This item is a first-hand account of the first military offensive of World War II, at Guadalcanal in the Pacific. The author was my father, Master Sgt. Lloyd D. Fuller, who was ordnance officer for Congressional Medal of Honor Winner Joe Foss, one of the great fighter pilots of the war. The diary has been described as "rare as hen's teeth" by a Marine historian. It contains details of the offensive which (as far as I know) are not known to history, such as the fact that Foss's plane was named in honor of my mother——twice, because the first was shot down.
My father recently passed away, and of course we requested a Marine presence at the funeral. When the Marines became aware of the existence of the diary, they expressed a great interest in adding it to their Quantico archives for analysis by historians. I have been corresponding with a colonel from Quantico who recommends that I have the diary appraised first for tax purposes, but as a government body the Marines are legally forbidden to become involved in that process.
Any guidance in this matter would be most appreciated. I have no scans of the diary at present, but I can have them made at your request. Of course, in this case the information, and not the object itself, is where the real value lies.
This really is a special and highly unusual item, and we would not sell it at any price. But it belongs in Quantico, and we will be proud to donate it there.
