Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele

6/21/44

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Well it won't be long now.  I leave tomorrow night (Thurs. night) and I should arrive in N.Y. probably late Tues. morning.  I am taking the Southern Pacific through St. Louis.  I took the Union Pacific last time so I don't know what time I will arrive in N.Y.  So don't have anybody come down to meet me.  How did you like the surprise I told you about in my last letter?  Yes I'm sending myself home.  I didn't want to tell you all until I was absolutely sure.  The same for Grandma.  Won't it be swell.  I'll be home for Grandma's birthday & also 4th of July and we can celebrate Ele's birthday early.  How's that?
Don't get excited Ma and if I arrive home any different time than Tues. I'll wire you & let you know.
So until then I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy

Tony

"I'll be Seeing you All"

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 134

6/18/44 
Letter No. 134
Rec'd  198-199

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Received your letters and as usual was so happy to read them.  I was certainly surprised to hear one of my letters got there in 2 days.  That is very unusual you know.
I stayed in camp last night and wrote a few letters trying to catch up a bit.
This morning I went to church.  8 o'clock mass, and then I played a little baseball until chow time.
During the week I received a box of marshmallow fudge from Mable, the Sec. at John Thatcher's.  They were very good.  I believe she made them herself but as yet I didn't hear from her.
The weather here has been pretty good.  The sun right now is shining real bright and yet it is so cool & comfortable.  
Hope Ann has a nice time at Northport.  Ele certainly must look cute in her senior hat.  She shouldn't worry too much about her tests.  She will pass them.  At least she better pass them.
I just found out that yesterday was Father's Day.  I'll find something as soon as possible and send it along.  
I didn't hear anything from the interview as yet.  I'll let you know as soon as I do.
Fri. night I went to the show and saw "Double Indemnity" with Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck & Edward G. Robinson.  It was very good.
Next Fri. Sat. & Sun they are going to have a religious retreat at La Purisima Mission which I am going to.  I'll let you know all about it next week.  I'll include a couple of clippings for your scrapbook.
I have guard duty tonight.  I go on at 5 o'clock.
I am in the best of health and very happy.  I have a surprise for you but I can't send it as yet.  I'll try to send it as soon as possible.
Take care of yourself and give my love to all the family & Grandma.

Your Loving Soldier Boy

Tony  

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 133

6/12/44 
Letter No. 133
Rec'd  196 & 197

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Well here it is another Monday again.  It seems like I hit Mon & Tues for writing letters doesn't it?
Well I went to L.A. again over the weekend.  I was just lucky again as there was a bus for the battalion going down.  I found out the last minute so I called up the girl I met at the dance last weekend and made a date (she's a jitterbug from Iowa).  We went to Long Beach at the Municipal Auditorium again.  This time they had Henry King & his orch.  We had a nice time.  I slept at the dormitory & Sunday I went to Hollywood & stopped in at the Hollywood Canteen again.  They put on a nice show.  The only celebrity was Elizabeth Patterson who plays "mother" in most pictures.  I got her autograph & will enclose in this letter.  Her latest picture as I wrote on the back of the card is "Hail the Conquering Hero" playing the part of Ella's aunt.  Maybe you can see it when it comes around.  Then I went to the U.S.O. & got a record made which they will send home.  I made a few mistakes but you know me ma.  I hope you like it.  My voice sounds kind of deep I guess maybe I was standing to close to the mic.  I think you'll get a kick out of it.  Play it for Grandma also OK.
We are just doing routine stuff around here which doesn't make good writing matter but an doing fine in all my work.
I just love to receive your letters ma.  You asked me about that rocket I was going to make a lamp out of.  Well we had to turn them in and I'm not sure yet whether I can get it back but I'll try to get one.
I didn't see "Shine on Harvest Moon" but if it comes (or maybe it passed) I'll see it.  
I certainly was surprised about the Marines having a victory garden.  I guess they do about anything to keep busy.
I'm glad my watch is OK and running fine.  That's a load off my mind.  My watch keeps perfect time.  It comes in so handy especially on these problems at night.  It's really swell.
I certainly hope Al is all right.  His mother shouldn't worry so much.  Worry is just no good.
It is certainly good news about the invasion.  This will be over sooner than we think.  I always talked about the underground movement would be the deciding factor & just in tonight's paper it said half million French patriots are revolting.  I don't see how the nazi can last for any reasonable time.  
Are you & Bob & Tiny still corresponding?  Now don't say anything & she didn't for awhile either.  Let me know?
I guess that's about it for right now.  I got K.P. tomorrow but I don't mind it a bit.  
Give my regards to Grandma.  Love & kisses.  Take good care of yourself and let me know the latest as to whether your picking up weight etc.
Until then I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy

Tony

P.S.  Will you please look at one of Ed Thatcher's letters and send me his address.  I think I put the wrong address on his last one.  O.K.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 132

