Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 116

Anthony J. Curcio
Co. B - 22 Tank Bn. A.P.O. 261
Camp Cooke, Calif.

3/14/44
Letter No. 116
Rec'd

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

I'm free tonight. I didn't think I would be because twice a week the Co. goes on a hike from 7 to 11 at night but we won't have to go for a while yet.
I don't think I said too much about the camp in yesterday's letter but frankly there isn't much to say about it. It's barracks, barracks and more barracks. There are very few trees and it's very sandy as we are but a few miles from the Pacific Ocean between Santa Maria & Santa Barbara. (In fact we can see the water from the camp.) The camp is spaced out over miles and miles. It's very large. They have a service club (that's where I am now) for entertainment and writing etc. They have a couple of shows also. They have a pamphlet out about Camp Cooke. If I can get one I will send it home.
The outfit (any branch of it) isn't very appealing. But it's getting a little better now that we are getting to know the boys.
Today we had calisthenics in the morning and thru some drill and then some more review lectures on wearing of the uniform. There we had a lecture of the organization of the 11th Armored Division. It includes all branches of the service artillery, cavalry, infantry, etc. The 22 Tank Battalion is one branch of the 11th Armored Division. If you want me to explain that more let me know. O.K. Then they showed us the different tanks and their parts. It doesn't look too appealing but I don't think it will be too bad. I still feel luckier than some of the boys who were put into some of the other outfits. In the afternoon we went for a 3 mile hike. The sun is out all day and there is not a cloud in the sky but it's still very cold. There is a constant breeze coming in off the ocean and regardless of the sun it's very windy and cold. Then we had lectures on chemical warfare and maintenance of the jeep. We had most of that in our basic training.
Then when we were finished at 5 o'clock I took a shower and etc. The food is pretty good only some of the boys claim there isn't enough. But it's enough to suit me.
Did you get the box I sent home?
Ma I know your birthday is on the 24th of this month but I hope it will be all right if I send it a little late. O.K. I want to look around town (when I get in). I don't know when we will get passes yet. I just wanted to let you know so that you knew I didn't forget.
I don't think I told you in yesterday's letter but we are not allowed to wear civilian shoes or garrison caps with the peak. Boy they are really G.I. around here.
The armored division also wears their hats on the left side of the heads instead of the right side like other outfits do. I guess it's pride or something.
How is everybody home and how are things going?
I am in the best of health. Don't worry about anything and as soon as things get set over here I'll see the sergeant about a furlough. I know it won't be for a while but I got a pretty good chance. Don't count on it and don't worry about it please. I'll do the best I can. O.K. Until my next letter I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. Please tell Grandma not to send me anymore airmail stamps for awhile. Effective March 24 airmail stamps will be 8 cents instead of 6 cents. I will have enough until that time comes. O.K.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 115

Anthony J. Curcio
Co. B - 22 Tank Bn. A.P.O. 261
Camp Cooke, Calif.

3/13/44
Letter No. 115
Rec'd 178

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Well we finally left U. of O. I got up to see Tiny. She is up at Salem General Hosp. I went up to see her on Wed & Thurs. On Wed. she didn’t feel good. It hurt her so much. She got tears in her eyes but on Thursday she was a lot better. We left Eugene about 7 o’clock Fri. night and got Pullmans. We traveled most of the trip at night so we didn’t see much. We went to Oakland, Calif. (right across the way from San Francisco) and then headed down the coast to Camp Cooke. We arrived here about 3 o’clock in the morning. Then we had to take a shower and got thru a medical exam. We were taken to a field house until everybody arrived. So from 4:30 to 6:30 the boys played basketball. Then at 6:30 they hold us there would be no classification and they put us into outfit of the 11^th Armored Div. I was put into the 22 Tank Bn. Tony my ex-roommate was put into the Cavalry Reconnaissance Bn. Some boys were put in the infantry, some engineers, etc. Why we got put where we did nobody knows. But they’re all rugged. We were then taken to our outfits and we cleaned up ate and then given uniforms. I was put in Headquarters Co. In the afternoon we straightened up a little. I went to bed early as we didn’t have sleep for two days. Then today we got up at 5:30 and all day we went over basic rules etc. We had calisthenics, close order drill and a hike. We will get this all week and on Sat. we will be given a test. If we pass we don’t have to take our basic training over again. Keep your fingers crossed. When we got finished today the captain told me I was to be transferred to Co. B. Why, I don’t know. I don’t even know why I am in this outfit. But I’ll have to make the best of it. There are A.S.T.P. men here from 4 colleges so far, and I believe more are coming.

Boy this a rugged outfit. These fellows have had training for a year and a half in this outfit. I’ll know more about things later on. I am sorry I couldn’t write sooner ma. I didn’t send a telegram because I let you know where I was going. If we are free tomorrow night and Wed. night I will write more and will probably know more. I want to drop a line to grandma yet tonight.

The food is pretty good and I am in the best of health. I’ll try to write as soon as possible and I hope you didn’t worry any. With all my love I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony

Dear Helen

4/5/44
New York

Dear Helen,

This is your correspondence reporting from N.Y. I finally got a furlough after 14 mo. But it's still not the kind of furlough I wanted. My mom was sick and was given a furlough right away. But mom is O.K. now and is getting along fine. It seems like the news in our letters aren't too cheerful but I guess we have to take the good with the bad. Isn't that right?
I send a little souvenir of N.Y. It's not much but my heart is not in sending souvenirs but to show you the city. Then you can take back a living souvenir. That which remains in your heart.
I guess you've read in the paper about the reducing of the A.S.T.P. Well we finished our second term and then were shipped to the 11 Armored Division (which is composed of about every branch of the service and acts as one unit--cavalry, infantry, artillery, tanks, engineers, etc.). We weren't given any classification because there were so many of us and were just put in any branch and I landed up n the 22 Tank Bn. and am in a medium tank co. We are at Camp Cooke about a 5 hr. ride from Los Angeles. I've been there about two weeks when I got the emergency furlough. I cam there by the way of Chicago because it was the quickest route. If I get another furlough (the kind I want) I'll come there by way of St. Louis. I'm awful anxious to see you again.
You've been swell writing to me and I'm sorry I couldn't write more but we were so busy up at the university but I believe I'll have more time to write now, with my new outfit. There isn't too much to say about my new outfit as I don't know much about it myself but as things progress we will both find out, right.
I sure hated to leave the University. I guess it's the closest anyone in the army could be to home comforts and still not be home. But all good things have to come to an end some time.
I'm leaving tonight for Calf. I am due Rev. Mon. morn (4/10/44).
You know I've been writing to you over a year now and all I got was one small picture of you, and in that picture you were standing about 50 ft. from the camera (slightly exaggerated). All kidding aside if you have a picture or are planning to take some for Easter I sure would like one (or two). We took pictures and as soon as I get them I'll be happy to send them to you. You see I'm cooperating and I know you will. Right?
I hope you are in the best of health and your family also. Let me know what's new and what's cooking. And I hope you write soon. I'll be anxious to hear from you real soon.

Sincerely,
Tony