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 Helen

March 22, 1943

Dear Helen,

Well here I'm where I'd never thought I'd be. Deep in the heart of California. I am sorry I couldn't write sooner. I have been kept busy since I'm here. I hope you will forgive me?
When I first came to J.B., I felt like everybody else "Send me someplace, but get me out of J.B." I changed my mind when I went on that certain convoy. From then on I enjoyed myself. And when I enjoy myself, things usually work out swell. In fact things were working out so well I was quite amazed myself. Then on Sat. the 13th of March 1943, I had one of the nicest times I could want & expecting to have a much nicer time on Sun, that I'm sure would live with me a long time, only to have my dreams bungled by that little word--"shipping." Well it's just one of those things & I guess the beginning is the best time to learn how to take it.
I guess I don't have to tell you how much & enjoyed your company. And I can't hesitate in the least to say that your family is one of the nicest I have met. As for yourself besides my compliments, you received many more from the fellows that came to the convoy with me.
I'll try to give you an idea of what the trip was like.
We left J.B. at 5 o'clock on Monday 15th March & started on our long journey. Our first state naturally was Mo. We traveled along the Missouri River till we hit Jefferson City. It was a bit hilly & very colorful. We didn't see very much of it, but what we did see was very beautiful. We covered the rest of Mo. during the night & all day Tuesday we traveled thru Kansas. Although Kansas is very picturesque & colorful I can describe it in two simple words. "It's flat." We saw plenty of nothing. In fact sometimes it was an event to see a tree.
As we approached night fall we entered the state of Colorado. We were told that early in the morning we would cross the great continental divider, the lovely Rocky Mts. Ever since the evening began we started to climb & climb to the heights of the Mts. Most of the fellows went to sleep but a few of us stayed up to see what we could see. Although it was night & how I wish it was day, I saw the most beautiful sights I ever saw. At the high points of the Mts., it was covered completely with snow. With a few towns here & there lit up, painted a picture of a fairy tale.
As we proceeded, we passed camp Hale. One of the largest ski camps. Its elevation is 9,000 feet. It's in a valley & we saw it as we passed on the mountain side about a thousand feet up. It was quite a sight to see.
Further down the line we came to Mts. with snow only on the tops & in the valleys, the streams rippling at a swift current. They both reflected the light of the moon, which made them just glow in the dusk.
We also passed the Royal Gorge Bridge; the highest in the world.
I finally went to sleep about 3 AM (I still wasn't tired).
When we got up in the morning, passing thru the western part of Colorado, we saw canyons like you see in pictures of the Grand Canyon. Large masses of rock forming odd shapes & to every one's mind, pictures something different. On the plateaus there were farms with cattle grazing besides beautiful colors that paint odd shapes on the rocks, & plateaus. It's one of those things that makes you stop & think.
Toward night we headed toward Salt Lake City, Utah & made it there by 11 o'clock. Then during the night headed for the Nevada border.
I was awakened a bit earlier for K.P. I'm glad I got it though, because there isn't too much to do & you can get a better view from the big doors in the kitchen car, and you only got it for a half a day.
Nevada was a very nice state. It is a very sandy & colorful one. We mostly poassed thru valleys and saw the snow covered Mts. in the background. You know as well as I do what a pretty sight that is. By night fall we hit the California border, passing thru Reno. The place that is known as "The largest little city in the world." The place where they got their divorces. You know.
We headed toward the Sierra Nevada Mountains, climbing up & up like we did once before. I think the Sierra Nevadas displayed the most beautiful sights I saw on the whole trip. The mts. were completely covered with snow ( we were really very hight in the mts. too) with pine trees all over. The R.R. had to be protected in many spots by high wooden tunnels because of the huge snow drifts. What I enjoyed seeing very much was little animal tracks in the fresh bed of snow. It was so cute. It's really one of those sights that you really can't explain in words. Seeing is believing, & yet somehow I don't believe it myself. But it's true.
During the night we hit Sacramento & headed to Fresno, Calf.
Hammer Field is a pretty place. You know California. Palm trees & green grass all over the place. When the sun is out it's just like a summer's day. Some of the fellows lay in the sun with their bathing suits. This place is nothing like J.B. You can wear what you want to. Ad J.B. your uniform had to be uniform. You couldn't mix clothing & you could only wear certain clothing when they told you to. We don't have any exercise here at all. It's just a replacement center and will be shipped to a school pretty soon. I won't be able to receive any mail until I am placed in a shipping sqd., just now I'm in a receiving sqd. & won't be placed to shipment sqd. until I am reclassified. I went to the classifying office on Sat. & he gave me a special slip whereby I can take a test this Friday & if I pass I will be admitted into a college to take drafting. So I will be on receiving until I find the results of the test which will be sometime next week. But I will write you & as soon as the coast is clear I'll let you know. I hope it's soon, as I would like to hear from you & everybody home real soon. You really get lonely when you don't receive any mail, believe me.
We live in barracks (two story) & I am upstairs right by a window. I like it a lot after living in the huts at J.B. A latrine is on the first floor also & you don't have to run a mile in the middle of the night. Swell isn't it?
By the way, I have all the stuff my sister sent me ready to send to you. I have it all marked as to what they are. She wants the postcards back & I would like the pictures of the world's fair back. I have them all marked & you can send them when I get to my permanant camp. You can have all the rest. I think you'll like the pictures of my boss' house very interesting. When I write to him I will tell him I gave you a set of pictures. He'll like that. He is recovering swell from his case of spinal meningitis. I got a letter before I left J.B.
Here I can look out of the window and see the planes take off from the field. It's quite interesting. As soon as I get a chance I will inspect the place. I'll tell you what I can gather.
Well I think I shall close now hoping you are in the best of health & your family also & I will write to you real soon.

Sincerely As Ever,
Tony

P.S. I will include a clipping with the rest of the stuff when I send it of a hut we lived in at J.B. I got it out of a St. Louis paper before I left.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 32

Anthony J. Curcio
4th A.F.R.D. SQD. "A"
Hammer Field, Fresno, Calf.

Date 3-21-43
Letter No. 32

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

I'm here in California and it's pretty nice here, but I'm glad I am not going to stay here. Because I wouldn't want to have a permanent camp so far away from home. So I just have to pray that when I go to school it will be much closer to home. The weather here, when the sun is out is just like a summer day. Some of the fellows that were here awhile already lay out on the grass in the sun & get a tan. I heard we just missed a period of rain. I'm glad we did. Fri. & Sat. the sun was really hot. Today it's been a bit cool because the sun hasn't been out all day.
The food here is pretty good. I think so far it's been better than J.B. The system is a heck of a lot better here also. We don't have the cadet style when we go to the mess hall. We get up when we are finished. The bread & butter is on the table, also the coffee, and you can eat as much as you want. At J.B. the most butter you could get was a little slice. We get plenty of fruit here also. (You know Calf.) Sometimes we get lemon & orange-ade instead of coffee. Oranges & bananas with our meals, pineapple & peach pie, apricots. Sometimes we get cocoa also or tea.
They have a good system here I like it very much. We use our own canteen to eat with. It's pretty large enough to hold all the food, we have our own cup, fork, knife & spoon. It eliminates the work for K.P.s After we eat we put the excess food in a barrel & then pass on to 3 more barrels. The first is boiling hot soapy water where we wash our stuff with a brush & then pass on to the other two to rinse them. They have fires under the barrels to keep the water boiling. Then it's up to each individual to keep his own equipment clean. Which is a smart idea. Right?
The streets here are paved & the barracks are set just like houses on a street. Each barrack has a latrine & shower to you don't have to run a mile to go to the bathroom or wash your clothes. We were lucky to get into a barrack, some of the fellows were put in tents. Not many though.
It's very easy here, no discipline here at all. I mean to clothing & marching, etc. You can wear what you want when you want to. At J.B. you always had to conform to standards. Everybody had to wear the same thing at J.B.
We can't get any passes for awhile & if we do it will only be for 6 hours.
Wel on Fri. When we came in we ate & then got our barracks & then got a physical check up. That took all morning. In the afternoon after chow we got our bedding. Then after chow I sent the telegram. Then I took a shower, shaved & washed my hair & then wrote the letter.
Sat. We had to G.I. our hut & be ready for inspection. A lieutenant & captain came around & inspected the barracks, us & our mess kits to see that they were clean.
In the afternoon we went to the classifying office. They told me I would be sent to a drafting school but I can take a test & if I pass the test I can go to one of the colleges and learn drafting. I have to take the test this coming Friday, March 26 - that means I will not get my new address until I get classified. It feels awful funny not hearing from home. I hope everything is all right and everybody is in the best of health.
Today I went to church. It's right around the corner. After church I sewed the insignia on my arm. You know like the one I sent you with the the wings & the star. The sewing kit comes in very handy. Then I went to the P.X. to make out a money order. I'll be sending you $10.00. I'll send whenever I can & you can do whatever you want with it. In fact I will say instead, use it to buy yourself something. All the money I send you buy things for yourself. That's between you & I ma. You know what I mean. This is NOT a birthday present.
I'll tell you more about the camp in my next letter. So goodnight & please read this letter to Grandma.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. I washed my clothes last night. We have plenty of hot water here. That's one thing we didn't have at J.B.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 31

Anthony J. Curcio
4th A.F.R.D. - SQD. "A"
Hammer Field, Fresno, Calf.

Date 3-19-43
Letter No. 31

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

I sent a telegram so you know where I am. From one extreme to another. N.Y. to California.
I really don't know how to start off there is so much to say.
We left J.B. at 5 o'clock on Monday afternoon. We boarded day coaches (air conditioned) Boy they were nice. But it was kind of hard to sleep in. But we managed. The trip tookus about 83 hrs. Of course we didn't know where we were going but the rumor was California & sure enough it was. I felt blue as I left J.B. & headed west because I prayed that maybe I could have a chance to be home for your birthday. But it went the other way. In fact as far away from New York as anyone could possibly go. From one extreme state to the other. We are about half way between the Sierra Nevada Mountains & the Coast Range Mts. & about in the center of Calf. going North & South. We arrived here about 7 o'clock Friday morning (Today). This place is an air field. In fact I can see the planes take off from my window. It's quite a sight. We live in two-story wood frame barracks. They are hot air heated. I like them very much. But we probably will not stay here more than a week. But you never can tell, so as soon as you receive this letter write back. I waited to put the address in the telegram but we were not allowed. We go for reclassification tomorrow. I hope I can maintain the same classification as I did at J.B. (topographic draftsman). This is just a replacement center & we just have to wait here until we are shipped to a school. The reason we weren't shipped to a school from J.B. is that J.B. was transferred into air cadet base so that we had to be shipped someplace else for replacement. You never can tell I may be shipped east again to a school. Keep your fingers crossed.
Now for an explanation (descriptive) of a most [?] trip. In fact it's a good thing that trip was enjoyable so that I didn't feel so bad about traveling in the opposite direction. I don't see how anyone could help but enjoy such a trip.
From J.B. we traveled straight through Missouri, mostly following the Missouri River, passing thru Kansas City. It was a very beautiful country. Most of it hilly. But we didn't see too much of it as we hit night fall and in the morning started thru Kansas. I can describe Kansas in two short words "It's flat." We saw plenty of nothing. In fact sometimes it was an event even to see a tree on miles & miles of nothing but flat lands. But although it was flat it was very colorful. During the whole trip there were little towns about 50 miles apart, usually not seeing a soul in any of them. I'll name a few of the towns in Kansas so you can plot the way. Council Grove, Herrington, Genases, La Crosse, Scott, Horace. At Horace we got out of the train for a little exercise. We got out of the train for a little exercise. We saw about 10 people in that town. Then we proceeded into Colorado as the day drew to a close. Well Ma, Colorado is one of the most beautiful states I saw. The continental divide (Rocky Mts.) cuts right thru the state. And as night fell came we started to climb & climb to the height of the Rockies, passing thru Sheridan Lake, Ordway, Pueblo, Florence, Greenwood Springs, Grand Junction. Well Ma, most of the fellows went asleep that night but a few of us stayed up to see what we could see. Although it was night & how I wished it was day, I saw the most beautiful sights I ever saw. At the high points of the Mts. it was completely covered with snow, with a few towns here & there lit up. It certainly painted a picture of a fairy tale you see in pictures. We were up about 10,000 feet & we could feel the pressure on our ear drums. As we proceeded, we passed camp Hale. It's is one of the largest ski camps. Its elevation is 9,000 feet. It's in a valley of the Rockies & as we passed on the mountain side you could look down upon the camp all lit up in the dark, covered with snow, like if you were dreaming and saying "Gosh is it real?"
Further down the line we came to Mts. with snow only on the top & in the valley the stream rippling with a speedy current. They both reflected the light of a very bright moon, & which made everything just glow in the dusk. We also passed the Royal Gorge Bridge (I think that's the name of it) anyway it's the highest bridge in the world. You can look that up in the Volume Library & tell me about it.
I finally got to bed (I mean chair) about 3 am. (I still wasn't tired).
When we got up in the morning, passing thru the western part of Colordado we saw canyon's like you see in pictures of the Grand Canyon. The postcards will give you an idea what some of the sights look like. Huge masses of beautiful colored rock, forming odd shapes that to each person's imagination, resembles something else. On the plateaus there were farms & cattle farms scattered here & there besides the streams and lakes. There are thousands of different colored rocks & dirt & clay that compose the canyons & plateaus.
About noon we hit Utah border and headed for Salt Lake City passing thru towns as follows, Cisco, Price, Pleasant Val, Springville, Provo City, Salt Lake City & thru to the border with Ogden, Brigham, Kelton. Right passed Ogden we had a break down & was help up for about 6 hours. That was pretty good because it was during the night & we could see more during the day. Utah was full of desert & sandy mountains, again very colorful & picturesque.
Thursday morning I was awakened for K.P. I'm glad I got it because you really don't have to do much & you can get a better view of the scenery by the big open doors of the kitchen. And you only get a half a day of it. Thurs. we passed thru Nevada. That was another beautiful state. Mountainous & deserts here & there, with snow covered mts. in the background. I still don't know whether it's all true. We passed thru valleys with streams running all over & the shrubery forming different picturesque views. We passed thru Wells, Halleck, Els, Pallisade, Battle Mt., Golconda, Winmemucca, Oreano, Hot Springs, & Reno. Reno noted for "the largest little city in the world." That's where they all go to get divorces. You know. Then toward night fall we came thru what I think was the most beautiful of all views of the trip. We passed thru the Sierra Nevada Mts. Those mts. were completely covered with snow with pine trees all over. We were way up on the Mts. side & we could look down into the valley & wee the lakes. The snow was really heavy in the mts. The R.R. had to be protected by wooden tunnels to hold back the snow drifts. What I really got a kick out of was little animal tracks in the fresh bed of snow. It was so cute. I really can't describe the picture the mts. display. It's really one of those things "seeing is believing" but I still can't believe it.
Then we went into Sacramento at night fall, and down to Fresno during the night & arrived at 7 o'clock this morning. California is also very beautiful. Pine trees, green fresh grass and all the rest. You know. Sun shining as bright as ever & a cool breeze blowing. It's really the climate to pep you up. And every few minutes an airplane is taking off. What a sight. Well I hope I covered everything. I guess one could write a book on what I saw, but I guess this is about the best I can do. I hope it's O.K. & will give you an idea what the trip was like. If not, but I think it will, write & ask me questions about it, O.K.?
Ma, I will also include a clipping I got out of a Missouri paper that will give you a picture of the hut was lived in at J.B.
Ma, I feel a bit blue just now because I went over to the P.X. waiting to buy a card & a present for your birthday but they have no cards & no presents that I care for. The ones back at J.B. were better but I waited till I went to a new camp figuring they would be better but as I said are [?] So ma being I don't think I will stay here long would it be alright if I sent something from my next camp? I feel awful bad about it, but there is nothing I can do about it. But you just wait ma. It will be something real nice. So whenever the present comes, that is the time you & I will have a little party together & I will say Happy Birthday Dear Mother.
I will close now & maybe I can think of somethings I forgot in this letter. Read it to Grandma please. Hope you are all in the best of health, I am fine.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. I didn't send this letter out last night. I found out you can't write to me with the address of this letter, it will be changed again shortly.
I went to my classification today & I got a special slip of paper that will enable me to take a test & if I pass it Iwill get into a college. Ain't that swell. Please say a prayer for me.

Good Night.

