Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 70

P.F.C. Anthony J. Curcio
Co. "A" STAR Unit 3902
U. of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It is Fri. afternoon during study period & I decided to write a letter instead.
At mail call at noon time I received a picture of Anita. She had one made for me in the same studio I had mine made for you. I think I told you. It's 5 x 7 and is colored in oils. Ma you should see that picture. It's beautiful. She also had it in a glass frame. And the way she had it wrapped. First it had two pieces of cardboard on either side. Then she put it in a handkerchief box. Then she wrapped it with tissue paper with a green ribbon on it, with a big boy in the middle. That was wrapped in paper around that was 4 pieces of cardboard & that was wrapped with paper. So you can see how nervous I was until I got it open. She's swell ma.
I also got a nice letter from Elfrieda. She told me about her plans. She is going to live in Morristown N.J. after a two week honeymoon. I hope she's happy.
I am so glad that you all are so happy I made the grade. Your letters cheer me up so much ma. I'll try my best to pass and make you all happy.
The education I had certainly will come in handy. Tech certainly had the stuff.
Send Aunt Margaret my best regards and hope she gets better real soon.
It msut be telepathy again. I believe in my last letter I told you I still write to Helen Riley. I just got a letter from her too. And I also told you about Joe. Isn't that funny the way that always works out.
I also received your cute card ma. And it had such a pretty saying. xxxxxx and a million more.
The weather here is still swell. I hope it's nice weather back there.
How is grandma? And how is the garden & how is Frank? Did Grandma rent the flat yet?
I hope you are all in the best of health & tell Bob & Ann to drop me a line & let me know how Jersey's Breeze Knoll is. Ok. So until my next letter I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy
Love & Kisses xxxx
Tony
xxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxx

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 28

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
23 TNG. SQD.
SQD "A"
Jefferson Barracks, MO.

Date 3-9-43
#28
Rec'd #37

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

Well I have but a half an hour to write this letter as it is 8:30 now & I want to send off a letter tonight.
Monday we went before the colonel. It was pretty nice. We all had to stand at attention when he came along. He asked some fellows questions about the army. It's good he didn't ask me. I think I would have been a bit nervous. Then we did a little drill and made out pretty good. We passed and believe it or not we had the rest of the day off. So I went to the service club to write letters. I wrote one to Ele, one to Aunt Concelia, Aunt Margaret, Tony Testa, and to Joe.
In the night we had a G.I. party & I had to clean up our hut.
This morning we had to parade before the visiting Brig. General Howard. Boy it's quite a thrill marching to the rhythm of the drum. It makes you feel victorious.
This afternoon we just did a little drill & got off early. If we don't get that we get a detail. We are casual now just waiting shipment. So they give you something to do to keep you busy. You really don't know when you're going to be shipped.
I received your letter & one from Dad.
To answer your first ques., the whole squadron uses the latrines. There is about 2000 fellows.
I hope you have a nice time at the party. I guess you all will, I wish I was there. Give Lily my regards. What did she say about my description of the G.I. coffee?
Helen Riley's hair is a little darker than Elfrieda's.
I received the letter from Pa today also & I think he has much improved in his letter writing. What do you say ma? Thanks for the money Dad. It did come in handy just in time.
Thanks for the cherries, Grandma. Boy they're the most delicious candy I ever tasted. It's good to taste something that's really good that you eat at home.
And thanks for the tobacco. Everybody in the hut smokes it (3 guys anyway) and they all like it very much.
Well that's just blow & lights will go out so until my next letter I remain.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 27

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
23 TNG. GRP.
SQD. "A"
Jefferson Barracks, MO.

