Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 146

Sept. 1/1944
Friday
#146

Dear Mom, Pa, Bob, Ann & Ele,

Hello everybody!  Here it is the end of another week and we are still at Camp Cooke.  We are having a party tonight, just company B which promises to be real good.  They are having t-bone steak & beer & ice cream as the specialty.  I don't think the beer & ice cream will mix well but who am I to squawk.
I went to the show Wed. night & saw a very good picture "Wing and a Prayer" with Don Ameche.  It was very thrilling and very worthwhile seeing.
The weather this week has been very changeable.  Some days hot, some days cold, some days misty.  Nothing like variety.
Thanks for starting the bank account for me.  Can you draw out on it ma?  I hope so for that's the way I want it in case you need any.  I'll enclose a $20 money order in this letter.
I took out a class E allotment which means that the government will $25 out of my month's pay & send it to you each month so that I won't have to send it to you.  Don't you think that's a good idea.  So now at the end of each month you'll get one $7.50 bond & a check for $25.  You can let me know when you get them so I know your getting them.  The first one you'll get will be Oct. 1 - or a little after.
I found out that the army has courses which anybody in the service can take by means of correspondence.  All you have to do is fill out an application and send $2 for the complete course.  So I filled one out & intend to take a correspondence course in structural design.  I'll let you know when I get it.  It will be a good review for me.  Don't you think so?
I got a letter from Frank & one from Joe.  They both don't say much but it was certainly good to hear from them.  I received your letter also telling me you got a letter from Joe so I don't have to tell you he's in Saipan.  Frank & Joe are pretty close now.  They're only about 200 miles apart.  
When you receive the compacts ma will you please send one to Anita with a little note wishing her a happy birthday as soon as you get it.  And send the other one to Helen at the end of the year.  Helen's birthday is the last day of the month.  If you send them to me I may not get them for a while if we move out before they get here.  O.K.  If you will do that it will save me a lot of trouble.  Anita's address is -- 
ANITA BECKER -- 1114 N. LAWRENCE ST. -- TACOMA (6) WASHINGTON
I don't need anything right now mom.  If I need anything after we move I will let you know.  O.D.  Thanks a lot.
I hope Bob & Ele have a nice time over Labor Day.  Let me know all about it.
My watch keeps perfect time.  I never have any trouble with it.  It seems like I'm the only one in the whole barracks that have the right time.  Everybody asks me what time it is.
I believe I did put on weight.  I weighed myself the other day and weighed 172 with my clothes on.  Pretty good huh!  I am in the best of health.
Boy the stamps certainly came in the nick of time.  I was just about to buy some as I had a little time but didn't have to as I got your letter.  You're right on the ball mom.  (Army slang, meaning "your tops)
I am glad Sgt. Myer is a prisoner of war because that means he's O.K.  I guess it did make everybody happy.
I couldn't finish the letter before because we had our little party (chow time) and it was really good.  The steak was pretty good.  We also had the beer, french fries, appetizer, pie & ice cream.  Boy am I full.
Well I'll close now the boys want me to go to the show so until my next letter I hope everybody is in the best of health.  Take good care of yourself now ma & give my love & best to Grandma.

Your Loving Soldier Boy

Tony

 

Dear Mom, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 128

Anthony J. Curcio
Co. B - 22 Tank Bn. A.P.O. 261
Camp Cooke, Calif.
 
5/17/44 
Letter No. 128
Rec'd  191

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It is Wed. night and I want to write while I got the time.  The weather today shifted from sunshine to mist, to rain.  It is very changeable but I am quite used to change of weather by now. 
As I polished my civilian shoes last night it occurred to me as an amazing fact that I have those shoes 16 months not counting the time I wore them at home and still look like new shoes.  Isn't that remarkable.  It just goes to show you how long something will last if you take care of it.  Right?
After I wrote the last letter on Sunday at the U.S.O. in Santa Maria.  That wanted 4 fellows to be invited out for dinner so I was one of them.  They took us to a small park and two mothers brought out swell food for us to eat.  Wasn't that nice of them.  After that I came back to camp and wrote letters. 
On Monday night I went to the post show and saw "Show Business" with Eddie Cantor.  It was pretty good.  We all liked it a lot.
This will probably be good news to you although nothing to count on.  We were called in to the Orderly room just a little while ago and the 1st Sgt. told us that they got orders to tell us that if any of us wanted to talk to the division board and tell them if we had any special qualities that would be of value some place else we could see them about it.  So we are going up on Mon.  It was just for H.S.T.P. men.  I'll let you know how I make out but I don't think anything will turn up from it. 
I received your cutest card.  Boy the Hallmark people come out with come nifty ones; don't they!
Ma, I am so sorry but I think I lost the tooth I was going to send home.  But I'll keep on looking.
I received a letter from Tiny today and she certainly likes your letters and is so glad you are both corresponding together.
I will enclude the receipt for the War Bonds.  You will get one every 3 months.
I'll close now hoping everybody is in the best of health.  Do you still feel tired ma?  Can you stay up all day?

Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony

P.S. How is our little list?

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 125

Anthony J. Curcio
Co. B - 22 Tank Bn. A.P.O. 261
Camp Cooke, Calif.
 
5/4/44 
Letter No. 125
Rec'd  2 marked 187

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

This is the first free night all week so I am going to try to catch up a little on my mail situation.
I am glad everybody is in the best of health and feeling fine.  Your letters are swell mom.  I really enjoy them an awful lot.  How do the vitamin pills work?  I was thinking maybe I should take some.  
It is really a shame that Grandma has to do it all by herself.  I wish she could get rid of the house & live with you so she could have peace and people who love her could be with her all the time.  When I get home that is exactly what we are going to do.
I would like to read that letter the war dept. sent you.  It should be very interesting.
I sent the box home with the odds & ends in I had around and I also put in my watch.  I packed it pretty good.  I also got the cards in from Hollywood.  I forgot to put my tooth in the box.  That sounds funny doesn't it? 
You mentioned about my birthday present.  Well there is nothing I really need but I was thinking that if everybody chipped in you could get me a waterproof, shockproof watch.  Not as expensive as my other one though.  I do miss my watch and awful lot and I am always looking at my wrist.  As soon as you get my watch take it to the jewelers and get it fixed OK.  The reason it probably doesn't work is because it got wet, so the longer you wait the worse it will get.  I want it in A1 condition so that the first day I get home I can put it on my wrist.  But for the work I am doing now it is nothing for such a beautiful watch.  What do you think of the idea?
It seems like Barb is in another (Henry) situation.  But if I know Barb she'll pull out OK.  Right.
I am glad Sandy is learning.  I think he will be all right in a little while. 
I hope Al is alright.  Did Boby here from him?
I forgot to tell you I saw Clifford.  I told Grandma in her letter.  He didn't have much to say and is still the same.
I also forgot to tell you in my last that when I was at the Lux Radio Playhouse, Cecil B. Demille was the announcer on the regular program.  I thought it would be interesting to let you know.
I am having $6.25 taken out of my pay each month for War Bonds and they will be sent to you automatically.  I'll close now.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony

P.S. Enclosing Money order for $30.  Use it as you wish.  Love T.