6/6/44 
Letter No. 132
Rec'd  195

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

This is no longer your boy reporting because I am 21 now.  I sure wish I could have spent my birthday home but....it sure seems like our minds work together.  You said if I go to L.A. I should have a drink on you - well that's exactly what I did.  I was very fortunate to get to L.A. on my birthday.  In fact I got a 3 day pass - Fri. Sat. & Sun.  We got the highest mark in our test (first platoon) and we were all awarded a 3 day pass by the Col.  Wasn't that swell.  I'll enclose the order.
We went to Long Beach (about 20 miles from L.A. and had a swell time.  I looked up Dorothy Little (Col. daughter) but she moved back to Ohio, her homestate.  She told me the week before that she may have gone.  Well it was nice knowing her anyway.  We arrived at L.A. about 4 Fri. afternoon.  After getting a hotel room & ate we sent to a dance.  There I met a girl named Betty Kellough of Long Beach native of N. Dakota I believe, a jitterbug of course.  Long Beach is a pretty nice place.  It reminded me of Coney Island as it had rides and concessions just like Coney Island.  Sat. afternoon we sent swimming.  At least we laid on the beach.  The water was too cold.  I got a nice sun burn.  In fact I still feel it a little.  I smeared Noxzema on before I went to bed.  I had a little trouble getting to sleep though as the fellow I was sleeping with was a little restless.  It was a lot of fun though.  Sat. night we went to a dance at the Municipal Auditorium.  (A picture of it is in the cards I sent).  Horace Heidt & his Musical Knights was the band and it was very good.  Though you know that of all the people you talk to, the majority of them come from other states.  In fact I don't think I talked to a real Californian yet.  We had a pretty good time all in all.  I'm glad I got out on my birthday anyway.  And thank for the drink ma.  
The watch keeps perfect time and were I was in L.A. I bought a band (leather) for it.  It is a safety band.  Even if it comes off on one side it will not fall off my wrist.  It will give it added protection.  How's that?
I'm glad you like the year book from U. of O.  How did you like my pictures?  You might have known my picture would be taken jitterbugging, huh?
Last Wed. we went before the board I told you about.  I told him I was a draftsman and gave him all the dope.  He said he could do what he can.  So I'll just have to wait.  If I get transferred, O.K.  If not, O.K. too.  I'm not going to worry about it.  Right?
I got a batch of swell birthday cards.  Thanks a lot.  And Grandma put air mail stamps in hers again.  Wasn't that swell?
Tiny sent me a swell wallet for my birthday with her picture in it.  It is real nice.  She is getting along pretty good.  I hope you all are still writing.  
I got letters from Frank & D'Angelo.  Frank praises my outfit very much.  D'Angelo told me something that he couldn't write for a long time but it's O.K. now.  He was in the Kiska campaign.  He now has a ribbon with one battle star on it.  I'm sure glad he is O.K.
A while ago we had a retreat parade and one of the lieutenants took pictures.  I got some made and will send them in another envelope.
I am in the best of health and hope you all are too.  We are going out on another problem for a couple of days.  I'll try to write as soon as possible.
Say they finally invaded.  Boy what news.  I sure do hope they don't meet much opposition.
I'll close now until then

Your Loving Soldier Boy (Man),

Tony

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dear Mom, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 131

Anthony J. Curcio
Co. B - 22 Tank Bn. A.P.O. 261
Camp Cooke, Calif.
 
5/29/44
Letter No. 131
Rec'd  193-194

Dear Mom, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,


It's Monday and the start of a new week, but boy I had a swell weekend.  They arranged a special convoy of girls from Los Angeles, Long Beach & Santa Monica.  About 110 showed up for the whole battalion.  They arrived about 7:30PM Sat.  We took them into chow and then we had a dance.  We had a swell time.  Remember at Wash (McChord Field) I met a girl who was a captain's daughter?  Well this time I met a girl who is a colonel's daughter, and has 4 brothers in service.  Her name is Dorothy Little.  She is a real nice girl and we had a lot of fun.  Then we had a midnight snack at the mess hall & then we took them to a special barracks that was set up for them.  Sunday morning after church the girls rode in the tanks and got a real kick out of it.  Then after chow we had a tea dance until 4 o'clock when they had to leave.  We had a swell time and she was very intelligent (college girl) and very sociable.  If I can get to L.A. next week I will go down to see her.  I'll enclose a program of the schedule for the weekend.
The watch keeps perfect time and I got so many compliments already.  It's really swell.
The cherries, candy & cookies are really swell.  And delicious.  The flashlight comes in very handy.  
In my last letter I was so excited I forgot to tell you about that interview.  Well we didn't have it as it was called off to a later date.  As soon as we have it I'l let you know.
I am glad you are feeling fine.  Working around the house is a certain perfect sign.  I'm so glad.  And especially when everybody says you're gaining weight.
I'm glad Grandma is getting along OK and her garden also and send her a special kiss & thanks for the cherries.  Yum!  Yum!
I'm glad Ele will have to wait until she is 16 as it would be nice for her to go to summer school to take extra subjects.  What do you say?
Tiny is getting along pretty good although she is doing a bit of cramming for the exams.
I am in the best of health and everything is coming along fine.
I'll write as soon as possible and until then, I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony

P.S.  Keep up the good work ma.  You'll be in the pink in quicker time than you think.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 130

Anthony J. Curcio
Co. B - 22 Tank Bn. A.P.O. 261
Camp Cooke, Calif.
 
5/23/44 
Letter No. 130
Rec'd  193

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,


I really don't know how to start this letter, I mean I don't know exactly what to say.  I received the package today and when I opened it my eyes just popped out of my head.  Gosh the watch was really something!  I told you all to get one not so expensive.  I just don't know what to say.  It's the perfect thing.  Waterproof, shockproof, non magnetic, sweep hand, illuminates in the night.  Gosh.  And the cherries.  Grandma always comes thru don't she.  And the candy & cookies & flashlight and stamps.  Even the card was so pretty.  And in the envelope with the stamps it had the card from American Legion.  It's all too much to put in words of thanks and appreciation.
Pretty soon, if not already, you'll receive the year book I subscribed to at the University.  Remember?  The University sent a copy to the library here at camp and I looked at it last night.  I got my picture in 3 times.  Can you imagine.  On page 128 Anita & I are dancing (jitterbugging).  That's when she came down that weekend.  Remember.  On page 133 Tiny & I are dancing at the barn dance they had at the sorority house.  You'll find me in the group picture under section P5 Section 1.  Tiny is in the picture on page 76 with Gertrude Lawrence with the Phi Betas.  She also appears with the house pictures (Casablanca Lodge).  She looks good don't she?  I thought the book came real swell.  It's a swell [?] also.
In my last letter I think I forgot to tell you that I saw the picture "Gaslight" with Charles Boyer & Ingrid Bergman.  Boy don't miss it ma.  It will keep you on the edge of your seat.  and they both played excellent parts.  I also saw "The Story of Dr. Wassell" with Gary Cooper & Laraine Day Sunday night as I said.  It was real good & very colorful.  It's a true story.  I wish you see it.
The weather hear had calmed down a bit and it isn't so windy.
I hope you write Tiny again and keep the chain rolling.  I got a letter from her today and she is real busy with her finals.  You can wish her a lot of luck in them.
I want to thank you all again.  It's so swell to know you have a real family behind you.  Just imagine in 11 days I'll be a man.  21 years old.  Gee whiz.  I'll have to close my letters "Your Loving Soldier Man."  Will write soon again.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 129

Anthony J. Curcio
Co. B - 22 Tank Bn. A.P.O. 261
Camp Cooke, Calif.
 
5/21/44 
Letter No. 129
Rec'd  192

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It is Sunday afternoon and the weather is misty out.  Since I last wrote on Wed. we have been quite busy.  On Thursday the whole Co., in fact the whole battalion, went out on a problem and came back on Friday.  It was pretty cold sleeping out on the field but our blankets did a pretty good job keeping us warm.  Before we left on Thurs. they had a special mass said so we wouldn't miss going on Ascension Thurs. 
Fri. night we had a Co. dance.  Most of the boys weren't going to go because we got back late from the motor pack after cleaning up our tanks but we had a pretty good turn out.  The officer got about 30 girls from Lompoc.  And the chow they had was really swell.  The cooks did a swell job for a chance.
Sat. & today I have guard duty.  I have it till 5 tonight and then I'll probably go to the show on the post and see "The Story of Dr. Wassell" with Gary Cooper, in technicolor.  I'll let you know how it is if I see it.  It's my time off right now so I got time to write a few letters.
I went to church this morning and the Chaplain gave a very good sermon. I received a letter from Mable, the Secretary at the office, and she sent me the pictures they took of me when I was down there.  I'll enclose them in this letter.  Show them to Grandma also.  OK.
I also got swell letters from Helen Riley of St. Louis & Anita from Tacoma, & Tiny of Eugene.  Sounds like a string of pearls doesn't it.  
I got your letter & also one from Ele.  Both were swell.  I'm glad you got such nice presents for Mother's Day.  I'll write Ele soon again.
I am going to enclose a dollar for Grandma to put some flowers on Aunt Josies grave.  Time certainly does fly.
I'll write again soon.  How do you feel ma?  Are you still taking those pills? Let me know.
Sandy may be a pest ma but you love him don't you?  I'm glad he's feeling well again.
Hope you all are feeling well.  Send Grandma my love.  

Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony