Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 148

Sept. 10, 1944
Sunday
#148

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It is Sunday afternoon & the sun is trying its darnedest to break through.  It's a flip of the coin whether it will or not though.  Talking about weather, remember I told you it was sweltering in L.A.; Well the next day I read in the paper it was 103 degrees.  I guess it was hot huh!  Another thing--when I was in L.A. my eyes did burn me an awful lot (that's one reason I went to the show I thought it was the sun) but I also read in the paper that it was the gas from the industrial factories that caused it.  I'll enclose 2 clippings which will explain everything.
I had to break it off here as one of the boys wanted me to go to the show.  And boy it was a good show.  "Arsenic and Old Lace" with Cary Grant, Raymond Massey, Priscilla Lane.  It was really good.  After seeing the show I remember seeing the stage play in N.Y. a long time ago.  I couldn't say which was the better.
Fri & Sat I had guard.
This morning I went to 11 o'clock mass.  I was surprised he didn't give a sermon today.
Say mom, in one of my letters to Helen I asked her if she would like to correspond to you and I just got a letter back and these are her exact words, "I should be tickled to death to correspond with your mother."  I told her it would make you so happy and I'm sure it will.  At least when you correspond with Helen ma you won't have any trouble as she always has plenty to say.  Not like Tiny.  What do you say?  Did you answer the thank you note she sent you?  If not why don't you ma?  I wish you would ma.  In fact ma after writing to her you will probably feel like you have another daughter.  And that's exactly the way I wish you would feel.  I do have intentions and if my intentions work out all right she will be your daughter after the war.  You could write just about anything as she writes just about ordinary things that would happen to anybody & boy they sure do sound funny.  Just in her last letter, I'll just quote one paragraph "Last night you know what happened?  First I let the potatoes fry too long and then when I was ready to put the bowl on the table I picked it up on the hot side and it was so hot I dropped the bowl, potatoes & all on the floor and even broke the dish.  Mary (her sister) and I had to almost fight to keep the baby from sitting in the middle of it.  He wanted to play in the fried potatoes.  Anyway when Jane (her other sister) came home last night she exclaimed "What no potatoes."  Guess I did it.  When I came home from church last night I took songs down in shorthand from the radio and sat on the floor in the living room and typed it out.  I wasn't a bit tired last night and at 12:00 I finally decided to turn in."  
That's one of her typical paragraphs so you see you won't have a bit of trouble corresponding with her.  In your next letter just tell her you would be delighted to correspond with her.  OK, ma?
I am glad Ann got the bracelet fixed.  Doe she like it?  (You could write things like that to Helen).  (Or that Ann just got finished baking cupcakes).  You see how easy it is.
I am so glad Dr. Trombly's report was good.  I guess that is all he can say ma, but as long as he does say that and nothing else is all that matters, right?
I hope Ann doesn't start having headaches again.  I hope she's better now.
So Ele & Bob are stepping out together.  That tickled me.  Yes please do let me know whether Clinton (It seems like all the Clinton's fall for Ele) makes the date.  This is like a continued serial.
I didn't get the course yet.  I probably will real soon now.  I'll let you know.
Well ma I am so glad you are O.K., that always makes me feel tops too.  Give Grandma my love.  Hope everybody is in the best of health.  Until my next letter I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy

Tony

P.S. I'll enclose a few clippings for your scrapbook.  Love, T

 
 
    

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 66

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio

Co. "A" STAR Unit 3902

U. of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho

Dear 8/3/43

Letter No. 66

Rec'd ----

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Well everybody I'm in. I passed my tests and today I had an interview & went before the board of 3 officers & I'm accepted. Isn't that swell. They will have classes here for refresher courses in math, physics & chemistry. We will attend these classes until we are called for shipment to a permanent college. I'm praying it's someplace east of the Mississippi. Then after the first 3 months I can get a week off and get home without any trouble. The course I am in is basic Engineering. If I make the first 3 months I go on to the second three months, etc.

One of the boys had some film left in his camera & we took a couple more pictures today. If they turn out OK I will send them on. How did you like the others I sent?

Gosh there isn't much to say because there isn't anything to do around the campus during the week. But as soon as we start our refresher course here, (which can last from 3 days on) we will also have some exercise in the afternoon. I think I will like that.

We have to leave the study hall in a few months so I shall close & try to write tomorrow.

So until then I hope you all are in the best of health. So until my next letter I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony

P.S. I am a buck Private again. But don't feel too bad. There is a master sgt. with us who is now a buck private also. After the course is over & we make the grade we will automatically get stripes. It's a good deal what do you say?

P.S. Borella & Davidson also made it. We will probably stick together for a long time yet.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 64

P.F.C. Anthony J. Curcio

Co. "A" Star Unit 3902

Univ. of Idaho, Moscow Idaho

Date 7/30/43

Letter No. 64

Rec'd --

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

I received the telegram tonight. I hope I didn't give you the wrong idea. You said in the telegram that I should hurry home. Well I explained everything in the letter I sent last night. I hope I didn't disappoint you in the telegram. I tried to state clearly that I wanted the money just in case and not that I was coming home. I felt so bad that you did take that interpretation of the telegram. But the reason I wanted the money sent here in a hurry was that I didn't want you to send it to McChord Field & chances are that I will be shipped pretty soon to a permanent college and if the course shouldn't start for a while I may get a furlough until it does start. But I am not in a college yet. I have to pass exams & go before the board here before I get to a permanent college. So keep your fingers crossed. Chances are pretty good that I will be shipped closer to home as they are shipping quite a few to the eastern colleges. So there again keep your fingers crossed.

Then after the first 3 months of my course I get one week off & if I am near home things would be perfect. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Today we didn't do much except study all morning. 5 of us in the little room[...]discussing problems on trig & geometry until my head was spinning. The afternoon we went to one of the buildings to fill out some papers on our schooling and discussed the program. If I pass the tests & the [?] I will be qualified for basic engineering. And after 9 months & I still qualify I can take advanced engineering in civil engineering. I think it's an excellent opportunity. Don't you?

In this course we will get no passes during the week & one pass over the weekend. So it will be no picnic & will have plenty of work to do.

My eyes are bothering me from staring at figures so much. I hope they snap out of it. I guess it will. After not doing anything for quite awhile it's only natural that they should bother me until I get on the ball again.

As I look out of the window you get the most beautiful sights. This country is very hilly & the hills are covered with different patches of vegetables & grass. It looks like a patch quilt in different shades of green. It looks like a painted picture. Oh it's so beautiful I only wish you were here to see it.

The weather is really nice here & is cool at night so I slept pretty well at night.

I will close now hoping everything is clear and hoping you are not disappointed in me not getting my furlough just now & hoping you are proud that I got a chance to try for an army college.

So until I write again I remain,

Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony