Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 23

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
Flight "A" 31 T.S.S.
U.S. Army
Jefferson Barracks, MO

Date 2-26-43
Letter No. 23
Rec'd 28-29-30

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

I can't write much tonight because it is 8:30, lights out at 9 & I got K.P. tomorrow.
Yesterday I went thru regular routine & in the night I wrote a letter to Ele & then fell asleep.
Today we had a very interesting lecture & exhibition on camouflage. It was really very informational & I enjoyed it very much. I have pictures I clipped out of the paper about it & I will send them to you later.
Tonight my name was called out to get a shot. So I had to march over to the other side of the camp for a shot. My arm doesn't hurt anymore when I get the shots.
I just got back so I thought I better write tonight because I got K.P. We have to get up at 3:30.
I will answer your letters in my next letter.
There is just one thing that you said that made me feel a bit depressed. In fact I was worried about it ever since I got your letter (#30). You said that I said that I threw all your letters away. Well ma I don't recall writing anything like that at all. I couldn't say that because I have every letter you sent me. In fact I have every letter anybody sent me. I intended to send them home when I get a big batch. I wish you would look at that letter again. In fact I wish you would send it to me. I would like to look at it. If there is anything which you misunderstood I would like to know about it so I can be more careful of what I write. You know ma your letters mean so much to me & that I wouldn't throw them away. I always kept little things that meant something to me & I always will.
I think that's all I can say right now.
I received Bobby's letter & will answer that one when I answer yours.
So until you hear from me I hope you all are in the best of health & hoping the letter makes you very happy because of the misunderstanding. Give my love to Grandma I don't think I'll have time to write.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 22

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
Flight "A" 31 T.S.S.
U.S. Army
Jefferson Barracks

Date 2-24-43
Letter No. 22

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

I wrote last night & today we just went thru regular drill.
I got a letter from Pat & Dave & one from Joe. Joe has the same training I have only that he lives in a hotel. I don't think I would like the hotel very much. I imagine after I got out of here I would. But going from a hotel into a place like this I don't think I would like it very much. After all we are in the army.
I think I will take a shower & then turn in for a nice long sleep.
Remember I told you I went to that dance Sat. night? I told you I met that nice girl. Well her & her sister invited me out Sunday if I was still here, so If I am I'll get a pass & go there. I wouldn't go if I wasn't positive they were nice girls. You know me ma, I have a knack for picking out nice girls.
Say I hate to ask but I could use a few greenbacks. I've been picking up a few souvenirs & then if I go out there Sunday I would like a few on me even though I don't spend any.
I won't get my wash done until I get to a permanent camp. I am afraid I will be shipped & then it will be a lot of trouble till I get it back. For the same reason I'm not getting my clothes pressed.
In my hut now there are a couple of fellows who are going to take tests for aviation cadets. Also there are two college graduates waiting to be called for O.C.S. The rest are from the old flight & are from N.Y. They are all nice fellows & I get along very good with them.
I'm getting used to eating with the fellows at chow. I rush it a little but not enough not to enjoy it. But I still end up the last one.
Does Grandma like my letters? I can't say too much but as long as I write. I hope she is happy.
How do you feel with those pills ma? How are they affecting you?
You say Ele didn't say anything when she read my letter? Well I hope she was happy.
Well I think that's all for now. Well so long for a while hoping I hear from you tomorrow.

Your Soldier Boy, Lovingly
Tony

A Soldier's Prayer

Dear God: I can't pray and say
All the things I want to at the end of the day.
I know you're with me and you always will
But I'll try to pray until my lips are still.

Dear God: Bless my mother so good and true,
For she's been thru what I'll never go thru;
And now this war and I'm so far away,
That's why I kneel and try to pray.

Dear God: Help me to keep the vows I made,
For the sea of troubles and temptations I'll wade.
Give me the strength that my mother holds,
For her prayers will keep me within Thy folds.

Dear God: Bless my girl so pretty and sweet,
Guide and keep her till again we meet.
May our love stay as strong as when I went away;
Please Dear God: It's so hard to pray.

Dear God: Bless my home which we're fighting to keep,
Where I first meet you at my mother's feet.
My family is there and all that I own,
So, please dear God, bless my swell home.

Dear God: when this war is over and all is through
And this proud world bows to do homage to you
There'll be millions and millions who come to say:
Dear God: It's me--I've learned to pray.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 21

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
Flight A-31-T.S.S. U.S. Army
Jefferson Barracks, MO.

Date 2-23-43
Letter No. 21
Rec'd 27

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

It is Tuesday night and I am writing letters once again. I wrote all day Sunday, last night & tonight. I wish I only had to write to home, Grandma & Ele, but if I don't write I won't receive any so I have to answer all letters. I really wouldn't mind if I had plenty of time. You notice the change in script? I'm in the day now. It is more comfortable, sitting at the table & listening to the radio. I'm sorry I didn't discover it before.
Yesterday we had gas mask drill. We learned how to put on our gas masks and test for gas. We got wiffs of mustard gas, phosgene gas & a couple of others. Then we went into a chamber with tear gas to prove that our gas masks really work. They worked. Before we left the chamber we had to take our masks off and we all started to tear. I had tears all the way down my cheeks. All these gases are in concentrated forms. It was really a lot of fun. From the gas chamber we had to walk across the camp & then thru an obstacle course with our gas masks on. Boy were we sweating. Boy that obstacle course certainly toughens you up. In this flight we go thru it twice a day. It's a bit different than our other obstacle course. You see when we changed flights we changed our drill field also. I like this one a lot better.
The weather here is cold when we get up, but in the afternoon it's like a summer day.
Al didn't say anything about where he was. Just about things in general.
If I ever get home on a furlough I'll take over Bobby's unit for a night. I'm catching on to this drill pretty good. What do you say Bob? How far do you go teaching your girls drill. Right flank-left oblique, extend march etc. Let me know I'm quite anxious to know, OK.
I'm still waiting for those cookies Ann. Of course when you have time. But I certainly do miss them. I hope they come soon.
I hear you received my letter Ele. What do you say? Write me a nice long letter & let me know. Where were you when Mom, Bob & Ann call me up?
Hi Pa! How do you feel? I hope you aren't taking anymore pills etc. What about it pa?
Well I think that's all for now. I still feel fine. I am a little tired. I guess that's to be expected.

Your Loving Son &
Soldier Boy
Tony

P.S. I got a letter from the Testa family today.

Dear Helen

2-22-43

Dear Helen,

This is Tony reporting to you from J.B. Remember Sat. night? I really had a swell time.
Well it's Monday night & I'm still here, but anything could happen, but if I'm still here I would love to see you on Sunday providing I get a pass & providing you will have me out on that day. If it's O.K., you can send me instructions on how to get there. If I should be shipped I'll try my darn'est to get in touch with you as soon as possible. I would hate to cause you any trouble if I would be shipped.
Well yesterday I was very happy. I was writing letters (trying to catch up on those forgotten letters) & I got a message to report to the orderly room. They told me I was to call operator 83 N.Y.C. I rushed out of there so fast I almost took the door with me. I went to a telephone booth & it took me an hr. & a half to get my call thru. But I finally succeeded. But those 3 minutes went awful fast. I talked to my mom & my two sisters. I just had time to say "how are you" & my time was up, but it certainly gives you a swell sensation. And then again it is over a 1000 miles from N.Y. If you just stop to think it really is remarkable.
Tonight we were restricted to our area because a couple of huts weren't clean (not mine) so, we all had to G.I. our huts. Boy we certainly do that in a hurry.
We had gas mask drill today. We had to go into a chamber with tear gas in it & before we left the room we had to take our masks off & we all started to tear. It was certainly a funny sight to see.
Well I think that's all for now, hoping you are in the best of health & hoping that I hear from you real soon. Will be waiting impatiently.

Sincerely,
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 20

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio Date 2-21-43
Flight A-31-T.S.S. U.S. Army Letter No. 20
Jefferson Barracks, MO. Rec'd 23-24-25-26

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It's Sunday night & I'm trying to catch up on my mail. I'm writing all night.
I felt very happy that I was able to hear your voices over the phone. Can you imagine over 1,000 miles away. I feel happy & yet sorry I couldn't say more than we did. I got the message to call N.Y. about 1:30 & tore out of the orderly room & ran all the way to the phone booths. When I got there there were about 5 fellows ahead of me all making long distance phone calls so I just had to wait. I had to call up twice before they put me thru to New York. The lines were very busy. Before calling I wanted to say so much & then the only words that came out were How are you Barb, how are you ma, how are you Ann.
But I guess you can't say much more. I did want to ask you ma, whether my letters were all right, & whether my letters make you happy (I mean do I say everything right in my letters) and abundance of other questions. But I said How are you & you said you were swell so that made up for all the questions I could possibly ask. Just now the church bells are ringing & the organ is playing over the P.A. system & a lump came to my throat. It makes me feel like being home so much.
Fri. I had regular drill & went to bed early at night.
Sat. we moved as I told you over the phone, to a new section. We had to take all our things. We straightened up all day. All the fellows were separated but we still see each other.
After chow we got a call for a convoy. Anybody who wanted to go could go. So I went because my friend went even though I was a bit tired. They piled us in 3 trucks & took us 20 miles outside of camp to Middletown H.S. to a dance. We had a very nice time. I was introduced to one girl which was very nice. (I stayed with her all night because she was a swell girl (you could see that by the way she talked) & she was intelligent & could dance very well). It seems I just know a good girl when I see one. Just like Elfrieda. We got sandwiches & coca cola for refreshments. Wasn't that nice. At 12 o'clock we all had to leave the building & pile into the trucks & they took us back. Sunday morning I tried to go to church but missed it all around.
In the afternoon I got your precious call & here I am writing letters in the night.
I received a letter from Sonny today. He is going in to the army next month. He sends his regards.
I received your package today and we certainly surprised to get it & it certainly is a mystery.
In your letter you say you sent the package. I got it this morning the same time as the letter. I had thrown the paper away already so I ran out & got the paper to see when it was postmarked for curiosity's sake. Well there were the stamps & no post mark on it at all. So whatever happened I don't know but I'm sending you the stamps to put on the next package. It was certainly a surprise to receive it. That map is swell. I took the red pencil (It was certainly swell to include the table) and plotted the route of the trip here. I will keep it up. I think I will be shipped as there are 10,000 cadets coming to this camp & I think they have to make room. That's why we had to move to this flight. We have 10 in a hut instead of 8 now. We sure are crowded. But why squawk.
Oh I forgot. Thanks for the socks, wrist broom, handkerchiefs, shaving cream (I just ran out of the others, how did you know I ran out, telepathy again I guess) & of course the milky ways & cigarettes. The next package you can send me some tobacco. Thank you for the package it reallly was a thrill.
I always want you to tell me about the little things. I completely understand what you mean.
We use the both kind of socks ma. I need both, you aks me which I liek best in your 25th letter. I like both too.
Oh Yes this morning we took pictures but I won't be able to get them developed because they take 3 weeks here. They have to pass the censor. So I'll have to wait 'til I get to a permanent camp.
I hear from Ele about 2 times a week.
I sure will be waiting for those cookies Ann. I hope you get the time real soon. You really don't know how much I enjoy them.
I am including the poem I promised you ma. Copy it & Send it back. O.K. It's just for you Ma.
So I'll close now hoping I can write very soon - until then

Reporting - Signing Off
Your Loving Soldier Boy
Tony

P.S. Thanks for calling, so much I can't express.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 19

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio Date 2-17-43 2-18-43
Flight "F" 360 T.S.S. U.S. Army Letter No. 19
Jefferson Barracks, MO. Rec'd 22

Dear Mom, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

Well here it is Wed. morning about 7:30 and will be called out for chow in a few minutes so if I have to break off you know the reason why. Then I will finish it sometime today. Today we got up at 5:45 instead of 5 o'clock because our mess hall is on the blink. So we have to march way over to the other side of the camp to the General Mess Hall to eat. It's a tremendous place & can take thousands of fellows at a time. Well I'm being called out now so I close now for awhile.
Well here it is Thursday night. I couldn't finish the letter yesterday. Here is the reason. Since I left for chow yesterday morning I have been on the go as usual. Everything we do has been moved up a couple of hours because of the mess hall goring on the blink. We go on the drill field & drill the same as usual only that we stay there that much longer & get back that much later. So we drilled Wed. morning & in the afternoon we played cowboys & indians. (learning how to take signals in combat zone & then laying in the mud). (We had pieces of wood for guns). It was quite a riot. Everybody got a kick out of it.. Tues. I went on sick call and got a pass to stay in my hut on Tues. because of my ankle I sprained on Mon. It hurt me a little so [I] thought I would get it taped up. Wed. it felt pretty good so as I told you all above, was out on the drill field. We got off the drill field about 6 o'clock & went to chow at seven. (This business of eating late will end as soon as the mess hall is fixed up). Then I was pretty tired & so was everybody else because of walking back & forth to the mess hall besides our regular drill. Soon we thought we had the rest of the night off & I was going to finish the letter & then flop in bed, but ------- we all had to go to a show. We all thought it was a processing show (like first aid) or something. So we had to walk in formation to the other side of the camp & guess what it was? ------------ It was a show by the U.S.O. entitled "Flying Colors." They had 24 Rockettes from Radio City (it was a New York show) comedians, singers from W.O.R. & it was a wonderful show. Everybody was glad they had to go. One of the singers sang "Begin the Beguine" right down the line. Wasn't that swell. The Rockettes were very good. Well we got back at 11 o'clock & I went to bed. We went to drill this morning & this afternoon was called again for special instruction on guard duty. I have guard duty from 10 -12 tonight. After all that I still felt pretty good. In fact I don't seem to get tired anymore but rather enjoy it. The only thing is I would like to have more time to write letters. I wrote one to Eleanor Tuesday & mom you read it too. I think you'll understand.
I received a letter from Eleanor & it was certainly swell to read it and Ele you won't have any trouble in your next term. Just keep up your good work. I got two letters from Ele & she says she had a wonderful time Sunday. I'm sure she did. Al didn't say much in his letter as usual but he is overseas & is sorry he couldn't write sooner. He sends his regards to all.
I got a letter from the bookkeeper from my office & it had a little bad news. Ed, my boss is in the hospital with meningitis. But is recovering. I felt bad when I read it. I'll write him a nice letter Sunday. I hope he gets betters in a hurry. His course is almost up.
And ma of course your letter, I always save yours for last. I remember when I went to night school I always saved my subject I liked last. I always enjoy yours the most. I'll have to close now. I'll answer all questions in my next letter. I'll have to put my leggings on & make my bed & shine my shoes before lights go out & then I have to go on guard duty. There is so much I would like to say but just know I haven't the time. I'll have to answer Elfrieda tomorrow. Goodnight. Love & Kisses from Your Loving Soldier Boy
Tony

P.S. That original design on Eleanor's letter was quite effective. You see ma we have a bright girl in the family. Our little genious.

P.S. I have a swell poem I will write in the next letter. It's really swell. Keep looking for it.