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 Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 114

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

3/6/44
Letter No. 114
Rec'd 176

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Well we found out where we are going. It's back to California again. The whole unit is being transferred to the 11th Armored Division, Camp Cook, California. It's about 120 miles from Los Angeles. Santa Barbara I believe it is near. It seems to be a pretty good outfit. We will leave Thursday or Friday of this week and will be about a two day trip.
The term ended on Sat. and as soon as it did Tiny and I hopped on a bus and went to Salem. You see Tiny's term ended Sat. too and she has the whole week off. After we ate at Tiny's house we went to a show. I can't remember for the life of me what the name was. I'm getting awful forgetful. I think it was "What a Woman" with Rosalind Russell. It was awful good tho even tho I'm not sure of the name. Maybe you saw it?
This time I didn't want to cause Tiny's mother any trouble so I got a hotel room for Sat. night. She said I should have stayed at the house but I thought it would be better that way. Sunday morning we went to church and then after church Tiny, her parents and myself went for a ride to Silver Creek Falls. And boy what a beautiful sight to see. The more you see of the west coast the more beautiful it becomes. The Silver Creek Falls is 183 feet high and is in center of a beautiful park. A path winds down the side of a hill and goes right under the falls and it certainly is a thrill to walk under it. I'll try to pick up some pictures if I can.
When we came back we ate a swell meal and we sat around and talked and Tiny played the piano. We left about 8:30 and when I said goodnight to Tiny's mother, Tiny said she got tears in her eyes. It made me feel funny. Tiny drove me down to the station and we talked our parting words. At least I thought they were but I'm going to try to go up and see Tiny Wed. because she went to the hospital today to have her appendix out. They have been bothering her for quite a while now so she thought it would be best. I hope she's O.K. I'm going to call her later on tonight.
Today we went for a short hike this morning and have the rest of the day off. I cleaned up my room and I am sending the letters and some books etc. home. I am sending it C.O.D. if I can because my wallet is low. I hope you don't mind.
I am sending some pictures I got of some of the boys. I have more and will include some in each letter. O.K. I am also sending a group picture of our section last term.
I am in the best of health and Sat. morning I went to Company's dentist and had my tooth fixed. One of the fillings fell out a little while ago. I hope everybody is O.K. If Sandy gets too fresh you better strap on on him. He can't go around biting people. I hope Grandma's arm is better. I'll close now remaining

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 37

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
1875 EN. AVN. BN. Co. H & S
McChord Field, Wash.

