Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 125

Anthony J. Curcio
Co. B - 22 Tank Bn. A.P.O. 261
Camp Cooke, Calif.
 
5/4/44 
Letter No. 125
Rec'd  2 marked 187

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

This is the first free night all week so I am going to try to catch up a little on my mail situation.
I am glad everybody is in the best of health and feeling fine.  Your letters are swell mom.  I really enjoy them an awful lot.  How do the vitamin pills work?  I was thinking maybe I should take some.  
It is really a shame that Grandma has to do it all by herself.  I wish she could get rid of the house & live with you so she could have peace and people who love her could be with her all the time.  When I get home that is exactly what we are going to do.
I would like to read that letter the war dept. sent you.  It should be very interesting.
I sent the box home with the odds & ends in I had around and I also put in my watch.  I packed it pretty good.  I also got the cards in from Hollywood.  I forgot to put my tooth in the box.  That sounds funny doesn't it? 
You mentioned about my birthday present.  Well there is nothing I really need but I was thinking that if everybody chipped in you could get me a waterproof, shockproof watch.  Not as expensive as my other one though.  I do miss my watch and awful lot and I am always looking at my wrist.  As soon as you get my watch take it to the jewelers and get it fixed OK.  The reason it probably doesn't work is because it got wet, so the longer you wait the worse it will get.  I want it in A1 condition so that the first day I get home I can put it on my wrist.  But for the work I am doing now it is nothing for such a beautiful watch.  What do you think of the idea?
It seems like Barb is in another (Henry) situation.  But if I know Barb she'll pull out OK.  Right.
I am glad Sandy is learning.  I think he will be all right in a little while. 
I hope Al is alright.  Did Boby here from him?
I forgot to tell you I saw Clifford.  I told Grandma in her letter.  He didn't have much to say and is still the same.
I also forgot to tell you in my last that when I was at the Lux Radio Playhouse, Cecil B. Demille was the announcer on the regular program.  I thought it would be interesting to let you know.
I am having $6.25 taken out of my pay each month for War Bonds and they will be sent to you automatically.  I'll close now.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony

P.S. Enclosing Money order for $30.  Use it as you wish.  Love T.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 85

Co. "A" A.S.T.U. 3920
U. of O.
Eugene, Ore.
Letter 85
Rec'd (2) 121 9/9-9/10
9/16/43

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It is Thursday night and I'll start a letter. Although I won't be able to finish it all at once. I guess I will have to write like that from now on unless I cut them short, and I don't want to do that.
Four day and I'm still alive. I feel sorry for the boys who didn't have a knowledge of some of the subjects. They certainly are feeding us plenty. So far I am making out OK.
I am always talking about the good system they have here for everything. Well today we went to P.E. and got a full set of clean gym clothes and they will be ours until the end of the term. We just have to pay for their cleaning at the end of each month. They are cleaned each time we go there & that's 3 times a week. We got a sweatshirt, pants, athletic support, socks, & sneakers (I think we will have to pay). And a towel. Boy what a swell system. I really like it.
Davidson is here also. And I just got a letter from Borella and he said he made it home. He was home 24 hrs. He said it was worth it. He said he wrote you a letter. Did you receive it?
DiFranza went to Salt Lake City, Utah. And while on the subject of DiFranza, There is no reason why you should be peeved. The nurse was the girl I met. All you have to do is ask me ma. I can't remember whether I wrote nurse or girl in the letter before. And I wish you wouldn't get peeved anymore about things like that because it isn't worth it ma. Ain't that right?
Aunt Anna told me Clifford's address & guess where he is? In this big country he is about 25 miles from me. He's at Camp Adair and we drew rations from that camp. What a coincidence. I just wrote him a card tonight.
I am still fussy about fat ma, but not as much. I still take it all off.
Anita may come down Oct. 2. I hope she does. She's a swell girl.
I'll close now. I didn't think I would finish but I just made it by 3 minutes. So long until my next letter

Your Loving Soldier Boy
Love & Kisses
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele, Letter No. 42

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
1875 En. Avn. Bn. Co. H & S
McChord Field, Wash.

Date 4-24-43
Letter No. 42
Rec'd 57-58-59

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

This is the first chance I got to write. I try to get off a letter a nite & I wanted to wait 'til Sat. nite to write to you ma, because I want to be able to write tomorrow as we are going on a picnic & I did want to tell you the news of the week. We weren't so sure of the picnic so I didn't know whether we were going until tonight. I will tell you all about it next week.
I wrote last Sun. & as yet didn't receive a letter in answer to the ques. in that letter. I mean about whether I should write to just Grandma or not. I got another letter from Aunt Anna & she ends off by saying "Thinking of you constantly: Write soon again, Grandma & Aunt Ann. Mostly Aunt Anna" I don't like it. So please ans. my questions in the other letter.
During the week we have the same routine, calesthencis & lectures on different topics. But we don't have much time for ourselves during the day. All during the day we just have about 10 minute breaks between lectures etc. And now we have calesthenics twice a day. In the morning & right before we go to chow at night. It's pretty good only I would ike to have more time for myself.
Tues. I had K.P. again. I was on the beam that day so things went pretty good & the day didn't seem so long. As long as you keep busy it's O.K.
Wed. nite I went to the show with the boys & saw "The Sun is Down." It was a proper Gander picture but it was pretty good.
Thurs. nite I wrote a letter to Ele.
Friday nite (last nite) I wanted to write a letter to you but I was so busy getting ready for inspection I bearly got everything done. I had to polish my shoes, sew my braid on my hat, get equipment on the bed in a certain way for inspection by the sargeant, take a shower & shave. I was really rushing.
Today we had inspection by the major & he didn't like the way the clothes were laid out because some wasn't marked. So we had to stay in all afternoon & we had another inspection tonight. I'm glad that's over.
You ask me whether my uniforms fit me. Well half of them are pretty tight fit. But I manage all right. If they get too tight I will get new ones.
I received your candy yesterday. Thank Grandma & you too ma. I certainly got a lot of candy to keep me going for a while. But I still didn't receive the other package with the socks in it. I wonder where that is? I think that's a very good idea about the money in the pouch Elfrieda gave me. Thank Grandma & give her a big kiss for me, will you ma.
My buddy was tickled pink over the candy. He thanks you an awful lot.
Elfrieda said she had another wonderful time last Sunday. And she certainly liked the corsage. Elfrieda says she also got a bit knocked out doing her shopping. I guess all the women have the same trouble each year.
Say ma one of the fellows here has a camera but he can't get films. Would you try to get some rolls. The no is AGFA PB 20. O.K.
So everything is all right with Clifford's wife. I am glad to hear that.
Well I believe that's about all for now. I hope you had a very happy Easter & I hope you are all in the best of health.
I will try to write early next week. So until them I remain.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. I also received the shoes (track shoes) - thanks.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 16

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio Date 2-12-43
Flight "F" 360 T. S.S. Letter No. 16
Jefferson Barracks, MO. Rec'd 18 & 19

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Thurs. we drilled in the usual routine. I always like to start off with what I did since I last wrote & then answer your letters. Thurs. afternoon 24 of us were called out for special drill for a guard duty. The[y] called the just 24 in alphabetical order. We were given rifles and were taught how to present arms, etc. We all had to serve two hrs. of guard duty. I got from 4 am to 6 am (Fri. morn.). I ordinarily get up at 5 so I only missed one hr. sleep. The other fellows had to get up an[d] serve two hrs. early in the morning such as 12 to 1 etc. We had to sleep with our clothes on & at 5 min. to 4 the corp. of the guard would wake us up. When I got finished at 6 I went to chow. After chow we had to go out on the drill field & practice. The past few days it's really been cold here. After drill we had chow & then in the afternoon we had a parade at retreat for the General. The band was playing & we had to march past the General. It went pretty good. The only thing was my feet really hurt a bit today - after all I have been on them from 4 this morning. Tonight I'm going to bed early and catch up on some sleep. Well I think that's all for the present.