Date 3-7-43
Letter No. 27
Rec'd 36

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

Well here it is Sunday afternoon and I am sitting in my bunk writing letters. I have to try to catch up once again.
As I told you in my last letter we were supposed to go before (yesterday) the colonel but we didn't on account of the weather. Instead we did drill in the morning & in the afternoon went on a 5 mile hike. Anything to keep us busy.
In the night I took a shower & got all set for the convoy into town. But it wasn't the same one I went on last time. They change from flight to flight. This one went to Saint Thomas' Church. So I didn't see Helen Riley. I wish I did though because I didn't have such a good time. They dance a lot different out here. They don't do the lindy like we do, the few that do it. They never heard of the peabody. But I taught Helen Riley how to do them & she caught on right away. Maybe I better let them teach me their way.
Helen was working till 5 o'clock today (Sunday) & I could have gone out to her house but I thought it would be better if I stayed here & rested a bit. I'm pretty tired from last night.
This morning I went to 8 o'clock mass, same as last Sunday. They have lent here the same as they do back home. I will find something to sacrifice. They will have a mass on Wed. night & I will get ashes on my head.
After church I made a call on the phone to Helen to explain what happened last night. Then I came back & slept till chow. For chow we had chicken, potatoes, asparagus, bread & butter, coffee, soup, ice cream & crackers. During the week we don't get the ice cream and the portions are a little less. But we still get plenty. (The field ration, as I explained in the last letter).
Boy the weather changes here. Yesterday it snowed and it was awful cold. The roads were slippery etc. This morning when I went to church it was cold & when I got back from the church the snow had melted & the ground was muddy. What do you think of that.
In our huts it's the same way. The upper bunks are hot & the lower bunks are cold. That is why I took the upper bunk. All the heat rises you know. Maybe I ain't so dumb after all.
I got another letter from Aunt Margaret. She send her regards. I also got a letter from Aunt Concelia. She said she didn't write sooner because she didn't feel so good but she feels better now. She sends her regards too.
I also got a letter from a fellow I went to school with. His name is Jimmy Anaheim. He said he got the address from my sister. How did he got it?
How is Grandma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele? I don't have to ask you ma. I know are O.K.
Until my next letter I remain,

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. How did you like those camouflage pictures?
P.S. This is my last piece of paper & have no more envelopes. I should have wrote sooner for them.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 18

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio Date 2-15-43
Flight "F" 360 T.S.S. U.S. Army Letter No. 18
Jefferson Barracks, MO. Rec'd 21

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

Well here it is Mon. morning & it started to snow again. It was very cold on the drill field so they let us go back to our huts a little earlier. That's how I got the time to start this letter & will probably have time to finish it tonight.
Yesterday we had K.P. One day of [?]. We had to get up at 3 am & we worked 'til 8 at night. But it isn't so bad, in fact, most of the fellows would rather have K.P. than be on the drill field. My job at K.P. was to put the bowls & cups into trays to be sent thru the sterilizer. I got an easy job this time. After that's finished we mopped the floor & then did little things around to waste time until dinner came & then we went thru the same procedure. So you see it really isn't so bad. Boy let me tell you all, we had some meal there. I think it's one of the best one I've had so far. It seems I have developed an appetite & just want to keep on eating and eating even though I'm full. For dinner I had ham, potatoes, carrots & peas, celery, soup & crackers, bread & butter, coffee, pie & ice cream, then I went up for some more ham & potatoes & another piece of pie & ice cream, oh yes & an apple. I really don't know where I put it all. But ma, no matter how good I say the meal is here, there is nothing I would like better than one of your meals. All the meals here are just lacking that little touch of yrou hand & that extra flavor that counts so much.
We have a new system of eating now. (I don't like it). We have to wait 'til a whole table is finished lined up (10 at a table) and then we all sit down together. When the last person is finished (me) we all get up and go out together. It certainly is a nice style but I like to take my time and I'm usually the last one done. But I guess I'll get used to it. (So I had to stop this letter until the night).
I had to leave for chow & then we went to drill and we drilled all afternoon in the snow. (It was snowing). Then we had to run & go down a steep hill & everybody was slipping, etc., me being one of them. I sprained my ankle a little but it's all right now. Besides I'm resting up tonight (as I usually do at night).
I don't know whether I told you of the routine, I mean the times we do things during the day, so I shall state the times.
At 5 o'clock we get up, we get dressed, mop up, straighten up the hut, make the fire, wash up & fall out for chow at 6:20, after chow about 7 o'clock to 7:30 we polish our shoes & do odds & ends around the hut. We fall out at 7:30 for roll call & then they take us tp the drill field (which is a walk over hill & dale) we drill from 8 to 11:30 (usually the same thing & a little added each day). We come back to our area for roll call & go to chow about 12 o'clock. From chow we come back to our huts or go to the latrine & fall out for drill about 12:45. We drill from 1-4:30 (we get a ten minute break) we come back from the drill field for mail call & go to chow about 5:40. When we get back from chow (about 6:20) we got the rest of the time for ourselves. Lights go out at 9 o'clock. The latrine is open all night. I make a visit usually each night (It's about 300 yds. from our hut). At night most of the fellas wash their clothes or take showers or go to town or go to some amusement in the camp. The only place I went was to see "Arsenic & Old Lace" as I told you & when I went to St. Louis to get your pillow case.
The Sargent made a little speech tonight and said we had the huts better than any in all the rest of the flights and we were on the top of the list. He also apologized for us having K.P. Sunday. But he said it was beyond his control. He just got his orders & he had to carry them out. He is really a nice fellow.
How is that summary, O.K.? I guess I should have wrote it a lot sooner but I really don't have much time to think to[o] much.
Today one or the fellows (the fellow that got all the food stuffs from his folks) received his camera, and guess what it was exactly the same as mine, exactly the same. How is that for a coincedence. We will probably take pictures Sunday. The sargent promised us if we're here we don't have to work on Sunday. We got his word. I say if we are still here because if they really need men in certain branches they ship them to another camp & they get their basic & schooling together. 3 fellows were shipped out yesterday as I told you in the last letter. That's why I told you not to come. It coule have very well been my branch they would have called.
Ma could you get (or anybody) me a map of the U.S. or something I could follow the places where I went or will go. I remember when we came on to here, it would have been much more interesting to spot the places as we passed them, right?
Today I received your letter, a letter from Grandma & Aunt Anna, & one from Aunt Margaret. Aunt Margaret doesn't say much just asked me how I am.
You say in your letter ma, I asked questions in my letters that you already answered. What are they ma? I know I asked you about Frank's address, but as I told you, your letter was delayed at Camp Upton & I received it a few days ago & wrote Frank immediately. As for Eleanor - well I think I will have to find time to write her a letter.
Holidays mean nothing to us in the army. One day is the same as another.
I haven't got my leather gloves with me. And I try to take care of my clothes the best of my ability.
The fellows in my hut are swell fellows. There are 4 fellows from N.Y., 2 from Fall City, Nebraska, 1 from Kansas City, Missouri. All are my age except one from N.Y. He's a quite gentle type man of 35. A swell fellow, but doesn't take to much. I get along with them very well although I really can't call one really my buddy. I guess I will have to stay a little longer to really call them my buddies. Although they are the friendliest bunch you ever saw.
Ma ask me all the questions you want, as I said once before because I really can't write things you would like to know because I don't know what you would like to know. I try to write as much as I possibly can but there are always those little things that are [of] so much value to you that I probably wouldn't think of. Isn't that right? So I say again ask me all the questions you want to, O.K., ma?
It really seems a very long time since I went away from home, because so much happened to me since I left. Yet when I sit down & think it seems like only yesterday since I went away. I miss you all so much.
I'm just finishing up Ann's cookies while writing this letter. I really am ashamed of myself for eating theym all myself but they were too delicious to spare. I hope I'm not selfish. I even take them to drill field with me. Well I think that's all for now. So I'll sign off now.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony