Moss Letters

WWII Letters

10 March 1944

Dear Folks:

This is Saturday night, inspections are over, everything cleaned up and now we are spending a quiet evening.  A few minutes ago finished a hotly contested bridge game but our side finally came out 30 better and fifty cents richer.  Saturday nights usually mean a bridge game while the Hit Parade is going on.  We hold the sessions in my room in the back of the billet and just made for such things.  News is again slipping off to the leaner side at least as to what I feel I could write about.  The office seems to keep up a pretty fast pace.  Last week we undertook to do a GI remodeling job and now it looks pretty professional.  Keeping account of the records of so many dogfaces runs into quite a lengthy job.

Dick called up last night and we had a drawn out conversation.  We made arrangements to spend a weekend together and you can never tell when this may be the last one for along time so better take advantage of it.  He seems always in good spirits and looks fine.  But regardless of what he thought before, he misses home just as much as I do.

The mosquitoes are about as bad here as they are in Minatare.  The billets are screened and we use nets at night but quite a few still bite while sitting around.  You know that the day mosquito caused an epidemic of dengue fever for a while and parts of Honolulu were quarantined, and it may break out again if some precautions aren’t used.  They say infected mosquitoes probably camp up on airplanes from the South Pacific and brought it here.

Received two pairs of GI glasses so have three now and fitted to the latest eye vision.  These GI’s don’t look too good but they are certainly durable and can take a beating.  I think my vision has gotten a little worse since I’ve been in but only a very little.

Had a letter from B. Emick a few days ago.  I think he’s in another romantic tangle with that WREN in London.  Wherever he goes I guess he always makes out with the womenfolk.  Competition is terrific over here and I never get close enough to smell the powder on one.  Well this isn’t what you could call a good letter but at least it will keep you informed and (a) little less anxious and I guess that’s a big part of it so goodnight for a little while.

Love,

Harold Moss Signature

3 March 1944

Dear Folks:

Longhand isn’t my specialty anymore but maybe I can scratch out a letter if I use a little patience.  Little to write about but maybe something will come up.  Had a letter from Mrs. Carroll – said Duane might be taking a European trip.  That situation over there doesn’t appeal to me.  I can imagine that every time you hear of action in the Pacific you wonder if Dick and I are there but so far so good.  Many ‘veterans’ can be seen in Honolulu with their bronze stars on their Asiatic-Pacific ribbons and the 7th Division with two – for Atter and Kwayelein.

Dick called up last nite and we will probably get together in a few days.  We’re having a tough time getting the shells you wanted.  The beach isn’t too accessible and where it is, many others have been there before.  But we’re still looking and we’ll get them as reasonable facsimiles.

Pretty quiet and peaceful in the billet tonite – most of them are doing what I am – writing letters.  Three of the fellows are married and one has a 22 month old son who he is itching to see.  I can well imagine.  The radio is the biggest morale builder in the evenings and we would be lost without it.  Practically all the mainland programs are broadcast so we don’t miss much (in) that respect.

People over here really buy bonds.  Hawaii’s quota was $15 millon and at the end of the campaign sold $32 million.  Quite a record and earned them the best record in the US.  Perhaps the people feel the war more having gone though the blitz.  Quite an assortment of stories and almost humorous but tragic episodes about that morning of the December 7.  The confusion and frustration that was going on everywhere must have been terrific.  Downtown Honolulu has many contrasts.  In one section are the big modern business houses and a few blocks away the Jap fish and fruit markets with their disagreeable odor.  And all kinds of people on the streets.  All the ‘kaaminas’ (old timers) talk with rapidity and an oriental twang.  Newcomers are known as ‘malakinis’.  The Hawaiian words might look hard to pronounce but actually they are very easy.  All words end in vowels and all vowels are pronounced.  I think the words and names are picturesque.  A short time ago I had the opportunity to visit a part of the island more scarcely populated and saw some real scenery. Steep green hills came down to the sea and the heavy surf put a mysterious mist over the whole thing.

This is Friday nite and the time I should be devoting to polishing up for inspection.  Had a letter from Gram today saying they had arrived and were getting ready to start work.  I surely hope they will be happy.  Now you will have to be something of an intermediary between me and them.

Well until the next time keep the Moss Manor in good shape and remember there’s no place I’d like to see so badly.

Love,

Harold Moss Signature

17 February 1944

Dear Folks:

I think I can stay within my schedule and still get a letter written to you – anyway I’ll try it.  I try to break the evenings up into some sort of a schedule in order to insure getting done the things I want to.  So far it’s worked pretty good and sometimes I have to overlook a bridge game and that isn’t always easy to do.  Well yesterday I went on pass and once again saw something that I hadn’t seen before.  On the way back from Waikiki we stopped at the municipal buildings and had a look at the local government offices. Felt like a civilian.  In one of them was the courtrooms, law offices and the usual embellishments and that interested me so we looked around.  Even walked into the Supreme Court chambers.  Something awesome and quiet about the empty rooms that made you feel good that there were still public courts still in this country where an accused can get a hearing.  Well after this we nosed around like a pair of hillbilly sightseers and finally stumbled into the law library. Boy what a layout and what a world of legal knowledge and education.  Wish I could use the books.  The place was empty so we took our time and pulled out volumes here and there.  Found some on Nebraska and then Minatare didn’t seem so far away.  Across the avenue was the Iolani Palace where King Kamehameha used to live so we went over there.  But the place was locked up so couldn’t see much.  Looked pretty good from the outside though.

For a couple of hours in the afternoon slept in the sun on the beach.  Except on Sundays, the beach (is) very crowded but there are always a few fellows surf riding out about two hundred (yards) off shore.  But that’s about all the beach is good for because the bottom is covered with coral formations and rocks.  The water is pretty shallow and that is what causes the waves to roll in without breaking up.  When I used to see pictures of them at home I wondered how they kept from drowning but you can wade out for probably three hundred yards without getting in water over your head.

Regardless of all the ration talk and shortages it still is pretty easy to get a good dinner and not outrageous either.  We ate on a terrace overlooking the water and I had a sirloin steak with all the good trimmings.  This about ended up for the day so after an evening show we headed back.  This was the first time I’d really been out after blackout and to see so many lights shining again was a treat.  After living in a blacked out country for quite a spell the auto and store and street lights was a sight for sore eyes.

Well my time is running short – that schedule you know – so I better begin tapering off.  Dick was supposed to go with me yesterday but he couldn’t get off so probably he will come around Sunday.

Love,

Harold Moss Signature

10 February 1944

Dear Dad:

I just received another of your inimitable letters and it came at a most welcome time.  My head is still going round like a merry go round.  I have been very busy the last few days and just now has the volume of work begun to slacken off a little.  But working like this makes the time slip by almost unnoticed.  When I realize how long it has been since I’ve eaten a Moss meal, I appreciate that fact, more than ever.  But maybe that’s because I’m older.  I can remember when I couldn’t wait another day until I was old enough to have a bike and then later on to drive an automobile.  But now here I am having gone through both and wondering what I’ll be doing when I’m forty or fifty.

I think if I take another look at your letter I can stretch this one out a little longer.  Every time you say something about the cold weather and the snow, I have to pause and remember that in some places there actually is weather like that.  Every afternoon around three the office knocks off for a little volleyball game on the big rambling lawns that are near our area.  We’re getting pretty brown from it and we feel pretty good after sitting down all day.  Last night we gathered together our best forces and had a game with some Hawaiian civilian boys and took a good beating.  We played after supper with the little gathering there.  It reminded me of a twilight softball game like we used to have.  There was a few good-sized ‘wahines’ there together with some men playing poker on a little grass mat.  They sure take life easy and are so darned good natured and hospitable.  They’re pretty fat and look sloppy but you overlook that.  The boys beat our pants off – they can hit a ball from any angle.

Dick and I went out together on pass last Wednesday and looked around for the shells but couldn’t find any this trip.  But we’ll get them.  I bought Mom and Nancy each one of those handkerchief affairs they wear over their heads and better get them mailed tonight.  Dick and I are very lucky to be so near to each other but I think your summarizations are pretty correct.  What did you think of the Marshalls episode?  Boosts your morale up for a while and makes you a little more optimistic.  There is a lot of talk around in the papers of troop rotation and furloughs but I don’t put much faith in any of it.  All of it is so contingent upon other things that is seems pretty remote.  Guess I’m getting used to waiting.  I know what the deal on the bond allotment is.  I had an allotment for that amount and it was automatically stopped in favor of a new plan so that represents the money not applied on a new bond.  Hope you received the sixty bucks instead of the usual thirty-five.

Most of the civilians at home get a pretty good tongue lashing from the fellows – and especially the strikers.  Boy what they wouldn’t do for them.  I guess that shows that they didn’t realize what a swell place the ‘old country’ was until they had to leave it.  Any little old corner of the states would satisfy most of us.  But this business of laying off work sure raises the hair on us when we hear of another fifty thousand or so because they can’t get enough to have all they want.  I think the situation is pretty lopsided too.  Everyone whether he’s over here or back there is in the same kind of job and if he has to take bad breaks that’s just tough.

Well I’m going to do some studying for a while and the evenings are very short so I’m going to throw in the towel about here.  The friend in Washington sent me another book a few weeks back and it’s full of interest so got to get busy on it.  I have a little room by myself now and can setup books and spend a profitable evening with them.  I think your sentiments are the best in the world although they aren’t expressed in the language of Longfellow, which is the least important part.

Love,

Harold Moss Signature

31 January 1944

Dear Folks:

Your letters lately have been so newsy and interesting that I have felt obligated to answer them immediately, so before my supper gets well settled maybe I can catch up (on) one more letter.  Recently I had a change of station and during such times the censor cuts the letters up quite a little—so much that I couldn’t get the initiative to write.  But now that we are settled I can write with maybe a little more interest.  Dick called me up last night to find out when I was off so we could meet each other and it looks like next Saturday will be the day. We certainly are lucky enough to be able to see and talk to each other so often.  And while we’re out, we’ll pool our talents (?) and try to find the shells, and some that you will like no end.  And then payday is very soon now so we’ll feel pretty much in the mood to shop.  Also today received the Free Press, and three yesterday so I’ve been busy with mail.  It only takes a few minutes to read the darn things but they are certainly welcome.  I also read about putting the pictures in the paper.  Sounds like a pretty good idea and the paper will be more interesting.  As I said yesterday was a big day for mail – received a law book from the friend in Washington.  One I have been wanting and written by Lawrence Vold who is a professor at the University of Nebraska.  I heard Miller and the other boys talk about him and I know him by sight.

Now that I am on Oahu and will have the opportunity to go to a dentist, I hope soon to get the bridge.  And I did receive the money order, and in good time too.  While I’m on the subject of Oahu maybe I can get together a few more items about the place. (The censor cut out the rest of the page.)

 …you pick out every nationality and every combination too it seems.  But with so many servicemen the streets are packed and every store and stand does a gold rush business.  There are many places I hope to see including some museums, buildings and other natural beauty spots.  I wish you could go with me down Kalakua Avenue that runs along Waikiki and watch the boys ride the surfboards, and forget the howling cold winds you are probably now having.  Each afternoon the office crew plays a little volleyball and we’re all getting pretty brown from it.  Our office is a Japanese tea house in a garden set in a little valley.  The walls are set with sliding panels so that the sides can be opened up completely or completely closed. There are no hinges or windows in the place.  I understand the building was imported from Japan.

I wrote a couple of days ago to the Colson’s and Carroll’s so you can breathe easier now.  I’m glad I’ve got it done too.  I’ve read about the treatment that Gramp is receiving in a Reader’s Digest of a few months ago I believe.  Your sentiments about the ultimate value of these new discoveries in view of wars is indeed to be doubted.  Tonight a USO troupe from the mainland with Allen Jenkins is here.  The ones from the mainland or the ‘old country’ are darned good but the local productions are pretty old.  Well it looks like I’m stalled for now so here’s the end of this.  Had a letter from Patsy yesterday too – I sent them a picture and they liked it quite a lot.

Love,

Harold Moss Signature

18 January 1944

Dear Folks:

I know I certainly owe you a letter but circumstances have been such lately that it has been very hard to find time (to write).  I hope I will be able to catch up some.  And now that I have started this letter darned if I can think of much to write about.  Soon I can write more freely and tell you what these circumstances were that kept me so busy.  Notice the change of address—stick a 1st BN after Hq. Btry.  Talked to Dick on the phone last night and hope to see him next Sunday if nothing happens to our plans.  It seems I’m always as anxious to meet him as if I hadn’t seen him in a long time.  The office has been growing bigger and presently we moved into new quarters that are ‘luxurious’ compared to our former building.  The place is a former prayer room so I understand, in a Japanese house.  Doors and walls are sliding affairs and there are innumerable small rooms and hallways.  The former kneeling row I guess it is, is used as a long desk to seat five clerks, kind of intriguing to walk around the place. I wish you were able to see the place. Well I’ll tell you more about it later.

Haven’t heard from you in quite a while but suppose the mail will catch up soon.  Had a letter from B. Emick a few days ago and he rattled on and on about England and how he likes it.  Can’t get up the initiative to answer though.  Sounds like he’s found a wife there.  I wouldn’t be surprised.  Also got a Christmas card from the former Mary Bohm—what a surprise!  Have been trying to stick to my books as much as possible but lately haven’t had the time.  I’m looking into the possibilities and opportunity I may now have to do something more definite along that line.  I’ll explain later. Well for this time this is all but I’ll write very soon again and try to be more explicit.

Love,

Harold Moss Signature

10 January 1944

Dear Folks:

I’m going to the show in a little while but maybe I can hash up a letter before then.  Yesterday the birthday box came and already I’m smoking one of the cigars and pretty good too.  I can always imagine you packing it and fixing it up and every time I open one I get a lump in my throat.  Occasionally I stoke up the pipe when it looks like a calm peaceful evening and I can relax on my GI innerspring.  After sleeping on these narrow cots probably it’ll take some time to get used to stretching out.  The nights are pretty chilly now and it takes all three blankets to keep warm.  The seasons are about the same but right now ‘winter’.  There is more rain and the waves come in a little bigger than in summer.  When I get back home and think of this mild weather probably this place will be deep in my affections.  Well what did you think of the picture?  And by the way I have one more stripe than it shows.  And have you received the ones of Dick and I?  Last Saturday night was a little like one at home, at least more so than any before.  Slicked up a little after supper, then went to the local dance and did more watching. These dogfaces and navy sure dance some wicked styles.  I feel old fashioned. Already I’m beginning to feel like an ‘Army man’ with the three year mark right in sight and longevity pay coming in.  What a change these past three years have been. Can hardly realize I’m actually a ‘soljer’.  Next month or about February 5 you should get a check for $60 and if you don’t, let me know.  Also I increased my bonds to 2 a month.  Well that show is coming up in a few minutes and got to visit the PX first so I’m going to wind this up.  Thanks again for the box.  And by the way Dick and I sent a book.  Never read it but it looked pretty good.  Well goodbye for now.

Love,

Harold Moss Signature

5 November 1943

Dearest Folks:

I have plenty to do tonight, tomorrow is inspection, shining shoes, clean the rifle etc. but better take time out to drop you a line or two.  I’m in good spirits today and once more got a boost in my morale.  The cause for this good feeling is that I got a promotion today to staff sergeant and a corresponding increase in pay which makes it a hundred fifteen per (month) now, so guess I better increase my allotment a little.  Of course it’s good to get the new rank and will mean a few more privileges.  I hope that now I can cut the mustard and get the other stripe that my job calls for.

I’m wondering how Gramp is coming along and how the operation turned out.  Gram wrote me a short letter and from the tone of it she sounds like she’s about whipped.  I can’t imagine anything happening to gramp and it would be especially sorrowing at a time like this.  I’d like to see him so bad and try to cheer him up a little.

Among the other things that I do in my job I occasionally go out to investigate court martial charges and tomorrow morning early means another such assignment.  Remember the days I used to walk over to Mrs. Dick’s and sweat over some shorthand?  Well it seems to be of some good now although I mostly use a combination of longhand and the other that makes a script that nobody but myself could read.  Running somewhat into what I am studying I like the job although sometimes I swear I can never write down all they say but somehow things seem to work out.  Last week we investigated a case that involved a Japanese storekeeper and he talked like a whirlwind and had the usual accent and I thought several times I was hopelessly lost.  But it’s always interesting and breaks up the monotony of the routine.  The fact that I know a little shorthand is the reason for my transfer to this battery some time ago so it seems that the few bucks I put out didn’t go to naught.  If Mrs. Dick could see my notebook she’d probably tear her hair out though.

I just remembered your writing about Dan Gettman and the Star-Heralds he gives me.  He is the one boy that I know from Nebraska and I used to be in the same outfit with him.  I knew him well and Danny and I would often talk about things in common that we knew about the valley.  Since I was transferred I don’t see him very often and occasionally I talk to him in town or whenever I get down to his battery.  He is the usual Russian stock like is in the valley but he’s a pretty good little guy.  A couple of weeks ago he sent me a stack that was as big around as my waist.

And another little item about the bank deposit box.  I had forgotten completely about it and as I don’t need the use of it any longer you can dispose of it as you want to.

Katie sent me one of the announcements—the little one with the automobile motif—it was pretty cute and all the guys in the billet thought it was clever although they didn’t get the drift right at first.

Well I’m coming to the last act I believe, so here comes the curtain.  I intend to write to B. Emick but somehow I don’t get around to it.  Also had a letter from Mrs. Lewellen yesterday so there’s another to answer.  Jack is lucky being in the Navy and getting a chance to get home.  Well goodnite for another time and one less toward the end of the way.

Love,

Harold Moss Signature

13 October 1943

Dearest Folks:

I’ve been going pretty strong all day so I guess I can keep going long enough to write you some sort of letter.  Then after I finish this I’m in for a quiet evening with some bunk fatigue.  A few days ago had a letter from Dick but it was the usual dozen lines or so.  I had hoped that I would be able to be near him by getting a crack at the school there but the application didn’t get through.  I know he doesn’t sound too happy but I don’t think it is anything to worry about.  He must still have the farm in his blood.  Said he wanted to be with Gramp on their place.

Tom does have big things on his mind if he attempts to go through what he wants to do.  But it would be a great thing and the ends would be worth about any sacrifice they would make.  I wish I was in the position he is to do something effective about it.

Last Sunday at the GI club there was a jitterbug contest.  The local wahines (wah-heen-ees), or most of them, feel pretty important dancing with the smoother of the GI wolves.  What they do on the dance floor is more like organized mayhem, so I don’t venture out very often.

Of course I look forward to every issue of the Free Press and especially to what the guys in the service column are doing.  I was thinking last night how far apart the ‘four’ of us are from each other.  And I also spent quite a little time dwelling upon the ideas we had and all the rest of the things that came from our years of running around together.

I’ve sat here for at least fifteen minutes trying to start another paragraph but nothing seems to be forthcoming so guess I’ll have to quit.  I’m fine personally but can’t get anymore meat on my ribs.  Getting more workouts in the field and more of this training that fills up so many newsreels, but the office still requires quite a bit of time.  The evenings are perfect and now with the restrictions lessened on lights, they are even more enjoyable.  Well I guess this is ‘pau’.

Love,

Harold Moss Signature

8 October 1943

Dear Folks:

First off I am in receipt of the letter about Stephen and besides being a big relief I’m sort of proud of my new title of uncle. I hope Katie gets along alright and the baby gets fatter and louder.  Well, being away at a time like this is another good reason for my hating the Japs.  I can’t very well imagine Katie with a baby in her arms and now I’m the more curious to see Tom.

And secondly (I have to enumerate the things I’m going to say in my mind) our battery stepped out to a dance last night.  It was the second such battery dance since I’ve been here and this one was a big success.  The boys spent a lot of time getting the hall ready and taking care of miscellaneous ends and they did a great job.  And the biggest problem, the matter of getting enough girls, was even solved successfully.  I ran into three Chinese girls whose names were Miss Chan, Chang and Ching (to give you an idea of the company I was in).  I had a swell time besides eating cake and drinking coke all night.

Now that I have covered these few points I was going to write about I don’t (know) where I’ll go from here.  Tonight was the weekly concert attended by a few civilians including a couple of stuffed dowagers who did more talking than listening.  Listening to the concert we usually sit under a big avocado tree and the falling avocadoes are sometimes dangerous, and ripe mangoes literally cover the ground.

Of course every morning we like millions of others listen to the World Series game that begin over here at seven forty-five.  And by the way, I’m still a Yankee man.

My job seems to keep me very busy and sometimes it gets a little monotonous but as I said before, it’s a good job and attended with a few advantages.  One of the battery clerks was formerly from Omaha and occasionally we can recall something that was familiar to us both.  And another of the clerks is a colored boy from Harlem.  But the evenings are never long enough and it seems that something comes along about every night to keep me from studying as much as I would like to.  Lights are out at nine-thirty which makes time pretty short.  I think the boys are about as news minded as any in the outfit and we have our billet wall papered with battle maps to follow the communiqués closely.  Of course we do a lot of talking about the progress of the war and not infrequently about the aftermath and what to expect when we come home.  Sometimes I get a little depressed about it and wonder if I will ever attain what I started in school.  But I cannot put (it) effectively on paper as I think about it so that’s enough of that.

Before I close I want to repeat about how happy I am for Kate and Tom and how much I wish I could see all three of them.

Well let’s call this quits—

Love,

Harold Moss Signature