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. 138

7/23/44
Sunday
#138
Rec'd 203

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It is Sunday morning and I went to 8 o'clock mass this morning.  The sunshine isn't out and it's very gloomy.
This will make you laugh.  22 fellows and myself were gigged for the weekend for not having our dog tags around our neck.  It isn't affecting me one bit as I wasn't going anyplace anyway but it's just the idea of them picking on such a petty thing to gig us.  I really laugh under my breath.  It's so silly.  But that's the army.
I've been seeing shows all along.  It seems like I got a bug for going to the show lately.  Tues. I saw "The Woman Who Dared."  It was a pretty good mystery.  Wed. I saw "Step Lively" with Frank Sinatra.  And boy did the boys make noise when Franky sang.  Wow.  It was a good musical and I liked it very much.  Fri. night I saw "Summer Storm" with George Sanders & Linda Darnell.  If you want to see a good love story that's it.  I like that one a lot also.   
Things went pretty good all week and I'm getting more or less used to the old routine again.
I received your letter of the 17 and boy was it full of surprises.  Ele working for $18 a week.  This modern generation is really going to town isn't it?  I am awfully glad she got it but as you say it's probably for a short time.  The Tel. Co. bus. would be much too long.
I am awfully glad also that Ann got a lot of mail from Frank.  I bet it made her real happy.
Helen is sending me some more cards so you'll have some more to put in your scrapbook.  I bet it looks good with everything in it.  Right?
I think the price for the record is pretty reasonable.  After all it will last for a long time, in fact it will last forever if we don't break it.  Right?
I am enclosing a picture I took out of the Sunday newspaper.  It gives you an idea of how much room the driver & the Bow (that's the man on the right) has.  They are in the front of the tank.  The tank commander the gunner & myself are in the back of these two men in the turret.  Bobby wanted to know when I was home but I couldn't explain very well without a picture.  I hope it will give some idea anyway.
It was good to hear that Gram's cold is much better.  So you had turnips from Gram's garden.  I bet they were good.  I would have like to be there to eat them.  
You asked me a few ques. about Helen.  I am glad you like the idea about Helen & I and I just know you would like her.  You ask me whether someday I will marry her.  Ma I don't think I could find a better wife and if things go all right I think the possibilities are very good.  Of course it wouldn't be til after the war when we can see each other again and get more acquainted and plan things.  Isn't that the best way ma?  I've been thinking of saving a little too like Frank does with Ann.  I'll tell you what I'll do.  I could send as much as possible home (that means conserving as much as possible here) and you could put it in the bank and whenever you need some why you could just take it.  Or if you don't want to do that you could take half of whatever I send home and use it for what you want and put the other half away for me.  I think that latter would be the best or you can do whatever you like ma.  I think it would be a good idea to have a little just in case huh, ma?  What do you think ma?  I do want you to take whatever you need though ma.  That's why I don't want to say half of what I send home or anything like that because if you need all I want you to take all of it.  And I do want you to put some in the bank on your account.  Let me know what you think about it.  O.K.
Let me know how you are ma, you didn't say in your last letter.  Give my regards to Grandma.  And I wish Ele a lot of luck with her new job.  Until my next letter I remain

Sincerely as ever

Your Loving Soldier Boy

Tony

P.S.  I forgot to tell you all that I got a change of address card from Fio.  He's overseas now.  Lt. Fiodaliso.  It sounds good doesn't it?

 

 

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 137

7/17/44
Monday
#137

Dear Mom, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Well here it is Monday already and I'm sort of getting use[d] to the old routine again.  Since I last wrote on Thursday things are seeming pretty smooth.  Sat. I had K.P. but K.P. over the weekend is always easy & I got done about 5:30.  I went to the show Sat. night & also last night.  Sat. I saw "Manpower" with Ed. G. Robinson & George Raft & Marlene Dietrich.  It was an old picture and after seeing about 5 minutes of it I recalled I [saw it] a couple of years ago but it was still a good picture & I enjoyed it an awful lot.  
Sunday morning I went to 8 o'clock mass and the chaplain gave a very good sermon on choosing friends.  He usually does give a good sermon.  I wrote letters until noon & in the afternoon I played softball with the co.  We played against Co. C and naturally lost.  We didn't have a regular team but I think the boys are going to start one.  Then as I told you I went to the show at night & saw "Canterville Ghost" with Charles Laughton & Robert Young.  It was a crazy picture but it was supposed to be a comedy & it was very good.
The sgt. good quite a rich (?) about the Carstairs Whisky.  He said he didn't have any Carstairs in ages.  He thanked me an awful lot.
Tell Ele that Helen finally found a Jefferson Barracks banner & she will send it to me soon.  The Ele will have a banner from every place I've been stationed at.  O.K.  Huh! 
Tell Pop that I won't be able to get anything for his birthday until payday & I may not even get paid then because I didn't sign the payroll this month as they signed it on the 7th & I got back on the 12.  But sometimes they sign it for you.  If not I'll have to wait until Sept. 1.  I certainly hope they signed it for me.
I signed up for those 10 bonds they put out for service men.  It's $7.50 a month and $10 maturity value.  So you'll get one of those a month instead of one $25 bond every 3 months.  I think that's better don't you?
Helen also sent me a postal card of that excursion boat that we took which I was at St. Louis Sat. night.  I'll enclose it in this letter.
Say could you get a few pictures made of Barb & Ele & I on one picture that we took at Calley Stream & the one of just Bob & I also.  Just 3 of each.  O.K.  I want to send one to Tiny & Anita.  
So far I didn't hear anything of us moving out although there are a lot of rumors you can't count on.  I'll let you know in case I should find out.
Well how is everything ma?  How do you feel?  Are you getting a sun tan?  Why don't you try going to a show ma or don't you feel too safe yet?  How is Grandma feeling and how is the garden coming along?
Did Ele get the job at the Telephone Co.?
I wrote to Frank & told him about the swell cake Ann made.  Boy I bet his mouth will water.
I guess that about all for right now.  I'll write soon again & until then take good care of yourself ma, don't do any work & get plenty of sunshine.  Give my love & kisses to Grandma & the rest of the family and give Sandy a cracker for me.  O.K.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony

P.S. Tell Grams I won't need any stamps for a while yet.  Grams gave me plenty didn't she.

Love

T

 

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 129

Anthony J. Curcio
Co. B - 22 Tank Bn. A.P.O. 261
Camp Cooke, Calif.
 
5/21/44 
Letter No. 129
Rec'd  192

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It is Sunday afternoon and the weather is misty out.  Since I last wrote on Wed. we have been quite busy.  On Thursday the whole Co., in fact the whole battalion, went out on a problem and came back on Friday.  It was pretty cold sleeping out on the field but our blankets did a pretty good job keeping us warm.  Before we left on Thurs. they had a special mass said so we wouldn't miss going on Ascension Thurs. 
Fri. night we had a Co. dance.  Most of the boys weren't going to go because we got back late from the motor pack after cleaning up our tanks but we had a pretty good turn out.  The officer got about 30 girls from Lompoc.  And the chow they had was really swell.  The cooks did a swell job for a chance.
Sat. & today I have guard duty.  I have it till 5 tonight and then I'll probably go to the show on the post and see "The Story of Dr. Wassell" with Gary Cooper, in technicolor.  I'll let you know how it is if I see it.  It's my time off right now so I got time to write a few letters.
I went to church this morning and the Chaplain gave a very good sermon. I received a letter from Mable, the Secretary at the office, and she sent me the pictures they took of me when I was down there.  I'll enclose them in this letter.  Show them to Grandma also.  OK.
I also got swell letters from Helen Riley of St. Louis & Anita from Tacoma, & Tiny of Eugene.  Sounds like a string of pearls doesn't it.  
I got your letter & also one from Ele.  Both were swell.  I'm glad you got such nice presents for Mother's Day.  I'll write Ele soon again.
I am going to enclose a dollar for Grandma to put some flowers on Aunt Josies grave.  Time certainly does fly.
I'll write again soon.  How do you feel ma?  Are you still taking those pills? Let me know.
Sandy may be a pest ma but you love him don't you?  I'm glad he's feeling well again.
Hope you all are feeling well.  Send Grandma my love.  

Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony

 

Dear Mom, Pa Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 6

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio 1-24-43
4th Receiving Co. Barrack Z Letter No. 6
Camp Upton, NY Rec'd #2

Dear Mom, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,
I received your letter at 4:30 again and I was so happy. I also received on from Grandma & Aunt Anna.
You say the kids say that you ask me a lot of questions. Well ma here's my answer. I try to write as much as possible to give you an idea of what camp is like & how I feel about army life, but there are always some things which slip my mind or never even occur to me. So if you want to ask me any ques. it's OK. In fact the more ques. the better, then I can get more of an idea of writing interesting letters. Isn't that right ma?
I'll admit of course that ma[y]be my letters aren't to[o] interesting now. But once I get to a permanent camp things will start to happen. I will get drill, and learn things, then I assure you better & interesting letters. As I said before this is a camp where they try to place you in the place where you'll be most fitted for. In the meantime they give you something to do to keep you busy, so that you won't be idle. So they give you details to do, some you just sit around, some you have to do a little manual labor. In fact no matter what you do here [it] makes no bit of difference because there are only buck privates who are just like one of us to tell us what to do. I'm getting used to this now and it isn't so bad. In fact when I get to my permanent camp I really think I will like it except that I am away from home. I guess it's much harder for all you at home, because when I get to any other camp they will keep me busy. But I will never forget my home, and all those I love, that's one thing I can always dream of an hope I can resume in a very short time. Having a good home like I have and receiving letters from home will make me one stp better than the rest of the soldiers. That's a medal I will have pinned inside of me all the time even tho I don't have a couple of stripes on my arms or the power to tell others what to do. The more dreams I have & the more letters I receive the medal will increase in morale, courage and all the other qualities that make a good soldier.
It takes the army to make one appreciate the comfort and pleasures of home.
Ann thinks a log for giving the scarf to Dot. It was really swell. I don't think a family can get along without a kindhearted person as yourself. Ma[y]be we did bicker once in a while, but I guess you really appreciate the things you did,, once you're in the service.
It's too bad [you] all didn't receive the package. But I guess he will get it when things calm down.
I will certainly look forward to see you if I do get to a near camp. Ma[y]be you call can come out & see me, including Elfrieda. Boy if you all could come out that would be some treat.
The stamp on the envelope make me feel like somebody. I bet they do rush it to[o]. Right.
To take up where I left off in the last letter; On Sat. I got a detail at one of the warehouses, from 9:30 to 11:00 we listened to the radio. There was really nothing to do so the sarg. left on the radio so we could enjoy ourselves. That was the first time I heard a radio since I got here. Although they have got a jukebox at the P.X. But it's too crowded there you really don't get a chance to stand still and listen to it. But I really don't mind.
In the afternoon we got a detail sweeping around the coal boxes. That took us about an hr. Then we went to the barracks & rested.
Sun., today, there was another shipping list but I still wasn't on it. The sarg. said we could go to church so I went to 8:30 mass. Boy was is jammed. Upon leaving the chuch we all go[t] a a scapular to protect us. I will enclose it so you can see it, then you can send it back to me. I had the rest of the morning off. In the afternoon I watched the barrack and that is where I am writing this letter.
Boy there is certainly a change in temperature out here. First when we came here it was muddy, then the mud froze. Then it snowed. & today it's so warm out you can go out without your coat. But I won't ma. That's one thing I learned at home.
I hope Ele came over Sunday (today). I only got one letter from her so far I guess she thought I would be shipped. If you get a chance to call her it would be swell. Do you have any trouble calling here? The number is WA5-2300 & ask for ext. 4.
Well I think that's all for now. Ma[y]be I will got to the show tonight if I can get on the line soon enough. You have to wait for everything around here. So until my next letter, all take care of yourselves. I am.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. This letter is written a little clearer. I got a hold of a table to write on.