Dear Ma & Pa & Barb & Ann & Ele, Letter No. 2

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio 1-17-43
4th Receiving Co. Letter No. 2
Camp Upton, NY

Dear Ma & Pa & Barb & Ann & Ele,

Things are starting to slow down now. So I'll start to tell you about everything from the beginning.
We arrived about 4:15 PM and we were given company no's. Then we got a checkup for diseases and then went to chow. The food is far from that at home ma but it's not bad. At any rate they certainly give you enough of it. I got lima beans, spare ribs (which I didn't eat), potatoes, rice pudding, rice, macaroni, coffee, bread, and butter. I usually don't finish it there is so much.
Oh I forgot to tell you as we arrived the army band played "You're in the Army Now" and the "Strip Poker," some fellows felt like dancing, but they had to stay in line.
As we went from the reception house to chow the fellows said "watch out for the hook." Well we heard that so much we were beginning to get scared. Well I'll tell you what it means at the end of the letter. I'll keep you all in suspense.
From chow we got toilet articles which composed of 3 towel, a neat little shaving kit, shaving brush, tooth brush, & comb. Then we were assigned to our barracks, I got the very last one in my company, the letter is Z. The barracks are pretty nice, they are made of wood frame construction, and are ke[pt] warm by 3 coal stoves. The first night we were taught how to make our beds.
After we got in our barracks, we had to go right out again to take our I.Q. tests. Boy I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open. When he was reading the instructions I didn't hear a word he said. My head was spinning with confusion, not because it was hard, but because I was tired & trying to catch on to everything. But I'll tell you how I made out a little way down in the letter.
From the exam we went to get our "dog tags" as they call them. We have to wear them around our neck at all times no matter where we are. They are two brass plates with my name on & my no.
We finally got to bed about 10:30 - Everything was alright.
They woke us up [at] 5:30 in the morning. They woke up Joe at 4:30 - why I don't know. Then we washed up & came back to our barracks. One moment we wash in the next minute we were to chow. But before we went to chow we had to make our beds for inspection. For breakfast we had ham & eggs, milk, coffee, an apple & 3 plumbs. From there we got off a little time so I wrote you a letter & Grandma a short letter for fear that I wouldn't have chance to write today, but here I am writing, waiting to be called out for something or another. Then we went to the classifying office & I was interviewed. I stressed structural drafting, so where they will place me nobody knows. There I found out that I got 120 & 131 in my I.Q. test. Joe got 107 & 116. So I guess I made out alright. I thought surely he was going to top me, but those are the results. Ma[y]be because I was tired, I thought a little more, who knows.
From there we got our clothing. Gosh it was so heavy some fellows couldn't carry it. But I did. See ma you got a pretty good soldier anyway. We got 64 pieces including toilet articles which I mentioned earlier in the letter. We got one overcoat, one jacket, full jacket, 2 pair of woolen pants & 2 k[h]aki, 2 woolen shirts & two k[h]aki shirts, 2 pair of fatigue pants & jackets, two sets of woolen underwear, 3 summer underwear, 2 ties, 2 barracks bags to carry all your clothes in, 1 canteen, 1 cup, 1 portable eating tray with spoon, fork & knife, 5 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of shoes, 2 caps & 1 jeep hat. I may have forgot something but they gave us so much I don't think anybody could remember it all, no less carrying it all.
From there we got the "hook," finally. You get 3 inoculations--with the first one, you can't move your arm for a day. You keep it bent--known as the hook. Then we ate spinach, potatoes (mash & sweet), ham, cauliflower, coleslaw, bread & butter, ice cream & coffee. We also got our receipt for the insurance (enclosed). In the afternoon we got a speech and a picture on self protection from diseases. Then we had chow. We had the night to ourselves. Now we just get assignments and wait for shipment. I believe if you can get over 110 in the I.Q. you are eligible for candidates school. I'll have to check on that. I think I am on K.P. tomorrow for 19 hrs. but if I get a chance to write, don't worry ma I will.
You feel alright, don't you ma? That's good. I knew you would. Well so long for a while.

Your Caring Son & Soldier Boy,
Tony

The envelope also included a copy of his Application For National Service Life Insurance. On the back it says:
Keep this ma for your record.
Love,
Tony