Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 144

Aug. 23/44
Wed. Night
#144

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Here it is Wed. already.  Boy time flies.  I can't say much in fact nothing of what we do but it's just more or less the same routine anyway so we'll let it go at that.  I can say will be leaving Camp Cooke (when I don't know) but I guess that's not much news anyway but it's pretty definite now.  Just don't say anything to anybody.  It just shouldn't be talked about.
I saw two good pictures this week one Sunday night & one tonight and both really were excellent and which I want you all to see.  Sunday I saw "Dragon Seed" with Katharine Hepburn and I don't like Katharine Hepburn too much but this picture was for her and nobody else and she certainly did play the part.   It was a perfect role for her.  I hope you can see it ma I know you'll like it and the story was taken from Pearl S. Buck.  I remember you telling me about the Chinese customs & ways from the books you read by her and the picture shows them up swell.  Maybe you can read this book?  Let me know.
The picture I saw tonight (we get off on Wed. nights) was "Janie."  And if you all want to laugh throughout the whole picture don't miss this one either.  Joyce Reynolds takes the lead & does an excellent job.  "Life" magazine of Aug. 21 has a preview of what it's like so you can get an idea of what it's like from the magazine.
The other day I was lying on my bunk and one of the fellows came in and left the door open and to tell you the truth the fog came into the barracks.  You could see it as it came through the door.  That's just to give you an idea of what the fog is like sometime.  You get used to it after awhile.
One of the boys (Brooklyn boy) gets a sheet from the Brooklyn Eagle sent to him with all the boys names on it and after he looks at it he gives it to me.  In this one I saw a Sgt. Major from 2031 Harmon St.  It's [?] familia.  Did you hear anything about him?
I received your 2009 & 210 letter & they were really swell.
Boy that was some storm in N.Y.  Gosh that must have been awful.  The weather outside of Lompoc Canyon (that's where we are) is swell.  It just is foggy.
I sure do hope Grandma is all right as you say maybe Gram needs to go out more like all used to.  Well it won't be long before you all be going out together again.  Right?
I hope Dad had a nice time on his vacation.  What did he do at Mastic Beach with Mr. Massa?  Go fishing?  Did he catch anything?
So Bob had a date with a guy from California.  Ask him if he wants to trade places.  He can have Calif. if he wants it.
Thanks for sending for the compacts.
I am glad you feel well ma.  I won't worry now ma.  As long as I have your word for it.
I receive a letter from Helen just about every other day & in her last letter she enclosed a picture of her sister's baby.  Ain't it cute.  Does it remind me of you ma?  Helen has 3 sisters & two brothers.  The picture was so cute I wanted you to see it.  You can send it back & I will send it back to her.  O.K.
I'll close now ma.  Until my next letter I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy

Tony

P.S. #1 I'm all out of air mail stamps, but I do want to get this off tonight so I'll send it free.

P.S. #2  Please tell Gram I will write tomorrow & give Gram my love & kisses.

  

 
       

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 124

Anthony J. Curcio
Co. B - 22 Tank Bn. A.P.O. 261
Camp Cooke, Calif.
 
5/1/44 
Letter No. 124
Rec'd  183-185

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Well here it is Monday night and I got a few free minutes to write before it gets too late.  All last week we've been pretty busy that I couldn't find the slightest time to write.  Monday we had a problem which took all day and when we got in late at night we had to wash out fatigues so would be clean for the next day.  Tues. we had another problem and tues. night I was on guard duty.  Wed. (4/26/44) we worked on tanks all day and at night we went on a problem in the pouring rain.  There is always one thing we must do before we leave the tank, no matter where we are or what time it is and that is clean them up.  That's one thing I learned.  In that rain my watch got wet and now it won't run.  I told you I was going to send it home but I guess I didn't do it soon enough.  The only watch I can use here is a weatherproof, shockproof watch.  When I send it home I wish you get it fixed & then hold it for me OK?  Thurs. I got my other wisdom tooth pulled and he had to cut the gum but I didn't feel anything until the Novocaine wore off.  They gave me some pill to make me sleep & I felt so sleepy for the longest time.  He was a very good dentist and everything is fine now.  Fri. it was the same routine and in the night we had to clean the barracks.  Sat. I got that pass to Los Angeles I told you about and we got a chartered bus there and back.  We left camp about 1 o'clock PM and got there about 6:30 Sat. night.  The first place we went was the Hollywood Stagedoor Canteen.  And guess what?  Carole Landis came in and started to dance with all the service men.  They were all jitterbugging.  One dances for about 20 seconds and then another one cuts in.  So I cut in and danced with her.  But I didn't get much of a kick out of it as she seems just like another person.  But after all that's just what she is, another person.  Marsha Hunt was there also and she looks just like you see her in the pictures, as for Carole Landis, I don't think I would recognize her on the street, although she is very beautiful.   We went to the show after that and saw "Cover Girl."  It was very good.  We slept at the Hollywood High School.  If you look in the "Life" magazine (April 10) you will find more than I can tell about the Hollywood H.S.  We went to mass at the beautiful Blessed Sacrament church and it was a very good sermon.  After that we ate & then at 1 o'clock we went to the Lux Radio Playhouse and I got such a kick out of it.  It took me right back home because all those Monday nights we used to gather around the radio and listen to Lux programs were made so clear well you know what I mean.  It was a rehearsal for tonight's program broadcast all over the nation.  And I know that you would listen to the same thing I saw the day before.  It was "Appointment For Love."  The actors were Olivia De Havilland  & Paul Lukas.  I certainly hoped you wouldn't miss hearing it.  Let me know.  Boy Olivia De Havilland is just as she looks in pictures.  Gosh, she's cute.  Then after the program we went to the U.S.O. for a show.  And I saw Harry Revel the famous song writer.  I got his autograph and I am going to send it to Tiny as she would like it because of her musical background.  Shirley Temple & Ann Rutherford were supposed to be there but they never did show up.  We saw Judy London a movie star and Vince Barnett the famous comedian of picture and radio.  It was a swell show but we couldn't stay because we had to catch the 6 o'clock bus back to camp.  We got in about 1 o'clock last night.  Hollywood is certainly the place to see things and have a good time.  I only wish we had a little more time.  It's really the most beautiful place you ever saw.  I got cards and will send them home in the box with my watch.  While I was in Hollywood I sent you your Mother's day present and I also sent Grandma one.  I may not be able to send a card but I hope the present doe the trick.
I am so glad of the news of what the doctor said and I feel much better now.  It seems like a swell doctor.  I am also glad you are getting the sunshine (when it comes out).
About Eddie and what he said to his mother.  You asked me when I would say things like that when people were around.  Ma, I wouldn't say if people were around or not.  Things like that never enter my mind.  Just remember ma, you have a real son.  I don't think she has.  He isn't close to his mother like I am to you.  
Frank looks the same as he always did.  I think he look real good.
Tell Ele & Bob & Ann I will write when I get a little more time, OK.
In my last letter I asked for air mail stamps and the very next day I got some from Grandma.  Boy we certainly use mental telepathy don't we.  Thank Grandma an awful lot for me.  Tell Grandma I pray every night.  OK, Ma?
I got paid today and as soon as I can get a money order made out I will send some home.  There is a lot more I know there is to tell but I ant think of it all now and time is getting short and lights will be out before I know it.  Tiny is OK and writing frequently.  I also got a letter from Helen Riley from St. Louis.  She writes a swell letter.  I'll close now hoping everybody is in the best of health and very happy.  Tell Grandma I will write as soon as I get a chance.  OK.  Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony 

Dear Helen

8/13/43

Dear Helen,

I received your very darling card. It made me so happy that you wrote to me. Your so very thoughtful. And it's those little things that make the difference in this world.
About that glider accident at Lambert field. I didn't see it in the newspaper but just today I ran across it in "Life" magazine. I believe it was Aug. 16 issue. Boy that must have been awful to see.
That certainly is something to hear of a 43rd wedding anniversary. You don't hear that every day in the week. And when you do hear it, it makes you stop and think a little and just wonder. Boy that is something. "So your mother was married to one man all that time..."
What college I will be shipped to is hard to say. But by gosh how I wold love to got to see the University of St. Louis. That would be a treat. Believe me, and in more than one way.
I have been qualified for engineering. We had a series of tests & then we had to go before the board. It doesn't mean that I am a candidate for officers training but we can be recommended after the first 3 months. I'm not going to worry about officers candidate until I pass the course first. I don't want to count my chickens before their hatched. It's going to be plenty tough as we have to cover the same ground in one half of the time, and I'll have to do plenty of studying. And it is certainly what I want.
I'll tell you more in my next letter. I didn't expect to stay here this long so any day now we my ship out.
We took some pictures here & I shall enclose one. I hope you like it. So until my next letter (it will be longer) I remain

Sincerely as ever
Tony

P.S. Lights go out here at 10:30 and it is now about 10:29. Thanks again for writing. Even in a short letter from you means more than a 10 page letter from most of my friends. T