Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 116

Anthony J. Curcio
Co. B - 22 Tank Bn. A.P.O. 261
Camp Cooke, Calif.

3/14/44
Letter No. 116
Rec'd

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

I'm free tonight. I didn't think I would be because twice a week the Co. goes on a hike from 7 to 11 at night but we won't have to go for a while yet.
I don't think I said too much about the camp in yesterday's letter but frankly there isn't much to say about it. It's barracks, barracks and more barracks. There are very few trees and it's very sandy as we are but a few miles from the Pacific Ocean between Santa Maria & Santa Barbara. (In fact we can see the water from the camp.) The camp is spaced out over miles and miles. It's very large. They have a service club (that's where I am now) for entertainment and writing etc. They have a couple of shows also. They have a pamphlet out about Camp Cooke. If I can get one I will send it home.
The outfit (any branch of it) isn't very appealing. But it's getting a little better now that we are getting to know the boys.
Today we had calisthenics in the morning and thru some drill and then some more review lectures on wearing of the uniform. There we had a lecture of the organization of the 11th Armored Division. It includes all branches of the service artillery, cavalry, infantry, etc. The 22 Tank Battalion is one branch of the 11th Armored Division. If you want me to explain that more let me know. O.K. Then they showed us the different tanks and their parts. It doesn't look too appealing but I don't think it will be too bad. I still feel luckier than some of the boys who were put into some of the other outfits. In the afternoon we went for a 3 mile hike. The sun is out all day and there is not a cloud in the sky but it's still very cold. There is a constant breeze coming in off the ocean and regardless of the sun it's very windy and cold. Then we had lectures on chemical warfare and maintenance of the jeep. We had most of that in our basic training.
Then when we were finished at 5 o'clock I took a shower and etc. The food is pretty good only some of the boys claim there isn't enough. But it's enough to suit me.
Did you get the box I sent home?
Ma I know your birthday is on the 24th of this month but I hope it will be all right if I send it a little late. O.K. I want to look around town (when I get in). I don't know when we will get passes yet. I just wanted to let you know so that you knew I didn't forget.
I don't think I told you in yesterday's letter but we are not allowed to wear civilian shoes or garrison caps with the peak. Boy they are really G.I. around here.
The armored division also wears their hats on the left side of the heads instead of the right side like other outfits do. I guess it's pride or something.
How is everybody home and how are things going?
I am in the best of health. Don't worry about anything and as soon as things get set over here I'll see the sergeant about a furlough. I know it won't be for a while but I got a pretty good chance. Don't count on it and don't worry about it please. I'll do the best I can. O.K. Until my next letter I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. Please tell Grandma not to send me anymore airmail stamps for awhile. Effective March 24 airmail stamps will be 8 cents instead of 6 cents. I will have enough until that time comes. O.K.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 112

Anthony J. Curcio
Co. "A" A.S.T.U. 3920
U. of O. Eugene ORE

2/21/44
Letter No. 112
Rec'd 171, 172

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

As you probably already read in the papers the A.S.T.P. is closing down (that is Engineering) in all the colleges by April 1. So we probably won't even start the third term. Nothing is official yet what they are going to do. When they do break up, they will probably send us to the same branch of service we came from. Not the same unit, but the same type of Branch of Service. It's certainly going to feel funny leaving this place especially leaving Tiny. She's certainly been swell to me and we certainly had a swell time together. I'll let you know more about the situation as it progresses. As soon as I get to an outfit again I will apply immediately for a furlough. But I'm not going to say anything about a furlough until I am sure what is going to take place. I really shouldn't have any trouble getting a furlough tho, once I get back to an outfit.
Over the weekend Tiny and I went to the show Sat. night and saw "Pistol Packin Mama." It was pretty good. Sunday morning we went to church at 9:30 mass. Sunday afternoon Tiny treated me to dinner and after dinner we went to the show again and saw "Johnny Come Lately" with James Cagney. I liked it an awful lot. Sunday night they had a forum at one of the houses so we dropped over for awhile. They spoke on community planning as a protection against juvenile delinquency. It was very educational.
After church on Sunday morning (I forgot to tell you this) we took a walk around town near the Mill Stream and we made friends with a few of mother nature's pets. We were sitting near the mill and there was a squirrel on the other side of the stream. He sat on the limb of a tree for a while and looked at us. Then he went down, climbed up another tree and jumped from the limb of one tree to the limb of another tree (this tree being on the side we were on). He started to come towards us when a black cat came up from nowhere and started to chase him. Boy did we get a kick out of that. We also saw a woodpecker hitting out a couple of songs.
The weather is pretty nice just now.
So it's really snowing and really laying. That's the first time in a long time.
Whenever Ele goes out with a boy don't forget to approve of him first ma. You know how I would do it if I was there.
I'm glad you all liked the candy.
My blouse is my short coat with the brass buttons.
I'll close now and will let you know how things turn out. I hope everybody is in the best of health and very happy.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 99

