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. 69

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

Date 8/11/43
Letter No. 69
Rec'd 105

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

There isn't too much to tell about what I am doing because the routine is the same each day. We go to classes in the morning (I am making out OK so far) (we had two quizzes so far and I got 79 & 80). In the afternoon we have military correspondence & then calisthenics & close order drill followed by a swell shower. In the night we have the study class ( where I am now writing this letter).
Monday nite after I got out of study hall & washed a few pieces of clothes & my shirt & pants. And Tuesday nite I ironed the shirt and pants. They didn't come out bad for an amateur.
Today I got a letter from Anita. She writes me about every nite. She's right on the beam. I also received an invitation for Elfrieda's wedding. What she sent one to me for I don't know.
Boy ma, did you hear from Joe D'Angelo? I didn't hear from him in quite awhile and was just wondering what's what. I hate to write to him until he writes to me because Davidson, Borella & myself feel that if there was anybody who should go to college, it was him. And if I wrote & told him we all made it I imagine it would hurt him a little even though nothing could have been done about it. I wish you would write to him ma & explain to him why I didn't write.
I feel if he heard it from you he wouldn't feel so bad. He's such a swell fellow. Boy when they shipped him they certainly took a part of me.
I bought a banner for Eleanor so she can hang it in her room. I will send it soon. I hope she likes it.
I hope Bob & Sis have a grand time on their vacation. If it was like last year I'm sure they will.
Boy Ele is certainly stepping out. Boy I would love to see you all again. I just pray every night I get someplace east. If it's far enough east ma[y]be some of you can come & see me? Ma[y]be huh? I'm praying.
I'll include some pictures I had made. One of the fellows took them at McChord Field (Difranza is his name, he is in one of the pictures). Some were also taken here. I wrote on the back describing them. I hope you like them.
The weather here is still swell. I'm in the best of health. Hope you all are also. So until my next letter I remain,

Your Loving Soldier Boy
Love & Kisses
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 66

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio

Co. "A" STAR Unit 3902

U. of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho

Dear 8/3/43

Letter No. 66

Rec'd ----

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Well everybody I'm in. I passed my tests and today I had an interview & went before the board of 3 officers & I'm accepted. Isn't that swell. They will have classes here for refresher courses in math, physics & chemistry. We will attend these classes until we are called for shipment to a permanent college. I'm praying it's someplace east of the Mississippi. Then after the first 3 months I can get a week off and get home without any trouble. The course I am in is basic Engineering. If I make the first 3 months I go on to the second three months, etc.

One of the boys had some film left in his camera & we took a couple more pictures today. If they turn out OK I will send them on. How did you like the others I sent?

Gosh there isn't much to say because there isn't anything to do around the campus during the week. But as soon as we start our refresher course here, (which can last from 3 days on) we will also have some exercise in the afternoon. I think I will like that.

We have to leave the study hall in a few months so I shall close & try to write tomorrow.

So until then I hope you all are in the best of health. So until my next letter I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony

P.S. I am a buck Private again. But don't feel too bad. There is a master sgt. with us who is now a buck private also. After the course is over & we make the grade we will automatically get stripes. It's a good deal what do you say?

P.S. Borella & Davidson also made it. We will probably stick together for a long time yet.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 65

P.F.C. Anthony J. Curcio

Co. "A" STAR Unit 3902

U of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho

Date 8/2/43

Letter No. 65

Rec'd ---

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Boy being at this place portray the army life. We don't have revellie in the morning. Just get up & make your bed before 8 o'clock. But I got up for breakfast.

Sat. we took tests all day. First we were given a psychology test which wasn't to[o] easy. After that we were given an algebra test and last a geometry test. Boy they made my head twirl. I don't think they were to[o] hard. The thing is I didn't have anything like that in such a long time. But they say they are pretty lenient.

Sunday morning Davidson, Borella & I took pictures. I will include them in this letter. I think they came out OK. What do you say?

I also have some postcards which I will send.

Sunday afternoon, Davidson & I went to play a little golf on the University golf course. Davidson was trying to teach me. I got a couple of good wallops that made me feel pretty good. But I think I will need a lot of practice.

Sunday nite I studied some more with one of the boys. We are restricted to the campus grounds all week. The only time we are allowed off is 1 hr. from 5:30 to 6:30 at night incase we want to pick up a few odds & ends & Sat nite & Sunday afternoon we can get off the University grounds. Sunday nite we have to stay in and study. Every nite except Sat. & Sunday we have to come to the Study Hall (where I am now) from 7:30 to 9 o'clock. Then we go back to the barracks & lights out at 10:30.

Today we were supposed to be interviewed to see how we made out etc. But they weren't ready for us so we have to go back tomorrow. Boy I hate to wait in suspense.

I hope I receive some mail tomorrow. I didn't receive any since I'm here.

How is everything home? Is everybody OK?

I will close now because I want to write on the postcards & pictures. Until my next letter I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony

On the back of the picture above, it says, This came the best. Borella is in the middle. Davidson is at the end. You can get a slight glimpse of the hills in the background. Taken on the campus grounds. 8/1/43

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 59

PFC Anthony J. Curcio

1875 En. Avn. Bn. Co. H & S

McChord Field, Wash.

