Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 102

Anthony J. Curcio
Co. "A" A.S.T.U. 3920
U. of O. Eugene ORE

12/13/43
Letter No. 102
Rec'd 152, 153, 154, 155

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Here it is Monday the 13th of Dec. and we start our second term. It certainly was hard getting up this morning. We got new rooms assigned to us and I got a pretty good one again.
During the week I wrote Christmas cards to just about everybody I could think of. I hope I didn't miss anybody. I caught up on a few letters also.
I didn't do too much during the week. I was in practically every night by 10:30 as Tiny has to be in the sorority house by 10:30. Those are campus rules for the civilian students. One of the fellows and myself took a little trip out to the coast. It's only 60 [sic] to the pacific ocean so we thought we might as well see it. We hitch hiked to a small town on the coast named Florence. The town is about a block long. There was a coast guard station there so we went in & they showed us around and we went up into the tower and looked off into the ocean. It's a bit rough compared to the Atlantic. I threw a penny into the ocean for all of you so I guess you can make a wish. I also picked up some post cards which you can put in your scrapbook.
The next interesting thing that happened was--I was invited to a Christmas party Friday night. Tiny and her 3 roommates and the house mother and myself were the ones present. They had a little Christmas tree and all presents under it. And they all bought me something. I got two cartons of cigarettes, tobacco, aftershave lotion, and aftershave powder. I certainly was surprised. Tiny warned me ahead of time and I picked up a little gift at the co-op store. Tiny gave me her picture and I gave her a pair of rosary beads. We had cake & cokes. We had a swell time. Don't you think that was awful nice of them?
We got a new patch to put on our arm. Up until now they didn't have any insignia for the A.S.T.P. but they finally got one and it certainly is nice. It is blue and yellow and it has the cup of knowledge on it with a sword running through it. So soon as I get a hold of a couple more I'll send them home.
This term our subjects are Analytic Geometry, Physics, Chemistry, History, Geography, English, Mil. P.E. It's going to be a little tougher this term!
I received a money order and a Christmas card from Mr. Egerly. It was for $3.50. Who should I write to to thank. I don't believe he had his address on the envelope? It is I just looked.
I sent the package to you for Aunt Anna. It's bath salts and perfume. So will you please wrap it and give it to her? O.K.
I received my first Christmas Card from Grandma and Aunt Anna. I will thank Grandma & A.A. when I write.
Ma did you copy Joe D'Angelo's address down right? Being he is overseas I think there should be an A.P.O. No. Send it to me again O.K.?
Thank Boby for her letter. It certainly is good to hear from her.
I am glad you heard from Frank. I was getting worried. It's too bad everybody has colds. I got a touch of one myself but it doesn't amount even to talk about it. I hope you all get rid of them soon.
Oregon State College sent for the beaver R.R. express. It wasn't exciting as everybody thought it would turn out.
I do hope you get a tree this year ma. It wouldn't be Christmas ma without a tree. Would it?
I'll close now hoping everybody is in better health when you get this letter & I hope everybody is very happy.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. Letter No. are OK.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 32

Anthony J. Curcio
4th A.F.R.D. SQD. "A"
Hammer Field, Fresno, Calf.

Date 3-21-43
Letter No. 32

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

I'm here in California and it's pretty nice here, but I'm glad I am not going to stay here. Because I wouldn't want to have a permanent camp so far away from home. So I just have to pray that when I go to school it will be much closer to home. The weather here, when the sun is out is just like a summer day. Some of the fellows that were here awhile already lay out on the grass in the sun & get a tan. I heard we just missed a period of rain. I'm glad we did. Fri. & Sat. the sun was really hot. Today it's been a bit cool because the sun hasn't been out all day.
The food here is pretty good. I think so far it's been better than J.B. The system is a heck of a lot better here also. We don't have the cadet style when we go to the mess hall. We get up when we are finished. The bread & butter is on the table, also the coffee, and you can eat as much as you want. At J.B. the most butter you could get was a little slice. We get plenty of fruit here also. (You know Calf.) Sometimes we get lemon & orange-ade instead of coffee. Oranges & bananas with our meals, pineapple & peach pie, apricots. Sometimes we get cocoa also or tea.
They have a good system here I like it very much. We use our own canteen to eat with. It's pretty large enough to hold all the food, we have our own cup, fork, knife & spoon. It eliminates the work for K.P.s After we eat we put the excess food in a barrel & then pass on to 3 more barrels. The first is boiling hot soapy water where we wash our stuff with a brush & then pass on to the other two to rinse them. They have fires under the barrels to keep the water boiling. Then it's up to each individual to keep his own equipment clean. Which is a smart idea. Right?
The streets here are paved & the barracks are set just like houses on a street. Each barrack has a latrine & shower to you don't have to run a mile to go to the bathroom or wash your clothes. We were lucky to get into a barrack, some of the fellows were put in tents. Not many though.
It's very easy here, no discipline here at all. I mean to clothing & marching, etc. You can wear what you want when you want to. At J.B. you always had to conform to standards. Everybody had to wear the same thing at J.B.
We can't get any passes for awhile & if we do it will only be for 6 hours.
Wel on Fri. When we came in we ate & then got our barracks & then got a physical check up. That took all morning. In the afternoon after chow we got our bedding. Then after chow I sent the telegram. Then I took a shower, shaved & washed my hair & then wrote the letter.
Sat. We had to G.I. our hut & be ready for inspection. A lieutenant & captain came around & inspected the barracks, us & our mess kits to see that they were clean.
In the afternoon we went to the classifying office. They told me I would be sent to a drafting school but I can take a test & if I pass the test I can go to one of the colleges and learn drafting. I have to take the test this coming Friday, March 26 - that means I will not get my new address until I get classified. It feels awful funny not hearing from home. I hope everything is all right and everybody is in the best of health.
Today I went to church. It's right around the corner. After church I sewed the insignia on my arm. You know like the one I sent you with the the wings & the star. The sewing kit comes in very handy. Then I went to the P.X. to make out a money order. I'll be sending you $10.00. I'll send whenever I can & you can do whatever you want with it. In fact I will say instead, use it to buy yourself something. All the money I send you buy things for yourself. That's between you & I ma. You know what I mean. This is NOT a birthday present.
I'll tell you more about the camp in my next letter. So goodnight & please read this letter to Grandma.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. I washed my clothes last night. We have plenty of hot water here. That's one thing we didn't have at J.B.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 11

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio Date 1-31-43
Flight "F" 360th Tech. Sch. Sqd. Letter No. 11
Jefferson Barracks, MO.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

The weather up here is pretty nice. It isn't so cold & if it is cold you don't feel it because the air is dry. In the afternoon, if the sun is out it's just like a spring day.
No matter what we do here or where we [go] we always have to fall in and we march in formation. It's part of their basic training to keep you in shape.
Friday night we took showers & washed our clothes.
Sat. we were awaken[ed] at 4:30 had to fall out in 15 minutes, we were given ten minutes to go to the latrine, went to chow & direct from chow we had to walk about 2 miles to the theatre to see the picture on the projector of disease again. We saw it at Camp Upton but some saw it here & some didn't so we all had to see it over again. Then we were given a speech by the chaplain. Then we had to walk back. In the afternoon after chow we had to walk there again & was given the articles of war & a picture of march of time. Then we had to walk back again. Boy my feet are starting to hurt. I feel it in the heels.
Boy what a break we got. In the night the U.S.O. sponsored a play in the tent arena. Guess what it was. It was "Arsenic and Old Lace." Boy it was good. But I was kind of tired. I just fell asleep when I hit the bed. (Program enclosed)
I figured we would be off on Sunday but we had to move to new huts. I'm glad we did. It's nearer to the mess hall. We have 8 in a hut instead of 6. We don't have cots anymore, but double decker beds. (I sleep on the bottom). We also got foot lockers to put our stuff in. Boy it feels good to have your stuff in order. It took us all morning to move because it was raining cats & dogs. In the afternoon we had to work. We had to take the foot lockers out of old huts and bring them to ours. More walking. I guess I will break them in after awhile.
So here it is Sunday night the first time I had to write since I last wrote.
I got a little leaflet on the history & map of Jefferson Barracks. It's quite interesting.
I also include an emblem we wear on our arm. It's for ma. It's the air corps insignia.
Say ma, ma[y]be you would like to come out here for a couple of days? We have a place here where visitors stay. It would be about a 24 hours trip by Grand Central R.R. I don't know it may be kind of tiresome for you, but I certainly would like to see you ma. It's been very lonely. Think it over ma.
I think I will turn in early tonight because we will be given [a] test tomorrow so that we can be classified in certain branches of the air corps. So so long for awhile. Hope you all are still in the best of health & ma let me know what's what with examination. I'm positive it's O.K.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. I didn't receive any mail here yet. Some mail was forwarded from Camp Upton but none for me. It will probably come tomorrow.