Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 64

P.F.C. Anthony J. Curcio

Co. "A" Star Unit 3902

Univ. of Idaho, Moscow Idaho

Date 7/30/43

Letter No. 64

Rec'd --

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

I received the telegram tonight. I hope I didn't give you the wrong idea. You said in the telegram that I should hurry home. Well I explained everything in the letter I sent last night. I hope I didn't disappoint you in the telegram. I tried to state clearly that I wanted the money just in case and not that I was coming home. I felt so bad that you did take that interpretation of the telegram. But the reason I wanted the money sent here in a hurry was that I didn't want you to send it to McChord Field & chances are that I will be shipped pretty soon to a permanent college and if the course shouldn't start for a while I may get a furlough until it does start. But I am not in a college yet. I have to pass exams & go before the board here before I get to a permanent college. So keep your fingers crossed. Chances are pretty good that I will be shipped closer to home as they are shipping quite a few to the eastern colleges. So there again keep your fingers crossed.

Then after the first 3 months of my course I get one week off & if I am near home things would be perfect. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Today we didn't do much except study all morning. 5 of us in the little room[...]discussing problems on trig & geometry until my head was spinning. The afternoon we went to one of the buildings to fill out some papers on our schooling and discussed the program. If I pass the tests & the [?] I will be qualified for basic engineering. And after 9 months & I still qualify I can take advanced engineering in civil engineering. I think it's an excellent opportunity. Don't you?

In this course we will get no passes during the week & one pass over the weekend. So it will be no picnic & will have plenty of work to do.

My eyes are bothering me from staring at figures so much. I hope they snap out of it. I guess it will. After not doing anything for quite awhile it's only natural that they should bother me until I get on the ball again.

As I look out of the window you get the most beautiful sights. This country is very hilly & the hills are covered with different patches of vegetables & grass. It looks like a patch quilt in different shades of green. It looks like a painted picture. Oh it's so beautiful I only wish you were here to see it.

The weather is really nice here & is cool at night so I slept pretty well at night.

I will close now hoping everything is clear and hoping you are not disappointed in me not getting my furlough just now & hoping you are proud that I got a chance to try for an army college.

So until I write again I remain,

Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 63

P.F.C. Anthony J. Curcio
Co. "H" Star Unit 3902

U. of Idaho, Moscow Idaho

Date 7/29/43
Letter No. 63
Rec'd

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Boy I guess you were al surprised when you received the telegram. But gosh it all happened so fast.

We found out Wed. that we were going to be shipped to University of Idaho and we packed an off we went! There were only 10 fellows from the whole company so I guess I am pretty lucky. Davidson came along with me. And Borella came from his outfit so we are all together for awhile again. I never thought that anything would come up again about an army college. But you can't tell what's going to happen from one day till the next.

We left at 5 o'clock Wed. night & went to the Union depot in Tacoma. And caught the 8:40 train. We arrived here at 12 noon today just in time for chow. We had pullman cars only I didn't get much sleep because it was so hot. Moscow is right on the border line between Wash. & Idaho. This university is certainly a swell one. It's really beautiful. We have rooms in the dormitory that the girls used to sleep in. They say there are some girls on the grounds but they are probably some place on the other side of the campus. In my room there are 6 other fellows & a suite & a bath tub. Boy I hope to tell you this doesn't feel much like the army.

When we came into the mess hall they had girls & civilians dishing out the food and civilians for K.P.s and the food is swell here. With milk standing on the table. It almost knocked me over.

We were given a little speech by the officer and he told us that this is a replacement [?]. We will be given tests and interviews and if we pass we will leave for one of the colleges. Which one I don't know. But they do send quite a few back east so keep your fingers crossed.

In this course we will have very little time for ourselves. I'll tell you about the schedule when I find out more about it.

That means ma that I won't get my furlough for awhile although if I don't make the grade here they would send me back to my old outfit and things would be the same as before, but I'll try my best because I know you want me to go to college. I asked you in the telegram to wire me the money just in case I should get to a college and if the course didn't start I may have a chance to get a furlough before I did start. That's a long chance but I heard of it happening already.

That's all I can say about what's taken place now but I will write again and let you know as things take place.

Last week when I went to the U.S.O. dance I met a girl named Anita Becker. And so I had a date with her Sunday. You all must think I'm quite a casanova but I am really not. It's just that when I find a nice girl I like to take her out.

Well anyway she took me over to meet her parents and we had a swell time. Peggy was the kind of girl you could have a swell time with, but Anita seemed so different especially when I met her parents and out what a good bringing up she had. And when we sat down to eat Sunday nite her father said a prayer before and after meals. I[t] made me feel so good.

And guess what she can play the piano. And boy can she play. Her hands just glide over the keys. I hope Barb & Ele get to play like that.

Oh. Yes. When we left 5 o'clock Wed. it took us a half hour to get to the Union depot. So we had from that time till 8:30 for ourselves. So I called up Anita as soon as we reached the station and she came down within 30 minutes. She made me feel so good. Like if she cared and when the train pulled out of the station she walked along the station until the train went to[o] fast and the only thing she could do was wave goodbye.

I am sorry I couldn't stay at McChord Field for awhile because I know she would be only to[o] perfect. I hope I get to meet her again sometime. And I know you would like her an awful lot ma. I think she gave me that extra punch before I left and [I] think I will need it as this course isn't going to be any snap as we will be working from morning till night.

I shall close now ma and will write real soon as things progress. Please say a pray[er] that I will pass & that I be sent to a college near home. I will write Grandma tomorrow so tell Grandma all about it until her letter comes, o.k. So until then I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony

Love & Kisses.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 62

P.F.C. Anthony J. Curcio
1875 En. Avn. Bn. Co. H & S
McChord Field, Wash.

Date 7/24/43
Letter No. 62
Rec'd 100 & 101 Boy it certainly is getting high

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It is now 7:15 in the morning and I'd thought I would write a letter before I got to work. Today we work on the job. Yesterday we had to train.
Yesterday afternoon I went to the dentist. I had 4 cavities and he fixed them all up. I was in the chair about an hour. It just goes to show you that there isn't much work. When there is no money to pay you can get done awful fast. Isn't that right?
Yesterday afternoon (Thurs) we had our regular retreat parade as we do every Thursday. Boy I love a parade. And from the piece that Eleanor got out of "See Here-Private Hargrove," that's morale. I get a thrill when the band sounds off & the airplanes go zooming overhead. That's one thing I like. I am right guide also. The whole battalion has to guide on me! So I have to watch out I'm in line etc. You can ask Boby what right guide is o.k.

I got a letter from Frank the other day. It took over a month to get back to me. It was a swell letter. I answered him right away and wrote a nice long letter.

Wed. nite I saw "Coney Island." Is it in N.Y. now? I mean the picture (joke). It was pretty good.

Elfrieda wrote me a letter (well still writing to each other as usual) and she ask[ed] me my advice on sending you all an invitation. She thought it would offend you all. But that is silly. I'm sure. So if you would like to go let me know & I will tell her. O.K.

Do you think I should try to get my furlough to see Ele get married? It will come pretty close anyway I guess.

Just Davidson & I are in the tent. Borella was the one that went to the other outfit.

I think I will go to the U.S.O. tonite with Peggy. I'll let you know about it.
I hope you can ge the money to me as soon as possible Ma. But I don't expect it too soon anyway. But just in case.

I will close now we have to fall out in a couple of minutes. So until my next letter I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony

Dear Helen

7/22/43

Dear Helen,

I received your very darling letter of July 13. I guess I must thank you for making such cute & appropriate excuses on the delay of my last letter. May I extend that statement a little further and say that you have an extreme quality of common sense & understanding, plus an excellent way of stating your thoughts. I wish everybody I write to could have just half as much as you have. I am afraid it would help ever so much.
I expect a furlough next month. At that time I will relate to some friends why I couldn't write so often & then I shall be forgiven, up until the time when something comes up and it will start all over again. I guess by this time you think my friend are just awful. So I will justify them by saying that I guess I felt the same way about men in the service when I was a civilian with so much time on my hands I didn't know what to do with it. There is one thing that I forget sometimes & that is, there are two sides to every story. That's why I justify or try to justify to myself when I say anything that can be made into two stories. I guess that's the safest way--Right?
Monday we started training again, but I believe it's only for a short period. One of the jobs we have been working on is not complete yet so we train one day & work on the job the next. Boy it's hard to train again after having it pretty easy for awhile. But I'll get used to it.
I went to a few U.S.O. dances but not so many. It's to hot to dance. Do you find (?) it that way? Last Sunday I went to one of the nearby lakes and we went canoeing. When it came the time to go in we had a little race to the dock with a few friends of ours. They had the race well in hand when something happened & over they went. I am sorry to say, but it sure was funny. I said to them, instead of helping them, "hold on I want to take your picture." I never had such a good laugh. But I felt kind of [sic] sorry for them because of their [sic] newly pressed O.D.'s
I just found out that I may still have a chance to go to an army college. But I'm not saying anything until it happens. I hate to disappoint anybody.
I am so happy you got your raise. I guess we both made a little progress in our respective jobs. I guess I can say we both got a raise even though mine is a bit small.
My 3 sisters are going on a vacation Aug. 14. I am a bit scared because my furlough should fall in about that time. I hope it works out O.K. I wouldn't like to ask my sisters to change their plans. That would be mean I guess. I know how much the planning there is in a vacation. Maybe [sic] it's fun. I haven't did it in such a long time I don't remember.
I got my teeth fixed today. I don't think the dentists are half as bad as the fellows make them. He treated me pretty well. And only 4 cavities in 7 months. That's pretty good for me.
I shall close now hoping you are in the best of health.
Sorry I forgot about the weather. It's hot. We didn't get rain for quite awhile believe it or not. Until the next letter, I remain

As ever
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 61

P.F.C. Anthony J. Curcio
1875 En. Avn. Bn. Co. H & S
McChord Field, Wash.

Date 7/19/43
Letter No. 61
Rec'd 99

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Before I start my report I have to get something off my chest. It happened yesterday at Spanaway Lake. Boy was it funny. Peggy & I went there & we were going for a canoe ride. But before we did we met Brono Borella & a fellow from the surveying squad I work with. Well anyway they got a canoe & Peggy & I got a canoe. We were paddling around & it came time to go in. So we had a little race to the dock. We were about 25 ft. from the dock when Brono & the other fellow lost balance & over they went. Well ma & all I had some laugh. The only thing I was worrying about was to take a good picture with my camera. I hope they turn out. But I felt so sorry for them, their newly pressed suits. Every time I think of it I have to laugh.
The pictures I took last Sunday turned out pretty good only they make me look so fat. I think I will have to get a new jacket. One which fits me a little better. What do you say?
We started our training today but one of the jobs is not finished yet so we had to go over to the job to survey. We have one day of training & one day on the job until its finished.
Joe D'Angelo lives in Queens. A very short distance from where we live. And when I get my furlough I won't hesitate to see his people. Boy do I miss home.
We had pretty good weather lately. In fact it's only rained a couple of days in quite awhile. Boy it's a swell state when the sun shines.
I didn't hear anything about my furlough yet. Gosh I will have so much to say. I just don't know where I would start.
I am a bit tired tonight ma from yesterday & today. I kept my shirt off on the job & got a bit of sun burn & it makes you feel sort of sleepy. I will close now hoping you are all in the best of health & very happy. So until my next letter I remain

Your Loving Solider Boy,
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 60

P.F.C. Anthony J. Curcio
1875 En. Avn. Bn. Co. H & S
McChord Field, Wash.

Date 7/15/43
Letter No. 60
Rec'd ---

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

I am writing a short letter & try to answer one of your questions. It's about my furlough. The whole battalion & myself want a furlough. Quite a lot of us put in for furloughs and some got theirs already. Those who are in the longest will get theirs first and they will go down the line. I don't know when mine will come up although I assume it will be some time next month. But I don't know. It could come up in a week & ma[y]be 3 months, I don't know. And if we start our training again they may stop furloughs until it's over. I don't know that either. But in case it should come up I would need some money. Soldiers round trip rate from here to N.Y. I think is $74 + meals. So would need about $100.
One of the cooks was notified last nite that he could leave on his furlough today. It's short notice and it was o.k. because he had the money on hand & I would like to do the same thing. I don't want to be stuck if my furlough should come up.
I don't want to build up your hopes too much on my coming home real soon because army orders change from hr. to hr. but I think my chances are 50/50 that I will get one some time next month. I'll keep you posted on how things progress.
I'll pray every nite it should come real soon. I guess the easiest way to send the money would be by money order. But ask Boby and see what she says.
Last nite I went to the U.S.O. dance and didn't have such a bad time but it was o.k.
I just heard a program on the radio from Mitchel Field, L.I., the Coca Cola program with Vincent Lopez & his orchestra. It made you feel so good when it comes some place near home.
I shall close now hoping you are all in the best of health & please pray everything goes all right I will be home next month.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 59

PFC Anthony J. Curcio

1875 En. Avn. Bn. Co. H & S

McChord Field, Wash.

Date 7/13/43

Letter No. 59

Rec'd 96/97/98

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It is Tuesday nite and I am still a bit tired from the weekend. But before I tell you all about that I will go thru the week like I usually do.

Thursday nite we went to the battalion dance and had a pretty good time, but not as good as the last one because they didn't have a jitterbug contest. But we had a pretty good time because we all know each other a lot better.

Friday nite we G.I. the tent & shoes etc. We do that every Friday nite for inspection on Sat.

Friday we also lost another one of our buddies. Bruno Borella was shipped to another outfit on the post. They needed certain type of men so he went. Boy we never get a real break.

Sat. we had a parade for our Major. We got a new one. And I hear the old major got tears in his eyes when we paraded before him. He was pretty good.

Sat. nite I had guard duty. We go on at 5 and get off at 5 Sunday nite. And luck ran with me because Peggy had to work on Sunday. She works for the telephone co. So I saw her Sunday nite. We went to the carousel again & had a nice time. Mon. nite I was so tired I went to bed very early. Ma[y]be I shouldn't have gone out after guard duty but it always works out ok.

Surveying is still the same & the same routine.

I hope you all had a nice time on Ele's birthday. I hope she liked my present. How did she enjoy the surprise, Ma?

The transfer I wrote about was final. I don't think I will be transferred.

Joe Cohn is still going to radio school I guess.

I really don't need anything, ma. I'm stocked up on everything just know.

I am so glad you were happy about my stripe. And thanks for the card you all sent me. The one where you all signed it and give a kiss for Grandma's signature. I always get a kick out of it when Grandma signs it.

And thanks for your card, Ma. That a swell way telling everything. xxxxxxxx

Thank Grandma for her card & stamp. I was just about out of stamps when they came.

Well I shall close now ma & try to write near the end of the week. So until then I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony

xxxxxxxx

P.S. I forgot Ele's letter. Please thank her for it.

P.S. The buddy that['s] left in my tent (Davidson) got his radio from home. It good to hear some of the programs & music again. It plays pretty good too.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 58

PFC Anthony J. Curcio

1875 En. Avn. Bn. Co H & S

McChord Field, Wash.

Date 7/7/43

Letter No. 58

Rec'd 93 & 95

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It is Wed. nite and I am going to try to catch up with some of my mail. I certainly have quite a pile to write.

Remember I told you Peggy & I were going to do swimming Sunday? Well I couple of other couples cam along and we had a swell time. The girls brought lunch and we toasted weenies over the fire. We went swimming and in the night we went dancing. We couldn't get films for her camera so I took some quick snapshots with one of the fellows camera on the post. (We are not supposed to but we made sure there was nothing in them). The water was very warm but when we came out we almost froze to death. We [?] suits out there. We really had a swell day.

Monday nite I was so tired I went to bed real early.

Last nite I wen to the show with my buddy (Davidson) and saw "Wings Over the Pacific." It was [?]. It was double feature nite. They also showed "Two Tickets to London." That was pretty good.

In the surveying here there is nothing new. Same routine.

I got my shoes fixed at the post shoe maker (civilian shoes) and it cost me $1.50 for half soles. But it was a pretty good job. How much do they charge home?

I turn in my laundry over a week now so I have a steady supply of clean laundry without washing my own.

I am glad you all had a swell time at Grenes.' [?] I wish I could have been there.

So Eddie got married. Well well well. I never thought he would get married to tell you the truth. What is everybody getting married.

I got a box of cards from Ann yesterday. Thanks a lot Ann. I will give some to my friends and use them myself.

I also received the cutest card from Eleanor and a very very long letter. Boy I got a kick out of it. No kidding.

Tomorrow night we are going to have a battalion dance again. I will let you know about it.

I shall close now hoping everybody is in the best of health and very happy.

Your Loving Son & Soldier Boy,

Tony

P.S. This is a bit sloppily written because I am leaning on my bed. I hope you will forgive me?

Love, Tony

Dear Helen

7/7/43

Dear Helen,

As I am writing this letter I hope you are having a great time in the Ozarks. I think this is the longest period of time between letters since I am writing you. I hope you will forgive me that I was awful busy. I had to write that same line to all my friends I am writing to at this present time, and believe me I hate to do it.
Well Helen, I made P.F.C. after 6 months working for Uncle Sam. I hope you know that it's not [sic] what you know in the army, it's who you know & how well you can pull strings. I'm not trying to cover up for my lack of promotion but it's the truth. I know some of the dumbest guys that have more stripes than I'll ever see. But that's the army & I'm not squawking. I'll live and try to be happy.
Since I last wrote you I went to several U.S.O. dances, one being a formal dance. All the girls were dressed in evening gowns & it really was a grand success.
The past four Sundays I have been going to one of the near by lakes swimming & dancing. We get a large crowd together & have a grand time. Sometimes I feel like a civilian. But that doesn't last very long & I'm back to usual again in a G.I. zoot suit.
I have seen a few pictures the best ones being "Five Graves to Cairo" & "Crash Dive." Both I liked very much. I saw one last night and I almost fell asleep. Sometimes I wonder why they make some of those pictures.
The "Carousel Caravan"came at McChord Field a few weeks ago and put on a excellent show. Comedians, singers, etc. The show was so good I think I enjoyed it better than some shows I saw back in N.Y.
I want to thank you a million for your late birthday card. I[t] certainly was cute. Sometimes I wonder what we would do without cards. Isn't that right? My birthday was June the 3rd.
That little note you sent me was cute although I expected what it was because I received one like it awhile ago. They certainly make your heart beat faster tho, don't they? For awhile it makes you feel pretty important.
I shall close now hoping that the next time I shall be more caught up with my self and I shall write you a more entertaining letter & much longer. Please tell me all about your vacation & here's hoping you had a swell time. So until then, best regards to your family.

Sincerely,
Tony

From Joe (D'Angelo, Tony's friend)

Pvt. Joseph D'Angelo

Co. "A"--110th Eng. Combat Bn.

Amphibian Training Force No. 9

Fort Ord, California

July 5th, 1943

Dear Mrs. Curcio,

I really was...surprised to receiv[e] the little booklet from you. It had me laughing. It really typified army life although it was on the funny side. Thank you very, very much. It seems as if you're getting to know just as much about the army as any of us do.

As much as I dreaded it, it had to happen. I guess you know all about it. I've been shipped out of McChord Field and separated from my best friends. They were the best friends I ever had or ever hope to have. I suppose Tony tells you a bit about them. I especially miss Tony. You know what swell buddies we were. We had so much in common and were able to talk to each other like brothers. I'd give anything I own to be back with him. But, it seems as if all good things must come to an end.

I'll never forget the day I left. We just moped around not saying anything. I guess that went on for a couple of hours. How I hated to leave. It was like leaving home for a second time. I dreaded that moment when I had to say goodbye. But, it came, much too soon. It was really torture having to say goodbye to them. I could feel myself ready to cry, but I couldn't look at any of them in the face for fear of doing so. Still I'm not so sure there weren't tears in my eyes. I would have rather faced a hundred Jap[anese] than go through that. But, I suppose the Army knows best although I think very much different. I'd give anything I own to be up there with Tony again.

I almost forgot to apologize for writing to you so late. We've been very busy lately. We're going on maneuvers so that we had to work from early morning to late at night packing stuff. Since we have most of our work finished they gave me this afternoon off which gave me a chance to catch up on my mail. I hope you forgive me.

Although I've been in this outfit for over two months now and gotten used to is, there's always something missing. You know just as well as I do what (or should I say who it is). Although I have made plenty of friends I haven't been able to find one that I care to pal around with. They just aren't my type. Having friends is one thing but having a budd[y] whom you can trust and share your joy and troubles is a completely different thing. I have my fun but I don't seem to get the kick out of it I used to get. But, I don't think I should complain. There must be other in the army worse off than I am.

Tony and I keep in touch with each other. We keep each other informed as to how we're going along. It's really swell getting letters from him. It seems as if he's talking to me just like old times. I guess he's telling you just how he's getting along. I wish they'd give him a break though. He really deserves it. He should have a couple of stripes. I've seen some get stripes that never even deserve them. Tony is the kind of fellow that has a job, knows it thoroughly, and does it very efficiently. He keeps all to himself and no one even notices him. That's the kind of fellow that should get stripes. But it seems as if the fellow that does the least and talks the most gets them. This really gripes me, but there's nothing that can be done about it. His day will come.

I guess I'll close this letter now. I just can't think of anything else to say. But, I hope that I can get to see you, Mrs. Curcio, on my first furlough. I know I'm really going to enjoy knowing you. In fact, although I haven't met you I feel as if I've known you for a long time.

I hope this letter finds you in the best of health. I also hope that this mess will be over real soon so that we can go back to our families and really know what it is to be home. It will be then that Tony and I will get together and really celebrate.

Very Sincerely,

Joe

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 57

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio

1875 En. Avn. Bn. Co. H & S

McChord Field, Wash

Date 7/3/43

Letter No. 57

Rec'd --

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It's Saturday afternoon and inspection is just over. But it ended kind of abruptly because as the Major started down the ranks, mother nature poured down a bucket of water & drenched us all. In about 30 seconds you couldn't find a dry spot on us. And just ten minutes before that the sun was shining so you can see what weather we have here although it was the first time it happened to me.
Tues. nite (6/29) I went to the show & saw Song of Texas. It wasn't bad.
Wed. nite I was in charge of Quarters (C.Q.). It was the first time I had it in the army. Many of the fellows had it many times. We just have to stay in the orderly room from 5 at nite to 8 in the morning & take charge of things.
Thurs. (7/1) believe it or not I was made P.F.C. I believe I should have made it a long time ago but I don't squawk. In the nite I got a pass & went to a carnival at Pt. Defiance park with Peggy. They only had a couple of rides but we still had a pretty good time.
We didn't start our training yet and we are still working on the road job surveying.
The weather was pretty good for about a week. And believe me when the sun is shining & you can see Mt. Ranier. It certainly is a pretty sight and every time you see it, it looks different.
I have been in the best of health. Just once in awhile my eyes felt tired. I guess I don't exercise them enough. I really should read once in awhile.
I can't write much ma because nothing too much has happened.
Oh. I almost forgot. I got the handkerchiefs & cards. Thanks a lot. Did you get the package I sent you with the present in?
I also sent the tin box where the cake was in. I put some letters in the box. You should get it pretty soon.
I will close now & I hope everybody is just fine & in the best of health.

Your Loving Soldier Boy
Tony

P.S. If it's nice tomorrow I may go swimming at one of the lakes with Peggy. I'll tell you about it next week.
P.S. I got my P.F.C. stripes on Grandma's birthday so it's a double celebration.

I just received letters 91-92-93 & a family album. They came all at once & I also received a letter from my toos. [?] He got an honorable discharge from the Marine candidate school and is now working & with a New York firm.
Boy that certainly was a cute idea about every writing in the little booklet. And especially when Grandma signed it. I felt so happy when I saw the last page. Thank Grandma for me and give her an extra big kiss for me.
I appreciated your trying to hold back Grandma's present ma. But as long as she liked it, it doesn't make any difference.
Boy that's quite a heat spell N.Y. is having. Sometimes I wish we had one just like it here. But I'd rather be in it in N.Y. with everybody else.
I'm glad Dad like the cigarette case and I hope Ele will like her present too. And I'm glad you were able to keep it a secret from her even though you weren't able to keep it from Grandma, Right?
The medal that Aunt Margaret gave me came in the box with all my birthday presents.
I am so sorry to hear about Aunt Margaret being in the hospital. I will try to write real soon to her.
I shall close once again and I am so happy because I received the mail

Love & Kisses
Tony