, who served in the US Navy in WWII.
Patti (McDermott) Dorschied holds the diary that belonged to her father, US Marine Leo McDermott, when it was returned to her after it went missing 81 years after the last entry, while Leo served in WWII. Photo by Beth David.
“This is really a story about Uncle Vincent and his family,” said Ms. Dorschied, and the care they took to protect the diary of a person they did not even know…for 81 years.
It turns out, she had her father’s diary starting in August of 1942, but Uncle Vincent had Leo’s diary from January to August of 1942.
The last entry in the earlier diary is on 8/7/42 and says, “Can’t take my diary with me. If I don’t get back, so long folks.”
He was 19 years old.
The diary that Patti had starts with a sheet of paper a day later.
She received the diary from Georgia on 8/8/23, 81 years and one day after the last entry.
“This man, Uncle Vincent, he kept it protected, he kept it safe, it traveled all around the world with him,” said Ms. Dorschied, amazed and grateful. “I still can’t get over Uncle Vincent and Charlie.”
Mr. Kitts said there was never a doubt that he would try to find the rightful owner.
“My first thought was that this belongs to the family,” he said.
The diary came to him after his aunt died, after a time at his sister’s, he being keeper of the family history and artifacts.
He said he did not really look at the box of stuff for years. It traveled around with him as he moved from state to state. He knew that the military-issued diary was not his uncle’s, that it belonged to a man he never heard of. But life got in the way and he did not have time to search for Leo’s family.
Navy veteran Vincent Kitts served in WWII and somehow came to possess a diary belonging to Leo McDermott of Fairhaven, Mass., which was eventually returned to Leo’s family by Vincent’s nephew, Charlie Kitts, 81 years after the last entry in the diary. Submitted photo.
“You know how it is with grandchildren,” said Mr. Kitts. “It’s just so busy.”
Just a few weeks ago, he visited the town of Fairhaven’s website and got a number for the Veterans agent.
While Mr. Fish was literally saying he needed a couple of days to track down the family, Ms. Bettencourt piped in and said she knew the family. It was only a matter of hours until Mr. Kitts got the first call from Ms. Dorschied. (They speak regularly now.)
Ms. Dorschied said she literally was shaking when the package got to her.
“I cried,” she said. “I cry every time I look at it.”
“I felt so elated to find her,” said Mr. Kitts. “I’m not a private detective. I have no idea how to go about finding people.”
Ms. Dorschied has read the diary over and over, deciphering every word. She is most amazed at how it is in such good shape.
‘“It’s just amazing. I couldn’t believe it. He’s 19 years old,” she said. “It’s hard to put into words.”
He does not write about combat action, she said, but he does mention working in the mess hall, and “creeping and crawling,” in boot camp.
The very first entry, from January 6, 1942 reads: “Left home to join Marines. Took oath Monday night. Slept in hotel Argulla. What a dump. Woke up at 6:30, ate breakfast and left Boston at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning.”
US Marine Leo McDermott’s military photo when he was 19 in 1942. Submitted photo.
He arrived at Parris Island on January 7.
One fun thing: He doodles a lot about Betty, apparently his heartthrob, who is not Patti’s mother. She was Theresa.
And how do they feel now, now that it is in the hands of Leo’s family?
“I’ve been excited for a whole month,” said Mr. Kitts. “I don’t know how to put it into words. My wife is having a hard time living with me.”
“Very pleased, very thankful, very blessed,” said Ms. Dorschied. “I still can’t get over Uncle Vincent and Charlie. People don’t do that today.”
She said she feels “truly blessed” that she has so much of her father’s life in the service in his own words.
Leo’s two brothers also served during WWII and Patti has the flag with three stars that her grandmother put in the window, indicating that she had three sons in the military. Leo was in the Marines, Ed was in the Navy, and Carl was in the Army.
Ms. Dorschied said she learned a lesson from the whole episode.
“I learned that people are kind, thoughtful and caring,” said Ms. Dorschied. “This is my father’s life.”
“It’s crazy. It’s like a movie,” said Shealynn Dorschied, Patti’s granddaughter. “Most people wouldn’t take the time of day.”
“I think it was meant to be that this came home,” said Ms. Dorschied.
Patti (McDermott) Dorschied holds up the flag with three stars that her grandmother hung in the window during WWII indicating she had three sons in the military. Photo by Beth David.
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