Date 4-3-43
Letter No. 37

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Well how is everybody? I didn't hear from home in so long I just pray everything is O.K. I'm pretty sure it is but I still would like to know how everything is taking place. I dropped a line last night of my address just so you would know my address & I would get mail that much sooner.
I shall start from the beginning when I left Hammer Field. We left there at 4 P.M. (Monday 29) in Pullman cars. Boy they were nice. The porter came around and fixed the bunks and we had a good sleep. In the morning he would come around & make the bunks again. That's O.K. huh!
Right after we started to travel the sergeant came around and asked who would like to have K.P. at $ .40 an hour. He wanted 4 fellows. So I volunteered. It really wasn't K.P. but a waiters job. They have a dinner car which feeds 36 at one time & the table has to be cleaned off & reset for each setting. After all were fed we could go back to our cars & wait until next meal. So it was pretty easy. And we could eat all we wanted too. And one of the porters made a collection & when the trip was over they split the money. I got a dollar & seventy-five in tips & $4.00 for the hrs. So I made a total of $5.75. Not bad huh. The reason they paid us instead of taking regular K.P.s was the army hires the train with cooks & waiters to serve us our meals but they were short of help. That's where we came in.
Now a word about the trip. We traveled up thru California, thru Oregon, thru Washington to McChord Field, which is about 14 miles away from Tacoma & about 5 miles away from Seattle. The scenery was much the same as the St. of Colorado. Very mountainous. This time we passed thru the Cascade Mts. The St. of Oregon had a lot of lumber camps. We also passed Mt. Shasta (14,181 ft. high). It was once an active volcano. We saw the lava beds a little ways passed the Mt. We arrived at McChord Field about 6:30 Wed. morning. This place is also an air port, but we are not connected with it. We were given barracks, bedding, got examined and slept. Then I shot down to the P.K. and practically [?] the place out. I got your present & sent it out already. I hope you like it. I got Grandma a pillow case & a little air corp pin which I also pinned on the pillow case. I also got you one ma, which I put in the present. I also got Barb, Ann & Ele one so you all can pin them on your dresses. I also got a banner for Eleanor & a "New Testament" which I got at J.B. I got Dad an ash tray. I got Aunt Anna a couple of handkerchiefs. And I also got a pack of Easter Cards. I sent your present & Grandma's. The rest I'll send out later. How did the pictures turn out that I sent home? If they turn out O.K. You can use the picture for the present I got you ma. I'm not going to tell you what it is either. Or maybe you got it already. They you can show it to Aunt Teeny & say "this is what my son sent me." See what she says. (I forgot to tell you, they have a very large & complete P.K. here).
Thursday I had K.P. What a racket. We got up at 5:30 & started work at 7 o'clock, & got thru at 6 P.M. At J.B. we had to get up at 3 and work 'til 8:30. Some difference. They didn't push you around here either. You took your time & everything got done & no squaking either. We talked to the cooks & they even let us taste the food to see whether it had the right taste. That's O.K. huh! But that was at the big general mess hall. Now we have our own little mess hall & have to walk a mile to get there. I don't know how it will be here.
This morning we had a little drill & then some very good Calisthenics. This afternoon we had details to do. Tonight we were all separated into companies. Some were put in Co. A, some Co. B, & the rest in Headquarters & Service. That's what H & S stands for in my address. I think it's the best part of the engineering aviation battalion, I don't know.
I think we will have to bypass school. I think we will get more extensive training here. Those tests we took had nothing to do with why we were shipped here for more training. There are many college graduates here right with us. It's just by the no's. They needed some men, so we were sent here. That's how the army works. It will be pretty good though, as long as we get training. I don't mind as much not going to school as I don't think I would learn too much in those schools. Our classification came with us so it may help us get a rating. But I'm not jumping to any conclusions. I tell you how things progress as we go along.
I started this letter last night & will finish it today (Sat.) unless we have to do something.
Sat. morning ( this morning) we had drill by 2nd leutenants & calisthenics. Then we had a detail. In the afternoon we had to G.I. the barracks.
Ever since we arrived here it's been raining. Very little Sun. But today it was pretty good. The sun shined a bit. You see this is the rainy season for this section.
Today the clouds lifted, and we see one of the tallest mountains; Mt. Rainier. We are about 40 miles from it. It extends way up into the clouds and most of the time you can't see it for that reason. It's 14,140 ft. high. The mountain is always covered with snow. It's really a wonderful sight. I'll try to get some pictures up the P.K. & send them to you.
Well I think that's about all for tonight & I will write you soon. I hope you are all in the best of health (I am) and I hope to hear from you real soon. So until then I remain,

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. I probably have time to write about the middle of next week. I will also try to send the rest of the packages out. By the way, did you show Aunt Teeny the present yet?

Dear Helen

March 22, 1943

Dear Helen,

Well here I'm where I'd never thought I'd be. Deep in the heart of California. I am sorry I couldn't write sooner. I have been kept busy since I'm here. I hope you will forgive me?
When I first came to J.B., I felt like everybody else "Send me someplace, but get me out of J.B." I changed my mind when I went on that certain convoy. From then on I enjoyed myself. And when I enjoy myself, things usually work out swell. In fact things were working out so well I was quite amazed myself. Then on Sat. the 13th of March 1943, I had one of the nicest times I could want & expecting to have a much nicer time on Sun, that I'm sure would live with me a long time, only to have my dreams bungled by that little word--"shipping." Well it's just one of those things & I guess the beginning is the best time to learn how to take it.
I guess I don't have to tell you how much & enjoyed your company. And I can't hesitate in the least to say that your family is one of the nicest I have met. As for yourself besides my compliments, you received many more from the fellows that came to the convoy with me.
I'll try to give you an idea of what the trip was like.
We left J.B. at 5 o'clock on Monday 15th March & started on our long journey. Our first state naturally was Mo. We traveled along the Missouri River till we hit Jefferson City. It was a bit hilly & very colorful. We didn't see very much of it, but what we did see was very beautiful. We covered the rest of Mo. during the night & all day Tuesday we traveled thru Kansas. Although Kansas is very picturesque & colorful I can describe it in two simple words. "It's flat." We saw plenty of nothing. In fact sometimes it was an event to see a tree.
As we approached night fall we entered the state of Colorado. We were told that early in the morning we would cross the great continental divider, the lovely Rocky Mts. Ever since the evening began we started to climb & climb to the heights of the Mts. Most of the fellows went to sleep but a few of us stayed up to see what we could see. Although it was night & how I wish it was day, I saw the most beautiful sights I ever saw. At the high points of the Mts., it was covered completely with snow. With a few towns here & there lit up, painted a picture of a fairy tale.
As we proceeded, we passed camp Hale. One of the largest ski camps. Its elevation is 9,000 feet. It's in a valley & we saw it as we passed on the mountain side about a thousand feet up. It was quite a sight to see.
Further down the line we came to Mts. with snow only on the tops & in the valleys, the streams rippling at a swift current. They both reflected the light of the moon, which made them just glow in the dusk.
We also passed the Royal Gorge Bridge; the highest in the world.
I finally went to sleep about 3 AM (I still wasn't tired).
When we got up in the morning, passing thru the western part of Colorado, we saw canyons like you see in pictures of the Grand Canyon. Large masses of rock forming odd shapes & to every one's mind, pictures something different. On the plateaus there were farms with cattle grazing besides beautiful colors that paint odd shapes on the rocks, & plateaus. It's one of those things that makes you stop & think.
Toward night we headed toward Salt Lake City, Utah & made it there by 11 o'clock. Then during the night headed for the Nevada border.
I was awakened a bit earlier for K.P. I'm glad I got it though, because there isn't too much to do & you can get a better view from the big doors in the kitchen car, and you only got it for a half a day.
Nevada was a very nice state. It is a very sandy & colorful one. We mostly poassed thru valleys and saw the snow covered Mts. in the background. You know as well as I do what a pretty sight that is. By night fall we hit the California border, passing thru Reno. The place that is known as "The largest little city in the world." The place where they got their divorces. You know.
We headed toward the Sierra Nevada Mountains, climbing up & up like we did once before. I think the Sierra Nevadas displayed the most beautiful sights I saw on the whole trip. The mts. were completely covered with snow ( we were really very hight in the mts. too) with pine trees all over. The R.R. had to be protected in many spots by high wooden tunnels because of the huge snow drifts. What I enjoyed seeing very much was little animal tracks in the fresh bed of snow. It was so cute. It's really one of those sights that you really can't explain in words. Seeing is believing, & yet somehow I don't believe it myself. But it's true.
During the night we hit Sacramento & headed to Fresno, Calf.
Hammer Field is a pretty place. You know California. Palm trees & green grass all over the place. When the sun is out it's just like a summer's day. Some of the fellows lay in the sun with their bathing suits. This place is nothing like J.B. You can wear what you want to. Ad J.B. your uniform had to be uniform. You couldn't mix clothing & you could only wear certain clothing when they told you to. We don't have any exercise here at all. It's just a replacement center and will be shipped to a school pretty soon. I won't be able to receive any mail until I am placed in a shipping sqd., just now I'm in a receiving sqd. & won't be placed to shipment sqd. until I am reclassified. I went to the classifying office on Sat. & he gave me a special slip whereby I can take a test this Friday & if I pass I will be admitted into a college to take drafting. So I will be on receiving until I find the results of the test which will be sometime next week. But I will write you & as soon as the coast is clear I'll let you know. I hope it's soon, as I would like to hear from you & everybody home real soon. You really get lonely when you don't receive any mail, believe me.
We live in barracks (two story) & I am upstairs right by a window. I like it a lot after living in the huts at J.B. A latrine is on the first floor also & you don't have to run a mile in the middle of the night. Swell isn't it?
By the way, I have all the stuff my sister sent me ready to send to you. I have it all marked as to what they are. She wants the postcards back & I would like the pictures of the world's fair back. I have them all marked & you can send them when I get to my permanant camp. You can have all the rest. I think you'll like the pictures of my boss' house very interesting. When I write to him I will tell him I gave you a set of pictures. He'll like that. He is recovering swell from his case of spinal meningitis. I got a letter before I left J.B.
Here I can look out of the window and see the planes take off from the field. It's quite interesting. As soon as I get a chance I will inspect the place. I'll tell you what I can gather.
Well I think I shall close now hoping you are in the best of health & your family also & I will write to you real soon.

Sincerely As Ever,
Tony

P.S. I will include a clipping with the rest of the stuff when I send it of a hut we lived in at J.B. I got it out of a St. Louis paper before I left.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 31

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

Date 3-19-43
Letter No. 31

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

I sent a telegram so you know where I am. From one extreme to another. N.Y. to California.
I really don't know how to start off there is so much to say.
We left J.B. at 5 o'clock on Monday afternoon. We boarded day coaches (air conditioned) Boy they were nice. But it was kind of hard to sleep in. But we managed. The trip tookus about 83 hrs. Of course we didn't know where we were going but the rumor was California & sure enough it was. I felt blue as I left J.B. & headed west because I prayed that maybe I could have a chance to be home for your birthday. But it went the other way. In fact as far away from New York as anyone could possibly go. From one extreme state to the other. We are about half way between the Sierra Nevada Mountains & the Coast Range Mts. & about in the center of Calf. going North & South. We arrived here about 7 o'clock Friday morning (Today). This place is an air field. In fact I can see the planes take off from my window. It's quite a sight. We live in two-story wood frame barracks. They are hot air heated. I like them very much. But we probably will not stay here more than a week. But you never can tell, so as soon as you receive this letter write back. I waited to put the address in the telegram but we were not allowed. We go for reclassification tomorrow. I hope I can maintain the same classification as I did at J.B. (topographic draftsman). This is just a replacement center & we just have to wait here until we are shipped to a school. The reason we weren't shipped to a school from J.B. is that J.B. was transferred into air cadet base so that we had to be shipped someplace else for replacement. You never can tell I may be shipped east again to a school. Keep your fingers crossed.
Now for an explanation (descriptive) of a most [?] trip. In fact it's a good thing that trip was enjoyable so that I didn't feel so bad about traveling in the opposite direction. I don't see how anyone could help but enjoy such a trip.
From J.B. we traveled straight through Missouri, mostly following the Missouri River, passing thru Kansas City. It was a very beautiful country. Most of it hilly. But we didn't see too much of it as we hit night fall and in the morning started thru Kansas. I can describe Kansas in two short words "It's flat." We saw plenty of nothing. In fact sometimes it was an event even to see a tree on miles & miles of nothing but flat lands. But although it was flat it was very colorful. During the whole trip there were little towns about 50 miles apart, usually not seeing a soul in any of them. I'll name a few of the towns in Kansas so you can plot the way. Council Grove, Herrington, Genases, La Crosse, Scott, Horace. At Horace we got out of the train for a little exercise. We got out of the train for a little exercise. We saw about 10 people in that town. Then we proceeded into Colorado as the day drew to a close. Well Ma, Colorado is one of the most beautiful states I saw. The continental divide (Rocky Mts.) cuts right thru the state. And as night fell came we started to climb & climb to the height of the Rockies, passing thru Sheridan Lake, Ordway, Pueblo, Florence, Greenwood Springs, Grand Junction. Well Ma, most of the fellows went asleep that night but a few of us stayed up to see what we could see. Although it was night & how I wished it was day, I saw the most beautiful sights I ever saw. At the high points of the Mts. it was completely covered with snow, with a few towns here & there lit up. It certainly painted a picture of a fairy tale you see in pictures. We were up about 10,000 feet & we could feel the pressure on our ear drums. As we proceeded, we passed camp Hale. It's is one of the largest ski camps. Its elevation is 9,000 feet. It's in a valley of the Rockies & as we passed on the mountain side you could look down upon the camp all lit up in the dark, covered with snow, like if you were dreaming and saying "Gosh is it real?"
Further down the line we came to Mts. with snow only on the top & in the valley the stream rippling with a speedy current. They both reflected the light of a very bright moon, & which made everything just glow in the dusk. We also passed the Royal Gorge Bridge (I think that's the name of it) anyway it's the highest bridge in the world. You can look that up in the Volume Library & tell me about it.
