Dear Mom, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 4

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio 1-21-43
4th Receiving Co. Barrack Z Letter No. 4
Camp Upton, NY

Dear Mom, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

I am sorry the other letter was delayed but there was nothing I could do about it. We were inside the prison camp and there was no way of mailing it.
Boy K.P. for 16 hours. What a job. It was like hell working there. There was a buck private there who thought he was General. He thought he could give all the orders he wanted. But take my word for it he didn't have a brain in his head. If he did, he wouldn't have cursed at the fellows like he did. He would have treated them nice so that they wouldn't mind working. We had to wash big kettles & trays, scrub floors, etc. In the afternoon I [got] a little wise and got a soft job taking my time cutting celery & cleaning it. The dishes were washed in a sloppy way, no sterilizers, just hot water, soap & scrubbing brush. The food is O.K. but probably the only reason we like it is because the day is long and you get tired, so naturally anything you eat tastes good. Sometimes at night I can just picture moms food before me. Boy what a treat.
Boy you get a funny feeling working around those prisoners. I don't know what sort of a feeling it is, but I hope I don't see any more.
I hope anything I said didn't dis[gust] you all, because it [isn't] like this in a regular camp. You won't have to wait so long to eat & the food will be much better, & they don't waste [any] time.
Here everybody wastes time unless you get a special assignment. Wed. we got a detail to go to the rubbish dumps & report to a corporal. He told us to pick up papers for 5 minutes then come back to the fire & warm up. We got warmed up & then went back to the barracks. In the afternoon we just went there & sat around the fire. Pretty easy huh. Everybody here wants to get out & start to drill etc.
There was a shipment yesterday. Joe & Bill went out with that shipment. I really don't know when we'll be shipped. I hope you got my letter & wrote back in a hurry.
I dropped a card to Dot & Dave thanking her for the writing kit. Yesterday I got a letter from her. I didn't think she would write so I didn't think I would put it on the cardI sent her. So she wrote me & I got it without any trouble. Boy I hope I hear from you all quickly that's the main thing.
Ann I was issued a pair of gloves, but they are working gloves so that your gloves will come in very handy.
The things I will need when I get to my permanent camp will be shoe polishing kit, sewing kit, & some instructions how to wash my clothes. Joke.
How is Frank working out?
I hope Grandma feels better.
And I know you are OK ma, right? & everybody else. I wrote Grandma & Elfrida also. So until my next letter I hope you remain all OK & if I should be shipped I will do my best to drop you a line.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

Dear Mom, Pa, Barb, Sis & Ele, Letter No. 3

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio 1-18-43 7:00 PM
4th Receiving Co. Barrack Z Letter No. 3
Camp Upton, NY

Dear Mom, Pa, Barb, Sis, Ele,

This morning we got up at 5 o'clock. We got half hr. to wake up and then we went to breakfast. We always have to wait about half hr. in line before we get into the mess hall. We got sausages, eggs, apricots, bread & butter, coffee, milk & a pear.
After chow we reported back to the barracks an dwere given details to do. These details are to keep us busy until we are shipped. So from 8-11 & 1-4 we are supposed to carry out our details. Everybody gets something different to do. Joe had to go around & pick up pieces of paper. 8 other fellows & myself were taken in a truck to a warehouse to pack some stuff away. That took us about 20 minutes. Then we came back because our job was finished. Then we had dinner. From then on we had all the time for our self, because it rained all afternoon, so we weren't given details in the afternoon.
You really can't say when you are going to be shipped because some guys have been here 49 days. Some were here only a couple of days. So ma youcan write if you want to. They send the mail right after you if you are shipped. But address the mail as I have it above.
I find the only way to keep from getting lonely is to write or sleep. I am getting a bit tired but I still would rather write.
Ma I met a fellow this morning on our detail who lives right across the street from us. He lives at 2032 Harmon St. His name is Bill Daffendale. His birthday is June 10. Some coincidence. Huh.
They say if you stay here for 21 days you can get a 36 hr. pass. I would hate to stay here for 21 days but if I was positive I was going to get the pass I would certainly like to stay here.
We walked around the camp today and went to the post exchange; they have about everything down here. Cigarettes are 15 cents (by the way I forgot my cigarettes, but don't send any), candy is 3 cents, cough drops are 3 cents and most everything else is cheaper. I may buy myself a cigarette lighter.
I wrote to Grandma & Ele also.
They have movies down here but you have to get on line about 1 1/2 hr before time so I just stay in my barracks and write. In case I am shipped you won't hear from me for a couple of days, so don't worry. But I don't think I will be shipped for a while. So until you all hear from me, I hope you all are OK. I am feeling OK except that I am away from home. I'll probably have time to write tomorrow.

So Until Then I Remain
Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. I think I'll shave before I turn in my beard is starting to get a little dark.
P.S. I wrote this letter before turning to bed. Goodnight. I wanted to mail it the first thing in the morning but we had to get up at 4:30. We couldn't wash or go to the latrine. We had to report to the Prison Camp for K.P. we worked from 5 am to 9 at night. I will write a whole letter on it tomorrow.

Boy am I tired.
That was about the hardest 16 hrs. I
put in. But now when I come home
you can give me all the dishes
you want and I won't say
a word. Goodnight from
your loving soldier
boy -- Tony