Dear Helen

3-9-43

Dear Helen,

Well here it is Tues. afternoon about 3:30, after goldbricking awhile, resting under a patch of trees. Boy it was swell out this afternoon. This morning we wore our overcoats & froze & this afternoon we wore our flight jackets & sweated. Well that's one thing I don't have to tell you about & that's the weather. (Missourian)
As I told you over the phone Sun. morning, I really missed you Sat. night. Boy if I would have known the 25 training group was going instead of the 23rd, I would have made it my business to squeeze into the convoy, but when you don't know certain facts you can't solve your problem. It's just "one of those things."
Sure, I intended to write all day again like I always do trying to catch up with my mail, but at 3:30 the sergeant walked into our hut and said said he needed two more men to go on a convoy. So being it was a dinner dance my friend & I went. Anything to get a meal outside of J.B. and you can lead me to it. Don't get me wrong now, I'm not squawking about the food at J.B. but mass production certainly cuts down the pleasure to some extent.
As for the dancing, it's the same old story (missed you) & so I came home early. We had passes and could leave any time we wanted to. It was no use, whenever I tried to teach anybody the lindy I always found myself doing the dago hop. That only proves one point & that is you are a very good dancer. You're the only one that caught on to the lindy & peabody. I'm no dancing instructor & I guess the easy way out of it is to learn the St. Louis way, but the lazier the instructor I am, the better you must be to catch up on the steps. So to come to a conclusion, I know for a fact I can't teach to save my life, so you are an exra good dancer. you can give me a quarter for that one. O.K.
Monday morning we went before the Colonel. Well we passed but there is always one goon to make a mistake. (It wasn't me either). But as long as we passed it was O.K. The afternoon we had to ourselves believe it or not. So I went to the service club to write letters & wrote 6 of them. I felt much better after that.
I was supposed to get guard duty (24 hours) but so far the luck (of the Irish) is holding out pretty well. Many of the other flights have got guard duty already, so I guess my chance is coming.
This morning we had to parade before Brig. General Howard. Boy what a grand victorious feeling you get marching to the beat of the drums. If there is anything I like here is to march to the rhythm of the music. I guess it's just like dancing to music also. It's the "old certain feeling."
I just stopped the letter for a few minutes for mail call & got a letter from mom. She says she is getting the data about N.Y. together for you. So as soon as I get it, it's yours.
Last night we had another G.I. party. General cleanup, scrub the floor, etc. We sing & make more noise than a bunch of nuts in a crazy house. It makes the time go faster.
Well I think that's all for now, except that I still hope it's O.K. for Sunday.
I hope you write soon because I'll be waiting impatiently.
I hope I'm still here to enjoy another enjoy another enjoyable day with you.
So until I hear from you,

I remain,
Sincerely Yours,
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 28

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
23 TNG. SQD.
SQD "A"
Jefferson Barracks, MO.

Date 3-9-43
#28
Rec'd #37

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

Well I have but a half an hour to write this letter as it is 8:30 now & I want to send off a letter tonight.
Monday we went before the colonel. It was pretty nice. We all had to stand at attention when he came along. He asked some fellows questions about the army. It's good he didn't ask me. I think I would have been a bit nervous. Then we did a little drill and made out pretty good. We passed and believe it or not we had the rest of the day off. So I went to the service club to write letters. I wrote one to Ele, one to Aunt Concelia, Aunt Margaret, Tony Testa, and to Joe.
In the night we had a G.I. party & I had to clean up our hut.
This morning we had to parade before the visiting Brig. General Howard. Boy it's quite a thrill marching to the rhythm of the drum. It makes you feel victorious.
This afternoon we just did a little drill & got off early. If we don't get that we get a detail. We are casual now just waiting shipment. So they give you something to do to keep you busy. You really don't know when you're going to be shipped.
I received your letter & one from Dad.
To answer your first ques., the whole squadron uses the latrines. There is about 2000 fellows.
I hope you have a nice time at the party. I guess you all will, I wish I was there. Give Lily my regards. What did she say about my description of the G.I. coffee?
Helen Riley's hair is a little darker than Elfrieda's.
I received the letter from Pa today also & I think he has much improved in his letter writing. What do you say ma? Thanks for the money Dad. It did come in handy just in time.
Thanks for the cherries, Grandma. Boy they're the most delicious candy I ever tasted. It's good to taste something that's really good that you eat at home.
And thanks for the tobacco. Everybody in the hut smokes it (3 guys anyway) and they all like it very much.
Well that's just blow & lights will go out so until my next letter I remain.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 27

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
23 TNG. GRP.
SQD. "A"
Jefferson Barracks, MO.

Date 3-7-43
Letter No. 27
Rec'd 36

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

Well here it is Sunday afternoon and I am sitting in my bunk writing letters. I have to try to catch up once again.
As I told you in my last letter we were supposed to go before (yesterday) the colonel but we didn't on account of the weather. Instead we did drill in the morning & in the afternoon went on a 5 mile hike. Anything to keep us busy.
In the night I took a shower & got all set for the convoy into town. But it wasn't the same one I went on last time. They change from flight to flight. This one went to Saint Thomas' Church. So I didn't see Helen Riley. I wish I did though because I didn't have such a good time. They dance a lot different out here. They don't do the lindy like we do, the few that do it. They never heard of the peabody. But I taught Helen Riley how to do them & she caught on right away. Maybe I better let them teach me their way.
Helen was working till 5 o'clock today (Sunday) & I could have gone out to her house but I thought it would be better if I stayed here & rested a bit. I'm pretty tired from last night.
This morning I went to 8 o'clock mass, same as last Sunday. They have lent here the same as they do back home. I will find something to sacrifice. They will have a mass on Wed. night & I will get ashes on my head.
After church I made a call on the phone to Helen to explain what happened last night. Then I came back & slept till chow. For chow we had chicken, potatoes, asparagus, bread & butter, coffee, soup, ice cream & crackers. During the week we don't get the ice cream and the portions are a little less. But we still get plenty. (The field ration, as I explained in the last letter).
Boy the weather changes here. Yesterday it snowed and it was awful cold. The roads were slippery etc. This morning when I went to church it was cold & when I got back from the church the snow had melted & the ground was muddy. What do you think of that.
In our huts it's the same way. The upper bunks are hot & the lower bunks are cold. That is why I took the upper bunk. All the heat rises you know. Maybe I ain't so dumb after all.
I got another letter from Aunt Margaret. She send her regards. I also got a letter from Aunt Concelia. She said she didn't write sooner because she didn't feel so good but she feels better now. She sends her regards too.
I also got a letter from a fellow I went to school with. His name is Jimmy Anaheim. He said he got the address from my sister. How did he got it?
How is Grandma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele? I don't have to ask you ma. I know are O.K.
Until my next letter I remain,

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. How did you like those camouflage pictures?
P.S. This is my last piece of paper & have no more envelopes. I should have wrote sooner for them.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 26

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
U.S. Army
23 TNG. GRD.
SQD. "A"
Jefferson Barracks, MO.

Date 3-5-43
Letter No. 26
Rec'd 34 & 35

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

Well today we had some snow again. It was pretty cold, but we had colder days than this already & it wasn't so bad.
Today was our 25th day of drill (our last) and tomorrow we are supposed to march before the colonel. If we pass we will get 24 hrs. guard duty, 2 hours on & 4 hrs. off. They used to give a long pass but now they have a new system. Ain't that nice of them. If we don't pass we will get our drill days extended to 36 days. But we seem pretty good, unless some guys aren't on the beam. (I can see now where Henry Massy get's that expression "on the beam." Everything here is "get on the beam.") Although tomorrow we may not go before the colonel because of the snow. Or maybe there will be too many & we will have to wait our turn.
Yesterday we went to rifle range. It was very interesting but very noisy. We got 30 shots with the machine gun & 25 shots with the rifle. Believe it or not I got a couple of bulls eyes with the rifle. They have instructors there to tell you what's what. They say that in the Air Corps you may never have to use any piece of armaments but they give it to you just in case you do have to protect yourself. I think this is the safest branch of the service because the Air Corps is so important that they have the best equipment. The only ones that really see battle are the airplane crew. If I get a drafting job maybe I'll never see battle but I sure would like to get my piece of this war like all the rest of the fellows. But we shall soon see & there is nothing to worry about now or then. Right?
Last night I took a shower. We also had personal inspection last night & I had to get another hair cut. If you really want to laugh, I was out of that chair in about 3 minutes. But just the same it cost 35 cents.
They say your supposed to get a hair cut every 2 weeks & shave every day. But I usually shave every 2 or 3 days & get a hair cut when they tell me. Some joke huh. But really I like it with my hair short & it really is neat & keeps clean. Maybe I'll always keep it like this, who knows.
Last night when I was in the latrine I found a beautiful ring from the University of Notre Dame. So this morning I turned it in to Sqd. headquarters. Later on in the morning before we went out to drill the fellow who owned it came in and thanked me & gave me a dollar. I didn't want to take it & walked quite a ways down the road trying to make him take it back but I couldn't give it to him, so I have a greenback which I can use. I have two dollars now which will last me until I get paid, I hope. Little things that turn up now & then add up. Like that hair cut & 25 cents to put a band (orange & blue) on my flight cap. But once things start to roll the money will flow in the opposite direction.
Joe Cohn is in the same basic training as I am & will be sent to school the same as I am.
Boy Ma I'm positive you are feeling O.K. now, for the simple reason that you are starting to clean & wash again. But don't do it all Ma. Take it easy & let the girls do their own clothes. One thing I found out being here & that is you can find plenty of time if you want to, regardless of what you have to do. With a little pressure, one can do anything. Right Ma. Give me an answer on that.
Good for Eleanor on the swimming problem, but she can learn to swim no matter what conditions are. Now I want to hear in a couple more weeks that she can swim. Now Ele get out there and learn I know you can do it.
Well we are on field ration now. But there is still plenty to eat. The only thing is we don't get so much ice cream & pie etc. But you can always go for double if you like. I've enclosed a clipping from a St. Louis paper about it.
Well the W.A.A.C.s have landed. 62 of them came into our camp yesterday. They will take over jobs in the offices. I didn't see any yet I guess there in a different part of camp.
That was my mistake about your misunderstanding. It was a mistake in writing. The word letter was supposed to be paper, after all I wanted to see when the paper was postmarked. I am sorry I made that mistake. I'll try to be more careful. If anything comes up again don't hesitate to ask me like you did this time.
Boy it must have been thrilling to see Frank in those pictures. Boy I bet you got a thrill right down your spine. Right?
My feet are holding out O.K. and I think I march pretty good now. (I hope) Joke.
Well I think that's all for now hoping you are all O.K. & in the best of health. Let me know how you are & how your conditions are changing. Have you done to the doctor yet? & Please let me know from time to time how Grandma is. Nobody tells me. (You know what I mean). Only you can tell me Ma. Then I will know Grandma is O.K. Has Grandma had anymore trouble with the house?
So until I write again, I remain,

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 25

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio 23
TNG. GRP.
SQD "A"
Jefferson Barracks, MO.

Date 3-3-43
Letter No. 25
Rec'd 32-33

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

Boy it was cold here the past few days. We had snow up here on Tues. I guess I was pretty lucky. The past two days, yesterday & today we were indoors getting instructions on the rifle & sub-machine gun. How to take them apart, etc. It's pretty interesting, Tomorrow we go on the range and have some fun. Last night I had guard duty again. This time it was in one of the latrines. I had it from 8 to 11. It wasn't bad because it was inside. After I finish this letter I will go and wash my clothes. Oh yes, this morning I went to get a pair of G.I. glasses. The other day they said whoever wants a pair of G.I. glasses should sign up. So I did. Why not huh. So we went this morning & guess what. They are 20/20. I asked him about the glasses I have & he said I was far-sighted & these were rest glasses when I did close work. So I guess Dr. Klevir (?) was O.K. So I'm getting a pair of G.I. glasses of the same strength. I figure G.I. glasses would be less apt to break.
Tonight before chow we signed the payroll. I didn't think we would get anything until we get to a permanent camp. But as far as I gather we will get a small sum to keep us going.
In your letter today I received the 2 dollars. Thanks Ma. It really came in handy. If you can't send any next week I don't want you to, but maybe Dad can send some. I don't know when we will get paid. It will probably take several weeks if we are still here. If we should get shipped before we are paid that means we would probably have to wait until it catches up with us & that would take some time. I just want to be on the safe side. You know me. I got a couple of more souvenirs. I will wait until I get everybody something & then send them all together.
How is Boby? I hope it's nothing serious. Please write soon & let me know.
I give sister all the luck in the world. I hope she gets in Sperrys. It will do her a lot of good.
Boy when you mentioned sour meat & potato balls. Boy my mouth just started to water. I better just drop the subject right here before I start to get hungry again.
I hope dad makes out O.K. on his new job. I wish him a lot of luck. Why did he take that job. Tell me more about it.
I didn't go to any more dances or shows. I write everything as it happens so I don't miss telling you anything.
I didn't get my teeth examined yet but I don't think I have any holes because I don't feel anything. I will go at my first opportunity.
Thanks for your letter Bob. I don't think I can answer all your ques. but the one I must answer is the one about G.I. coffee. You tell Lil that I would travel from here to N.Y. for a cup of her coffee. The G.I. coffee is (?) Her coffee is worth something compared to this stuff. I'm not kidding either. By the way how is she making out? & how is Mr. Fletcher?
And thanks for your letter Ele. It was an excellent report. I hope I get many more like that. The poems I read already & it was a pleasure to read them over again.
You ask me about the socks Ma. I like both kind. They are much better than the G.I. socks. I also could use some blades and a shaving brush. (the one that Dad bought before I left). You could also send me crackers & candy if you like. And please try to get that stuff I asked in the last letter for Helen. O.K.
Well I should close now hoping you are all O.K. & How are those pills working Ma?

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. The address has just been changed, but I'm still in the same place.

Dear Helen

Wed. 3-3-43

Dear Helen,

Before I start my long, long letter I must ask you how you felt Monday morning, besides being a little tired. I was just praying that you were O.K.
Going home, after I left you, was a pretty good trip for part of the way. I just got up to the trolley station & a trolley came. I was at Broadway waiting for a trolley at 1:30. In 2 minutes the other trolley came along & I was waiting for a bus to take me into camp at 2 o'clock. There & then my luck stopped. The north gate bus didn't run at that time, only west gate buses. Little did I know. I waited until 2:30 before I found out. So I finally took a west gate bus & walked across the camp. I got in at 3 o'clock. Not bad time. I could have been sleeping by 2:30 if I only know about the bus schedule. But what's the difference. Now I know.
Well I had to get up at 5 o'clock as usual. As I told you, when I have only a couple of hours sleep I usually feel very good. Well since I'm in the army you never saw such a move on me. I got up as bright as ever. I helped clean the hut with more vigor that I ever exerted. After drill, I ran the obstacle course faster than I ever did. You may think I'm fibbing, but it's the honest truth, so help me God. Even in the night I wasn't tired. I wrote a 3 hr. letter to my mother. I told her what a swell time I had & that I felt so at home when I was at your house. I also asked her to send me the maps & pictures etc.
I'll admit I felt a bit tired on Tuesday.
Boy when I said goodnight to you I felt a bit, shall I say, awkward. It may seem funny to you or it may not. It may seem strange to you or it may not. But traveling from one part of the country to another, customs may change a bit, or maybe not. I don't know. It may seem a bit silly to say this but I like to be as frank as I can without feeling out of place. I think that's the best way to get along.
I guess it's proper to say goodnight holding hands. It may also be proper to say goodnight by a light kiss on the cheek. But I always say to myself, if you don't know, play safe.
Truthfully, tell me whether it's silly to say something like that to a girl. Sometimes I really can't judge what's proper. I guess it's a fact that if you write a passage of that style to 10 girls, everyone would get a different version of it. Isn't that right? So I always hesitate in writing & try to justify every statement. I also try to make it simple & clear.
Take for instance the letter I wrote to my mother. She wrote back and said that she felt sad because I didn't save the letters she wrote me. Yet I am saving the letters & don't recall writing anything that would give her the impression that I don't save her letters. But I did say something & she misunderstood it. I guess that's about a good of an example as any I could give.
If you don't quite understand it, don't worry about it. It was just an impulse I guess.
To go on with the letter, yesterday we had instructions on the rifle. How to take it apart etc. It was quite interesting. Today we had toe sub machine gun. And tomorrow we will go on the range & have some fun.
Boy it's cold out here. And with the snow it makes it doubly worse on these old hills at J.B.
When the D.I. says halt, half of the platoon's feel slips from under them & the other half slide a ways down the road (slightly exaggerated).
I got another box of those cookies from my sister. Boy they're delicious. It may be kind of selfish of me, but I only pass the box around once & eat the rest myself. They can have anything else, but then it comes to those crunchy, luscious cookies, it's a different story.
I hope this letter is long enough. Is it? It better be. But I'm only kidding. If you want a longer letter next time I'll write you a longer letter. O.K.?
I'll certainly be at the dance Sat. night, providing they call it in our flight. You know this is a large place. It's the same place isn't it? I'll say a prayer they call it again in our flight.
I guess I will have to be frank with you once more. I certainly would like to come & see you soon if I don't see you Sat. night. If it's O.K. with you I'll be more than willing. Maybe we can go some place in town if you desire.
I'll be waiting impatiently for a reply. I hope it's as soon as the other one came.

Sincerely
As ever,
Tony

P.S. Note the new address

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 24

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
23 Training Group
Sqd. A
Jefferson Barracks, MO

Date 3-1-43
Letter No. 24
Rec'd 28-29-30-31

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele,

I am sorry I couldn't write sooner but I will tell you how it was.
On Friday, as I told you in my last letter, we had lectures & exhibitions on camouflage. It was very interesting. The lieutenant told us the important facts about camouflage. He said this was the only Technical Training School (J.B.) that had a course in camouflage. That means that Joe Cohn didn't get it. After the lecture we went thru the camouflage area to see the different layouts they set up. They had large nets with colored cloth on them t cover certain make believe ammunition dumps & fox holes & things of that sort. One Sunday the pictures were in a St. Louis paper & cut them out. So they will give you an idea of what some look like.
After chow that same day my name was on the shot list so I got my last tetnus shot. I got back and just had a few minutes to drop you the letter previous. It's this one.
Sat. we had K.P. We got up at 3:30 & started to work about 5 o'clock. This time I had to carry bowls & trays over to the racks. I had the job before & so it made it a lot easier. The day went pretty fast & I didn't mind it so much. It seems the more I have it the quicker the time goes. We got done about 7:30P.M. I turned in early because it does make you tired.
Well things worked out pretty good for me this weekend.
As I told you, or I think I did, Helen Riley, the girl I met at the dance, invited me out Sunday (yesterday) if I wasn't shipped. She wrote me a nice letter telling me how to get there. I told her if I could get a pass for Sunday I would call her up. So Sun. morning after chow I applied for a pass. Then I went to church (8 o'clock mass). (At church I got a prayer book & a new testament, Roman Catholic version, wasn't that nice of them to give them to us). (By the way before I went into the church the chaplain came up the drive & I saluted him & he gave me a big smile. Gee it made me feel so good). (We also have to salute the nurses because they are lieutenants too).
After church I went to get my pass & I got it. It was from 9am Sun. to 5am Mon. morning. They call that a Revelie Pass. Most of the fellows got those passes. So I called her up about 10 o'clock. She wanted me to come out to have dinner with them but I told her no, because I didn't want to cause them any trouble. So I went out after I had chow at camp. In a way I'm sorry I didn't accept the offer to eat there because (this is funny) in the meal we had here they put a laxative and everybody was running to the latrine. We had to wait in line to sit down. (that's a fact) (Why some fellows couldn't hold it any longer) They were going to the latrine at all hours of the night. They say they put it in a meal once a month. Boy did I have to go. Boy everything in the army is a secret, even when they give you a physical.
I went out after chow. It took me an hr. & a half to get there. I had to take a bus & two trolley cars. I got there about 3:30. She introduced me to her parents & family. They live in a swell section of St. Louis (it's really a little outside the border of St. Louis) The live in a two story frame construction house. She has a very nice family and she is very well brought up, you could see that.
We went for a walk & she showed me some places in her neighborhood. They don't have any subways or elevators in St. Louis. Boy it was a job to explain the contraption. It was really funny.
This is the part that touched me the most. When we came back we ate. And Sun. night, the same as we did at home, had cold cuts & bologna & jello, you know just like we had at home. And on the radio they had the programs we listened to at home. I really felt home sick. Her two sisters were there so that made it 3 girls, her mother & father. I just could picture everybody at home in their places. And of course Grandma too.
After we ate, Helen, her sister & I played chinese checkers for a while & then we went to an ice cream parlor for a soda & a dance from the juke box.
We left there about 12 o'clock & I took her home & then went back to camp. I didn't gt too much sleep but I don't feel tired at all today.
Say Mae talked an awful lot about N.Y. After all we do live in the largest city in teh world. I told her about the amusements & different things about the city. So Ma it would be swell if you could send me some things I could show her to give her if I don't see her anymore. (I'll send them to her if I don't see her anymore, if I should get shipped). You could send me an advertisement page of the news showing the plays in the theatres & pictures & bands of the big shows etc. And could you send one of those street directories (a duplicate of Manhattan & map). And if you got a map of N.Y.C. and something about the world's fair & activities of N.Y...Oh yes, could you send me those pictures of Schultz's house, the one my boss designed. I told her a lot about it. I hope this won't cause you any trouble, but I like to show her these things because she is a nice girl & she is interested.
You could send me some more writing paper too. Boy it certainly goes fast. How much have I got left.
By the way they all admired the gloves Ann made for me. They thought they were swell. And they certainly are warm.
I'm eating Ann's cookies as I am writing this letter. Boy they taste just as good if not better than last time. I passed them once & then I put them away because they started to come back for more. See that's how good they are.
Did you hear from Frank yet, Ann?
I hope that fortune teller is right, a nice happy home, sounds so good.
Ma I always will go to church & confession as long as I can. I always wear my medal & Scapular. As for my money left, you hit the nail on the head, no money to put in my belt so I got it in my locker.
My ankle feels fine & I'm in the best of shape.
Boy I'm so glad your condition is good ma. It makes it a lot easier for me too knowing that you are OK.
Yes Ma this camp is pretty big. I think there is a total of about 50 to 80 thousand soldiers here.
There is no word of what school I'm going to. The only time I will find out what school is when I get there I guess.
Gee thank Grandma for the dollar. It certainly came in handy. I got 2 souveniers already & I'm trying to get something for everybody. So far I haven't got anything for Grandma & Pa because it is pretty hard to get souveniers for those relations. Maybe you can give me a suggestion.
I'm glad they are going nip & tuck at those blackouts because they should get the people war conscious even though war never comes here. They have to be prepared just the same.
Boy Bobby certainly is going to town with the unit. Say being I'm in the service. She can send me one, if an extraordinary one comes along. If I even get a few spare moments I'll read it.
Say Bobby, I get a bit mixed up on right flank and left oblique movements. I can do both but when the P.I. shouts off they sound the same some time. But I'm getting pretty good at it. Well my hand is getting tired so until my next letter I remain,

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony