Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 34

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
4th AFRD - SQD "L"
Hammer Field, Fresno, Calf.

Date 3-24-43
Letter No. 34

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Well I'm still here at Fresno & I am starting to get a sun tan believe it or not.
Today is your birthday ma, & it is the first time I'm not there to attend your little party. But I'm thinking of the happy time you are all having, and as I sit here writing this letter I'm trying to be there with you & try to picture everybody sitting around the table watching you blow out all the candles. I bet you got them all out too. Right? I hope you got my little letter in time.
In my last letter I wrote up until Sunday night so I shall continue from there on.
Monday morning we were issued another pair of sun tans. But I didn't get a shirt as they didn't have my size. I also got a pair of insignia buttons. We wear them on our lapels.
In the afternoon we were called in and out about every half hour to see whether our names would be on the list to be shipped to a shipping sqd.
After chow I got another haircut. I have to get one about every 3 weeks or you notice the little ends sticking out. It's on your own accord here, nobody really cares whether you get one or not. In the night I went over to the airport & looked around. Boy I really got a kick out of seeing the ships. I will not mention the type of airplanes, I guess that's one of the things we aren't supposed to write about. We aren't told not to write about it but we all better play on the safe side. Right?
Tues. We were shipped to our new quarters (tents) as I told you in the small note with the new address. There are 6 fellows in each tent. Two other fellows & I always try to stick together. So far we are doing OK. We are all in the same tent. Those are the same fellows I had in the hut at J.B., and we were together all the way. They are both classified as draftsmen & maybe we will stick together when we go to school. I hope so. They are nice fellows & we have a lot of fun together.
It almost took us all day to be transferred & I was tired so I just sent out my new address last night so you could write back as soon as possible. I can't say how long I'm going to be here so maybe I can get some mail here. It gets lonely when you don't get up to date mail from home. I just think & think about what's going on & how everybody feels etc. Yesterday, I received 3 letters transferred from J.B. One from Elfrieda, one from Testa Family, & one from Aunt Anna. Today I didn't get any, so tomorrow I'll probably get a batch.
Today was quite a nice day. Now that we're in a shipping sqd. We can get details (as per usual).
Well to start the day off right, nobody wakes us up in the tents. They just blow a whistle. So we got up at 6:15. The first time I got up that late in the army. We went to breakfast & had pancakes & syrup. It was OK. Then we went to the drill field & got a little drill. The drill instructors are lazy here. The more we do here the better I like J.B. J.B. gave us quite a good name. We were drilled very good, by very good drill instructors & they all know it here. Sometimes we get up a platoon & march down the street to show them how it's done. We have a lot of fun doing that. Not being conceited either. After drill for about an hour, we had a soft ball game - we lost 5-4 & then we went on a detail loading barrack bags for the men that are shipping out. In the afternoon we had to fill in a pipe line hole. It took us about 2 hrs. & then we laid in the sun for awhile. After that we went & took a shower - went to chow & here I am writing letters. Wasn't that a nice day?
Talking about being strict here. After we filled in the hole the sergeant said "Thanks boys." Boy did we get a kick out of that. If we were at J.B. they would have said "You could have did that a little faster" or probably put us on some other detail. I get to like the training at J.B. more & more everyday. We certainly did profit by discipline. I hope we get plenty more at our next camp.
Well I'll close now hoping you are all in the best of health. I feel fine. How does sister like her new job? How is Grandma making out with the house? How is Barb & Ele coming with the piano lessons. In other words tell me everything. So until my next letter

Your loving soldier boy,
Tony

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. 21

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
Flight A-31-T.S.S. U.S. Army
Jefferson Barracks, MO.

Date 2-23-43
Letter No. 21
Rec'd 27

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

It is Tuesday night and I am writing letters once again. I wrote all day Sunday, last night & tonight. I wish I only had to write to home, Grandma & Ele, but if I don't write I won't receive any so I have to answer all letters. I really wouldn't mind if I had plenty of time. You notice the change in script? I'm in the day now. It is more comfortable, sitting at the table & listening to the radio. I'm sorry I didn't discover it before.
Yesterday we had gas mask drill. We learned how to put on our gas masks and test for gas. We got wiffs of mustard gas, phosgene gas & a couple of others. Then we went into a chamber with tear gas to prove that our gas masks really work. They worked. Before we left the chamber we had to take our masks off and we all started to tear. I had tears all the way down my cheeks. All these gases are in concentrated forms. It was really a lot of fun. From the gas chamber we had to walk across the camp & then thru an obstacle course with our gas masks on. Boy were we sweating. Boy that obstacle course certainly toughens you up. In this flight we go thru it twice a day. It's a bit different than our other obstacle course. You see when we changed flights we changed our drill field also. I like this one a lot better.
The weather here is cold when we get up, but in the afternoon it's like a summer day.
Al didn't say anything about where he was. Just about things in general.
If I ever get home on a furlough I'll take over Bobby's unit for a night. I'm catching on to this drill pretty good. What do you say Bob? How far do you go teaching your girls drill. Right flank-left oblique, extend march etc. Let me know I'm quite anxious to know, OK.
I'm still waiting for those cookies Ann. Of course when you have time. But I certainly do miss them. I hope they come soon.
I hear you received my letter Ele. What do you say? Write me a nice long letter & let me know. Where were you when Mom, Bob & Ann call me up?
Hi Pa! How do you feel? I hope you aren't taking anymore pills etc. What about it pa?
Well I think that's all for now. I still feel fine. I am a little tired. I guess that's to be expected.

Your Loving Son &
Soldier Boy
Tony

P.S. I got a letter from the Testa family today.