I finally got to bed (I mean chair) about 3 am. (I still wasn't tired).
When we got up in the morning, passing thru the western part of Colordado we saw canyon's like you see in pictures of the Grand Canyon. The postcards will give you an idea what some of the sights look like. Huge masses of beautiful colored rock, forming odd shapes that to each person's imagination, resembles something else. On the plateaus there were farms & cattle farms scattered here & there besides the streams and lakes. There are thousands of different colored rocks & dirt & clay that compose the canyons & plateaus.
About noon we hit Utah border and headed for Salt Lake City passing thru towns as follows, Cisco, Price, Pleasant Val, Springville, Provo City, Salt Lake City & thru to the border with Ogden, Brigham, Kelton. Right passed Ogden we had a break down & was help up for about 6 hours. That was pretty good because it was during the night & we could see more during the day. Utah was full of desert & sandy mountains, again very colorful & picturesque.
Thursday morning I was awakened for K.P. I'm glad I got it because you really don't have to do much & you can get a better view of the scenery by the big open doors of the kitchen. And you only get a half a day of it. Thurs. we passed thru Nevada. That was another beautiful state. Mountainous & deserts here & there, with snow covered mts. in the background. I still don't know whether it's all true. We passed thru valleys with streams running all over & the shrubery forming different picturesque views. We passed thru Wells, Halleck, Els, Pallisade, Battle Mt., Golconda, Winmemucca, Oreano, Hot Springs, & Reno. Reno noted for "the largest little city in the world." That's where they all go to get divorces. You know. Then toward night fall we came thru what I think was the most beautiful of all views of the trip. We passed thru the Sierra Nevada Mts. Those mts. were completely covered with snow with pine trees all over. We were way up on the Mts. side & we could look down into the valley & wee the lakes. The snow was really heavy in the mts. The R.R. had to be protected by wooden tunnels to hold back the snow drifts. What I really got a kick out of was little animal tracks in the fresh bed of snow. It was so cute. I really can't describe the picture the mts. display. It's really one of those things "seeing is believing" but I still can't believe it.
Then we went into Sacramento at night fall, and down to Fresno during the night & arrived at 7 o'clock this morning. California is also very beautiful. Pine trees, green fresh grass and all the rest. You know. Sun shining as bright as ever & a cool breeze blowing. It's really the climate to pep you up. And every few minutes an airplane is taking off. What a sight. Well I hope I covered everything. I guess one could write a book on what I saw, but I guess this is about the best I can do. I hope it's O.K. & will give you an idea what the trip was like. If not, but I think it will, write & ask me questions about it, O.K.?
Ma, I will also include a clipping I got out of a Missouri paper that will give you a picture of the hut was lived in at J.B.
Ma, I feel a bit blue just now because I went over to the P.X. waiting to buy a card & a present for your birthday but they have no cards & no presents that I care for. The ones back at J.B. were better but I waited till I went to a new camp figuring they would be better but as I said are [?] So ma being I don't think I will stay here long would it be alright if I sent something from my next camp? I feel awful bad about it, but there is nothing I can do about it. But you just wait ma. It will be something real nice. So whenever the present comes, that is the time you & I will have a little party together & I will say Happy Birthday Dear Mother.
I will close now & maybe I can think of somethings I forgot in this letter. Read it to Grandma please. Hope you are all in the best of health, I am fine.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. I didn't send this letter out last night. I found out you can't write to me with the address of this letter, it will be changed again shortly.
I went to my classification today & I got a special slip of paper that will enable me to take a test & if I pass it Iwill get into a college. Ain't that swell. Please say a prayer for me.

Good Night.