Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele, Letter No. 40

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
1875 En. Avn. Bn. Co. H & S
McChord Field, Wash.
U.S. Army

Date 4-14-43
Letter No. 40
Rec'd 55 & 56

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

How is everybody? Still all O.K. Right? I feel fine.
Since Monday nothing too much has happened. On Monday we had calisthenics & lectures. Most of the lectures we had all ready.
One of the lieutenants gave us a speech on army organization. He also told us how we stand. We are attached to the air corps. And Ma I'm pretty lucky I think. As you remember I wanted to join the Sea Bees, and their job was to build the air fields for the navy and defend what the they build. Well the Engineer Aviation Battalion has the same function. They build the air bases for the army. Pretty good huh. If the navy don't want me, I'll do it for the army. O.K. huh.
I asked the lieutenant what were my chances of a draftsman or a surveyor. He said if you have past experience in it they will give you one of those jobs if possible. They will call us when they need us. But between you and I ma, my chances are pretty good I think. I'll just have to see how things run.
Monday night at 5 o'clock I had to go on guard for 24 hrs. 2 on 4 off. It was pretty easy. So I got off guard last night at 5 o'clock. My buddy got it tonight.
So today we had calisthenics as usual & a couple more lectures & this afternoon we had a hike (6 miles) and for the last half mile we had to double time (run). Boy I'm a bit tired but it's not so bad. As long as I get my regular sleep it's O.K. And I have been going to bed at 9 o'clock.
I got a letter from Joe Cohn. He is being shipped again. He tried for meteorology & made it, but it seems like there is no room for him as the W.A.A.C.'s are taking over. So he is going to radio school instead. He said he would write as soon as he reaches his new camp.
On Grandma's pillow case there is a little air corps pin like the one I sent to you. Make sure Grandma gets it.
I sent Aunt Anna's handkerchief separate.
As for Aunt Tennie you are perfectly right ma. The heck with her. You know ma, when I was back home we always agreed on everything. I always saw your side so clearly. I miss you so much ma. Your little pat on the back made me feel so good. And when you're home all alone just write me a nice long letter. It doesn't matter too much what it is even if it's about those little plants in my room. I know you can't write too much especially when you write me so often but no matter what it is I enjoy it because it's from you ma. If you only could send a word everyday that everybody was alright that's all I want to hear. That's all I need to keep me feeling like a million. But always let me know everything that happens like you always have been doing.
Tomorrow night there is a dance in the recreation hall. So my buddy & I are going. We had to get the tickets (free) from the orderly room & the lieutenant was there. He asked me whether I was going to the dances that are going to be held by the 1875th in the near future. I told him I wouldn't miss them. I told him I was one of those Jitterbugs from N.Y. He said he knew that when he looked at me. Boy it makes it a lot nicer when the lieutenants talk to you & kid around with you. They are all pretty young & are all swell.
Thanks for filling my request ma, by having that little party for just you & I. I guess we both couldn't be so happy so far apart but the spirit was there wasn't it ma. We just had to have a party together, right?
Thanks for making the corsage for Elfrieda. I'm positive she will like them. I got a letter from her today. I also got a card from the girl in St. Louis & she says she is writing me a letter. She is a very nice girl ma. And I also got a letter from Dot & Dave. She said Ann was in the store. She said what a nice girl Ann was. And by gosh she's right. We all know that.
I will enclose the little clipping I left out of the other letter.
So I will close now for awhile. Give my love to Grandma. Please ma and my love to all.

Your Loving Son
& Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. Din't get the package yet.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele, Letter No. 39

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
1875 EN. AUN. BN. Co H & S
McChord Field, Wash.

Date 4-11-43
Letter No. 39
Rec'd 49-50-51-53-54-3 Cards

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Hello everybody. It is Sunday night and I'm in the base dayroom writing letters. It is in the main building of the post and is very cozy. Soft couches, etc. Radio playing & quiet. Just the atmosphere for writing letters.
Thursday we went into Tacoma to see how it was. Well it's a very dead town. Nothing to do. We just bought a couple of cards & had something to eat & came right back. I guess I'll have to spend all my time in camp.
Friday night they had a special show called "King of Kings." I guess you've seen it already. It's a very old picture & I liked it an awful lot.

On Sat. we had an inspection by our commanding officer. He also gave us a little talk. He is very nice. He said we have good prospects of becoming a very good outfit. He said he wants us to have a very good time while we are here & he is arranging to have a dance for the 1875 in about a week. Other battalions have them now. He wants us to form baseball teams & bowling teams etc. I'll see how things go along & maybe we can form a track team.
Sat. afternoon we got paid. I got $40.
This morning I went to 9 o'clock mass.
In the afternoon I went to the show with the boys and saw "Hangmen Also Die." It was pretty good.
I received 3 pretty cards. One from ma, one from Ann & one from Eleanor. They are all swell. Thanks a lot.
I received a letter from Al Piluso the other day. It was post marked March 6, but he left out Jefferson Barracks, Mo. So it was sent back & I just got it. He can't say anything as usual.
I sent a box full of old letters home. They were getting too big too handle. I will send them home from time to time.
Please send me Frank's address & Mary's address from Wyckoff Ave.
I'll include a little clipping I found in the "Rip Chord" our post paper. It just shows you no matter where we go, they know J.B. for their good training.
So you are having quite a time with the food rationing. I mean the point system. Well it won't be long before you catch on to it and it will be like using money.
Thank dad for the medal he wanted sent to me.
I didn't receive the package yet. I just wonder where it is. It will probably come pretty soon.
Yesterday I got a long letter from Helen Riley. She wrote a very nice interesting letter. I hop I get a lot more from her.
I also received letters frequently from Elfrieda. She also writes a nice letter.
And today I received a letter from the inspector's niece. She asks me for a picture of myself. So could you please send me another one of me in a squatting position. The one you like & I will send it to her. Or any picture you have that shows me a little justice. O.K.
Did you receive my packages yet? If you all did do you like everything? Especially you ma?
I don't know where Frank is. But if he went across the equator, he probably went to Australia or one of the islands near there.
I didn't get my teeth examined yet. And I wear my glasses when I write letters or read. The food here is pretty good and we get enough to eat. But I don't know how much I gained. Just that I did gain some.
My two friends are swell fellows and we have a lot of fun together. I hope I can stick with them all the time.
In one of my letters I wrote to you I asked you whether you could find out about my income tax papers thru Bobby's boss. And if not you should send me the dope on what I need to fill one out & I would fill it out here. But you never told me anything about it. So will you please find out for me before it's too late. I'll probably have to pay a fine now already for it being overdue. O.K. Let me know. You can find out how much I made by calling up my boss.
Well I think that's all for now. Hoping you are all in the best of health. Let me know more about what the doctor said & what you are doing ma. Did you gain anymore weight.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. What does S.M.R.L.H. mean? Ele put it on her letters.
P.S. You can send me my track shoes. The both pair. I will probably have to use them if I get on one of the teams. O.K.

Dear Helen

4-10-43

Dear Helen,

Here I am in Washington. It seems to get further all the time. But at least I settled for awhile anyway.
We arrived here last Wed. (March 31), and we have been a bit busy since them. Why on Thursday, Apr. 1, (April Fools Day) I had K.P. They certainly didn't waste any time, but it was the easiest day of K.P. I ever had. From 7 am to 6 pm, and didn't do anything all day. Maybe I fooled the army for one day.
Our trip was another nice one. It was almost the same scenery as the trip from "God's Country" (J.B.) to Calf. with one added attraction. In Oregon there were a good many lumber camps, but I missed seeing any logs slide down the Mt. side. Maybe next time.
This time we saw the Cascade Mts. as we passed thru the states. In that Mt. range you probably heard of Mt. Rainier, one of the biggest mts. in the U.S. Well we are about 35 miles from that huge mass. And although it has rained almost every day since we've been here (rainy season), there has been a couple of clear days which made it possible to see the huge mt. tower up into the clouds. And when the sun hits it, it gives a wonderful sight because it is completely covered with snow. I'll try to get some post cards so you can get an idea of what it looks like.
As you see by the address I am in the Engineer Aviation Battalion, in Headquarters & Service Co. It is an overseas training group & we will probably have to by-pass school. It's just by the no.'s; the army needed some men in the outfit, so here we are. It didn't make any difference just what you were, because we have a lot of trades here & most of the men have a high education. We're in for some good complete training. Maybe you heard of the Engineering corps. of the army & their training, well the lieutenants here say it's a lot tougher. But the tougher the better, I'm all set for it. It only makes you a better soldier & if there is anything I like is strict military discipline. That's why I like J.B. No matter where I go, they all seemed to hear of J.B. and their good training. Even in the post paper they printed a little piece which I shall enclose. (Get what I mean-after you read the article).
That's not the only reason why I liked J.B. either. If you get what I mean. They say Tacoma is a very dead town. That makes me miss you that much more.
During the past week we have been doing a bit of drill & calisthenics each day. I can see by that alone that our training is going to be tough. We do the daily dozen, which is a group of 12 exercises, which really make you do a bit of puffing. And mind you this is not our training but just something to get us in shape until the real thing comes along. They say when our real training starts we won't have much time for ourselves, that's the only bad part about it, because I just want enough time to write. I don't care how hard the training is as long as I get time to write to all my friends & most of all my family. If I don't get time to write during the week I have to do it all on Sunday then. That's our day of leisure here unless you get stuck with K.P. But I don't fear it too much as I usually find time, even if I have to sit in the latrine all night.
It happened to me the other day about 4 pm. I was standing there as usual, with the same old look on my face, and my name was called out, and the expression on my face suddenly changed; naturally it changed because I got a letter from a Miss Helen Riley. Whose face wouldn't be glad (my heart too) when one receives a letter that you know is going to make you happy. And believe me Helen, I certainly do get happy when I receive a letter from you and believe me again, this one certainly did the trick to a tee. And believe me again it certainly was a long letter. I hope I receive a lot more like that.
In your second paragraph you talk about looking at pictures. Would it be silly if you would look at them once again and send one to me? It would help a bit to make up for that certain Sunday we were going to take pictures. Remember?
I took some pictures at J.B. & sent them home to be developed & my mom sent them back. That's all I'll say about the pictures except that if you want one of those things you can have it & use your own judgment on what to do with it. It's your choice.
You flatter me by your idea on spending a cheap vacation. But I have an idea on the subject too. On your next vacation, take a trip from St. Louis to Calf. and see how much one can't put in writing. Because as I said before, it's one of those things "Seeing is Believing."
I think I'll have to send you a map of the U.S. So you know what's what. I think that's a good idea. Don't you? Well whether you do or not, I'll send you one anyway.
I'm sorry to hear that Mary is sick. I hope she recovers quickly. I hate to hear of anyone being sick.
I'm glad you did have a good time on Sat. 13. You can double that for me. As as I said once before, it's one in the books for me.
As for you coming in to J.B. you know gosh darn well I took it in the right spirit. Before I even asked you I knew it was a chance in a million, but I thought I would try anyway. There is no harm in trying, especially for one so dear as you.
And so I will close this letter hoping to hear those little things you jotted down very soon & wishing everybody is in the best of health and hoping Mary is one included in that word "everybody."

Sincerely
As Ever
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele, Letter No. 38

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
1815 EN. AUN. BN. Co. H & S
McChord Field, Wash.

Date 4-8-43
Letter No. 38
Rec'd 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 & 2 Cards

Dear Mom, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

How is everybody? I think you answered that question in the letters I received today. I really hit the jack pot. I'll answer all your questions at the end of the letter.
I wrote Sat. night so I shall continue from Sunday. Well Sun. here is our day off. We can do what we wish. (mostly rest up. that's what we'll have to do). We got up 7 o'clock, went to chow at 8 o'clock, went to church at 11:30, in the afternoon I wrote letters & in the night I went to the movie for the first time. I saw "Fight for Freedom." It was pretty good.
Mon. Tues & Wed. we had drill & calisthenics & lectures. We are drilled by lieutenants & I must say the P.I. back at J.B. were a 100 times better. But it's O.K. The calisthenics here are a lot better tho, than back at J.B. Here we do the daily dozen. A group of 12 exercises that are really good & certainly give you a workout. Your really puffing when you're finished. But the tougher the better. This is just preliminary training until the battalion is completely filled with men. I was talking to the lieutenant (there all pretty nice fellows here) and he said we will probably start our real scheduled training about May 1, and that will probably last for about 10 weeks. They say it's really tough & makes you tough also. They all say it's the best outfit there is. Even better than the Engineers of the Army. So once we start I will probably have little time for myself and little time to write, but I will write as much as I can. I feel a little tired tonight and will probably feel like that until I get used to it. But even though I feel tired I can feel my muscles getting tougher. I go to bed early so I get plenty of rest. I imagine that's why we won't have much time for ourselves once we get started.
It will be a long day & early to bed. But if you want to get something out of it, that's the only way to do it. Right?
Tues. night I went to the show and saw "He Hired this Boss." It was pretty good. I went with two fellows I am sticking with. We always stick together whenever possible & have a lot of fun together.
I think that's about all I did & now I will answer the letters.
Oh yes, one more thing. I turned in my laundry for the first time. Now that I'm a bit settled we can turn it in. I believe they charge us $1.50 a month. That's pretty reasonable isn't it?
First of all thanks for the two cards. They are swell & the medal I put on the chain that Elfrieda gave me.
In letter #43 you tell me about the things I could get Grandma & Pop. Being I sent out all the presents already I will wait for the next time.
Ma it would be very nice if you could make the corsage for Elfrieda if you still have the time when this letter reaches you.
Boy our little genius is certainly going to town. I bet she is getting more beautiful every day. Thanks for your little note Ele. You say you are doing calisthenics now (I mean obstacle race). Well it certainly will do you good. It will make you look much better also. Mom even says you are getting thin. That one result from exercise. Keep up your good work.
Here at McChord Field we don't have the obstacle course as yet. They may have one. Just now we do the daily dozen as I explained above. The obstacle course back at J.B. I'll try to explain to you by diagrams on another page.
First we swing on bars & then over a fence.


Then we go under & over hurdles. This is on a level.
Then we go down a steep hill and go across logs, & then jump across a pit.


Then we have to walk across stump about 6" in dia. and then jump off a platform about 6'0" & then over a pile of logs.


Then we (crawl) go through wooden boxes then go down a hill and swing across the ropes & then over a tall wooden ladder.


The whole obstacle course is done on the double (running).

If I get time sometime I'll explain the exercise we have to do here. Just now I haven't the time.
Well what do you think of our obstacle course? Do you think you could do it?
You ask me about horse meat. Well some parts of the horse are good to eat and are tasty. The one fellow here said he had horse meat already & said it's pretty good.
I'm glad to hear you are gaining wt. ma. That's a very good sign. Now I'm not worrying anymore. In fact that sign is good enough for anybody. Right?
Boy how I wish I could see St. Patricks Cathedral again.
That was nice of Elfrieda to send you a bouquet of flowers for your birthday. She is thoughtful isn't she?
I didn't get my glasses yet. They will have to be transferred.
I'm glad Sis is joining Bob's unit again. It will do her a lot of good.
Mom you ask me if it's alright & do I mind whether Ele uses my composition about the twins(?) & about Sis using my shirts. Ma, you know I don't mind. Anything I have belongs to whoever wants it. Never ask me or say do I mind because I never will mind.
The pictures were pretty good. I like the one in the squat position best. The one you liked.
Well I think that's all & I shall close hoping you all are still in the best of health. How is Grandma? Aunt Anna doesn't say much about Grandma. Let me know.
I shall close remaining

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

Easter Card

A Happy Easter...

(inside card)
Thinking of you and wishing you every happiness this Easter Sunday.

(written by Anthony)
To my beloved family

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 37

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
1875 EN. AVN. BN. Co. H & S
McChord Field, Wash.

Date 4-3-43
Letter No. 37

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Well how is everybody? I didn't hear from home in so long I just pray everything is O.K. I'm pretty sure it is but I still would like to know how everything is taking place. I dropped a line last night of my address just so you would know my address & I would get mail that much sooner.
I shall start from the beginning when I left Hammer Field. We left there at 4 P.M. (Monday 29) in Pullman cars. Boy they were nice. The porter came around and fixed the bunks and we had a good sleep. In the morning he would come around & make the bunks again. That's O.K. huh!
Right after we started to travel the sergeant came around and asked who would like to have K.P. at $ .40 an hour. He wanted 4 fellows. So I volunteered. It really wasn't K.P. but a waiters job. They have a dinner car which feeds 36 at one time & the table has to be cleaned off & reset for each setting. After all were fed we could go back to our cars & wait until next meal. So it was pretty easy. And we could eat all we wanted too. And one of the porters made a collection & when the trip was over they split the money. I got a dollar & seventy-five in tips & $4.00 for the hrs. So I made a total of $5.75. Not bad huh. The reason they paid us instead of taking regular K.P.s was the army hires the train with cooks & waiters to serve us our meals but they were short of help. That's where we came in.
Now a word about the trip. We traveled up thru California, thru Oregon, thru Washington to McChord Field, which is about 14 miles away from Tacoma & about 5 miles away from Seattle. The scenery was much the same as the St. of Colorado. Very mountainous. This time we passed thru the Cascade Mts. The St. of Oregon had a lot of lumber camps. We also passed Mt. Shasta (14,181 ft. high). It was once an active volcano. We saw the lava beds a little ways passed the Mt. We arrived at McChord Field about 6:30 Wed. morning. This place is also an air port, but we are not connected with it. We were given barracks, bedding, got examined and slept. Then I shot down to the P.K. and practically [?] the place out. I got your present & sent it out already. I hope you like it. I got Grandma a pillow case & a little air corp pin which I also pinned on the pillow case. I also got you one ma, which I put in the present. I also got Barb, Ann & Ele one so you all can pin them on your dresses. I also got a banner for Eleanor & a "New Testament" which I got at J.B. I got Dad an ash tray. I got Aunt Anna a couple of handkerchiefs. And I also got a pack of Easter Cards. I sent your present & Grandma's. The rest I'll send out later. How did the pictures turn out that I sent home? If they turn out O.K. You can use the picture for the present I got you ma. I'm not going to tell you what it is either. Or maybe you got it already. They you can show it to Aunt Teeny & say "this is what my son sent me." See what she says. (I forgot to tell you, they have a very large & complete P.K. here).
Thursday I had K.P. What a racket. We got up at 5:30 & started work at 7 o'clock, & got thru at 6 P.M. At J.B. we had to get up at 3 and work 'til 8:30. Some difference. They didn't push you around here either. You took your time & everything got done & no squaking either. We talked to the cooks & they even let us taste the food to see whether it had the right taste. That's O.K. huh! But that was at the big general mess hall. Now we have our own little mess hall & have to walk a mile to get there. I don't know how it will be here.
This morning we had a little drill & then some very good Calisthenics. This afternoon we had details to do. Tonight we were all separated into companies. Some were put in Co. A, some Co. B, & the rest in Headquarters & Service. That's what H & S stands for in my address. I think it's the best part of the engineering aviation battalion, I don't know.
I think we will have to bypass school. I think we will get more extensive training here. Those tests we took had nothing to do with why we were shipped here for more training. There are many college graduates here right with us. It's just by the no's. They needed some men, so we were sent here. That's how the army works. It will be pretty good though, as long as we get training. I don't mind as much not going to school as I don't think I would learn too much in those schools. Our classification came with us so it may help us get a rating. But I'm not jumping to any conclusions. I tell you how things progress as we go along.
I started this letter last night & will finish it today (Sat.) unless we have to do something.
Sat. morning ( this morning) we had drill by 2nd leutenants & calisthenics. Then we had a detail. In the afternoon we had to G.I. the barracks.
Ever since we arrived here it's been raining. Very little Sun. But today it was pretty good. The sun shined a bit. You see this is the rainy season for this section.
Today the clouds lifted, and we see one of the tallest mountains; Mt. Rainier. We are about 40 miles from it. It extends way up into the clouds and most of the time you can't see it for that reason. It's 14,140 ft. high. The mountain is always covered with snow. It's really a wonderful sight. I'll try to get some pictures up the P.K. & send them to you.
Well I think that's about all for tonight & I will write you soon. I hope you are all in the best of health (I am) and I hope to hear from you real soon. So until then I remain,

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. I probably have time to write about the middle of next week. I will also try to send the rest of the packages out. By the way, did you show Aunt Teeny the present yet?

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann, Ele, Letter No. 36

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio
1875 EN. AUN. BN.
McChord Field, Wash
U.S. Army

Date 4-1-43
Letter No. 36

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

I got K.P. today. It was the easiest I ever had. I won't have time to tell you everything tonight, but I do want to send my address. I will tell you everything in my letter tomorrow. It's a pretty nice place. Well I'm not goint to tell you anymore because if I start the lights will go out & I'll be in the midst of a letter so goodnight until tomorrow.

Love & Kisses from
Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

P.S. Please write right away.