Anthony J. Curcio
Co. "A" A.S.T.U. 3920
U. of O. Eugene ORE

11/22/43
Letter No. 99
Rec'd 146, 147

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It's Monday night & I got excused from mail call so I could go and get a haircut so I may not finish tonight. I'll try my best tho.
The term is drawing to a close and the heat is certainly on. On this Friday & Sat (26-27) we are going to have our final tests (G.I. tests and they ain't no [?]) 2 1/2 hrs. a piece, one after another. It's going to be tough but I'll pull out of it all right.
Tiny & I had a pretty good time this weekend again. Sat. afternoon they had a football game and although we lost it was a good game. I'll include a clipping. Sat. night all the sorority houses gave dances. Tiny's house gave a circus dance and they all got dressed up and they had bails of hay on the floor and it was fixed up real nice. We had a swell time.
Sunday morning we went to church. In the afternoon the co. band had a program of music and entertainment and it was really good. And Sunday night we went to our usually spent at Gerlinger Hall and Tiny played for me again.
More fellows left today because they flunked out. When we studied at the beginning of the term we had 27 in our section and now there are only 12 left.
I sent Boby a little present for her birthday. I hope she likes it.
My roommate's name is Tony Cruick (?). He's from Chicago. He's a swell fellow.
You asked me if I need anything. I could use a couple of sets of underwear. Try to get under T-shirts and jockey shorts. O.K. As for shirts I could use some if you get the right kind of khaki shirt. I take 15-33. Thanks, ma.
I feel fine ma and I hope you all feel the same. I am glad everything is working out Ok with Grandma's house. You tell Grandma I went to church Sunday and give her my love & kisses.
I got a letter from Bruno & he is making out O.K. I'm glad he is because he deserves it.
I also got a letter from Elfrieda and she is going back home again because her husband is leaving for the Navy. It's too bad it couldn't last a little longer. (I may have told you that already).
The weather is surprisingly good yet. It amazes everyone around here.
I'll close now and say a little prayer for me that I pass my tests O.K. Until my next letter

I remain Your Loving Soldier Boy
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 7

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio 1-25-43
4th Receiving Co. Barrack Z Letter No. 7
Camp Upton, NY Rec'd 3

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

I received your letter along with one from Ele, I was so glad to get the mail, I just couldn't wait to open it. (I got them last night).
Mon. morning we got another shot in the arm. We will get them every week now. Your arm gets a bit stiff after awhile but I'm getting used to it & it doesn't bother me any more.
Boy that's certainly a thrill getting my name on the plaque. I'll feel proud to see it on my furlough.
Last night I went to bed about 7:30, I was a bit tired.
We didn't get anymore K.P. yet. I think once you serve it here you don't get it anymore.
I don't fell so bad ma. Last night I didn't sleep very good but I generally do. I dreamed I got a pass. So sometimes dreams come true ma.
As for Albert listening to radio. Ma you can listen to Australia can't you? Just put on short wave. I believe it's listed on our radio. They probably have the same thing there. Just vise versa. We have on our radio Australia, they have on their radio U.S.
Just now ma it's 2:50 and we are being called out. We have to get dressed in our O.D.'s with our field jackets on & our leggings on. Boy what a laugh, half of fellas couldn't get their leggings on right. I got mine on backwards. But it was all right. Boy ma I don't look so bad. It feels pretty good all dressed up. We had to go out & we were given drill for about 1 hr. Boy it was swell. It put a little spirit back in you. It's not regular drill but they do it every time one of the generals come around. That's the best thing that happened to me since I came here. I think I'll make out pretty good when I get to a permanent camp.
I didn't get any mail today. I guess it will come in tomorrow.
Today I saluted a captain & a lieutenant. It wasn't so good but when I get more complete instructions I guess it will be very impressive.
I think I will wash to right before I go to bed, I mean clothes.
Well I think that's all for now ma. I would have finished this afternoon but the drill came through & I'm glad it did, because it was interesting. Well so long for awhile. I hope you feel OK ma, & I hope everybody is OK to[o].

Remaining
Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

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

Dear Mom, Letter No. 1 (continued)

1-17-43 12:30

Dear Mom,

We were issued all our clothing this morning and we were given boxes to send our stuff home in, so I am sending all my stuff home as the others are to[o]. I'll tell you about all the clothing in the next letter. It seems I made out pretty good in my I.Q. believe it or not. I'll sign off now & you will hear from me at my first free moment.

Love,
Tony