Diary of a Sergeant 1945

Overview

Diary of a Sergeant is a 1945 American short film produced by the United States Army Pictorial Service. Directed by Joseph M. Newman, the documentary stars Harold Russell and Alfred Drake. The film tells the story of Harold Russell, an American soldier who lost his hands in a military training accident in 1944. Russell details his medical rehabilitation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. The picture shows how he and his fellow amputees at the hospital initially despaired before finding new hope through the prostheses and training provided by the Army medical corps. Russell learns how to wear and operate the hooks that replace his hands, ultimately becoming competent at performing many tasks he previously thought were no longer possible. After being discharged from the military, he is welcomed into Boston College by college president William.