Today I also got a letter I mean a card from Frank. I'm glad I wrote him, so that he probably will get it.
You say Cliff squawks about the amount of food he gets. Well he can always go up for seconds. That's what they do here. I didn't go up for seconds because one fills me up but I'm always eating crackers or something after chow.
Say before I forget it, I just went down to get one of the packages. It was from Barb. Well as soon as I opened it I knew what it was & then I polished my 3 pairs of shoes. I'm so glad I got it because we have to polish our shoes every day & I hated to borrow it all the time.
Your letters get here in two days ma. That's plenty fast enough. You sent this letter on the 10th & I got it on the twelfth.
I haven't smoked very much. I smoke my pipe once in awhile. At my permanent camp you can send me some tobacco. I could use a little wrist broom for my clothes (small one) & some handkerchiefs. Whenever you get to the ave. will be all right. It's really no rush.
I'll try to write Grandma as often as I can ma. You know I'll try to make her as happy as I can.
Well I think that's all for now. I'm going to take a shower & then hop in bed. So with my next letter,

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

Dear Mom, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 5

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio 1-23-43
4th Receiving Co. Barrack Z Letter No. 5
Camp Upton, NY Rec'd 1

Dear Mom, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele.

I received your letter yesterday ma, in late mail. Boy was I glad to get it.
Now ma don't worry about any doctor bills. It's not worth worrying about; the only thing is that you get better in the best possible way & means. Isn't that right?
I am glad Ele wrote to you mom. It will be so much better if you all keep in contact with each other.
You ask me how am I getting along with Joe. Well Joe was shipped Wed. as I told you in my last letter. Joe never got K.P. duty. Clifford is complaining about the food huh. Well I think we all are complaining. As for my feet I have no trouble yet. Was Clifford shipped yet?
While I think of it, will you send me Frank's address?
I really don't know whether all my clothes fit me or not. I didn't put on my O.D.'s yet. (Official Dress) The fellows wear them at night & they have to wear them when they are shipped. I usually stay in the barracks at night & write letters or go to sleep early, unless I have to get something from the P.X.
The shoes are very comfortable even tho they are heavy.
I can't answer the question about how army life is affecting me because this really isn't any life. There is no drill here, just details & that's a waste of time until you are shipped & believe me everybody wastes time, even the bosses.
On Thurs. we got a detail leveling off dirt outside our barracks. It was about 6 degrees out here. Boy was it cold. Later in the afternoon it started to snow. But it didn't last long.
On Fri. I got an easy job in the afternoon. I got guard duty detail in my barracks. There was a shipment going out & they met at our barracks. (My friend went on that shipment. That was the only one I got friendly with). I couldn't let anybody out without a guard. I guess it's just a safe precaution. I am friendly with them all but mostly him. I didn't want you to think that I didn't have any friends.
After that shipment there are only 12 on our roster. So I thought I would leave today. So I took a shower & shaved but I'm still here, ma[y]be I leave Sunday.
I certainly would have liked to have been shipped with the other fellows. But that's the way it goes. Ma[y]be it's because I have different qualifications.
Say did you get those pictures developed? As soon as I get to a new camp you can send them.
Did Ele go skating yet? How are they making out with the piano lessons? Or did you sell the piano? Joke.
Is grandma feeling OK?
How is Bobby's [Barb's nickname] event coming along?
& I don't have to ask you about my gloves. One is finished already. That's swell.
Well I think that's all for now. If I am shipped I will probably have time to drop you a line before I leave here. So so long for awhile, hoping you are all OK & send my best regards to Frank.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. This fellow who was shipped yesterday which I mentioned above, his name was James Crowley. I lent him a dollar. He will send it to you when he gets to his new camp.