Date 7/13/43

Letter No. 59

Rec'd 96/97/98

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It is Tuesday nite and I am still a bit tired from the weekend. But before I tell you all about that I will go thru the week like I usually do.

Thursday nite we went to the battalion dance and had a pretty good time, but not as good as the last one because they didn't have a jitterbug contest. But we had a pretty good time because we all know each other a lot better.

Friday nite we G.I. the tent & shoes etc. We do that every Friday nite for inspection on Sat.

Friday we also lost another one of our buddies. Bruno Borella was shipped to another outfit on the post. They needed certain type of men so he went. Boy we never get a real break.

Sat. we had a parade for our Major. We got a new one. And I hear the old major got tears in his eyes when we paraded before him. He was pretty good.

Sat. nite I had guard duty. We go on at 5 and get off at 5 Sunday nite. And luck ran with me because Peggy had to work on Sunday. She works for the telephone co. So I saw her Sunday nite. We went to the carousel again & had a nice time. Mon. nite I was so tired I went to bed very early. Ma[y]be I shouldn't have gone out after guard duty but it always works out ok.

Surveying is still the same & the same routine.

I hope you all had a nice time on Ele's birthday. I hope she liked my present. How did she enjoy the surprise, Ma?

The transfer I wrote about was final. I don't think I will be transferred.

Joe Cohn is still going to radio school I guess.

I really don't need anything, ma. I'm stocked up on everything just know.

I am so glad you were happy about my stripe. And thanks for the card you all sent me. The one where you all signed it and give a kiss for Grandma's signature. I always get a kick out of it when Grandma signs it.

And thanks for your card, Ma. That a swell way telling everything. xxxxxxxx

Thank Grandma for her card & stamp. I was just about out of stamps when they came.

Well I shall close now ma & try to write near the end of the week. So until then I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony

xxxxxxxx

P.S. I forgot Ele's letter. Please thank her for it.

P.S. The buddy that['s] left in my tent (Davidson) got his radio from home. It good to hear some of the programs & music again. It plays pretty good too.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele, Letter No. 47

5-17-43
Letter #47
Rec'd #70 & 71

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Today is a week since I last wrote. Just now I'm 10 letters behind. I guess I'll just have to try to write some each nite.
Well Ma, I wanted to catch up on my mail yesterday but I felt to blue. You know Joe D'Angelo, the one that sent you the letter (my buddy). Well he was shipped out Sat. nite with some other fellows. Where to & for what reason I don't know as yet, but he was just like a brother to me and hated to see him leave. In fact as he walked out of the tent with his barracks bag on his shoulder I got tears in my eyes. I really missed him an awful lot. We got along so good together. Well I guess that's one of the things we have to face in the army but I hope it doesn't happen too often.
Now there are two swell fellows left in my hut. One is Bruno Borella from S.I. & Delmar Davidson from Phil. Bruno Borella comes from Corum S.I. and Corum is about 1 mile from Seldon. They have a farm & they sell these cement blocks to all the people around there. He said he probably sold some to uncle Tony but is not sure. Ask Dad & see whether he recognizes the name. Let me know, O.K.
Well not too much has happened during the last week. We were surveying the railroad & today they started actual construction on it. So maybe I'll be on the surveying squad permanently. You know as much as I do.
Thursday I went to the post theatre & saw "My Friend Flicka." It was a horse picture. I like it an awful lot.
Friday night we all went in to Lakewood & went to the show with the girls we met on Easter Sunday. We saw "Casablanca." I enjoyed it very much. Before we went to the show one of the girls took us all in to meet her parents. Well she lived in the most beautiful house I ever saw. It was on the lakeside with huge trees & grass all over the place. I just can't describe it ma but ma it's a dream house and by gosh we are going to have one just like it. You wait and see ma.
Well I guess there isn't any more to say. I could tell you about the surveying but that's nothing to write home in letters & I guess I should keep it a secret anyway.
I forgot to mention in my last letter about a letter I got from Ann. Thanks Ann. Today I got another package from Ann with cards in it. Believe me they will come in handy catching up with my mail.
Ann, I don't think a picture frame would be too good as we can't hang any up in our tent. Thanks anyway. And by the way, that's a nice salary you are getting. And most of all you like the job. That means a lot more.
About Grandma's house. The deal wasn't good at all but maybe Grandma would settle for less, to get the house off her hands in a hurry. I don't know but I think Grandma would be a whole lot happier if she didn't have the house to worry about. What do you think?
I think it took 4 days for the Easter candy to get here. I wasn't sure so I didn't write it when you asked me awhile ago.
I feel fine and am in the peak of condition. I hope you all are in the best of health. How are you coming along with the doctor & how is Ann coming along with her doctor. Let me know. The picture of Boby & Ann are swell & thanks a lot. But how about you ma, & Grandma & Eleanore?
I shall close now. Until my next letter I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy
Tony