Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 61

P.F.C. Anthony J. Curcio
1875 En. Avn. Bn. Co. H & S
McChord Field, Wash.

Date 7/19/43
Letter No. 61
Rec'd 99

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

Before I start my report I have to get something off my chest. It happened yesterday at Spanaway Lake. Boy was it funny. Peggy & I went there & we were going for a canoe ride. But before we did we met Brono Borella & a fellow from the surveying squad I work with. Well anyway they got a canoe & Peggy & I got a canoe. We were paddling around & it came time to go in. So we had a little race to the dock. We were about 25 ft. from the dock when Brono & the other fellow lost balance & over they went. Well ma & all I had some laugh. The only thing I was worrying about was to take a good picture with my camera. I hope they turn out. But I felt so sorry for them, their newly pressed suits. Every time I think of it I have to laugh.
The pictures I took last Sunday turned out pretty good only they make me look so fat. I think I will have to get a new jacket. One which fits me a little better. What do you say?
We started our training today but one of the jobs is not finished yet so we had to go over to the job to survey. We have one day of training & one day on the job until its finished.
Joe D'Angelo lives in Queens. A very short distance from where we live. And when I get my furlough I won't hesitate to see his people. Boy do I miss home.
We had pretty good weather lately. In fact it's only rained a couple of days in quite awhile. Boy it's a swell state when the sun shines.
I didn't hear anything about my furlough yet. Gosh I will have so much to say. I just don't know where I would start.
I am a bit tired tonight ma from yesterday & today. I kept my shirt off on the job & got a bit of sun burn & it makes you feel sort of sleepy. I will close now hoping you are all in the best of health & very happy. So until my next letter I remain

Your Loving Solider Boy,
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 60

P.F.C. Anthony J. Curcio
1875 En. Avn. Bn. Co. H & S
McChord Field, Wash.

Date 7/15/43
Letter No. 60
Rec'd ---

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

I am writing a short letter & try to answer one of your questions. It's about my furlough. The whole battalion & myself want a furlough. Quite a lot of us put in for furloughs and some got theirs already. Those who are in the longest will get theirs first and they will go down the line. I don't know when mine will come up although I assume it will be some time next month. But I don't know. It could come up in a week & ma[y]be 3 months, I don't know. And if we start our training again they may stop furloughs until it's over. I don't know that either. But in case it should come up I would need some money. Soldiers round trip rate from here to N.Y. I think is $74 + meals. So would need about $100.
One of the cooks was notified last nite that he could leave on his furlough today. It's short notice and it was o.k. because he had the money on hand & I would like to do the same thing. I don't want to be stuck if my furlough should come up.
I don't want to build up your hopes too much on my coming home real soon because army orders change from hr. to hr. but I think my chances are 50/50 that I will get one some time next month. I'll keep you posted on how things progress.
I'll pray every nite it should come real soon. I guess the easiest way to send the money would be by money order. But ask Boby and see what she says.
Last nite I went to the U.S.O. dance and didn't have such a bad time but it was o.k.
I just heard a program on the radio from Mitchel Field, L.I., the Coca Cola program with Vincent Lopez & his orchestra. It made you feel so good when it comes some place near home.
I shall close now hoping you are all in the best of health & please pray everything goes all right I will be home next month.

Your Loving Soldier Boy,
Tony

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 59

PFC Anthony J. Curcio

1875 En. Avn. Bn. Co. H & S

McChord Field, Wash.

Date 7/13/43

Letter No. 59

Rec'd 96/97/98

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It is Tuesday nite and I am still a bit tired from the weekend. But before I tell you all about that I will go thru the week like I usually do.

Thursday nite we went to the battalion dance and had a pretty good time, but not as good as the last one because they didn't have a jitterbug contest. But we had a pretty good time because we all know each other a lot better.

Friday nite we G.I. the tent & shoes etc. We do that every Friday nite for inspection on Sat.

Friday we also lost another one of our buddies. Bruno Borella was shipped to another outfit on the post. They needed certain type of men so he went. Boy we never get a real break.

Sat. we had a parade for our Major. We got a new one. And I hear the old major got tears in his eyes when we paraded before him. He was pretty good.

Sat. nite I had guard duty. We go on at 5 and get off at 5 Sunday nite. And luck ran with me because Peggy had to work on Sunday. She works for the telephone co. So I saw her Sunday nite. We went to the carousel again & had a nice time. Mon. nite I was so tired I went to bed very early. Ma[y]be I shouldn't have gone out after guard duty but it always works out ok.

Surveying is still the same & the same routine.

I hope you all had a nice time on Ele's birthday. I hope she liked my present. How did she enjoy the surprise, Ma?

The transfer I wrote about was final. I don't think I will be transferred.

Joe Cohn is still going to radio school I guess.

I really don't need anything, ma. I'm stocked up on everything just know.

I am so glad you were happy about my stripe. And thanks for the card you all sent me. The one where you all signed it and give a kiss for Grandma's signature. I always get a kick out of it when Grandma signs it.

And thanks for your card, Ma. That a swell way telling everything. xxxxxxxx

Thank Grandma for her card & stamp. I was just about out of stamps when they came.

Well I shall close now ma & try to write near the end of the week. So until then I remain

Your Loving Soldier Boy,

Tony

xxxxxxxx

P.S. I forgot Ele's letter. Please thank her for it.

P.S. The buddy that['s] left in my tent (Davidson) got his radio from home. It good to hear some of the programs & music again. It plays pretty good too.

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 58

PFC Anthony J. Curcio

1875 En. Avn. Bn. Co H & S

McChord Field, Wash.

Date 7/7/43

Letter No. 58

Rec'd 93 & 95

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It is Wed. nite and I am going to try to catch up with some of my mail. I certainly have quite a pile to write.

Remember I told you Peggy & I were going to do swimming Sunday? Well I couple of other couples cam along and we had a swell time. The girls brought lunch and we toasted weenies over the fire. We went swimming and in the night we went dancing. We couldn't get films for her camera so I took some quick snapshots with one of the fellows camera on the post. (We are not supposed to but we made sure there was nothing in them). The water was very warm but when we came out we almost froze to death. We [?] suits out there. We really had a swell day.

Monday nite I was so tired I went to bed real early.

Last nite I wen to the show with my buddy (Davidson) and saw "Wings Over the Pacific." It was [?]. It was double feature nite. They also showed "Two Tickets to London." That was pretty good.

In the surveying here there is nothing new. Same routine.

I got my shoes fixed at the post shoe maker (civilian shoes) and it cost me $1.50 for half soles. But it was a pretty good job. How much do they charge home?

I turn in my laundry over a week now so I have a steady supply of clean laundry without washing my own.

I am glad you all had a swell time at Grenes.' [?] I wish I could have been there.

So Eddie got married. Well well well. I never thought he would get married to tell you the truth. What is everybody getting married.

I got a box of cards from Ann yesterday. Thanks a lot Ann. I will give some to my friends and use them myself.

I also received the cutest card from Eleanor and a very very long letter. Boy I got a kick out of it. No kidding.

Tomorrow night we are going to have a battalion dance again. I will let you know about it.

I shall close now hoping everybody is in the best of health and very happy.

Your Loving Son & Soldier Boy,

Tony

P.S. This is a bit sloppily written because I am leaning on my bed. I hope you will forgive me?

Love, Tony

Dear Helen

7/7/43

Dear Helen,

As I am writing this letter I hope you are having a great time in the Ozarks. I think this is the longest period of time between letters since I am writing you. I hope you will forgive me that I was awful busy. I had to write that same line to all my friends I am writing to at this present time, and believe me I hate to do it.
Well Helen, I made P.F.C. after 6 months working for Uncle Sam. I hope you know that it's not [sic] what you know in the army, it's who you know & how well you can pull strings. I'm not trying to cover up for my lack of promotion but it's the truth. I know some of the dumbest guys that have more stripes than I'll ever see. But that's the army & I'm not squawking. I'll live and try to be happy.
Since I last wrote you I went to several U.S.O. dances, one being a formal dance. All the girls were dressed in evening gowns & it really was a grand success.
The past four Sundays I have been going to one of the near by lakes swimming & dancing. We get a large crowd together & have a grand time. Sometimes I feel like a civilian. But that doesn't last very long & I'm back to usual again in a G.I. zoot suit.
I have seen a few pictures the best ones being "Five Graves to Cairo" & "Crash Dive." Both I liked very much. I saw one last night and I almost fell asleep. Sometimes I wonder why they make some of those pictures.
The "Carousel Caravan"came at McChord Field a few weeks ago and put on a excellent show. Comedians, singers, etc. The show was so good I think I enjoyed it better than some shows I saw back in N.Y.
I want to thank you a million for your late birthday card. I[t] certainly was cute. Sometimes I wonder what we would do without cards. Isn't that right? My birthday was June the 3rd.
That little note you sent me was cute although I expected what it was because I received one like it awhile ago. They certainly make your heart beat faster tho, don't they? For awhile it makes you feel pretty important.
I shall close now hoping that the next time I shall be more caught up with my self and I shall write you a more entertaining letter & much longer. Please tell me all about your vacation & here's hoping you had a swell time. So until then, best regards to your family.

Sincerely,
Tony

From Joe (D'Angelo, Tony's friend)

Pvt. Joseph D'Angelo

Co. "A"--110th Eng. Combat Bn.

Amphibian Training Force No. 9

Fort Ord, California

July 5th, 1943

Dear Mrs. Curcio,

I really was...surprised to receiv[e] the little booklet from you. It had me laughing. It really typified army life although it was on the funny side. Thank you very, very much. It seems as if you're getting to know just as much about the army as any of us do.

As much as I dreaded it, it had to happen. I guess you know all about it. I've been shipped out of McChord Field and separated from my best friends. They were the best friends I ever had or ever hope to have. I suppose Tony tells you a bit about them. I especially miss Tony. You know what swell buddies we were. We had so much in common and were able to talk to each other like brothers. I'd give anything I own to be back with him. But, it seems as if all good things must come to an end.

I'll never forget the day I left. We just moped around not saying anything. I guess that went on for a couple of hours. How I hated to leave. It was like leaving home for a second time. I dreaded that moment when I had to say goodbye. But, it came, much too soon. It was really torture having to say goodbye to them. I could feel myself ready to cry, but I couldn't look at any of them in the face for fear of doing so. Still I'm not so sure there weren't tears in my eyes. I would have rather faced a hundred Jap[anese] than go through that. But, I suppose the Army knows best although I think very much different. I'd give anything I own to be up there with Tony again.

I almost forgot to apologize for writing to you so late. We've been very busy lately. We're going on maneuvers so that we had to work from early morning to late at night packing stuff. Since we have most of our work finished they gave me this afternoon off which gave me a chance to catch up on my mail. I hope you forgive me.

Although I've been in this outfit for over two months now and gotten used to is, there's always something missing. You know just as well as I do what (or should I say who it is). Although I have made plenty of friends I haven't been able to find one that I care to pal around with. They just aren't my type. Having friends is one thing but having a budd[y] whom you can trust and share your joy and troubles is a completely different thing. I have my fun but I don't seem to get the kick out of it I used to get. But, I don't think I should complain. There must be other in the army worse off than I am.

Tony and I keep in touch with each other. We keep each other informed as to how we're going along. It's really swell getting letters from him. It seems as if he's talking to me just like old times. I guess he's telling you just how he's getting along. I wish they'd give him a break though. He really deserves it. He should have a couple of stripes. I've seen some get stripes that never even deserve them. Tony is the kind of fellow that has a job, knows it thoroughly, and does it very efficiently. He keeps all to himself and no one even notices him. That's the kind of fellow that should get stripes. But it seems as if the fellow that does the least and talks the most gets them. This really gripes me, but there's nothing that can be done about it. His day will come.

I guess I'll close this letter now. I just can't think of anything else to say. But, I hope that I can get to see you, Mrs. Curcio, on my first furlough. I know I'm really going to enjoy knowing you. In fact, although I haven't met you I feel as if I've known you for a long time.

I hope this letter finds you in the best of health. I also hope that this mess will be over real soon so that we can go back to our families and really know what it is to be home. It will be then that Tony and I will get together and really celebrate.

Very Sincerely,

Joe

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele Letter No. 57

Pvt. Anthony J. Curcio

1875 En. Avn. Bn. Co. H & S

McChord Field, Wash

Date 7/3/43

Letter No. 57

Rec'd --

Dear Ma, Pa, Barb, Ann & Ele,

It's Saturday afternoon and inspection is just over. But it ended kind of abruptly because as the Major started down the ranks, mother nature poured down a bucket of water & drenched us all. In about 30 seconds you couldn't find a dry spot on us. And just ten minutes before that the sun was shining so you can see what weather we have here although it was the first time it happened to me.
Tues. nite (6/29) I went to the show & saw Song of Texas. It wasn't bad.
Wed. nite I was in charge of Quarters (C.Q.). It was the first time I had it in the army. Many of the fellows had it many times. We just have to stay in the orderly room from 5 at nite to 8 in the morning & take charge of things.
Thurs. (7/1) believe it or not I was made P.F.C. I believe I should have made it a long time ago but I don't squawk. In the nite I got a pass & went to a carnival at Pt. Defiance park with Peggy. They only had a couple of rides but we still had a pretty good time.
We didn't start our training yet and we are still working on the road job surveying.
The weather was pretty good for about a week. And believe me when the sun is shining & you can see Mt. Ranier. It certainly is a pretty sight and every time you see it, it looks different.
I have been in the best of health. Just once in awhile my eyes felt tired. I guess I don't exercise them enough. I really should read once in awhile.
I can't write much ma because nothing too much has happened.
Oh. I almost forgot. I got the handkerchiefs & cards. Thanks a lot. Did you get the package I sent you with the present in?
I also sent the tin box where the cake was in. I put some letters in the box. You should get it pretty soon.
I will close now & I hope everybody is just fine & in the best of health.

Your Loving Soldier Boy
Tony

P.S. If it's nice tomorrow I may go swimming at one of the lakes with Peggy. I'll tell you about it next week.
P.S. I got my P.F.C. stripes on Grandma's birthday so it's a double celebration.

I just received letters 91-92-93 & a family album. They came all at once & I also received a letter from my toos. [?] He got an honorable discharge from the Marine candidate school and is now working & with a New York firm.
Boy that certainly was a cute idea about every writing in the little booklet. And especially when Grandma signed it. I felt so happy when I saw the last page. Thank Grandma for me and give her an extra big kiss for me.
I appreciated your trying to hold back Grandma's present ma. But as long as she liked it, it doesn't make any difference.
Boy that's quite a heat spell N.Y. is having. Sometimes I wish we had one just like it here. But I'd rather be in it in N.Y. with everybody else.
I'm glad Dad like the cigarette case and I hope Ele will like her present too. And I'm glad you were able to keep it a secret from her even though you weren't able to keep it from Grandma, Right?
The medal that Aunt Margaret gave me came in the box with all my birthday presents.
I am so sorry to hear about Aunt Margaret being in the hospital. I will try to write real soon to her.
I shall close once again and I am so happy because I received the mail

Love & Kisses
Tony