Calif. family finds Wis. vet’s World War II diary

RACINE, Wis. (AP) — A California couple has found the World War II diary of a Wisconsin veteran, and officials in his hometown are trying to track down his relatives.

A Journal Times of Racine report says Evelyn Dar was cleaning out the San Jose, Calif., home of her recently deceased mother when she found the diary of Cpl. Ralph C. Duncan. She says she doesn’t know how it ended up with her family.

Duncan had listed his address as Racine, Wis. Dar tried to find Duncan’s surviving family members but Internet searches came up empty.

Racine Alderman Eddie Diehl also couldn’t find Duncan’s family, so he’s considering donating the diary to the Racine Heritage Museum.

In nearly 100 pages, Duncan neatly recorded his thoughts about a seemingly endless parade of bombs, boredom and homesickness.