From Howard Barber to Tony

PFC. Howard A. Barber
Co. A - 843rd Eng. Am. Bn.
APO 644 c/o Postmaster
New York, New York

9/13/43

Hi Tony!

You lucky guy--going to A.S.T.P.! Boy I sure did miss going with you by a hair breath. I mighta known you would fall in love with someone in Washington just like at J.B. How about Idaho--any developments?
I got a four day furlough and went to London with Joe Garbowsky of B'k'l'n. Did you know him? We met a couple of swell gals and they are writing us now. Don Carter also wanted to be remembered to you. He took the A.S.T.P. test with us at Hammer Field. I told Walt Sexton to write to Delaney and he said he would. He didn't have his address. Tell Delany Sexton's address is the same as mine except he is in H & S company. It's swell you're still with the bunch that had basic together. I had to make all new friends in this outfit--however there are quite a few from New York and B'k'l'n.
PFC. Buckbee just made corporal but he has a big reputation as a "brown nose." I'm an assistant squad leader and am entitled to corporal's stripes but I'll be satisfied to get them when I've earned them.

So long--take care of yourself
Howie

P.S. Have you heard anything from Joe?

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 30

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

Date 3-14-43
Letter No. 30
Rec'd 39-40

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It is now Sunday night about 8 o'clock. I'm a bit happy & a bit sad. I'll tell you why as I progress (of course nothing tragic).
I told you in my last letter that I was going to have K.P. on Fri. Well I did but it was very easy. In fact it was the easiest I had. I had K.P. in officers' mess. All we had to do was to serve the officers. They had everything put on the table in front of them. (The cream of the crop also) All officers eat there. Anybody over a buck sergeant. We worked from 5 am to 6 pm. Pretty good huh?
Sat. morning we drilled. And guess what, in the afternoon we got paid. I got $55.50. I'll tell you how I am going to use it after.
I got a letter from Helen Sat. morning. She asked me to come out Sunday for dinner & then in the afternoon we could take pictures & then go some place in the night. She also said that her & her sisters were invited to a dance at the Knights of Columbus Sat. night. She said it would be a miracle if I could get on the convoy going there but she thought she would mention it anyway. Well as it happened that the same convoy she mentioned was scheduled from our sqd. So naturally I went. She was so surprised to see me. It really was a miracle (I mean a coincidence anyway). Well anyway we had a swell time.
I was all set to get a pass Sunday morning after I went to church (8 o'clock mass) when I found out I was on the shipping list. And all men on shipping lists can't leave the camp so our whole day was ruined. And boy what a nice day it was out today. So this afternoon we had to go to one of the buildings to find out when we were going to be shipped. They told us we had to be ready at 11 o'clock Monday afternoon. So I called up Helen to say goodbye to her. She was so nice about everything. We are going to write to each other. Well that's the way it goes. I'll have to get used to that sort of thing. Well anyway it was nice while it lasted.
That is why I'm a little sad & the reason I'm glad is that maybe I'll be shipped nearer to home & it will be more convenient to keep in contact with you. (maybe this time you can come & see me). I'm also glad that I'll be able to get started or something. I hope I get to a school. I still don't know.
I got a card from Joe & he was shipped to Scott Field, Ill., which is 35 miles from this camp, right across the river. But I guess we won't be able to see each other. He comes in & I'm going out. Well that's another one of those things we will have to get used to.
I will answer your ques. in my next letter as we have to pack & have everything ready for tomorrow. 3 other fellows in my hut are also going with me. They are the same fellows that went on the convoy with me last night. They are swell fellows. So Ma don't worry & I'll let you know as soon as I get to my new camp.

From Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Love & Kisses,
Tony

P.S. I'll tell you about the money next letter. I really need a little time tonight for packing.

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. 24

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
23 Training Group
Sqd. A
Jefferson Barracks, MO

Date 3-1-43
Letter No. 24
Rec'd 28-29-30-31

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

I am sorry I couldn't write sooner but I will tell you how it was.
On Friday, as I told you in my last letter, we had lectures & exhibitions on camouflage. It was very interesting. The lieutenant told us the important facts about camouflage. He said this was the only Technical Training School (J.B.) that had a course in camouflage. That means that Joe Cohn didn't get it. After the lecture we went thru the camouflage area to see the different layouts they set up. They had large nets with colored cloth on them t cover certain make believe ammunition dumps & fox holes & things of that sort. One Sunday the pictures were in a St. Louis paper & cut them out. So they will give you an idea of what some look like.
After chow that same day my name was on the shot list so I got my last tetnus shot. I got back and just had a few minutes to drop you the letter previous. It's this one.
Sat. we had K.P. We got up at 3:30 & started to work about 5 o'clock. This time I had to carry bowls & trays over to the racks. I had the job before & so it made it a lot easier. The day went pretty fast & I didn't mind it so much. It seems the more I have it the quicker the time goes. We got done about 7:30P.M. I turned in early because it does make you tired.
Well things worked out pretty good for me this weekend.
As I told you, or I think I did, Helen Riley, the girl I met at the dance, invited me out Sunday (yesterday) if I wasn't shipped. She wrote me a nice letter telling me how to get there. I told her if I could get a pass for Sunday I would call her up. So Sun. morning after chow I applied for a pass. Then I went to church (8 o'clock mass). (At church I got a prayer book & a new testament, Roman Catholic version, wasn't that nice of them to give them to us). (By the way before I went into the church the chaplain came up the drive & I saluted him & he gave me a big smile. Gee it made me feel so good). (We also have to salute the nurses because they are lieutenants too).
After church I went to get my pass & I got it. It was from 9am Sun. to 5am Mon. morning. They call that a Revelie Pass. Most of the fellows got those passes. So I called her up about 10 o'clock. She wanted me to come out to have dinner with them but I told her no, because I didn't want to cause them any trouble. So I went out after I had chow at camp. In a way I'm sorry I didn't accept the offer to eat there because (this is funny) in the meal we had here they put a laxative and everybody was running to the latrine. We had to wait in line to sit down. (that's a fact) (Why some fellows couldn't hold it any longer) They were going to the latrine at all hours of the night. They say they put it in a meal once a month. Boy did I have to go. Boy everything in the army is a secret, even when they give you a physical.
I went out after chow. It took me an hr. & a half to get there. I had to take a bus & two trolley cars. I got there about 3:30. She introduced me to her parents & family. They live in a swell section of St. Louis (it's really a little outside the border of St. Louis) The live in a two story frame construction house. She has a very nice family and she is very well brought up, you could see that.
We went for a walk & she showed me some places in her neighborhood. They don't have any subways or elevators in St. Louis. Boy it was a job to explain the contraption. It was really funny.
This is the part that touched me the most. When we came back we ate. And Sun. night, the same as we did at home, had cold cuts & bologna & jello, you know just like we had at home. And on the radio they had the programs we listened to at home. I really felt home sick. Her two sisters were there so that made it 3 girls, her mother & father. I just could picture everybody at home in their places. And of course Grandma too.
After we ate, Helen, her sister & I played chinese checkers for a while & then we went to an ice cream parlor for a soda & a dance from the juke box.
We left there about 12 o'clock & I took her home & then went back to camp. I didn't gt too much sleep but I don't feel tired at all today.
Say Mae talked an awful lot about N.Y. After all we do live in the largest city in teh world. I told her about the amusements & different things about the city. So Ma it would be swell if you could send me some things I could show her to give her if I don't see her anymore. (I'll send them to her if I don't see her anymore, if I should get shipped). You could send me an advertisement page of the news showing the plays in the theatres & pictures & bands of the big shows etc. And could you send one of those street directories (a duplicate of Manhattan & map). And if you got a map of N.Y.C. and something about the world's fair & activities of N.Y...Oh yes, could you send me those pictures of Schultz's house, the one my boss designed. I told her a lot about it. I hope this won't cause you any trouble, but I like to show her these things because she is a nice girl & she is interested.
You could send me some more writing paper too. Boy it certainly goes fast. How much have I got left.
By the way they all admired the gloves Ann made for me. They thought they were swell. And they certainly are warm.
I'm eating Ann's cookies as I am writing this letter. Boy they taste just as good if not better than last time. I passed them once & then I put them away because they started to come back for more. See that's how good they are.
Did you hear from Frank yet, Ann?
I hope that fortune teller is right, a nice happy home, sounds so good.
Ma I always will go to church & confession as long as I can. I always wear my medal & Scapular. As for my money left, you hit the nail on the head, no money to put in my belt so I got it in my locker.
My ankle feels fine & I'm in the best of shape.
Boy I'm so glad your condition is good ma. It makes it a lot easier for me too knowing that you are OK.
Yes Ma this camp is pretty big. I think there is a total of about 50 to 80 thousand soldiers here.
There is no word of what school I'm going to. The only time I will find out what school is when I get there I guess.
Gee thank Grandma for the dollar. It certainly came in handy. I got 2 souveniers already & I'm trying to get something for everybody. So far I haven't got anything for Grandma & Pa because it is pretty hard to get souveniers for those relations. Maybe you can give me a suggestion.
I'm glad they are going nip & tuck at those blackouts because they should get the people war conscious even though war never comes here. They have to be prepared just the same.
Boy Bobby certainly is going to town with the unit. Say being I'm in the service. She can send me one, if an extraordinary one comes along. If I even get a few spare moments I'll read it.
Say Bobby, I get a bit mixed up on right flank and left oblique movements. I can do both but when the P.I. shouts off they sound the same some time. But I'm getting pretty good at it. Well my hand is getting tired so until my next letter I remain,

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 22

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
Flight "A" 31 T.S.S.
U.S. Army
Jefferson Barracks

Date 2-24-43
Letter No. 22

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

I wrote last night & today we just went thru regular drill.
I got a letter from Pat & Dave & one from Joe. Joe has the same training I have only that he lives in a hotel. I don't think I would like the hotel very much. I imagine after I got out of here I would. But going from a hotel into a place like this I don't think I would like it very much. After all we are in the army.
I think I will take a shower & then turn in for a nice long sleep.
Remember I told you I went to that dance Sat. night? I told you I met that nice girl. Well her & her sister invited me out Sunday if I was still here, so If I am I'll get a pass & go there. I wouldn't go if I wasn't positive they were nice girls. You know me ma, I have a knack for picking out nice girls.
Say I hate to ask but I could use a few greenbacks. I've been picking up a few souvenirs & then if I go out there Sunday I would like a few on me even though I don't spend any.
I won't get my wash done until I get to a permanent camp. I am afraid I will be shipped & then it will be a lot of trouble till I get it back. For the same reason I'm not getting my clothes pressed.
In my hut now there are a couple of fellows who are going to take tests for aviation cadets. Also there are two college graduates waiting to be called for O.C.S. The rest are from the old flight & are from N.Y. They are all nice fellows & I get along very good with them.
I'm getting used to eating with the fellows at chow. I rush it a little but not enough not to enjoy it. But I still end up the last one.
Does Grandma like my letters? I can't say too much but as long as I write. I hope she is happy.
How do you feel with those pills ma? How are they affecting you?
You say Ele didn't say anything when she read my letter? Well I hope she was happy.
Well I think that's all for now. Well so long for a while hoping I hear from you tomorrow.

Your Soldier Boy, Lovingly
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 15

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio Date 2-10-43
Flight "F" 360 T.S.S. Letter No. 15
Jefferson Barracks, MO. Rec'd 17 & card

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

How are you all? I am O.K. I'm getting used to this drill & calisthenics & obstacle courses. It seems to grow inside of you like anything will once you get used to it.
Today we drilled & did calisthenics as usual & as our obstacle course we had to hike up & down steep hills & I do mean steep. Boy it got you tired but after its all over you feel pretty good.
Tonight we are confined to our huts.
Tonight I also received a letter from Eleanor. Thanks, Ele. (You better get that march down pat, I'm beginning to like marches).
I got a beautiful card from Ann. Thanks Ann. And I do miss you all the same as you miss me you all know that. And I hope you & ma can come to see me.
It's too bad about Frank, but don't worry everything is going to be all right. I'll tell you why. Anybody which has high as spirits as him makes out O.K. It's never failed yet. Take my word for it.
Boy I'm waiting for those cookies. I hope they come in a hurry. Ann I will express my honest opinion of them when I taste them but I can almost smell them already. I know they will be good. Especially 1000 miles from home.
I really need that shoe polishing kit also. We shine shoes everyday. We also [are] supposed to shave everyday also. Anything that looks a little dark they make it hard for you. Good training huh. I'm not kidding.
As for Edie coming home to work in spring, I don't think it's possible. I never heard anything like it. We'll just have to wait and see.
Boy it's good to hear my name called out on that mail list each day. You don't know what it does to you. I also got 2 from Ele today & Dot & Dave. Each a card & a letter.
Well I think that's all for now except that I think I wrote to everybody Sunday I forgot to tell you. I dropped a card to all our relations etc. Well so long for awhile hoping you all remain in the best of health.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. I almost fort the other day I got a letter from Joe. He is in Miami Beach, Fla. He is in the same sort of T.S.S. as I am. His dog tag No. is 32712132. My no. is 32712172. Isn't that a coincidence.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 12

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio Date 2-4-43
Flight "F" 360th Tech. Sch. Sqd. Letter No. 12
Jefferson Barracks, MO. Rec'd card 4 & 5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

Well this [is] the first real chance I got to write since I last wrote you. Please check the no. of this letter. I'm not sure whether it's 11 or 12. But make this no. 12 anyway. Everybody was free tonight after working the past three days (nights) to fix & clean up the huts. Tonight anybody can get a pass into St. Louis & must be back by 1 o'clock. But I'm staying right here in my hut & catch[ing] up with my mail. I didn't receive any mail since I was here, but boy did it come in last night. I got 13. And tonight I got 1 from you ma. You really can't express the thrills I get when I get regular mail from you ma. I really got a kick out of the way you kept writing even though you couldn't send them. And then when I did get them all it was easy to keep track of & made it so much more interesting.
Before I answer your letters ma I don't want to keep you in suspense any longer. On one of my cards I sent you I told you I took those mechanical apptitude test. Well we all was interviewed and believe you mas I got a swell corporal as an interviewer. We talk together and discussed the drafting branches of the Engineers of the Air Corps and he said that I did exceptionally wel in my tests and with my background I should make out very good in my army career. They let you take [two] choices of schools & then try to send you to one of them. Most fellows will just go to school to learn how to run mechanical equipment. The first school I was recommended for was TOPOGRAPHIC DRAFTING, which requires 3 months schooling & then if you pass that you can fill out an application for officers training school. If I do make that school which is one of the top schools I will get a technician 5th grade which is corporal with a T under it. It looks like this [symbol]. Now after all that if I don't make the grade for drafting I could have taken basic drafting which (as the corp. said) is very elementary. So I took my second pick as surveying. But the grade will not be as high. The corporal said I got a pretty good chance. So I just got to sit back & pray.
What do you say about taking a trip out here. It would be very simple traveling & I'll pay all your expenses to come out here (when I do get paid). They have placese where you can stay here for a couple days. I'm quite sure I will stay a couple more weeks. It will take 24 hrs. by Grand Central R.R. You could leave [at] 9 (for instance on morning) and get here [at] 9 the next morning. No matter what time you get here they will call me no matter where I am. As I said it will take you 24 hrs. from N.Y. so St. Louis by train. Then you just have to step into a taxi cab and say take me to Jefferson Barracks and they will take you to the gate. Then a guard will take you to visitors information. Tell them who you want to see & they will call me. Pretty easy huh. Let me know. Well all week we went to shows getting lectures & pictures on first aid, reasons why war came, what to do in case of accidents, etc. We have to walk about [two] miles there after chow in morning & then back to chow at lunch time & then back again after chow & then back again for chow at supper then mail call & then clean up our huts and pass inspection. That's what we were doing since we go[t] into these huts on Sunday.
I'll start to answer your letters now. Ma your letters are most interesting & the longer the better.
The first is the card. It was really swell & don't worry ma I will keep my chin up. The next one is #5 the one forwarded from [Camp Upton] Boy it sure sounds swell to hear the way you fixed up my roon. I just can picture you all sitting there. It sort of puts a lump in my throat.
Talking about Frank, I asked for his address but I gues syou forgot it. That reminds me. When we were down in the theatre, we were singing all the songs (The air corps song is mine now ma). but anyway the leader said what about the marine's hymn, so we all gave a roar and they put the words on the screen. Well ma I got so much feeling inside of me I just couldn't finish the song. Tears actually started to roll down my cheeks.
How are those pills affecting you? To tell you the truth ma, you really don't need pills in my estimation.
I don't think anybody can get a furlough until about 6 months of service. Whether you are not doing anything or visa versa. The most you can get is a pass over the weekend. I think it's the same in all camps.
I must agree with you Pops letters didn't sound so bad.
The pictures are really swell, that's a couple more for my collection.
This letter #9 it came with the three in one. So Teenie is still crabbing. Well that's one thing I won't hear anymore.
I hope you keep me posted the way you've been doing in your letters. They're swell, especially when they come so regular.
Please acknowledge to Mr. Massa that the kit he gave me is coming in very handy & as soon as I get a chance I will drop him a line.
Thanks for sending the box ma. I certainly will be happy when I get it.
I am really sketching this I would like to say much more but this is really getting short I almost spent 2 hrs. on this now. The fellows are arguing (friendly) and I had to put my two cents in to[o]. I would write all night but we have to put lights out at 9 o'clock & I started at 7 right after chow. I wanted to write Ele tonight but I guess I'll put it off 'til tomorrow. I just dropped her cards as I did to you ma.
The last letter I received was from you tonight about the hair I sent you ma. That was certainly cute.
I guess you're wondering who I got the 13 letters from. Well I got 5 from you ma, 2 from Elfrieda, 1 from Grandma & Aunt Anna, 3 from Eleanor, 1 card from Pat & Dave, 1 from Joe's mother. Joe is in Miami Beach, Florida. He is in tech. training school the same as me.
Please tell Eleanor & Grandma I will answer as soon as I get a chance. I'll tell you more about the camp when I get plenty of time. Probably on Sunday.

Please let me know in a hurry
whether you would like to come
ma I'm really very anxious.
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.

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