Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 142

Aug. 14, 1944
Monday Night
#142
Rec'd 207

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It seems like ages since I wrote but we have so much to do so we are kept busy and it doesn't seem like a long time until you get down to write.  I wouldn't put off writing for another day.  It is 11 P.M. but I don't feel tired so everything is O.K.
Well I got down to Santa Barbara on Sat.  We only had Sat. off and we had to report back to camp for reveille Sunday morning.  But I got up to see the mission and boy what a sight that is.  It's the most interesting place I've ever visited as well as being beautiful.  I sent a booklet and a few cards which will give you a pretty good idea of what it's like.  The priest took us through and showed us just about everything with an interesting talk about each.  What interested me the most was the size of the walls and foundations.  One of the columns of the towers was 20 ft. square.  Can you picture what a tremendous size that is?  And most of the walls varied from 3 to 6 feet in width.  Another interesting fact was that each design and painting had some meaning just like the skeleton heads reminded the Indians of death (I explained that on the postcards).  I sure wish you could all see it because it's something you wouldn't forget.  It should be because it was the beginning of civilization in the west which makes it that more interesting.
When I was at the U.S.O. one of the elderly women was sketching the boys pictures so I had mine done.  It wasn't bad at all.  I was going to have a photo taken for Helen as she is having one made for me, but I send her the sketch so I wouldn't have to get my photo made.  That was all right wasn't it ma?
I signed the slip for the bank and will enclose it in the letter.  Thanks ma.
Helen always writes me swell letters ma.  She is swell ma.  She liked the handkerchiefs so much ma.  She said she was going to send you a little note so you probably will receive it in a little while.  It would be nice if you would correspond with her ma because ma if it's anybody for me it will be her, so don't you think it would be a good idea to get to know her a little.  What do you say ma?  You could mention you like to correspond with her.  Let me know O.K. ma.
I got a kick out of Grandma wearing my shoes and Sandy getting a bit excited.  I guess he knows me pretty well huh.  Is he getting any bigger?
I got a swell letter from Ele.  I can tell from that one letter she is growing up pretty fast.  Maybe it's the job huh?  What do you think ma?
I am glad Grandma is feeling OK.  Did Grandma hear anything about the house yet?  Give Grandma my love & kisses & tell her I will write real soon.
I didn't hear from Joe or Frank yet.  As soon as you hear from Joe send me his address as I sent his letter home.  O.K.
You could order two of those compact cases.  I'll send Anita one for her birthday which is in Sept.  And the other you can save until Helen's birthday comes on Dec. 31.  The last day of the year.  An easy one to remember.  When you get them you can send me one & keep one.  Thanks ma.  I guess you could drop Tiny a short note once in a while.  I even find it difficult to write her as she does say very little.
In your next letter ma I want you to tell me all about yourself and don't forget.  Not just a few words saying you feel fine.  I want a full "play by play" description.  O.K.  Love & kisses to all.  Until then I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy

Tony

 

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 105

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

1/2/44
Letter No. 105
Rec'd 158

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Well I started the New Year off right. Friday I went to confession (the priest came up to Gerlinger Hall) and Sat. morning before classes they had a mass at Gerlinger Hall and this morning I went to church again and received Holy Communion. We had to go to classes on Friday and Sat. as usual so Friday night (New Years Eve) I was in bed by 10:30. I'm glad though because I don't like New Years anyway. I didn't mind it but some of the others fellows didn't like is so much.
They had a wonderful meal over here on New Years Day. They put white table cloths on the tables with candles on each table and put out all the lights and only the candles were lit and the Christmas tree and boy it looked nice. They also had a swell meal. Chicken, peas, filling, sweet potatoes, pie, ice cream, milk & coffee, bread & butter. It was really very good.
I received Ele's picture and boy was I surprised. She looks so much older and beautiful. I just kept staring at the picture. Boy it's swell. Thanks a lot Ele.
And I received a letter from Boby with the money order. Thanks a lot Bob it always comes in handy.
I'm glad you all liked the presents. I thought you all would. And what is this about a dog. After all these years you all get a dog. Well I want to know one thing are you going to keep him? And what is his name?
I hope Grandma is over her cold. Send Grandma my best love & kisses. And I'm glad Grandma liked the present.
I have a few post cards of the State Capitol building at Salem and will put them in a separate envelope. I also have a patch that I told you about. I will include that with the post cards.
I forgot to tell you about those pictures we took that time. They didn't turn out good at all and it wouldn't be worth sending them home. Only two came out and they were awful.
You say I received a card from Ann. If you send me her address I will drop her a line OK.
We still don't wear our overcoats. The weather is still mild. We had a little rain over the weekend.
I'll close now hoping you are all in the best of health and very happy in the New Year. Until then I remain,

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

Dear Helen Postcard

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

3-28-43

Dear Helen,

I am being shipped so I will write as soon as I get to my next camp. I hope this one is permanent. I hope you received my little package & found it interesting. If you did write to me here they will forward it. So until then, when I write to you from my next post, I remain

Sincerely As Ever,
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 17

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio Date 2-13-43
Flight "F" 360 T.S.S. U.S. Army Letter No. 17
Jefferson Barracks, MO. Rec'd 20

Dear Mom, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

Well to begin, I'm eating the cookies Ann made ever since I got them about 12 this morning. They are the tops. How did you know I liked chocolate chip cookies? I gave one to each fellow in the hut & they all liked them very well. (They only got one apiece. It may be stingy but I really do like them too much to spare any more). Thanks Ann.
Well today it snowed (early this morning) and boy was it cold over here. But we had to drill just the same. In the afternoon we drilled & did an obstacle course. First we had to run up & down steep hills (with our overshoes on & the snow we had a good time). We thought it was all over after that but we had to go thru an obstacle course, climb fences, climb hills, crawl thru pipes, cross bridges, etc. It was a lot of fun but I'm a bit tired just now. But I'm getting used to it. It seems [to] grow into you when you get it regular & you don't mind it. Tonight I was going to rest up & tomorrow I was going to write letters & go to a show or something - but a list came in tonight & we all get detail tomorrow so instead of my day off I have to serve K.P. Isn't that mean? But I'm not squawking because it has to be done & it will be done. Right ma. Boy what a man you're going to have when I get out. A hundred percent better. I'm glad you liked the pillow case & pictures ma. I'll try to get you a big picture when I get organized & have an emblem on my arm, etc. I will try to get an emblem I mean a banner if they have one. I 'm glad Elfieda is coming down. I hope you had a nice time.
You could send me some woolen socks ma. It must have slipped my mind in the other letters. Also come handkerchiefs.
Ma didn't I write Mrs. B. Salg on all the envelopes? I was pretty sure I did. And what did I answer in the other letters that you asked me? Tell me so I can get an idea of what things she will talk about. Or is that a silly question?
Thank Grandma for the thought about the cherries. The money will come in just as handy so thank Grandma a million times. How is Grandma feeling?
Gee dad is getting pretty good in writing letters. Thank dad for the money. It certainly will com in handy. You say I didn't mention your valentine. Well I was almost positive I did. You just look over the letters. But thanks again incase I was mistaken.
One of the fellows mothers sent him a salami roll, a round loaf of Italian bread, cookies, figs, candy and batch of other food, o yes sausage too. Boy did we get a laugh at that one. It cost a dollar or something to send it. So we had a little feast.
I include a couple of postcards I got for your collection ma.
Well I think I've answered everything & I think I will go to bed early tonight because I won't be able to rest up tomorrow. So until my next letter I hope you all are in the best of health. Thanks again for all the gifts. It makes me feel like it's home when I get so many gifts. Good night.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. I wouldn't come out to see me ma, I am so sorry to say because 13 fellows were shipped out tonight & it could have very well have been me. I don't want to take the chance even though my chances are pretty good of me staying here. Ma[y]be my next camp will be closer. Keep your fingers crossed. XXXXXXXX

Dear Ma, Postcard

(front of postcard)

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio Date 2-8-43
Flight "F" 360th Tech. S.S.
Jefferson Barracks, MO.

Dear Ma,

We got our list yesterday for those men on K.P; our whole unit was on.
So Monday we got up at 3 o'clock, made our beds, marched to the mess hall, worked 14 hrs. But ma, here K.P. isn't half as bad as Camp Upton. In fact I didn't mind it at all.
When we got back (8 o'clock) we had to scrub our huts and straighten our huts for G.I. inspection. Boy do they keep us busy. I'll try to write tomorrow.
Try to call Ele. Thanks

Love
Tony